Is an Elderly Driver More at Risk in a Texas Car Wreck?

It’s hard to tell an elderly relative that it’s time to hang up the keys. They may feel a loss of freedom and independence or react angrily to the decision—but what they may not realize is that taking them off the road will not just save others’ lives; it may save their own.

Elderly drivers are particularly vulnerable in a Houston car crash. Seniors often avoid freeways because they fear high speeds and sudden lane changes, preferring to travel on city streets. However, even a slow-speed accident can cause damage, and an elderly driver is more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers 85 years of age and older are nine times as likely to die in a traffic crash than drivers aged 25 through 69. Seniors also accounted for 13% of all vehicle fatalities and 18% of all pedestrian fatalities in 1997, with numbers steadily on the rise.

A few disturbing facts about senior drivers in Texas:

• In 1986, older drivers represented 7 percent of licensed drivers; in 1996, seniors were 19 percent of licensed drivers.
• 82 percent of traffic fatalities involving elderly drivers happened during the daytime
• 71 percent of fatal senior accidents occurred on weekdays
• 75 percent of senior car accidents involved a second vehicle

There are many reasons that seniors are involved in so many road accidents. Reaction times slow down with age, so elderly drivers will not have the quick reflexes they once had in their youth. They may also not notice vehicles backing out in their peripheral vision or notice that traffic ahead has stopped until it is too late to brake.

As experienced Houston car accident attorneys, we realize that everyone wants to keep their family members safe on the road, regardless of their age. If the time has come for your parent to stop driving, it is a safe and wise decision—one that another family may not have made in time.

If you have been hit by an elderly driver in Houston, we can help you get compensation for your injuries. Call Vujasinovic & Beckcom toll-free today at (877) 724-7800 to begin your free consultation, or click the link above for a FREE copy of our report, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case.