Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Understanding Your Right to File Bicyclist Wrongful Death Claims in Oklahoma
When a collision occurs between a bicycle and another larger vehicle, the consequences are often catastrophic or fatal for the person who is on the bicycle. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 716 bicyclists were killed in the year 2008. Of those fatally injured victims, four were killed in Oklahoma. When a bicycle accident fatality occurs as the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, financial compensation may be available for the victim’s family.
A wrongful death claim in Oklahoma is a civil lawsuit that the family of a deceased bicycle accident victim can file against the at-fault party. However, proving that a driver’s negligence caused or contributed to a fatal car accident can be a challenging process. It is important to remember that a driver does not have to face citations or criminal charges in order to be held financially accountable for a fatal bicycle accident.
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Tulsa Woman Killed in Highway 97 Pileup
A 43-year-old Tulsa woman was killed and two others were injured in an Oklahoma car accident involving three vehicles. According to a news report in The Sand Springs Leader, the fatal car crash occurred on 41st Street east of State Highway 97 near Tulsa Community College. Officials say the driver of a westbound car veered left and struck an eastbound vehicle, which in turn hit another vehicle that was traveling east. The Tulsa woman was killed in the crash and the drivers of the other vehicles were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Some of the most devastating car accidents involve wrong-way collisions and head-on crashes. Whenever a vehicle veers or drifts into oncoming traffic, there are many questions that must be asked. Was the driver drowsy or asleep at the wheel? Was alcohol a contributing factor in the crash? Was the wrong-way driver looking at a phone or driving distractedly? Did a defective auto part or dangerous roadway condition contribute to the crash? These and other questions must be answered in order to determine fault and liability in these types of fatal accidents.
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Choosing Safe Toys for your Child
Not all toys are safe for all children. When choosing a toy this Christmas, it is important that you keep in mind your child’s age and skill level. Take the time to read reviews of the product and try to choose products that are safe for your children. In addition to researching toy safety, it is also important to instruct your children about how to safely use a toy. Make sure you read labels and adhere to the age recommendations. Products that are not meant for young children may have small parts that can break and pose a serious choking hazard.
In some cases, the toy itself may not be dangerous, but the packaging material may pose hazards. Plastic wrapping, ties, and packaging materials should be thrown out immediately. It may be in your best interest to stay abreast of recent recalls issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). There are a number of toys and children’s products that are recalled each year because they are defective in some way. Knowing that a product has been recalled can help you prevent a tragic incident.
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Students Injured in Oklahoma City School Bus Accident
A school bus driver and seven students were injured in an Oklahoma City intersection car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to The Oklahoman, the school bus accident occurred at Classen Boulevard and NW 89 in Oklahoma City. Officials say a four-door Chrysler Sebring ran the stop sign and struck the bus, forcing it to tip over to its side. The driver and students in the North Highland Elementary bus were hospitalized following the crash. The severity of their injuries is not known. The female driver of the car fled the scene of the crash on foot.
It is illegal under Oklahoma law to leave the scene of an accident when someone has been injured. According to Oklahoma Statute 10-102, any driver who has caused a crash that causes injury or death must stop as soon as possible, return to the scene of the accident, exchange contact information with all other parties involved, and provide reasonable aid to those who have been involved in the crash.
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What Types of Fractures are Commonly Suffered in Car Accidents?
Broken bones are some of the most common injuries sustained by victims of auto accidents in Oklahoma. Broken bone injuries or fractures often result in significant pain and require continued treatment and care including physical therapy, the cost of which can add up very quickly.
There are a number of different types of bone fractures. A displaced fracture is when the bone snaps into two or more parts and moves so that the ends are no longer lined up. In a non-displaced fracture, the bone cracks, but it does not move from its proper alignment. A closed fracture is when the bone breaks but there is no puncture of the skin. An open fracture is when the bone breaks through the skin.
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Teenager Killed in Oklahoma Motorcycle Accident
An 18-year-old man was killed in a recent Oklahoma motorcycle accident after striking an object on the roadway. According to a News OK report, the young motorcyclist was killed on State Highway 3W north of Ada. Officials say he crashed after the motorcycle he was riding struck an unspecified object on the roadway. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the fatal accident. There is no information regarding the type of debris he struck or about who may have dropped or dumped that debris on the roadway.
According to a report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in 2007, roadway debris causes approximately 25,000 traffic accidents and nearly 100 traffic accident-related deaths each year nationwide.
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Preventing Oklahoma Car Accidents this Thanksgiving
Whether you are traveling long or short distances to celebrate with family and friends, remember that holiday driving can be treacherous. The week of Thanksgiving is particularly dangerous as it is always one of the busiest weeks of the year for travel. There are steps, however, that you can take to keep yourself and others safe from Oklahoma car accidents this holiday.
If you are driving to and from Thanksgiving parties, do not drink. It only takes a couple glasses of wine to affect your cognitive and physical abilities. If you feel the slightest buzz from alcohol, you are not safe to drive. Similarly, if you notice a vehicle in front of you that is swerving, drifting, or moving erratically, keep your distance and call the authorities.
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Police Arrest Driver Responsible for Shawnee Hit-and-Run Accident
On September 26, a young girl suffered serious injuries in a Shawnee, Oklahoma car accident involving a hit-and-run vehicle. According to a recent KOCO news report, a juvenile has been charged in connection with that hit-and-run crash. The young victim of the accident sustained multiple facial fractures, skull fractures, swelling on the brain, double vision, and a broken tibia and fibula. It is not clear at this time if the juvenile responsible for the Shawnee hit-and-run accident will be charged as an adult for leaving the scene of the crash.
It is a felony to leave the scene of an accident when someone has been injured. According to Oklahoma Statute 47-10-102, “The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in a nonfatal injury to any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident.”
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Keeping Oklahoma Streets Safe during Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
The week of November 12 is being observed as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. It is important to raise awareness about fatigued driving because a drowsy driver is often as dangerous as a drunk driver. According to a news report in KOKC Radio, one in six deadly crashes involve a drowsy driver. A recent study showed that 30 percent of drivers surveyed admitted to driving in the past 30 days while struggling to keep their eyes open. This means that at any given time, a number of vehicles on the roadway are being driven by someone who is potentially unfocused, daydreaming, falling asleep, or drifting from their lane of traffic.
According to the report, one in seven licensed drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 admitted to having nodded off while driving in the past year. For all other drivers, that number is approximately one in 10. Therefore, Oklahoma families who have a young driver in their household would be well advised to use this week to remind him or her to pull over when fatigued.
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Man Killed in Fatal Oklahoma Hit-and-Run Accident
A 43-year-old Broken Arrow man was killed in an Oklahoma car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to The Associated Press, the fatal hit-and-run accident occurred in Broken Arrow the night of November 2. Officials say the man was killed when a Chevrolet S-10 pickup struck him and drove away. Investigators tracked down a 24-year-old Coweta man who has an S-10 with damage consistent with the fatal crash. He faces charges in connection with this fatal collision.
It is illegal to leave the scene of an Oklahoma car accident when someone has been injured or killed. According to Oklahoma Statute 10-102.1, “The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident.” Drivers who fail to stop to avoid detection or prosecution will likely face felony charges.
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