Accidents Involving Elderly Drivers

Accidents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 45 million drivers on the road today are at least 65 years of age, which increases the risk of accidents involving elderly drivers. Older drivers may be more experienced and take fewer risks than other motorists, but they are prone to having their vision decline and other physical and cognitive changes that may increase the likelihood of causing an accident.

The Risk of Injury or Death in an Accident Increases with Age

A CDC report showed that older drivers have higher rates of crash deaths than motorists in the 35-54 age group. It concluded that the reason for the disparity was that older people are more vulnerable to serious injury in a crash.

Impairments experienced by elderly drivers

The natural progression of the aging process generally causes people to experience the following:

  • Impaired judgment.
  • Hearing loss and impaired vision.
  • Difficulty focusing and concentrating on tasks.
  • Memory impairment.
  • Joint and muscle pain making movement difficult.

Any of these conditions can affect a person’s ability to safely operate a car and quickly react in emergencies that frequently arise when driving. Medications taken by elderly drivers may add to their driving difficulties particularly when those medications cause drowsiness.

Common causes of accidents involving elderly drivers NC

Some of the common causes of accidents in North Carolina caused by elderly drivers include the following:

  • Inability to stay in lane.
  • Failing to perceive a dangerous situation and take corrective action to avoid a collision.
  • Unable to see people, objects, and other vehicles due to poor vision particularly at night.
  • Inability to judge distances.
  • Difficulty moving can result in taking longer to remove a foot from the accelerator pedal to brake or to turn to observe vehicles in the blind spots to the side and rear.

North Carolina has implemented licensing rules specific to elderly drivers. For example, drivers 66 years of age and older must renew their licenses every five years and pass a vision test instead of the normal eight years that apply to other drivers

When an Accident Occurs, Speak with a Personal Injury Attorney

An accident involving elderly-drivers attorney at The Clauson Law Firm, PLLC, is a valuable resource for legal advice and outstanding representation. Call today at 833-680-0177 for a free consultation and case evaluation.