Even though Oklahoma’s population is relatively small, at 3.9 million residents, for its size, there were 72,503 car accidents in 2015 alone. These car accidents resulted in over 23,000 people being injured and 590 tragic deaths, according to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. Although government initiatives and traffic laws have aided in improving safety on Oklahoma roads, it is nearly impossible to eradicate the leading cause of car accidents in Oklahoma. Here, our Oklahoma car accident attorneys discuss why car accidents that are easily preventable occur frequently.
Common Motorist Mistakes That Cause Car Accidents To be sure, there are plenty of car accidents that happen on the streets and highways of Oklahoma that are caused by factors that are completely beyond the scope of a driver’s control. We cannot control the weather, and we generally are not aware of vehicle defects until something goes wrong. Even the most cautious motorists do not have the ability to predict or maneuver around safety issues such as potholes, defective airbags, fallen branches, torrential rain, high winds, and other obstacles or defects. The Most Common Cause Of Car Accidents In Oklahoma While these types of factors are certainly to blame for a small percentage of Oklahoma car accidents, the majority of Oklahoma car accidents are caused by errors that drivers make. In fact, 93% of car accidents are caused by errors that drivers make, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA). Human errors that cause car accidents include: Not slowing down in inclement weather Driving while distracted by cell phones, food, and other passengers Driving while on drugs or alcohol Failure to check side and rearview mirrors Failure to yield for vehicles with right-of-way Neglecting traffic rules Speeding This means that we, as motorists on the roads and highways of Oklahoma, have the collective ability to reduce the incomprehensible number of car accidents that happen each year. Obviously, we cannot take over the wheel, gas pedal and brakes for other drivers, but we can pay close attention to our own driving behaviors, as well as the driving behaviors of other cars around us. We Are Here To Help If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Oklahoma, contact the law offices of Frasier, Frasier & Hickman, LLP to discuss your case. We offer a free consultation for Oklahomans who are victims of car accidents and we have been helping our fellow Oklahomans for over 60 years. Call us today at 918-779-3658.