Experienced Attorneys for Distracted Driving Accidents in Oklahoma City
Dependable representation after your car crash
Have you or a loved one been injured due to someone else’s recklessness or negligence on an Oklahoma road or highway? You need the assistance of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney with Cunningham & Mears. We provide skilled representation for cases involving distracted driving and work hard to seek compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and emotional pain and suffering. You can trust in our experienced team of dedicated Oklahoma City car accident attorneys.
Distracted driving laws are saving lives in Oklahoma
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. The texting ban became effective in November 2015, and in the year following, the state Highway Office reported a reduction in distraction-related crashes injuries and fatalities.
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office compared the numbers of distraction-related crashes prior to the distracted driving law going into effect and the year after. They found that the total number of distraction-related crashes fell by 125, injury crashes were down 22%, fatalities were down 30% and property damage only crashes reduced by 6%. A 30% reduction in traffic fatalities is quite significant. The new texting ban is preventing injuries and saving lives in Oklahoma.
The dangers of distracted driving
Car crashes involving distracted driving cause thousands of injuries and deaths each year. On average, nine people die and more than 1,060 are injured in accidents due to distracted driving each day in the United States. While texting and driving has gotten much more attention in recent years and is a very common form of distracted driving, there are many other dangers of which you should be aware. The main types of distracted driving are:
- Visual: This occurs when drivers take their eyes off the road to adjust the radio or read a text message, as examples.
- Manual: When drivers take their hands off the wheel, such as when reaching for something in the backseat, they are engaged in manual distracted driving.
- Cognitive: This occurs when drivers “space out” and take their mental attention off the road. This is the most difficult form of distracted driving to prove.
Of course, some accidents may fall under all these categories. One reason texting and driving is so dangerous is that it distracts the driver visually, manually and cognitively. Drunk driving is another serious form of distraction, as the driver does not have the focus or reaction time needed to operate a motor vehicle safely.
Common issues related to distracted driving
Texting and driving is the most well-known type of distracted driving, but it’s not the only one. Distractions may be internal or external and apply to 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:
- Fiddling with the radio
- Looking at a map or GPS
- Eating or drinking
- Engaging in personal grooming (like shaving or putting on makeup)
- Reading
- Turned 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
Some of these may sound a bit silly, at first glance – but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. Any driver whose full attention is not driving can post a risk to other drivers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has identified some of the most common sources of distraction, which are fixating on non-driving-related objects, smoking while driving, using a cell phone, and eating and drinking while driving. Understanding that these distractions are extremely dangerous will help protect you and others on the road.
You need a knowledgeable auto accident lawyer
If your injuries or those of a loved one were the result of a car crash caused by a distracted driver, the burden will be on you to prove the other driver’s fault in the crash. In an injury claim, you must be able to prove that the other driver’s negligence. When a driver thinks that they can split their attention between their cell phone and driving, they are engaging in negligent behavior that is also against the law. Our experienced, Oklahoma distracted driving accident lawyers will fight for justice on your behalf.
Schedule a free consultation with an experienced distracted car accident attorney in Oklahoma today
After an auto accident due to distracted driving, speak with a dedicated personal injury lawyer with Cunningham & Mears right away. We offer free initial consultations, so give us a call at 405-232-1212 or contact us to get started. Remember, we’re here for you when you need us most.