It’s well known that younger drivers are some of the most accident-prone because of their inexperience and reduced maturity.
How do things look at the other end of the scale? Do people keep on getting safer and safer? Or do they reach a point where their driving deteriorates in older age?
Traffic statistics show that in 2020, over 6,500 adults over the age of 65 died in car crashes. A further 230,000 were injured enough as a result of motor vehicle collisions to need hospital treatment.
Age isn’t everything
As you age, your body’s ability to keep you safe while driving will lessen. Your eyes and ears won’t be as able to spot the early signs of trouble, and your brain and muscles won’t be able to process that information and react as quickly.
But that is not the whole picture. Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirms that it is someone’s ability, not their age alone, that determines whether they are capable of operating a motor vehicle safely.
You might think that why someone was injured or killed in a crash is irrelevant because it is the consequences of the crash that impact lives. Yet it is highly relevant when seeking compensation. If one of your older family members was injured or killed in a crash, you might need legal help to counter claims of the other driver and their insurer that your relative’s age meant they drove poorly and caused the crash. Attributing fault correctly can help you get the compensation your loved one deserves.
