Please be safe out there on the roads. Over the course of the past few weeks, traffic authorities have warned area motorists that the summer of 2015 is shaping up to be one of Oklahoma’s most dangerous driving seasons on record.

The number of traffic accidents and fatalities has increased this year for all types of motor vehicles compared to the same time in 2014, and Tulsa drivers are advised to be especially cautious while traveling on area roads and highways.

On the evening of Sunday, August 9th, another tragic traffic accident claimed the life of a Rogers County motorcyclist. Authorities are still investigating what may have caused this fatal incident.

According to Police, the 18-year-old rider was driving north on US 169 on Sunday night when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. The rider was wearing his helmet at the time, but unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent him from sustaining fatal injuries at the scene.

Police believe the rider may have been traveling at an unsafe rate of speed at the time, but further investigation is still ongoing to determine if there were any other factors that may have played a role in the accident.

Police in the Tulsa area have responded to far too many car and motorcycle accidents so far this year. An August report from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety reveals that there were 63 total vehicle accident fatalities in June of 2015 alone. This number increased considerably when compared to only 53 traffic fatalities during the same month in 2014.

Motorcyclists represented 17 of the 63 traffic accident fatalities in June. Here are some more statistics that reveal the troubling reality of motorcycle accidents in Oklahoma:

  • According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, there were 92 reported motorcycle fatalities in Oklahoma in 2013.
  • Of those 92 riders that were fatally injured in 2013, 77 were unhelmeted at the time of the accident.
  • Contrary to popular belief, young and inexperienced motorcyclists are not the age group that faces the highest rates of rider fatality. In fact, nationwide in 2013, riders under the age of 29 made up only 27% of total rider fatalities.

Rider error, unsafe speed, and reckless behavior are a factor in a small percentage of motorcycle accidents. The biggest risk to riders is other drivers of other passenger vehicles.

Motor vehicle drivers should pay special attention and watch for motorcyclists, especially during the summer months when motorcycle traffic is most frequent.

Here are some safety tips that all motorists should follow in order to prevent collisions and accidents involving motorcycles:

  • When changing lanes or turning at intersections, take an extra moment to look in your blind spots. Many accidents involving motorcycles occur when drivers simply fail to see riders approaching them.
  • When driving behind a motorcycle, give yourself more following distance than you would for other types of passenger vehicles.

  • Motorcyclists are often forced to avoid common road obstacles such as branches and potholes that other motorists can easily ignore. Be aware that these obstacles present a far greater for riders and be mindful of the importance of sharing the road.

Drivers of all types of motor vehicles have a right to share the road safely. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by the fault of another motorist, you will need an experienced Tulsa Motorcycle Accident lawyer by your side.

At Graves McLain, our attorneys have years of combined experience representing the rights of injured riders. We know that a motorcycle accident can be complex, and we will always fight hard to protect your rights as a victim. Your case and your injuries are serious.

At Graves McLain, we treat them that way.

Call Graves McLain today at 918-659-6600 to receive a FREE, confidential and no-obligation consultation about your case. At Graves McLain, we will help provide the answers you seek, and you will never pay an attorney’s fee unless we achieve a recovery for you.

Graves McLain – Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries.

When injury victims need a law firm with a reputation for excellence, turn to Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. We are a top-rated personal injury firm determined to be the best. With decades of award-winning representation, our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.

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