DISTRACTED DRIVING
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three main types of distraction while driving: 1) visual [taking your eyes off the road for whatever reason including texting], 2) manual [taking your hands off the steering wheel for whatever reason including texting], and 3) cognitive [taking your mind off driving for whatever reason—yes, including texting]. Over 3,000 people die each year because of distracted driving. In fact, nine people die every day in the United States due to distracted driving. Many thousands more are injured.
Distractions are a part of life: the infant in the car seat suddenly starts screaming; you see a squirrel on the side of the road looking like it is going to dart out in front of you; your cell phone rings that you received a text message . . . . . We all get distracted. However, the law requires all of us to devote our full time and attention to driving when we are behind the wheel. 47 O.S. §11-901b. A violation of that statute (e.g., not devoting our full time and attention to driving) is negligence in Oklahoma.
About 1 in 5 people who die in distracted driver crashes are not in vehicles. They were walking or riding their bicycles or were otherwise outside of a car. Thus, someone that is distracted while driving can injure or kill someone that isn’t even in a vehicle.
Victims of distracted driving crashes frequently incur medical bills, lost wages and property damage. The Scott Ray Law Firm recovers those damages and more for its distracted driving victim clients. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a distracted driver, call the Scott Ray Law Firm at 580-248-5557. We are here to help!