Car Accident Risks and Senior Drivers

Are older adult drivers more likely to be involved in car crashes than younger drivers? Data from the National Institute on Aging suggests that the answer is yes. Not only are seniors who still drive more likely than adult drivers of younger ages to experience motor vehicle collisions, but they are also more likely than younger people to sustain severe injuries. There are many reasons for these increased risks, and it is important to understand how they can affect liability in the aftermath of a Texas car accident.

Increased Risk Factors for Involvement in a Motor Vehicle Crash 

There are many reasons that older adults’ ability to drive safely diminishes with age. According to the National Institute on Aging, the following are some of the most common reasons:

• Stiffer joints and muscles that make it difficult to brake quickly or react quickly to dangers;
• Eyesight problems;
• Hearing difficulties;
• Medications that can cause lightheadedness and drowsiness;
• Slower reflexes; and
• Slower reaction times.

Individuals with dementia, even in relatively early stages, can experience diminished decision-making abilities, which can make driving especially dangerous. Just like drivers of all other ages, seniors who cause collisions can be liable if an injured party or parties move forward with a claim.

Increased Risk of Injury in a Car Accident 

Even if an older adult is not at fault for a collision — which is often the case — they can experience injuries that are more severe than those injuries might be in a younger adult. Indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 70 and up have a higher crash death rate than middle-age drivers and younger adult drivers. As the CDC and Harvard Health Publishing explain, bodies become more physically vulnerable as people age. Wounds are often slower to heal, bones are more likely to break, and chronic diseases can compound the severity of injuries.

If another driver is liable for a collision in which an older adult driver is injured, that negligent driver can be liable for the full scale of the older adult’s injuries. In accident cases, the negligent party is responsible for a plaintiff’s injuries as the plaintiff exists (such as an older adult with increased vulnerabilities) rather than as an average person might experience such injuries.

 Contact Our Texas Car Accident and Injury Lawyers

Were you injured recently in a car accident caused by an elderly driver? Or was your elderly parent injured in a motor vehicle crash caused by a negligent motorist? As we have discussed, older adults may be at greater risk of involvement in a car accident due to a range of factors, and when they are involved in collisions, injuries can be much more severe than they would be for a younger vehicle occupant. If you or someone you love sustained serious or fatal injuries in a motor vehicle collision, it is important to seek advice from an experienced Texas car accident lawyer at John Reed, Attorney at Law. Contact us today to discuss the details of the case and your options for filing a claim.

Sources:

nia.nih.gov/health/safety/safe-driving-older-adults

cdc.gov/older-adult-drivers/about/index.html

health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/why-wound-healing-gets-harder-as-we-age