According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, approximately 8,000 older adults who were aged 65 or older were killed in traffic crashes. More than 250,000 elderly drivers were treated in the emergency room for car crash related injuries. Each day, more than 20 older adults are killed and approximately 700 are injured in crashes. And in 2018, there were over 45 million licensed drivers aged 65 and older in the United States. These numbers continue to increase due to an aging driving population and the chances that you may be involved in two car accidents with older adult drivers increases as well.
If you suffered serious injuries when getting into a car accident with an elderly driver, you may be entitled to pursuing compensation in a civil claim and lawsuit. Compensation may include such expenses as your medical bills, missed time from work, and your pain and suffering.
If you experienced serious injuries, a Chicago car accident lawyer from The Kryder Law Group, LLC, Accident and Injury Laywers can help you. Call us today for a free consultation. We have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the legal process and help you maximize your compensation so you can focus on your recovery.
Elderly Drivers and Liability
The aging process, along with medical conditions, can affect an elderly person’s ability to drive. According to information provided by AAA, the longer lifespan of today’s seniors means that most are “outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of 7 to 10 years.”
Factors That Impact An Elderly Driver
Some of the contributing factors that can impact the driving capabilities of older drivers include:
Arthritis that limits their ability to grip the steering wheel and their range of motion.
Muscle weakness that make pressing the accelerator or brake challenging, leading to delayed reaction times.
These are only a few examples of how a driver’s health can affect their ability to drive. Cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia can impact a senior’s decision-making skills, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). This can significantly impact their driving skills and lead them to make critical errors behind the wheel, errors such as failing to signal or misjudging distances.
In their article on older driver safety and Alzheimer’s Disease, the NIA indicates that signs a person should stop driving include:
New scratches, dents, or other marks on the car
Taking a long time to do simple errands because they get lost
Increased insurance premiums or multiple traffic tickets
Observations from neighbors or friends about unsafe driving
Erratic driving behavior including speeding or rapid lane changing
Confusing the gas and brake pedals or clutch
Recommendations from a doctor to change driving habits
Health issues that impact driving ability, such as changes to vision, hearing, or mobility
Other Factors That Can Lead An Older Driver to Cause a Car Accident
As people age, other factors that can contribute to the risk of an elderly driver causing car accidents include:
Driving in the dark
Driving in poor weather conditions
Driving in heavy traffic
Younger Drivers Can Seek Compensation for Their Losses
Older drivers tend to make uncertain movements and can surprise you and leave you no time to react. While it is easy for younger drivers to feel compassion toward elderly drivers, the injuries you may suffer are not fair and could be worthy of compensation. You could be left with a serious injury, extensive medical bills, and lost wages.
Getting help from an experienced lawyer could help you get the compensation you need from the other driver’s insurance company to help you fully recover from your losses. Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation.
Your Medical Costs and Lost Wages
A motor vehicle accident involving an elderly driver brings your world to a stop. Regardless of whether you have medical insurance, the bills you receive can far surpass your coverage or your savings.
Medical costs continue to increase and if you suffered catastrophic injuries from an auto accident and these costs may continue throughout your lifetime. Before you know it, medical costs—like those associated with a spinal cord injury—can climb into the millions of dollars, according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
The costs associated with your care should not come from your pocket but rather from the driver responsible for your harm. Your current and any ongoing costs for your medical care are just a part of the compensation an experienced elderly drivers accident lawyer can help you pursue in your personal injury lawsuit.
Insurance Companies and the Negotiation Process
An insurance company may make you a tempting settlement offer but you may want to negotiate for a higher amount. Your primary focus should lie with your recovery, not with complex legal negotiations. This is why it is critical to get an experienced lawyer on your side who has handled similar car accident cases where injuries were caused by older drivers.
As your legal representation, The Kryder Law Group, LLC can negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf. We’ve helped hundreds of clients to recover millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries.
Upon a careful review of the evidence involving your accident, we can prepare your case for negotiations and if necessary, for trial. Insurance companies handle car accident cases on a frequent—if not daily—basis. In some cases, they may pay accident victims less than what they deserve.
If an insurance company contacts you, do not speak with them. Secure the services of The Kryder Law Group, LLC instead. Call us now for a free legal consultation. You will find our legal team friendly, helpful, supportive, and experienced in cases involving auto accidents caused by older drivers.
The Illinois Statute of Limitations
When you experience serious injuries in a car accident, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. If you do not file your civil lawsuit within the statute of limitations, you may be barred from pursuing compensation forever. You do not want to let that happen. The compensation you could receive from your personal injury claim could be the key to your recovery.
Illinois state law generally allows two years for both personal injury cases (ILCS Sec. 13-202) and wrongful death cases (740 ILCS 180.1). Let us keep track of these important deadlines so that you can focus on your health and recovery.
Civil cases are often complex and challenging. Trying to handle your case alone will only add to the stress caused by your accident. Protect your best interests and maximize your compensation by contacting The Kryder Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation. Your wellbeing is our priority.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC Can Help You
The injuries you suffered may affect your ability to return to your previous career or your ability to enjoy favorite hobbies. This can severely impact your quality of life and leave you feeling depressed about your situation.
The experienced Chicago car accident lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC can assist you during this challenging time after a collision caused by older drivers. When elderly drivers cause serious car accidents with injuries, they must face accountability, no matter how difficult. Older drivers are still held accountable and are required to abide by the same level of safety as all other age groups. Elderly drivers still need to practice safe driving habits so that they can operate their car safely on the road with everyone else.
Get a Free Case Review After a Crash Caused by an Elderly Driver
A member of our legal team can review the police report, accident scene photos, and interview witnesses to prepare your case. Compensation is never guaranteed, but when it is awarded, financial help can ease some of your stress from the injuries you suffered and the financial loss you have experienced.
If your commute or trip to the store resulted in life changing injuries due to a car accident caused by an elderly driver, let us help you. The Kryder Law Group, LLC will negotiate with an insurance company to fight for the best settlement possible. We have experience dealing with them in these types of cases. We know how they work and the tactics they will use to get out of paying you what you deserve. We won’t let them. We will fight for you while you focus on your recovery.
Also, you do not miss the deadline for filing your civil lawsuit. It is imperative that you understand the complete legal process for this kind of personal injury claim and that includes all the deadlines you need to be aware of. Do not let yourself miss out on compensation critical to your recovery simply because you were unaware of a significant deadline. Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC now for a no obligation, free case evaluation. You pay us no attorney’s fees unless and until we recover the maximum compensation on your behalf. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling us.
An elderly driver at the steering wheel may no longer be a safe driver and can cause serious accidents. If you've been injured by an elderly driver, call today.
(312) 223-1700