A 27-year-old man was injured when his stopped motorcycle was struck by a driver who was looking at a phone instead of the roadway. According to a Tulsa World news report, the distracted driving accident occurred on US 169 northbound in Tulsa. Officials say the 27-year-old motorcyclist came to a stop because of slowed traffic when he was rear-ended by a Chevrolet Silverado. Officials say the driver of the Silverado was checking to see whether his phone rang and did not have his eyes on the roadway. The victim was transported to Saint Francis Hospital in serious condition. The 42-year-old driver of the Silverado was not injured in the crash. It is unclear if he will be cited for the collision.
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous. You are much more likely to cause an accident if your mind is not focused on the task at hand, your eyes are not on the roadway, or your hands are not on the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,328 people were killed and approximately 421,000 people were injured nationwide in distraction-affected crashes in 2012.
In order to deter distracted driving accidents in Oklahoma, officials enforce a couple of primary distracted driving laws. There is a statewide ban on handheld cell phone use and texting for all drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license. There is not, however, any distracted driving laws for adult drivers. It is unclear if Oklahoma lawmakers will join the 43 other states that have penalties and restrictions for handheld cell phone use for drivers with a full license.
Even though drivers in Oklahoma often do not often face charges for driving distracted, all at-fault drivers can be held civilly responsible for their actions. If you wish to pursue compensation for your injuries, you may file a personal injury claim against the distracted driver responsible for the crash. A successful claim can result in financial support for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages. Contact an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
