Motor vehicle collisions can be devastating for anyone, regardless of the unique details surrounding the wreck and their life. However, for some people, such as the elderly, these collisions can be especially tough for different reasons. Sadly, many older adults lose their lives in traffic collisions or sustain injuries that make daily life incredibly hard.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2015, over 260,000 elderly adults received emergency treatment for traffic accident injuries and over 6,800 passed away. During the course of 2015, an average of 712 elderly were injured and 19 lost their lives in collisions each day. The CDC points out that certain factors may increase the chances of an elderly driver being involved in a wreck, such as physical changes and poor eyesight.
In 2015, over 40 million older people were licensed to drive, according to the CDC. For those between the ages of 70 and 74, an increase in the number of fatal accidents is observed, while these fatalities become even more prevalent among drivers over the age of 85. However, elderly drivers can reduce the chances of a crash by following traffic safety laws and addressing any potential issues that could affect their driving abilities.
Sadly, there are intoxicated drivers and other careless individuals who put the lives of older drivers and everyone else at risk. Recovering from a crash can be particularly hard for someone who is older, but different options may be available. Ultimately, the reckless decisions made by other drivers have to be addressed when they cause an accident.