Oklahoma State Highway 9 is considered the second most dangerous highway in the country. That should come as no surprise, though, to local residents of Oklahoma (or those passing through the state) who drive on OK9.
Crashes are a common site on the highway, where distracted driving, speeding, and other reckless behaviors can put everyone on the road in danger. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash on OK9, please contact the Cain Law Office today to talk about your legal rights.
OK9 Safety Report
In October 2018, ValuePenguin released a report on highway safety using information gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to data from the NHTSA, there are more than 34,000 fatal accidents in the U.S. every year. Of those fatal crashes, 57 percent occur on the nation’s highways.
The study looked at factors including the average length of emergency response time and what percentage of fatal accidents on the highways involved intoxicated drivers. The report found that the median wait time for emergency response services on OK9 was roughly 12 minutes. And 18.2 percent of fatal crashes on OK9 involved drivers whose blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.
In order to rank the highways, a grading system was used that took into account the following information for each roadway on the list:
- Fatal crashes per vehicle-miles-traveled per capita
- Fatalities for each crash
- Percentage of non-fatal vehicle crashes
Based on the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Oklahoma State Highway 9, or OK9, was determined to be the second most dangerous highway in the United States. Between 2010 and 2016, 50 fatal crashes occurred on this highway, claiming the lives of 60 victims.
Though OK9 stretches nearly 350 miles all the way from the Texas panhandle to western Arkansas, the majority of OK9 fatalities occur in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.
How to Avoid an Accident on OK9
Since nearly one in five of the fatal accidents that occur along OK9 involve a drunk driver, it is crucial to not get behind the wheel if you are under the influence.
A large percentage of accidents are also caused by distracted driving. Cellphone use is highly dangerous if you are behind the wheel, so if the temptation to text and drive is too much for you, either disable texting functionality on your cellphone while you’re driving or keep your phone in the center console or back seat. It only takes one mistake to cause a serious accident, and sending a text is not worth risking anyone’s life.
What to Do If You Are Injured on OK9
If you are involved in an accident while driving along Oklahoma State Highway 9, the steps that you should take will depend on the severity of your situation. If someone involved in the accident was seriously injured, call 911 to get them help as soon as possible. However, you should also take the following steps, if possible:
- Call the police to file an accident report.
- Take pictures or video of the scene and the damage.
- Get names and contact information for any witnesses.
- Exchange information with other drivers involved in the accident.
- Talk to an experienced lawyer about your right to compensation.
Other vehicles traveling on OK9 may not see you on the side of the road, so make sure that you are in a safe location as you gather the information that you need.
Let a Knowledgeable Car Accident Lawyer from Cain Law Office Help You
If you’ve been involved in a car crash on OK9 or anywhere else in Oklahoma due to someone else’s negligence, please talk to our skilled lawyer today. The team at Cain Law Office has many years of experience representing Oklahoma injury victims, and we are ready to speak with you.
Our consultations are free, so call us at (405) 759-7400 or reach out to us online to schedule one right away.
