Oklahoma City car accident attorneys explain what you need to know to stay safe
For decades, a lot of highways in the United States had a uniform speed limit of 55 mph. Then, states raised the speed limit on many highways to 65 mph. Some states have gone even further in recent years, including Oklahoma, where some of the state’s highways now have a maximum speed limit of 80 mph.
Where are these roads located in Oklahoma that have an 80 mph speed limit? What makes speeding so dangerous, and what are common car accidents caused by speeding drivers? Our Oklahoma car accident lawyers at Lawter & Associates, Attorneys at Law, address all these questions below, so drivers can have a better understanding of the risks they face on the road.
Where is the speed limit 80 mph in Oklahoma?
In 1974, the National Maximum Speed Law established the maximum speed limit nationwide at 55 mph. In 1987, the U.S. Congress gave states the right to raise the maximum speed limit to 65 mph as part of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act. Then in 1995, the federal government gave states the right to set their own speed limits.
Since then, many states have raised their speed limits even higher, including Oklahoma, which recently raised the posted speed limit from 75 mph to 80 mph on 104 miles of roads in the state, according to Land Line Now.
The locations where the speed limit was recently raised to 80 mph in Oklahoma include:
- Cherokee Turnpike (25 miles) from mile marker 3 to mile marker 28
- H.E. Bailey Turnpike, Norman Spur (5 miles) from mile marker 102 to mile marker 107
- Indian Nation Turnpike (11 miles) between SH-9 and I-40
- Kickapoo Turnpike (scheduled to open this year) (19 miles) between I-40 and the Turner Turnpike
- Muskogee Turnpike (31 miles) between Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Turner Turnpike (13 miles) between Bristow and Sapulpa, Oklahoma
What makes speeding so dangerous?
While driving over the speed limit might not seem like a serious driving offense, speeding can have serious consequences and can contribute to accidents in many different ways, including:
- Speeding drivers have less time to react to other vehicles on the road.
- When speeding vehicles crash into other vehicles, they do so with greater force, causing more serious accidents.
- Speeding drivers need a longer stopping distance to avoid crashing into another vehicle.
Speeding remains one of the leading causes of car accidents in the country. In 2018, a total of 9,378 people died in motor vehicle accidents caused by speeding drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s why it’s important for drivers to obey posted speed limits and respect the rules of the road.
What are common speeding accidents?
While speeding can be a contributing factor in many types of car accidents, speeding is often an issue in certain kinds of collisions, including:
- Rear-end car accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Highway accidents
- Car accidents that occur during hazardous weather conditions.
Whatever type of speeding accident you or your family may be dealing with, it’s important to understand that you have legal options. That’s why our attorneys want to meet with you to learn more about the details of your potential legal case.
How much is my speeding car accident claim worth?
If you have been involved in an accident caused by a speeding driver, the valued of your car accident claim can vary based on many different factors, including:
- The severity of the injuries you sustained in your speeding accident
- The extent of the medical care you need to receive for your accident-related injuries
- How much time you need to recover from your speeding accident
- Whether your vehicle needs to be replaced or repaired
Based on these factors, your speeding car accident claim could be worth thousands or millions of dollars. To learn more about how an attorney can help you after your high speed car accident, contact us and schedule your free case evaluation with an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer at Lawter & Associates, Attorneys at Law. We have offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.