Being involved in a crash with an elderly driver can often feel more upsetting than a collision with a younger adult. Because bodily strength and resistance wane in old age, it can leave a senior driver much more susceptible to dying or suffering injuries from which they never fully recover.
It may leave you feeling responsible for their death or injuries, even when you did nothing wrong. Understanding some of the reasons why elderly drivers can be prone to causing collisions can help you come to terms with the situation and pursue the compensation you may be rightfully due.
1. Weakened eyesight
Many older adults need glasses, even when their vision was great for most of their lives. Eyesight changes and weakens over time, and that can mean an older driver is more likely to miss spotting another vehicle or misread a road sign. It’s a particular problem at night, as older eyes don’t have the same ability to adapt to low light as younger ones.
2. Slower reaction times
Maybe you have spent time waiting for an elderly relative to answer a question they would have answered in a flash in their younger days. Perhaps you have seen them get confused about things they once would have had no issue with, such as people’s names or where they put something. While some people do stay mentally sharp for their entire lives, many experience slowed mental processing and confusion in their later years of life. Remember too that while dementia often affects older adults, they may still drive for some time before it is diagnosed.
Weakened bodily strength can also affect an older driver’s ability to react in time to avoid a collision. They won’t be able to slam their foot down on the brake pedal as hard or move the steering wheel to one side as rapidly as they might once have.
It is understandable that many older people are reluctant to give up the freedom that driving allows them. However, if their decision to continue when they probably should have hung up the keys resulted in a collision that injured you, you have every right to seek the compensation you need and deserve.