It only takes a moment for a distracted driver to cause a devastating accident. The following documentary, produced by AT&T, includes multiple examples of fatal car accidents caused by motorists who were texting while driving. There are numerous examples of final texts read or sent by someone moments before causing a crash. The images and descriptions may be graphic but the message cannot be more clear: Texting while driving destroys lives.
According to a 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), you are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident while texting and driving. Why is texting such a dangerous form of distracted driving? Drivers who are texting have at least one hand off the wheel, their eyes off the roadway, and their mind off the task at hand. That means that texting motorists are distracted in three different ways. All motorists are encouraged to turn off their phones while driving or to pull over before reading or sending a text.
The most recent attempt by Oklahoma legislators to ban texting while driving failed on March 13, 2012. There are, however, statutes in place to prevent distracted driving. Under Oklahoma law, drivers are required to “devote their full time and attention” to driving. Additionally, Oklahoma teens will face suspensions if they use a handheld device to talk or text while driving.
Victims of distracted drivers can seek financial compensation for their losses by filing a claim against the at-fault party. An experienced Oklahoma distracted driving crash lawyer at the Maples Law Firm knows how to hold distracted drivers accountable for the damages they cause. We offer free consultations at (405) 705-5050 to anyone who has suffered a loss in an Oklahoma accident.
