Houston Elderly Drivers Accident Lawyer
The baby boomer generation is the largest demographic in the United States, and there are more elderly drivers on our roads than ever before. Almost 7,000 elderly individuals age 65 or over were killed on our roads in 2017, representing almost one-fifth of all traffic fatalities that year. Although elderly drivers are often very experienced, they are at a very high risk of suffering a car accident and can suffer life-altering injuries, broken bones, irreparable back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, even in minor accidents.
As Houston’s local legal experts, and with decades of experience representing clients from all walks of life in every type of car accident claim, we can help if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving an elderly driver. We understand the stress and worry that come with an accident of any type and are here to help you every step of the way.
Factors That Contribute to Elderly Driver Accidents
Despite having years or even decades of experience, time takes its toll, and most senior drivers eventually suffer diminishing physical strengths and abilities that are crucial to safe driving. Some of the factors that can lead to higher accident incidence rates for seniors include:
- Impaired vision: With time, elderly drivers may lose the ability to see clearly. A wide range of vision-related impairments, from tunnel vision and blurred vision to degeneration of the eyes, can lead to an accident.
- Physical or mental impairment: Various forms of mental impairment, including diminished auditory senses, an inability to judge time or distance, or a lack of ability to assess the dangers of a particular situation can lead to an accident. Slower reaction times that result from nerve and/or muscle degeneration over time are also a form of physical impairment that can cause an accident.
- The use of medication: The effects of certain types of medication can suddenly kick in, causing unexpected drowsiness, hot flashes, or other issues that can cause an elderly driver to drive dangerously and end up causing an accident.
Accidents Common Amongst Elderly Drivers
Younger drivers tend to cause accidents by overspeeding and driving recklessly. Elderly drivers, on the other hand, often end up causing or being involved in an accident due to the following:
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Driving below the posted speed limit
- Unexpected braking
- Incorrectly judging or estimating distances or braking times needed to stop
- Driving against traffic or entering the wrong side of the road
- Failing to yield
- Making improper turns
- Driving in conditions of low light such as at night or at dawn
Proving Negligence in an Elderly Driver Accident
There are many ways that fault or negligence in an accident can be determined. Whether you are a senior driver who was struck in an accident, or if you yourself caused an accident, we can help. We will gather the evidence needed to establish your credibility and substantiate your claims, and we will do this as follows:
- Eye exams can be conducted to prove that your eyesight is not an issue, or that the eyesight of an at-fault elderly driver is.
- We can show your medical records or collect the medical records of an at-fault senior driver to prove that certain mental or physical conditions existed and contributed to an accident. We will do the same for your driving record or the driving record of an at-fault elderly driver, as applicable.
- We will also provide testimony from accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals to substantiate your claims about an accident and to prove that the claims you are making or the facts of your case are solid and that fault and damages for the accident need to be paid by the other party’s insurer or their PIP coverage.
Our Lawyers Can Help in Your Elderly Accident Case
The general rule in Texas is that you have two years after an accident to file a claim. If you intend to file a claim for damages against the government or an agency of the state, the limit to do so is within six months of the incident. This applies to drivers of all types and ages, including elderly drivers, so if you need help, give us a call at 713-677-2253. Insurance carriers are in the business of making money, even if it is at the expense of an elderly driver or the victims of an unfortunate crash. We take all our cases on a contingency basis and you pay nothing until you collect. Our lawyers are compassionate and empathetic, so call now for expert representation by Houston’s leading car accident practice.
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