Senior citizen drivers may be at higher risk of an auto accident than middle-aged or younger drivers. Certain factors may increase risk of a crash with a senior. Contact a Clarksburg attorney if injured by a senior driver in West Virginia.
The risks of an auto accident among senior citizen drivers can be higher than with other age groups. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), older drivers 65 and up accounted for about 12.5 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes in the U.S.
If you were injured as a result of a negligent driver – regardless of age – an attorney handling car accidents in Clarksburg, WV can discuss filing a claim to recover damages you may experience as a result of the accident.
Factors that May Increase Risks of an Auto Accident with a Senior Citizen
Drivers of any age could be at a higher risk of a car accident if certain contributing factors ar
e present. But some of these can be especially dangerous to older adults.
The following are some of the factors that may increase the risk of an accident with a senior citizen:
• decline in vision;
• memory problems;
• reduced reasoning;
• physical challenges (arthritis, less strength);
• medications and their possible side effects; and
• distractions.
Older drivers may also be more vulnerable to severe, life-threatening injuries in an accident. The NHTSA found that older adults made up 16.7 percent of the traffic fatalities in 2010. Yet the fact remains that anyone could become a victim.
Statistics about Senior Citizen Drivers
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIH), there were about 22.3 million registered drivers ages 70 and up in the United States in 2010. The good news is that seniors oftentimes avoid driving in certain conditions.
For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60 percent of female older adults avoid driving at night and in bad weather. More than 40 percent don’t get behind the wheel of a car when traffic is heavy.
Older men tend to be a bit riskier. Just over 30 percent avoid driving at night or in poor weather. More women than men avoid taking long trips or driving on roads with higher speed limits. This suggests that risks of an auto accident might be higher with male seniors.
If you are worried about an older driver in your life’s possibility of engaging in a traffic crash, check out the NHTSA's Older Driver Program online. It focuses on public education and traffic law enforcement issues that older citizens may encounter. Their website includes a series of handbooks for older drivers with specific medical conditions and other useful public information.
Filing a Claim after an Auto Accident
It’s not enough to say that an individual’s advanced age is the cause of an accident. In order to be successful in filing a claim, you will need proof of negligence. This may be established through a police report, statements from witnesses or even the statements the older driver makes and photographs of the accident scene.
An attorney for car accidents in Clarksburg, WV at The Miley Legal Group can help with collecting the documentation and information you will need. Your lawyer can also explain the types of damages you may be eligible to receive such as compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. Contact our office to set up a consultation. We understand the consequences of a serious crash and the potential risks of auto accident.
