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Oklahoma City Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers
Dependable representation when inattentive drivers cause injuries or death in OK
If a distracted driver caused your injuries in a car accident, you need the strong advocates at Cunningham & Mears on your side. Our car accident lawyers have 105 years of combined experience. We understand the unique challenges involved in Oklahoma City distracted driving cases, starting with the need to show how the driver was distracted when he/she struck your car. We file claims against the driver and any other responsible parties. Our lawyers fight for all the compensation you deserve for your lost wages, medical bills, physical pain, emotional suffering, and property damage. We file wrongful death actions if a distracted driver tragically took the life of a loved one.
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What are Oklahoma’s laws on distracted driving?
Texting while driving is against the law in Oklahoma. It is a primary offense, which means that a law enforcement officer can pull drivers over and issue a citation solely for texting while driving for which the fine is $100.
Oklahoma law also provides that “the operator of every vehicle, while driving, shall devote their full time and attention to such driving.” The police can’t issue a citation unless they see that the driver is operating a vehicle in a way that is an “articulable danger to other persons on the roadway.”
What are the dangers of distracted driving in Oklahoma City?
Texting is the most dangerous type of distraction. It takes five seconds to read or send a text. A car traveling at 60 mph will travel more than 500 feet in those five seconds. That’s well more than the length of a football field.
Distracted driving is dangerous because it:
- Takes a driver’s eyes off the road. This means the driver isn’t aware of the vehicles around him/her, stop signs, red lights, and any type of roadway directions.
- Takes the driver’s mind off traffic. The driver will not be aware of emergencies in time to respond in a manner to avoid a collision on any Oklahoma City road.
- Removes one or even both hands from the steering wheel. This means the car can easily steer into other lanes, oncoming traffic, barriers, and the shoulder of the road.
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office found the following dangerous statistics for distracted driving in 2021 based on data from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local police:
- There were 44 fatalities; 8 of these deaths occurred in Oklahoma City
- There were 178 serious injuries
- There were 1,021 minor injuries
- There were 7,904 distracted driving crashes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,500 people died in America in 2021 due to distracted driving.
What conduct is considered distracted driving?
Distractions may occur within a vehicle or outside of it, and may affect all motor vehicle drivers, including motorcyclists, truck drivers, and car drivers. External distractions include looking out the window at buildings, people, animals, or anything else. Internal distractions, which are more common and typically more detrimental, include such things as:
- Texting while driving
- Talking on a smartphone
- Fiddling with the radio
- Looking at a map or GPS
- Eating or drinking
- Engaging in personal grooming (like shaving or putting on makeup)
- Reading
- Turning around in the car to talk to a passenger in the back seat
- Play fighting with another passenger
- Trying to wave a bug out of the car
- Smoking
- Looking at a video
Some of these may sound minor at first glance – but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. Any driver whose full attention is not driving poses a risk to other drivers.
Distracted drivers often cause rear-end accidents, broadsides, head-on crashes, single vehicle accidents, and multi-vehicle accidents.
Who is responsible for a distracted driving accident in Oklahoma City?
At Cunningham & Mears, our Oklahoma City distracted driving lawyers are skilled at showing a driver was distracted at the time of the accident that injured you or took the life of a loved one. We are able to show the distraction because we work with investigators who examine the accident site, the damaged vehicles, and speak with witnesses. We review the accident with the police who were called to the scene of the collision. Our personal injury lawyers formally question everyone who has information about the accident, including the driver and anyone in the driver’s car. We review the physical evidence such as sandwich wrappers. We also seek to review the driver’s electronic devices and cell phones.
While the driver is the primary defendant, other defendants may include:
- An employer of the driver
- The owner of the vehicle, such as parents who lend their car to their teenage child
- Other drivers
- Anyone else who may have contributed to the accident.
We seek compensation for all your financial and personal damages. We may seek punitive damages. Our lawyers file wrongful death claims on behalf of families if a loved one is killed by a distracted driver.
Do you have an Oklahoma City distracted driving lawyer near me?
Cunningham & Mears has two offices located in Oklahoma City.
- Our first is located at 5104 N Francis Ave., Suite 102, Oklahoma City – just a few minutes from Penn Square Mall. There are plenty of parking spaces nearby.
- Our second is located at 9428 Westgate, Suite 102B, in the Brookhaven West part of Oklahoma City - just a short walk from Resurrection Cemetery and off the Northwest Expressway.
You can also reach us by public transit. If you are too sick, or you are immobile, our lawyers will meet you at your home or in the hospital.
We’ll answer all your questions and fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free consultation with an experienced distracted car accident attorney in Oklahoma today
We understand how upset you are. You’re in a lot of pain. You may not be able to work. You’re worried about how you can pay your bills. All because someone couldn’t just get off the road to do a task. After an auto accident due to distracted driving, speak with the experienced personal injury lawyers with Cunningham & Mears right away so we can investigate your claim, review your medical needs, and assert your legal rights. Call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We’re here for you when you need us most.
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