Some Oklahoma motor vehicle crashes occur due to unpredictable and frankly uncontrollable circumstances. Someone who just purchased a new vehicle may not know about a defective component that fails while they are on the highway. Issues with the road or inclement weather can also increase the likelihood of a crash occurring.
However, many collisions occur because drivers make poor choices. Some people violate minor traffic statutes. They might exceed the speed limit or forget to use a turn signal in traffic. Those minor mistakes could become the underlying cause of a major wreck.
Other times, drivers are obviously unsafe on the road. They give their own safety or the well-being of others no consideration. Reckless driving is unfortunately a common practice in Oklahoma. Reckless drivers may cause crashes that claim lives or put others in the hospital.
Reckless drivers are liable for their mistakes
Technically, the Oklahoma reckless driving statute is broad and somewhat open to interpretation. Anyone who operates a vehicle with wanton disregard for the safety of others may be guilty of reckless driving. However, the idea of what constitutes disregard for the safety of others can differ from person to person.
Generally speaking, if other people should be able to agree that a choice was unsafe, that may lend credence to the claim that a driver was reckless. For example, drag racing on public roads is an activity that most people would acknowledge could lead to severe injury or death. So is driving the wrong way on a one-way street or driving at 30 miles per hour above the posted speed limit.
Reckless drivers are responsible for their choices
There are many ways for people to hold reckless drivers accountable when they cause crashes. Officers may arrest individuals for reckless driving, as it is a criminal offense not just a traffic infraction.
Those involved in a collision caused by a reckless driver may have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit in Oklahoma City. People who lose a loved one in a deadly crash may have grounds for an Oklahoma City wrongful death lawsuit. If the state successfully prosecutes someone for reckless driving, that may bolster the rights of those with financial losses related to the incident.
Especially when reckless drivers cause serious financial losses for others or do not have proper insurance, a lawsuit is a reasonable way to demand accountability for their misconduct. Realizing that reckless driving is an actionable offense may benefit those affected by a crash caused by patently unsafe conduct.