Car Accidents with Elderly Drivers
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The baby boomer generation is getting older. As the largest demographic group in the U.S. population, the numbers of senior drivers over the age of 65-years old are now at an all-time high. In 2016, there were an estimated 49.2 million elderly drivers on the road in the United States. These drivers, while experienced, are at high risk for auto accidents. In 2015 there were 6,165 people 65 and older killed and an estimated 240,000 injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Older people made up 18 percent of all traffic fatalities and 10 percent of all people injured in traffic crashes during the year. Recent statistics show that more than one out of every ten fatal car accidents involve a driver over the age of 65. As motorists continue to drive at older ages, there are numerous factors that contribute to senior driver-related car crashes.
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Risk Factors for Older Drivers
Senior drivers have experience on their side; however, with age comes diminishing physical factors that can affect their driving. It is a fact of life that as people grow older, time can take its toll on the body. Reaction times can decrease, due to reduced sense ability. It is important for older drivers and their family members to recognize when it may be time to stop driving. One way to do this is to properly assess the most common risk factors for older drivers. These include:
- Delayed response time
- Declining hearing and vision
- Cognitive impairment
- Joint stiffness and difficulty moving
- Driving too slowly
- Ignores traffic signals or signs
- Gets lost on familiar routes
- Get increasingly nervous or agitated while driving
- Gets drowsy often while driving
- Inability to stay in their lane of travel
- Have had many more “near-misses” than usual
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or a loved one it is imperative that you get an exam to determine if you are still fit to drive an automobile.
- Delayed response time
- Declining hearing and vision
- Cognitive impairment
- Joint stiffness and difficulty moving
- Driving too slowly
- Ignores traffic signals or signs
- Gets lost on familiar routes
- Get increasingly nervous or agitated while driving
- Gets drowsy often while driving
- Inability to stay in their lane of travel
- Have had many more “near-misses” than usual
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or a loved one it is imperative that you get an exam to determine if you are still fit to drive an automobile.
Medical Conditions Impacting the Elderly’s Driving Ability
We’ve all passed them on the roadways, wondering whether it’s safe for them to be driving a car and whether they might be putting other drivers in danger. In many instances, those questions of concern—or even impatience—are unfounded. But in other circumstances, they are justifiable. In fact, many seniors on the roads may suffer from medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, that may cause a medical emergency while they are driving and result in a serious accident.
Seniors also have an increased risk of stroke as they age. Suffering from a stroke while at the wheel can undoubtedly cause a very serious accident. In addition, seniors taking medications for certain conditions may not be aware of the side effects the medications may have on their driving ability thereby placing themselves and others on the roads at risk for an accident and injury. Other medical conditions, including arthritis and glaucoma, may make basic driving skills such as steering and judging distances more difficult for senior drivers again placing them at a higher risk of causing an accident. There may also be some seniors on the road who are suffering with dementia which can have a significant impact on their ability to process information and make the decisions necessary for safe driving.
Reducing Senior Driving Accidents
Even though senior motorists are susceptible to physical and cognitive issues that may affect their driving ability, they can be safe drivers. Older drivers tend to use their seat belts more, are less likely to drive under the influence and are often more cautious when driving in poor conditions. The CDC recommends the following tips to increase senior driving safety and to reduce the chance of an accident.
- Check medications- To be safe while driving, discuss medication side effects with a doctor or pharmacist that may affect driving.
- Annual exams- Have hearing and vision tests annually as well as physical exams to ensure that senses are adequate for driving.
- Extra precautions- Plan driving routes, leave extra space between vehicles and limit driving during poor visibility conditions. These safe driving habits can help reduce the risk of accidents.
Wrong Vehicle Type for the Elderly
Elderly drivers should be driving vehicles that fit their physical and cognitive needs appropriately. Questions to be considered include:
- Is the car too big or too small? Can the driver smoothly steer the car around turns? Can the driver see over the steering wheel while driving? The driver’s physical stature should be considered when choosing a car. Visibility can be reduced, creating unsafe blind spots for senior drivers. A way to overcome these obstacles is to pick out a car that is lower to the ground and has a minimum number of blind spots.
- Does the car offer appropriate space for drivers with disabilities/physical impairments? Older people who have had hip or knee replacements need special consideration. Those surgeries may require extra room for maneuverability in a vehicle. If a driver is uncomfortable in the car, it may cause distractions while driving.
Did an Elderly Driver Cause a Texas Auto Accident Where you Were Injured?
Texas car accidents caused by elderly drivers must be prosecuted aggressively to ensure your legal rights are preserved. The Pascoe Law Firm has successfully resolved auto accidents caused by elderly drivers involving the injury of other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. While our law firm is respectful of a senior’s right to drive our skilled personal injury, attorneys are also mindful of the rights of the injured party. In order to secure the testimony of a senior driver, we regularly file suit and depose the driver so that case can be resolved even if the elderly driver at fault for the accident, becomes ill, or dies during the lawsuit. Contact our attorney anytime to discuss your auto accident case involving a senior driver. Call us at 713-829-4317 or visit our main car accident page for more information.
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