Car Wrecks Caused By Elderly Drivers In Cincinnati

Do elderly drivers in Cincinnati put other drivers at risk? According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), in the year 2018, each day, at least 20 elderly drivers died, and about 700 of them (above 65+) were injured in car accidents.

As a matter of fact, the elderly are at a higher risk of getting injured or losing their lives than middle-aged people when involved in a car accident. Let’s learn more about car accidents caused by elderly drivers in Cincinnati, and what you can do about them.

Reasons Why Elderly Drivers in Cincinnati Cause Car Accidents

It should be noted that it's not always the case that elderly drivers in Cincinnati are at fault in a car accident. Sometimes the other driver takes advantage of their vulnerability and blames the elderly person for their own mistakes.

Some of the reasons that make elderly cause car accidents include:

• Stopping suddenly or taking too much
• Impaired hearing and/or vision
• Compromised reaction time in case of emergency stops, red light stops, and so on
• Inability to quickly judge the circumstances
• Lack of focus
• Mobility issues
• Other underlying diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Health Conditions Responsible for Car Accidents Caused By Elderly Drivers in Cincinnati

Even though the elderly are experienced drivers, their current health condition makes it unsafe for them to drive.

Some of the health conditions directly hamper the quality of driving a car safely. Such health conditions include:

• Arthritis (this condition makes them slow and sluggish when their drive)
• Hearing impairment (loss of hearing will make it challenging to listen to horns or when told to pull over etc.)
• Vision impairment (weak eyesight will make it difficult to see a red light or anything on the road)
• Dizziness is caused due to underlying diseases or from taking medications.

Under such conditions as well, the elderly should refrain from driving (at least not alone).

How to Prove an Elderly Driver Involved in Crash Was Negligent?

If you are on the road, you have to act responsibly, just like every other person, irrespective of the age group. As per the data of the year 2018 of CDC, there are around 45 million licensed elderly drivers in the U.S., i.e., aged 65 years and above.

The more elderly drivers, the more risk of being involved in a car accident with one. A senior, if not able to drive on roads, should stay at home or have a driver with them.

In any case, if you are someone involved in a car accident caused by an elderly person, and you would like to seek compensation for the damages, hiring a Cincinnati car accident lawyer will be beneficial.

Some of the reasons that will help in winning the case include:

• Providing the elderly driver was without a proper driving license at the time of the accident
• The elderly driver was driving during the late hours or at the time not suitable (going against the restrictions mentioned in the license)
• Providing enough reasons why the elderly person should not be behind the wheel
• The elderly driver was under the influence.

Also, an experienced attorney in the respective field will know the ins and outs of dealing with such cases and place just reasons before the court. He may also have dealt with several similar issues before, which will ensure a positive outcome for your lawsuit.

How Can Elderly Drivers Avoid Accidents?

Car accidents caused by the elderly can be avoided at large by following safe driving behaviors. If you are a caretaker of an elderly person who drives, make sure to follow these measures to avoid getting in trouble.

Wear Seat Belts

Passengers and drivers should wear seat belts during all times when in a car. Wearing a seat belt minimizes the effect of crashes and helps protect the organs of the body.

Drive Under Safe Conditions

An elderly person should not be driving in adverse weather conditions. This includes not driving in the rain, not driving at night due to insufficient light or when not feeling well, and so on.

Don’t Drive Under The Influence

Needless to say, the elderly (like everyone else) should never drive when under the influence. With their poor judgment, driving under the influence can be even more dangerous for them and also for everyone on the road around them.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you or your loved one was involved in a car accident caused by an elderly driver, you could get fair compensation for both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault driver or from their insurance company.

To seek legal help and to understand your legal standing, talk with our experienced Cincinnati car accident attorneys today.