Older Adult-Involved Car Accidents On the Rise

The elderly population in the United States, individuals aged 65 and older is increasing. Recently, the National Safety Council reported that the number of older adults in the U.S. has increased by 29%. Similarly, the number of older adults who are involved in fatal car accidents has also gone up. Over the last decade, older adults losing their lives in car accidents are up by 42%.  Not too long ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whose data only reflects traffic crashes, found that 7,971 older adults died in deadly car accidents. 

There can be several reasons why older adults can be so vulnerable to being in accidents and suffering the most severe and deadly outcomes. First, physically, an older adult’s body may not have the vigor and strength to withstand the impact of a crash and the injuries that result making death more of a possibility. Second, with diminishing vision, physical, and cognitive capacities, driving can be much harder to do. Reaction times can be slowed, clearly seeing the environment can be more difficult, and staying focused can also be a challenging task. Because of this, adjusting one’s driving behavior to changing circumstances on the road or hazards might not be easy and as a result, when an older individual’s health has significantly declined, they can be a danger to themself and others when driving.

When an accident happens, a party that has proven to be negligent and who caused the accident can be held accountable to pay for financial damages to individuals that they harmed. For this to happen, the evidence must support that the liable party had a duty of care to those who were hurt, violated their duty, and caused the accident, which directly led to the victim’s resulting injuries and damage. 

Proving all elements of negligence can be difficult to do particularly so if you are hurt and trying to recover. Having an attorney’s assistance can be advantageous. The Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys at the Putnam Law Office are experienced legal professionals who are here to help you prove negligence and get the highest amount of compensation from your injury claim.

Older Automobile Accident Deaths: The Numbers

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning older adults involved in deadly car incidents indicate the following:

• There were 441 non-traffic deaths
• There were 1,980 vehicle occupant deaths
• There were 651 motorcyclist traffic deaths
• There were 1,789 pedestrian traffic deaths
• There were 193 bicyclist traffic deaths
• There were 4,493 traffic deaths classified as “other”

Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today

Older adults involved in Oklahoma car accidents are at high risk of suffering serious injuries and death. After a car accident happens and a claim is filed it is critical to ensure that fair and full compensation is received from liable parties.

For assistance filing a personal injury claim and throughout the entire process, please call the Putnam Law Office today at (405) 849-9149 today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Oklahoma City personal injury attorney.