According to new data from the Department of Public Safety, Payne County, Oklahoma had the second highest number of fatal car accidents in the state during the month of August 2012. The county, which had five fatalities on its roadways in August, was surpassed only by Oklahoma County, which saw 16 fatal car accidents throughout the month. On the other hand, Oklahoma had an overall decrease in fatal car accidents this August compared to last year, with 56 in 2012 and 72 in 2011. Still, car accidents are a major cause of injuries and fatalities in the state, and as of October 15, 521 people have been killed in Oklahoma car accidents so far this year. If you have suffered injuries in a serious car accident in Oklahoma, consult our knowledgeable car accident attorneys at AMA Law to discuss your options for legal recourse.
OKLAHOMA CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS
The Department of Public Safety indicated that, of the people who were killed in OK car accidents this August, more than 60% were not wearing seat belts at the time of the collision, and only one of the fatal wrecks was determined by investigating officers to have been alcohol-related. According to Oklahoma Highway Patrol Communications Manager Alice Collinsworth, it is difficult to determine why Payne County had the second highest rate of fatalities in Oklahoma, but it’s clear the county is a problem area. In fact, Payne is one of three areas in Oklahoma to have safety corridors to reduce the risk of devastating car accidents. Within these corridors, Oklahoma practices a zero tolerance policy for violations like speeding and failure to wear a seat belt.
CONTACT OUR CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS FOR HELP
“We urge everybody to slow down, wear their seat belts and avoid distractions,” said Collinsworth, who noted that wearing a seat belt increases a person’s chance of surviving a car accident by more than 40%. Unfortunately, injuries and fatalities resulting from car accidents remains a serious problem in Oklahoma and across the United States. If you have been injured in an Oklahoma car accident, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, contact our experienced car accident lawyers at AMA Law to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the person found to be at-fault in the accident, in order to pursue financial compensation for your accident-related injuries or losses.