Elderly Car Accident

Experienced Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Accident Victims Across Southern California 

As people age, it is common for them to experience difficulties when driving. For example, older drivers may face both physical and mental challenges such as compromised eyesight, loss of hearing, and decreased physical strength. While these conditions are common, many older drivers have a hard time determining when it’s time to hang up the keys. However, elderly car accidents are a real concern because the numbers of older drivers continue to increase. At Power Trial Lawyers, our experienced Orange County personal injury attorneys have more than a decade of experience securing full and fair compensation awards on behalf of our injured clients. We can help you understand who may be responsible for your injuries and effectively pursues a claim so you don’t end up stuck with the bill. 

Common Causes of Elderly Car Accidents

Older drivers face all the traditional risks that motorists must deal with, as well as additional age-related risks. For example, the following situations present significant challenges for many older drivers:

Night Driving – Many older drivers have a very hard time seeing in the dark, making night driving exceptionally dangerous—both for them and everyone they share the road with.

Construction Zones – Traffic patterns around construction zones are frequently changing and can be confusing, requiring drivers quickly process the surrounding road signs to safely navigate through the construction zone. This can be overwhelming for many older drivers, who tend to take their time when making driving decisions. 

Traffic – No one likes driving during traffic; however, this presents an especially challenging situation for older drivers who may quickly become uncomfortable with the changing speeds of stop-and-go traffic. 

Medical Emergencies – Older drivers who suffer from potentially serious health conditions are at an increased risk of suffering a medical emergency while behind the wheel. In some cases, these emergencies can also be the result of medications the driver is taking. 

Poor Weather – The weather conditions greatly impact the amount of attention and skill it takes to navigate the roads. Thus, older drivers may have a harder time safely getting to where they need to go during periods of inclement weather. 

Elderly car accidents may not initially appear to involve the level of culpability that other motor vehicle accidents do; however, it is a driver’s responsibility only to get behind the wheel when they are safe to do so. Older drivers who drive when they shouldn’t be are not just putting their safety at risk; they are putting everyone’s health in jeopardy. 

Who Is Responsible for Elderly Car Accidents?

Elderly car accidents are no different than any other type of motor vehicle collision in that the at-fault driver can be held financially accountable for any injuries caused by the accident. However, in practice, most often, it is not the driver who ends up paying for an accident victim’s damages. Instead it is their insurance company that ends up paying. Indeed, this is the very purpose of insurance; to pay for the damages caused by the insured. So, while it is understandable that an accident victim may not want to financially ruin an older driver after an accident, in reality, it is not the driver who ends up taking the financial hit. 

Have You Been Injured in a Southern California Car Accident?

If you or someone you love was recently injured in a car accident involving an older driver, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for everything you’ve been through. However, to maximize your chances of success, it is important to work with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer. At Power Trial Lawyers, we have more than ten years of experience aggressively pursuing maximum compensation on behalf of our injured clients. We also offer free consultations to all accident victims to explain the recovery process and how we can help. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today, call (888) 808-2179. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We proudly represent clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County and have conveniently located offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.