No one wants to be in the position to tell their elderly family member they are no longer safe behind the wheel. After all, driving means freedom for many of Connecticut’s senior citizens.
However, at some point, the time may come when you have to do this. If you wait too long, it may result in your elderly loved one being involved (or causing) a Connecticut car accident. In other situations, you may be the one who is in an accident with an elderly driver who was allowed to drive for a little too long.
If you are injured in an auto accident caused by someone who is 65 years or older, you need to consider if that person should have been behind the wheel. At this point, it is wise to contact our legal team at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers. We can look into your case and determine who is liable. While you may feel empathy or compassion for the older driver, you must also consider your injuries and losses. In this situation, pursuing compensation is the best course of action.
Facts About Older Drivers and Car Accidents
Older drivers are involved in more fatal accidents throughout the country than teenagers.
Because of the high number of accidents involving older drivers (those over age 65) in Connecticut, it is required that individuals of this age renew their license every two years in person. This was done to help alleviate some of the accidents that occur.
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The Relationship Between Age and Driving Ability
Most people realize that as a person gets older, they develop medical conditions that can make driving more challenging. This also makes the roads riskier for other drivers.
Some of the medical conditions that make seniors more at risk for causing or being involved in an accident include the following:
- Minimized executive functioning because of depression, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia.
- Mobility issues such as Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes complications, muscle weakness, and arthritis.
- Vision problems like age-related macular degeneration, diabetes complications, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Reasons That Elderly Car Accidents Occur
Younger drivers are likely to cause a car accident by driving recklessly or speeding. However, the elderly will likely cause accidents for other reasons, like:
- Driving the wrong way on roads
- Driving through a stop sign or red light
- Making unsafe or improper left turns
- Driving significantly lower than the posted speed limit
- Failing to yield at intersections
- Misjudging distances
- Driving at night, dawn, or dusk
The fact is, elderly people may not be as confident behind the wheel as they once were, either. They may hesitate when deciding to go, or they may engage in other risky behaviors that increase the likelihood of an accident.
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How to Prove Negligence After an Accident Involving an Elderly Driver
If you are injured in a car accident and believe another person’s negligence or recklessness was to blame, it is up to you to prove this. Unfortunately, this can be challenging on your own.
At Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, we can use our resources and expertise to investigate your accident, gather evidence, and build a case that shows why you deserve compensation. Only when we successfully prove negligence will you be entitled to receive compensation. This is the case for accidents involving elderly drivers, too.
While this is true, it is worth noting that there may be other ways to collect evidence to prove negligence and liability in accident cases like this. For example, we can look into the elderly person’s eyesight.
In Connecticut, drivers must have 20/40 or higher eye acuity or 20/100 and driving restrictions. Our attorneys will work to help you get the person’s optometry records, which will show the condition of their eyesight at the time of the accident.
It may also be helpful to gather information about the elderly driver’s mental or physical condition when the accident occurred. The psychological and physical capabilities of an elderly person vary greatly. If you are in an accident with an older person, you should not assume anything about their current abilities. Our team will conduct a thorough investigation that factors in all these things to prove negligence and help you recover compensation.
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Contact Us for Help with Your Connecticut Car Accident Claim
If you are involved in an accident with an elderly driver, you have rights. Our legal team will work on your behalf to gather evidence that shows the other party was negligent and that you deserve compensation.
The first step is to contact our office to schedule a free consultation.
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