Oklahoma Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys
Distracted Driving Accidents
Being involved in a traffic accident can be disorienting, overwhelming, and devastating. Unfortunately, the number of cars on the road makes traffic accidents a part of daily life in Oklahoma and across the United States. However, most of these accidents are preventable, because most are caused by the negligence or recklessness of others. What has become one of the most common forms of driver negligence is distracted driving.
Suffering an auto accident injury as the result of another’s negligence is inexcusable. Even a small act of negligence can turn an innocent victim’s life upside down. You may have been the victim of another’s negligent actions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take control of the situation. By holding the negligent party liable for the losses you have suffered due to your injury, you not only deter the at-fault party from acting negligently again, but also ensure your future financial security.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving has become a serious safety risk, especially for teen drivers, and especially after the development of modern cell phones. According to Distraction.gov:
- 5,474 people lost their lives in accidents involving driver distraction in 2009;
- 448,000 people were injured in accidents involving driver distraction in 2009;
- 20 percent of all injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving;
- Of the 5,474 people killed in distracted driving accidents in 2009, 995 involved cell phones as a distraction; and
- The greatest proportion of distracted drivers is that of drivers under 20-years-old.
Although states across the nation have implemented various traffic laws related to cell phones, such as hand-held bans and texting bans, drivers continue to subject themselves to distraction using these devices. It is a choice to become distracted and the unfortunately reality is that many drivers choose to do so, endangering the health and safety of everyone else on the road.
Making the Right Choice
Each and every driver needs to make the commitment to never drive while distracted. This is the only way to prevent distracted driving crashes from occurring. When drivers get behind the wheel, their focus needs to be on driving; their hands need to be on the wheel; their eyes need to be on the road; and their mind needs to be on the task of driving. In order to accomplish these things, each driver must avoid any distractions that would interfere with them. Such distractions can include:
- Eating and drinking;
- Talking to passengers;
- Reading (even a map);
- Tinkering with the CD/MP3 player or radio;
- Texting;
- Talking on a cell phone;
- Watching a video; and
- Grooming.
If a distracted driver causes an accident, he or she may be held responsible for the losses and damages suffered by accident victims, including medical bills, lost time from work, pain and suffering, and even their lost quality of life.
Helping You Obtain the Compensation You Deserve
Trying to deal with insurance companies and the courts on your own can create additional stress to a life already disrupted by a car accident injury. At Maples Law Firm, our experienced Oklahoma City distracted driving accident attorneys are dedicated to providing injured accident victims with the support and aggressive representation they need to obtain the compensation they deserve. Let us take on the stress of dealing with insurance companies and court issues so that you can focus your energy on the healing process. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us today for a free consultation at (888) 226-6159.
We also have a personal injury intake form that you can fill out.
