Due to its evolving landscape, older motorists are increasingly behind the wheel in Florida. Seniors are more susceptible to severe harm or death in car accidents despite being more cautious and deploying safe driving techniques, like avoiding driving under the influence or speeding. When you find yourself in this position, you need a local personal injury attorney to advocate for you.
According to the figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 35 million licensed motorists were 65 and above. The body further projected that in 2030, Florida will have one senior driver in every four.
Vehicle accidents killed 5,560 senior drivers across the US in 2012 and injured about 214,000.
Unfortunately, Florida has the highest percentage of older motorists and, expectedly, the highest rate of accidents involving seniors. According to TRIP, a national transportation research platform, 271 senior drivers in Florida died in car accidents in a year. The number surpassed 500 when the platform considered deaths involving senior drivers of all ages.
The increasing rate of accidents among senior drivers, mainly those beyond 80, is not necessarily because of a higher propensity of crashes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observed that these motorists are more prone to harm and resultant medical complications.
However, it is also soothing to observe that senior drivers have some safety merits on the highway. These advantages include:
However, these advantages do not override some concerns. Age-related issues like decreased cognitive processing, physical limitations, and blurred vision can increase accident rates among senior motorists. Additional threats include the continuous usage of prescription medications and the likelihood of medical emergencies while on the road.
As observed in the preceding paragraph, senior drivers have some mounting challenges. These issues contribute to higher rates of accidents across Florida. The challenges include:
Aging affects cognitive abilities, especially multitasking and processing speed. It can also increase the risk of crashes. When people are unable to reason quickly behind the wheel, they can cause avoidable accidents.
Good vision is central to safe driving. Unfortunately, the vision declines with age. That is why senior drivers with decreased vision find it challenging to perceive and react appropriately to hazards, other motorists, pedestrians, and road signs.
Older drivers may experience increased sensitivity to glare of oncoming headlights and become slower when moving from light to dark. These issues become severe with the development of eye ailments, such as macular degeneration or cataracts. Reduced peripheral vision is another significant eye defect that senior drivers face.
"Age-related stereotypes can sometimes unfairly prejudice senior drivers involved in car accidents," says attorney William Umansky of The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys. To protect your legal rights, you should engage a Florida personal injury attorney immediately after an accident.
The attorney will defend your rights and fight for your cause. They will review the incident and demand adequate compensation if the other party is guilty. They will work hard to avoid the other party winning you with emotional accusations.
Source: The Umansky Law Firm, criminal and injury attorneys, Florida