How Often Are Elder Drivers At Fault in Accidents
While it’s not clear how often older drivers are at fault in accidents, studies show that for every 1,000 individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents, 96.61 of those involved older drivers. The likelihood of being involved in a collision increases the older the driver is. In fact, drivers who are at least 65 years old are 16 percent more likely to get into an accident than younger drivers between 25 and 64.
People who have suffered an injury in accidents involving an elderly driver, regardless of age, may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their losses. Talk to our SC car accident attorney to explore your legal options after getting injured in an accident with an elderly driver.
Why Elder Drivers Get Into Car Accidents
Healthy elderly drivers do not automatically pose a risk on the road than younger drivers. However, seniors have a tendency to be affected by health issues that can influence their ability to engage in safe driving practices. Common health problems are dementia and arthritis. Also, most seniors need to take various medications that may result in sleepiness or additional side effects that can negatively affect their driving. Visual, physical, and cognitive skills may also weaken as people grow older.
Functional impairments may affect an older driver’s ability to drive and can manifest in high-stress situations on the road, such as making a left, going through intersections, or switching lanes. Additionally, various studies have found that senior drivers with physical, cognitive, or visual impairments are more likely to be involved in accidents. Compared with younger adult drivers, older drivers have an increased risk of getting into particular types of accidents, including merging or overtaking collisions, angle collisions, and intersection collisions.
Not giving the right-of-way is the most common reason seniors get into accidents. In addition, the most common mistake committed by drivers who have been in an accident and are at least 70 years old is the lack of awareness of their surroundings. Elderly drivers who are 70 or above also have a higher likelihood of making surveillance mistakes or miscalculating the distance between their car and another vehicle.
On the other hand, most elderly drivers are conscious of their shortcomings and usually adjust their driving behaviors to compensate for them. Drivers who have issues with memory, mobility, visual acuity, and other health problems like diabetes or arthritis are also more likely to limit driving on the road by:
- Traveling shorter distances
- Taking fewer drives
- Choosing not to drive in the dark or inclement weather conditions
- Not driving on interstates
However, there are still elderly drivers who don’t manage their driving behavior, including those who experience significant levels of cognitive decline.
Get Legal Advice From Our Seasoned SC Car Accident Attorney
All drivers, no matter their age, are legally required to drive safely and properly to ensure the safety of others they share the road with. Were you injured in a crash because of an elderly driver’s negligence? The SC car accident attorney at Oxner & Stacy Law Firm LLC can help. Schedule your free case evaluation with our SC car accident attorney by completing our online contact form or calling 843-527-8020.