A new five-year study has named Oklahoma one of the top ten most dangerous states for teenage drivers. The research was conducted by Erie Insurance and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, who analyzed 2006-2010 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation to examine how U.S. states compare in car accident rates involving teen drivers. …
A new five-year study has named Oklahoma one of the top ten most dangerous states for teenage drivers. The research was conducted by Erie Insurance and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, who analyzed 2006-2010 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation to examine how U.S. states compare in car accident rates involving teen drivers. According to the study, Oklahoma is ranked as the seventh most dangerous state for teens who get behind the wheel, with the deadliest month and day for Oklahoma teen drivers being July and Saturday. If you have been injured in an Oklahoma car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, contact our team of car accident lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options.
Car Accidents Leading Cause of Death for Teens
Fatal car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens aged 16 to 19 in the United States. In fact, more teen drivers are involved in car accidents every year, and more are killed, than any other age group among Americans. The unfortunate truth is that many car accidents involving teens in Oklahoma and across the United States are preventable, often the result of inexperience or poor decision-making. “Inexperience combined with a never-ending list of distractions can add up to a deadly combination for teen drivers,” said Karen Kraus Phillips, vice president at Erie Insurance. “Our goal is to reduce the high number of teen injuries and deaths that happen on the road every year.”
Safety Tips to Prevent Oklahoma Car Accidents
In order to reduce the risk of car accidents, injuries and fatalities affecting teens, all drivers are encouraged the consider the following safety tips when behind the wheel:
- Wear your seatbelt – Fewer teens use their seatbelt than any other age group, and failure to do so is the main reason teens are killed in car accidents.
- Limit the number of passengers – Teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident with passengers in the car than without.
- Focus on the road – Using a cell phone while driving increases your risk of being involved in an accident by four times. Any kind of distraction, including texting, eating or using a GPS device, while driving can increase a driver’s chances of crashing.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys for Help
In 2010, there were 69,000 car accidents in Oklahoma alone, resulting in injury to roughly 37,000 people and killing hundreds more. If you have suffered injuries in an Oklahoma car accident caused by the negligence or distraction of another driver, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, don’t hesitate to protect your legal rights. Our knowledgeable car accident attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center are standing by, ready to help, and have the skill and experience necessary to help you pursue the compensation you are entitled to. Contact our car accident lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center and protect your legal rights today.