Know the risks drivers face in Tulsa and other cities due to speeding drivers
Speeding drivers often cause serious car accidents in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and throughout Oklahoma. Indeed, the problem has reached record levels in certain places in the state.
How common are speeding accidents in Oklahoma? Why do drivers speed? And what legal options are available to people injured in car accidents caused by speeding drivers in Oklahoma? Below, you can learn more about this issue.
How common are speeding car accidents in Oklahoma and nationwide?
Speeding remains one of the leading causes of car accidents in the country. Each year, an estimated 10,000 people die in accidents caused by speeding drivers, according to accident statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). That works out to more than 26 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.
Each year, Oklahoma traffic safety officials point to speeding drivers as one of the main reasons why motor vehicle fatalities continue to increase to record levels nearly every year. State officials estimate that 1 out of 4 fatal car accidents occurs due to speeding drivers, in line with the national numbers.
Where are speeding accidents the worst in Oklahoma?
While speeding remains a problem on roads throughout Oklahoma, more speeding accidents happen on certain highways in certain cities throughout the state.
Speed-related accidents have become particularly bad in Tulsa. Tulsa County (which includes Tulsa) has more than 1,870 speeding-related accidents each year on average, the most of any county in the state, according to OHSO data. This includes nearly 1,600 speeding accidents each year on average within the Tulsa city limits.
Oklahoma County (which includes most of Oklahoma City) has more than 1,500 speeding accidents each year on average, the second-most for any county in the state.
And while speeding accidents often occur on highways, they actually occur more often on city streets. Of the 7,800 speeding accidents that occur on average statewide each year, more than 2,200 occur on city streets, followed by interstate highways (1,685 speeding accidents) and county roads (1,350 speeding accidents), according to OHSO accident data.
Why do drivers speed in Oklahoma?
Drivers speed for several different reasons. According to the NHTSA and OHSO, the most common reasons why drivers speed in Oklahoma include:
- Age of driver – Drivers under 30 years old (especially drivers 20 to 24 years old) cause the majority of speeding-related accidents in Oklahoma.
- Gender of driver – Male drivers (especially men under 30) cause significantly more speeding-related accidents in Oklahoma.
- Alcohol – Many speeding accidents involve drivers under the influence of alcohol. Each year, more than 270 speeding-related crashes in Oklahoma involve drunk drivers.
- Time of day – Drivers on the road during commuting hours (7 to 9 am and 4 to 6 pm) cause significantly more speeding accidents in Oklahoma than any other time of the day.
- Running late – Many speeding drivers admit they drive faster if they are “running late” to get somewhere.
- Higher speed limits – Oklahoma highways have some of the highest speed limits in the country. Several highways in the state have maximum speed limits of 80 mph, including:
- Cherokee Turnpike from mile marker 3 to mile marker 28.
- E. Bailey Turnpike, Norman Spur, from mile marker 102 to mile marker 107.
- Indian Nation Turnpike from I-40 to SH-9.
- Kickapoo Turnpike from Turner Turnpike to I-40.
- Muskogee Turnpike from Tulsa to Muskogee, Oklahoma.
- Turner Turnpike from Sapulpa to Bristow, Oklahoma.
Legal options available to injury victims in Oklahoma
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by another driver in Oklahoma, you deserve to be financially compensated for your accident-related expenses. Under the state’s at-fault insurance system, the at-fault party (usually the driver who caused the crash and their insurance company) must financially compensate all injury victims.
As a result, you generally have three choices when it comes to obtaining the money you deserve for your crash:
- Accept a settlement offer from the at-fault party.
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a larger settlement.
- File a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily result in a trial; it’s a way to put pressure on the insurance company. This may be helpful if, for example, the insurance company denies your accident claim, often on the grounds that you somehow caused the crash. A lawsuit may bring the insurance company back to the negotiating table after making a lowball settlement offer and provide a better opportunity to get the money you deserve. Ultimately, only an attorney can advise as to the best option in your situation.
Keep in mind you only have a limited amount of time to take legal action in Oklahoma. From the date of your accident, you must file a lawsuit within two (2) years, according to Oklahoma Statutes section 12-95. If you miss that deadline (known as the statute of limitations), you miss out on your only opportunity for justice.
How much is my accident claim worth?
There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to collisions caused by speeding drivers in Oklahoma. If someone else caused your crash, you should be paid for all your accident-related expenses. What you might not realize is just how many expenses this includes:
- All past, present, and anticipated future medical expenses related to your accident, including:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Surgical procedures
- Follow-up doctor’s appointments
- Physical therapy
- The cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle.
- Replacement income if you need to rest after your crash and cannot work.
- Lost future income if you cannot return to work due to a permanent disability.
- Pain and suffering in certain circumstances.
Such expenses can easily add up to thousands of dollars or significantly more. Make sure you demand the money you deserve. Make sure you talk to an Oklahoma lawyer right away.
Why you should hire an attorney
You might think you don’t need a lawyer if a speeding driver clearly caused your collision. A local police officer or state trooper from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will likely investigate your accident. But it’s important to understand that their investigation will focus on determining the cause of your crash. They do not have any say in how much money you should receive for your accident-related expenses.
Such expenses can add up quickly. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer on your side. Your attorney can conduct an in-depth, independent investigation and demand full compensation for your crash. If necessary, your lawyer can take legal action on your behalf as well, including filing a lawsuit in the court that has jurisdiction over your case.
Don’t underestimate the complexity or the seriousness of your case. Talk to an Oklahoma car accident attorney as soon as possible to fully understand the legal options available to you.
