It is essential to pay close attention to different risks that you face as an older adult, such as falling down, possible side effects of medications you take and age-related health concerns. In addition, you should focus on road safety and understand the dangers you face while driving or riding in a vehicle.
As an older adult, you are especially likely to suffer serious consequences if a motor vehicle collision takes place. Sadly, data shows that a significant number of older adults find themselves seriously hurt in crashes each year.
Older adult auto accident data
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covers traffic collisions involving older adults (those 65 and up). Over the course of 2020, nearly 200,000 people in this age group sought emergency treatment due to injuries sustained in traffic accidents. In other words, nearly 540 older adults sustained injuries in accidents on the road per day.
Additionally, many older adults die in traffic crashes. Throughout 2020, these accidents led to the loss of roughly 7,500 lives.
Older adult auto accident risk factors
Behind the wheel, some older drivers become more likely to find themselves in an accident due to age-related declines that affect their driving abilities (such as diseases, poor vision, medications, etc.). However, many older drivers who carefully follow traffic safety guidelines and drive safely find themselves in accidents due to reckless drivers.
If a negligent driver hit you or one of your loved ones, it is pivotal to have a clear understanding of the details of the accident.
