Elderly Drivers & Car Accidents

Long Beach Car Accident Lawyer

In 2009, 13% of Americans were aged 65 and older, totaling 40 million. This number only continues to increase over the years, with estimates that it will triple over the next two decades. The number of elderly drivers on the road will only increase along with the older population. Though some older drivers modify their driving habits or refrain from driving due to vision and hearing loss and other issues that may impair their ability to drive safely, others continue to take to the road. This can place other drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists in danger.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident caused by an elderly driver, a Long Beach personal injury attorney at McGee Lerer Ogrin may be able to assist you. We have focused our entire practice on handling accident and injury claims, including those that involve auto accidents caused by negligent, elderly drivers. We stand ready to provide a free review of your claim in order to determine how to best seek maximum financial compensation on your behalf.

Traffic Laws Concerning Drivers Aged 65 and Older

In California and throughout the U.S., lawmakers are determining how to address the expected boom in the number of elderly drivers within the next 20 years. Some push for mandatory vision and driving tests while others believe that these measures are age-discriminatory and have no real foundation for implementation. Though every driver is different, it is a well-known truth that age can bring with it any of a number of problems that may affect one's ability to drive.

This may include loss of vision, hearing problems, delayed reaction time, loss of cognitive skills and frailty. Mandatory testing may provide a means to take unsafe drivers off the road without unfairly punishing those who are still able to drive safely.