Oklahoma accident victims: were you a victim of distracted driving?
We all know highway collisions are unintentional-that’s why we refer to them as “accidents.” The problem is, while nobody wants to cause a car wreck on purpose, some drivers ignore the road and give priority to something in the car-like a cellphone, a child in the backseat, or a GPS system. Engaging in any non-driving-related activity while operating a motor vehicle is known as distracted driving. These activities are proven to divert the driver’s attention and increase the risk of a crash.
There are three main types of distraction:
- Visual. This happens when something causes a driver to take his eyes off the road while driving. Text messages, GPS systems, or simply looking around for a street name can all divert visual attention.
- Manual. This is when a driver takes his hands of the wheel for some reason. The most common culprit is cellphone dialing, but there are others: restraining pets, disciplining children, eating or drinking, and anything else that requires the use of your hands.
- Cognitive. This is when you’re thinking about something other than driving. Stress from your job, a relationship, making a grocery list in your head as you drive-anything that takes your primary mental focus away from driving.
While it may be easy to assign blame in a distracted driving case, proving fault is not so easy. There are no federal laws regarding prosecution of distracted drivers, so states are free to make their own laws. If you were in a car accident in Oklahoma, you should be aware that the state has laws in place to protect victims of distracted driving. Call the Buxton Law Group today at (405) 604-5577 for more information and to set up a consultation.
Here are some facts you may not know about distracted driving:
- Almost 20 percent of all crashes in 2008 involved some type of distraction. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA).
- In 2008, more than half a million people were injured in collisions involving a distracted driver, and nearly 6,000 were killed. (NHTSA)
- Drivers who use hand-held devices such as cellphones or PDAs are four times as likely to get into crashes resulting in injuries. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
Electronic devices, whether hands-free or handheld, are the most well-known offenders in these types of cases, as they continually take the driver’s attention off the road. Drivers distracted by these devices are more likely to miss cues-such as car horns and traffic lights-that would normally alert them to the danger of an impending crash.
You don’t have to suffer because of someone else’s bad decisions. Call the Buxton Law Group today at (405) 604-5577 as we can help you win the compensation you deserve after an Oklahoma car wreck.