Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Drowsy Driving as Dangerous as Drunk Driving on Oklahoma Roads
Motorists who are drowsy are more likely to fall asleep or lose focus. A drowsy driver is a motorist with a reduced level of alertness as a result of being tired. It is common for many drivers to assume that they can push through their fatigue to get home after a long day of work. But this is a serious mistake that can have catastrophic consequences.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are at least 100,000 reported crashes that result from fatigued driving each year. These accidents result in 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. These numbers are considered to be conservative because many drowsy driving accidents involve only one vehicle where the only witness was the driver.
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Oklahoma Motorcyclist Injured after Rear Ended by Car
A 75-year-old Claremore man was seriously injured in an Oklahoma intersection accident when his motorcycle was rear-ended by a 2012 Dodge pickup. According to a News On 6 report, the motorcycle accident occurred near County Road 380 and County Road 412 in Rogers County. Officials say the motorcyclist slowed down for stopped traffic when he was rear-ended by a driver who accidently hit the gas instead of the brakes. The victim has been listed in critical condition. It is not clear if the 76-year-old driver will face charges or citations.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office’s 2010 Crash Facts report, there were 1,662 motorcycle accidents in Oklahoma that year. In those accidents, 75 people were killed, 431 suffered incapacitating injuries, and 689 sustained non-incapacitating injuries. During that same year, three fatalities and 27 injuries were reported in Rogers County motorcycle crashes.
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The Dangers of Cell Phone Use on Oklahoma Roads
Victims of Oklahoma car accidents have the right to pursue compensation for their losses from the at-fault driver under state law. Generally, the victim will have to prove that the other driver caused the accident through his or her careless or reckless behavior. Drivers who caused an accident through acts of negligence can be held financially responsible for their actions. Injured victims can also seek compensation from distracted drivers who cause an accident. The law views distracted driving as negligent driving.
Cell phones and other electronic devices are among the most common causes of car accidents involving distracted driving. Under Oklahoma law, school bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone or sending a text message while on the job. All drivers who are on a learner’s or intermediate license are banned from using a handheld phone or sending a text as well. However, there is no statewide ban in Oklahoma that prevents all drivers from using a cell phone while driving. Drivers who cause injury accidents while driving, in addition to facing citations or criminal charges, can also be held civilly liable by injured victims.
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Five Dead in Oklahoma City Truck Crash
Five people were killed in an Oklahoma City auto accident involving a collision between a car and a semi truck. According to The Associated Press, the fatal truck accident occurred at Interstate 235 and I-35 near the junction with I-40 in Oklahoma City. Officials say the five fatally injured victims were in a Chevrolet Camaro that veered out of control and went under a truck’s trailer. The roof was sheared off, the vehicle spun out of control, and the car caught fire. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal crash.
Underride crashes are some of the most devastating Oklahoma truck accidents. This type of accident occurs when a car crashes into the back or side of a trailer and goes underneath the trailer. These crashes are often devastating because the height of cars makes them vulnerable to going completely or partially under the trailer resulting in the roof of the vehicle being sheared off. Victims involved in this type of collision have been known to suffer devastating and frequently fatal injuries.
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Motorcyclist Killed in Oklahoma Car Accident
A 39-year-old man was recently killed in an Oklahoma car accident when an SUV rear-ended his motorcycle. According to a News On 6 report, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Oklahoma 48 north of Oklahoma 33 in Creek County. Officials say the Mannford man slowed down to make a left into a private drive when an SUV slammed into his motorcycle from behind. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. It is not clear if the 39-year-old female driver of the SUV will face charges, but the cause of the Oklahoma fatal collision is still under investigation.
There are a number of ways that a rear-end collision can occur. Drivers who are distracted may fail to notice that the vehicle in front of them has slowed down. Motorists who are tailgating may not have enough time to avoid a collision. Drivers who are drunk or speeding may not react in time to stop the rear-end collision from occurring. Drivers who are not entirely focused on the roadway may overlook a motorcycle or another smaller vehicle that has slowed down ahead.
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Distracted Walking a Growing Danger for Oklahoma Pedestrians
Distracted walking does not receive the same attention as distracted driving, but it is a serious problem that appears to be growing. According to The Washington Post, distracted walking accidents have quadrupled in the past seven years. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that 1,152 people were injured while walking and using a cell phone or other electronic device in the last year alone. Many experts believe that statistic is well under the actual number of injury accidents that involved a distracted pedestrian.
The Washington Post report included recent examples of incidents that resulted in injuries. A 12-year-old boy was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the road as he was playing a video game. A 53-year-old woman suffered facial injuries after falling off a curb while texting and walking. Other examples include a woman walking into a telephone pole, a man falling into a ditch, and a 67-year-old man stepping into the path of a bicyclist.
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Woman Injured in Jefferson County Motorcycle Accident
An 18-year-old woman was injured in an Oklahoma motorcycle accident when the 24-year-old driver of the motorcycle on which she was a passenger lost control of his vehicle and crashed. According to a news report in Ardmoreite.com, the motorcycle crash occurred on Chisholm Park Road south of Chisholm Road in Jefferson County. Officials say the 24-year-old male motorcyclist was attempting to catch up to another vehicle when he lost control. The female passenger of his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle suffered arm, leg, and other injuries. The driver refused treatment at the scene. Officials believe that the motorcyclist was traveling at an unsafe rate of speed.
Oklahoma motorists must travel not only under the speed limit, but also at a speed relative to the conditions on the roadway. Under Oklahoma Statute 11-801: “Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway and any other conditions then existing. No person shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than will permit the driver to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.”
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Tulsa Highway Crash Caused by Debris on Roadway
Debris on the roadway forced the driver of an SUV to swerve out of the way before crashing into a wall. According to a News On 6 report, the Oklahoma car accident occurred on Highway 169 near the 61st Street exit in Tulsa. Officials say the SUV was headed north when the vehicle nearly struck a mattress that was left on the roadway. The driver swerved and the SUV struck a wall. Emergency crews checked out the driver and passengers, but no one was transported to hospitals.
Drivers who are responsible for causing an accident by dropping debris on the roadway can be held accountable for any accidents that result from the hazardous conditions. According to Oklahoma Statute 21-1753.3: “The operator of a vehicle…shall be liable pursuant to subsection B of this section for any act of throwing, dropping, depositing, or otherwise placing any litter from a vehicle upon highways, roads, or public property.”
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Steps to Take after an Oklahoma Car Accident
Have you thought about what to do if you are ever involved in an Oklahoma car accident? The steps you take immediately following the collision can affect your ability to pursue compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses in the future.
First, check yourself, your passengers, and the other parties involved in the crash for injuries. If anyone has suffered an injury, you are legally required to contact the authorities right away. If your neck, back, or head hurts, you may want to stay where you are and wait for help. If you are capable of moving around without suffering further injury, you should begin collecting information that can be very important during the claims process.
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Woman Injured in Oklahoma Motorcycle DUI Crash
A 26-year-old woman from Ardmore was injured in an Oklahoma motorcycle accident, which officials report, involved a driver who was under the influence. According to a news report in The Ardmoreite, the motorcycle accident occurred on U.S. Highway 177 north of Dickson. Officials say the 27-year-old man operating the 2012 Harley Davidson was under the influence of illegal drugs when he failed to negotiate a curve. The injured victim was a passenger on the motorcycle at the time of the crash. She has been listed in stable condition with multiple injuries. The motorcyclist was not injured in the crash.
Motorcyclists who choose to ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol put themselves, their passengers, and anyone else on the roadway at great risk of suffering an injury. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27 percent of all motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of over .08 percent in the year 2006. Of the motorcyclists between the ages of 35 and 39 killed in motorcycle crashes that year, 41 percent were over the legal limit. Clearly, drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than sober riders.
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