Old Age Car Accidents

In May 2016 an elderly driver hit and killed a man when the accidentally put his car in reverse instead of drive. The elderly driver’s car crushed the victim against another vehicle. This Upper East Side incident is just one of many accidents caused by the negligent acts of older drivers each year across the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported there are over 30 million licensed drivers in the U.S. who are over the age of 65. This amounts to 15% of all licensed drivers. However, continuing to drive after the age of 70 can be risky. As people age health issues are more likely to develop that effect a person’s ability to react, ability to see, ability to hear, and ability to concentrate. As a result, statistics show that drivers over the age of 70 are more likely to cause serious accidents than younger drivers. Victims of such accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, broken or crushed bones, lacerations from broken glass, or a back or spinal cord injury. These types of injuries involve long recovery times, with the victim being unable to work for weeks or even months. However, under New York law victims of car accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the accident. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a family member was injured in a car accident caused by an elderly driver it is important to contact an experienced Bronx Old Age Car Accidents Lawyer who will help ensure that the person responsible for your losses is held accountable through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Because of health issues drivers over the age of 70 tend to drive in a manner that is negligent. For example, older drivers are more likely to:

• Drift into another lane
• Mistake the gas pedal for the brake
• Drive too fast or too slow
• Back up without looking
• Fail to yield right of way
• Fail to stop at red lights or stop signs

Any of these behaviors can lead to an accident

Older drivers present a danger to themselves, to their passengers and to other drivers. Oftentimes when older drivers cause accidents, it is due to driving negligently. All New York drivers have a duty to exercise care on the road. Having health issues related to age is not an excuse for driving negligently. If, for example, an elderly driver takes medication that causes him or her to be impaired and then collides into another vehicle, the victim may have a viable claim to recover damages for any injuries caused by the elderly driver’s negligence.

If the negligence of an elderly driver caused an accident that resulted in your injuries, you can pursue a claim against that person for damages. The types of compensation that you may be able to recover if you file a claim against the negligent person include:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills including bills from the hospital, your doctors, prescriptions and bills associated with medical equipment
• Damage to your vehicle
• Pain and suffering

If a loved was killed in the car accident, you may be able to pursue damages through a wrongful death action.

Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a personal injury case. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit. In addition, if the party responsible for your injury was a government entity then there are special procedures you must follow to file a claim.

A personal injury lawsuit stemming from a car accident can be complicated, involving complex evidentiary issues related to fault. If you were injured in a car accident, contact an attorney who not only has experience handing car accidents, but is also familiar with the medical issues victims of such accidents experience. We will thoroughly investigate the accident by reviewing police reports, accident scene evidence, eyewitness accounts, cell phone records and social medial postings. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.