Accident Statistics
OKLAHOMA CITY
CAR ACCIDENTS
WHAT CAUSES CAR ACCIDENTS?
Several factors contribute to auto accidents. However, three factors tend to come up time and again are:
DRUNK DRIVING
Drinking and driving continues to be a problem in Oklahoma and across the U.S. On average, 179 fatal alcohol-related crashes occur in Oklahoma. In 2016, 742 alcohol-related crashes were reported in Oklahoma City, with 18 fatal wrecks.
DISTRACTED DRIVING
In 2016, there were 8,390 distracted driving accidents in Oklahoma, including 1,720 total crashes, 694 injury crashes and 11 fatal crashes that involved drivers who were distracted by electronic devices.
SPEEDING
Speeding can include going faster than the posted speed limit or driving too fast for road, weather and traffic conditions. In 2016, unsafe speed contributed to 1,223 total crashes in Oklahoma City, including 25 crashes that resulted in death.
WHERE DO CRASHES OCCUR?
Most auto accidents in Oklahoma City and throughout the state occur on city streets, interstate highways and state highways in urban areas.
WHEN DO WRECKS HAPPEN?
WHO GETS INVOLVED IN CRASHES?
167,962 people were involved in traffic accidents in Oklahoma in 2016, including:
Teen drivers (age 17 and younger) comprised 3.7 percent of people involved in motor vehicle accidents in Oklahoma, while elderly drivers (age 66 and older) accounted for
7.2 percent.
A total of 1,482 motorcyclists were involved in motorcycle crashes, including 88
fatalities and 321 incapacitating injuries.
Also, a total of 5,051 crashes involved large trucks, including 106 fatal crashes and 162 that caused incapacitating injuries
TAKE THESE 7 STEPS AFTER
AN OKLAHOMA CITY CAR ACCIDENT
Call 911 right away so police and EMTs will respond.
Speeding can include going faster than the posted speed limit or driving too fast for road, weather and traffic conditions. In 2016, unsafe speed contributed to 1,223 total crashes in Oklahoma City, including 25 crashes that resulted in death.
Get Information at the Scene
If you are able to do so, get the name, phone number and insurance information from all other drivers involved in the crash. Before they leave, get the names and phone numbers of witnesses, too. Also, take as many photos as you can of the vehicles involved in the crash, debris, tire marks and surrounding scene.
SEE A DOCTOR
If you are not taken away for emergency treatment, you still need to see a doctor as early as you can. In fact, you should go immediately to the doctor and get checked for any potential injuries, including head injuries, internal injuries and soft tissue damage that you can’t readily detect. Stick to your treatment plan.
Tell Your Insurance Company
You should notify your insurance company as soon as possible after the crash. You simply need to stick to basic facts. If another driver’s insurance company calls, you don’t need to talk to the insurers. You should simply decline to give a statement or discuss a settlement offer until you speak with an attorney first.
Order a Copy of Your Crash Report
You can order a copy of your collision report by going directly to the local law enforcement agency who responded to your crash. You can also get a copy through the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
Download the form at: https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/dps/docs/records_request.pdf
Mail the form and your fee ($7 per copy, or $10 for a certified copy) to:
Department of Public Safety Records Management Division
P. O. Box 11415
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415
Keep of All of Your Documents
Use a box or a folder to keep copies of all documents related to your car accident, including medical bills, car repair bills and receipts from other out-of-pocket expenses. You should also keep a copy of your own auto insurance policy in a safe place and hold on to any letters or e-mails that you get from insurance companies.
Contact a lawyer
The sooner you get in touch with a lawyer about your car accident, the better off you will be. The lawyer can take over all communication with the insurance company, investigate your accident, gather your medical records, file an insurance claim and seek a settlement on your behalf and, if necessary, file a lawsuit and fight for you in court. The lawyer can also make sure that you get the medical treatment you need, notify medical bill collectors and creditors about your status and help you file a property damage claim.
For More Information
Contact Cain Law Offices for a timely and free consultation about your car accident. We are available to take your call 24/7.
Oklahoma City Office
10415 Greenbriar Place
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
(405) 759-7400
Edmond Office
829 East 33rd Street
Edmond, OK 73013
(405) 519-6263