Older Adults and Vista Car Crashes

Are older adults in Vista and elsewhere in Southern California at increased risk of injury due to traffic collisions? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drivers aged 70 and up have significantly higher crash death rates than drivers considered middle-aged, or between the ages of 35 and 54. Given that there are more senior drivers on the road than ever before — and that the rate of older adult drivers is only going to increase as the aging population grows — it is important to understand the potential links between older age and auto accident injuries. Consider the following information from our Vista car accident lawyers.

Age is an Auto Accident and Injury Risk Factor

Many people in Vista and the surrounding area know that teenage drivers tend to be involved in more collisions than more experienced drivers. Yet age is also an auto accident risk factor for older drivers. As the CDC explains, although being able to drive allows seniors to maintain independence and mobility, “the risk of being injured or killed in a traffic crash increases as people age.”

There are two components to older adults and car accidents: seniors may be more likely to be involved in a collision due to health issues that make driving less safe, but they are also more likely to be injured when a collision happens as a result of increased physical “vulnerability to injury in a crash,” according to the CDC.

Understanding Traffic Collision Risks for Elderly Drivers

California has one of the highest populations of older adults in the country, and that number is expected to rise in the coming years and decades. Indeed, as the Public Policy of the Institute of California reports, by the year 2040, more than 20% of California’s population will be over the age of 65. Given how many older adults are on the roads now and will be in the future, it is important to be clear about the accident and injury risk factors.

In addition to increased physical vulnerability, the following are factors identified by the CDC that often make it riskier for older adults to be driving, especially after age 70:

● Age-related vision changes, especially if they are not properly managed by a health care provider;

● More limited physical function;

● Difficulty reasoning and remembering, particularly among older adults who are in the early stages of dementia;

● Diseases that make driving more difficult or less safe; and

● Medications that affect an older adult’s driving ability.

Contact a Vista Car Accident Attorney Today for Assistance

Whether you were injured in a collision caused by an elderly driver or you or your elderly parent sustained injuries in a crash, it may be possible to file a claim in order to seek compensation. Motor vehicle accident cases typically begin with an insurance claim, and if the insurance settlement is insufficient to cover your losses, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the liable party or parties. One of the experienced Vista car accident lawyers at our firm can assess your case for you today and help you understand your options. Contact North County Injury Lawyers to get started on your claim.