The summer months often experience an increase in the number of miles traveled and also an increase in the number of serious and fatal collisions that occur. The summer of 2023 has already witnessed a significant uptick in the number of road trips and vacations taken around the United States, which means a lot of traffic and collisions on interstates and highways.
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Those planning a road trip to a family favorite amusement park or Grandma’s cottage need to be aware that their crash risk will be higher during the summer months. What steps can people take to reduce the possibility of a collision when they are on a road trip or family vacation this summer?
Check the vehicle before leaving
One of the simplest ways to prevent vehicle issues involves preemptive inspections before leaving one’s town or state. Checking the brakes, the tires and even the battery for wear and tear can help someone ensure that their vehicle is in ideal operating condition when they leave the area they know. Those who can rely on their vehicles will be better able to respond to changes in traffic that put them at risk.
Plan a route and have navigation assistance if possible
Knowing the route that one will travel ahead of time will substantially reduce the driver’s distraction at the wheel. Those looking for landmarks or scanning street names as they drive can’t fully monitor traffic conditions in the behavior of people near the road as they should. Ideally, a driver headed to unfamiliar areas will review their route ahead of time, use navigation software and have a friend or family member interact with that software instead of handling it directly themselves.
Have a plan for fatigue
Fatigue is also a concern when someone will be on the road for many hours, especially if they have already spent most of the day at the beach or riding roller coasters. Those who recognize the danger of fatigue might plan their vacations a bit differently. Whether they stay the night before driving home or break the driving into shifts so that no one has to stay awake to drive for hours, there are ways to minimize how much of a risk distraction and fatigue will cause on the road.
As a final closing note, being very careful to follow traffic laws and to give other vehicles, especially large commercial trucks, adequate space on the road may be key to someone’s safe arrival at their vacation destination or back home after a road trip when there is a lot of traffic.
Using the three safety tips above can decrease the likelihood of a motor vehicle collision when someone simply wants to take their family or friends on a trip.
When a Highway Crash Happens Despite Precautions
Even the most prepared driver can be struck by someone else’s negligence on a busy Oklahoma highway. When that happens, the same discipline that makes you a safe driver should guide your response at the scene. Pull to the shoulder if the vehicle is operable and it is safe to do so — stopping in a travel lane on a high-speed highway creates a secondary crash risk. Turn on hazard lights immediately. Call 911 before moving around the scene; first responders arrive faster when dispatch is notified promptly, and the police report they create is the foundational document in any later claim.
Do not assume that because you were doing everything right, fault is obvious. High-speed crashes produce confusing physical evidence, and insurers reconstruct scenes to shift blame. Photograph everything: all vehicle positions relative to lane markings, any debris field, the other driver’s vehicle before it is moved, and any visible road conditions (potholes, missing signage, poor lane marking) that may have contributed. If the crash occurred in a construction zone, note the presence and location of construction signs and any flaggers or reduced-speed postings.
Legal Rights After an Oklahoma Highway Crash
Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence system determines what each driver can recover based on their share of fault for the crash. A driver who was following all safety protocols — checked their vehicle, planned their route, managed their fatigue — enters the fault analysis from a position of strength. The at-fault driver’s failure to take equivalent precautions is itself evidence of negligence. Recoverable damages include medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Oklahoma’s personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the crash date. Highway crash evidence — skid marks, vehicle positions captured on traffic cameras, electronic data from newer vehicles — degrades quickly. An attorney preserves this evidence through early investigation and formal demands to government entities for any camera footage before it is overwritten on routine schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if a road hazard contributed to the crash — can I sue the government? Yes, with important conditions. Claims against state or local government entities are governed by the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act, which requires written notice within one year of the incident and limits certain damages. An attorney files the notice on your behalf while investigating whether the road condition caused or contributed to the crash.
I was in a multi-car pileup on the interstate — how does fault work? Multi-vehicle crashes on highways require reconstruction analysis to assign fault percentages to each driver. Each driver with a share of fault bears proportional liability. An attorney hires accident reconstruction experts to ensure your fault share is not overstated.
What if I was hit by an out-of-state driver? Oklahoma courts have jurisdiction over crashes that occurred in Oklahoma regardless of where the at-fault driver lives. An Oklahoma attorney handles the claim under Oklahoma law — you do not need to file in the other driver’s home state.
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