Item: Flaxman Law Group
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Author: Clara Barman

Are Elderly Drivers at Greater Risk of Coral Springs Car Accidents?

Published on: January 17, 2012 | By Flaxman Law Group

In Florida, a state with a high percentage of elderly residents, the debate about elderly drivers has been a long-standing discussion. There are some studies that suggest that older drivers are not at greater risk of car accidents than younger drivers. However, there are also studies such as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study and the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, which found that between 1999 and 2004, the rates in car accidents for seniors ages 75 to 84 is about the same as for younger teen drivers. The studies found that for drivers who are over 85, the death rate is about four times higher than it is for teen drivers.

The US Census Bureau predicts that by 2030, there will be 9.6 million residents in the US who are 85 years of age or older, meaning more elderly drivers on the road. This has raised concerns about the dangers for drivers and pedestrians. According to experts, there are many risks for elderly drivers when it comes to Coral Springs traffic accidents. For example, dementia and a number of other age-related illnesses are often slow to be recognized, yet can cause problems with cognition and driving skills even before diagnosed. As well, elderly drivers may have vision problems which have not yet been diagnosed or treated but which may be serious enough to cause Coral Springs car accidents.

There have been a number of suggestions made about ways to reduce car accident rates among elderly drivers:

1) Improve transportation options to reduce car dependency. One of the reasons many elderly drivers are reluctant to give up their driving privileges is because they worry that doing so will reduce their independence. Offering a number of transportation options, including shuttle services and other low-cost options, can help make it easier for the elderly to get around without having to rely on their cars.

2) Create legislation that would make it mandatory for seniors to renew their licenses in person. According to a 1995 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, this is the only method that has been scientifically tested and found to reduce fatal car accidents among seniors.

3) Mandate more frequent health and eye checks for senior drivers. While this proposal has been suggested, it has raised quite a bit of controversy. Of course, adults at any age can develop eye problems and health conditions which can make it dangerous for them to drive. Some people claim that asking only senior drivers to get eye checks and health checks for driving privileges is discriminatory. Others, however, argue that since the elderly are more susceptible to health related problems that can affect their driving ability, such tests could reduce the number of Coral Springs pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents.

4) Mandate regular road tests for elderly drivers. Some legislators have proposed instituting regular, even yearly, road tests for senior drivers. Again, this is controversial because it suggests that drivers of certain age groups are more dangerous than drivers of other age groups. Nevertheless, some experts have suggested that such regular testing would help reduce the number of Coral Springs traffic accidents.

5) Improve communication between health care providers and the DMV. In many cases, healthcare providers are the first to realize that a person has a serious condition which could potentially affect their driving abilities. Some have suggested that better communication between healthcare providers, occupational therapists, and others would help improve safety for all drivers, including senior drivers.

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Elderly Victims in Miami Car Collisions

Published on: November 29, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Miami car crashes claim many lives and cause a devastating array in injuries, including many permanent and life-threatening injuries. As the percentage of elderly persons grows, senior citizens are more likely to be affected by the high numbers of Miami car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 13% of the total US population in 2009 were aged 65 years or older. Senior citizens comprised 16% of car accident fatalities and 8% of injury victims in car accidents in 2009. According to the NHTSA, senior drivers are less likely than the rest of the population to be involved in drunk driving accidents and are more likely to the be the struck vehicle in a car accident. Despite this, there are still some reasons why car accidents claim so many senior citizens’ lives:

1) The growing number of senior citizens. With improved quality of life and medical care, more Americans are living longer. This is a great thing, but it can also mean more people who are seniors – and a growing demographic at risk. In Florida, especially, there are many senior citizens, attracted by the state’s climate and lifestyle. This is one reason why a number of Miami car collisions involve senior citizens.

2) The changing nature of the roads. Over the past few decades, a number of initiatives have been designed to make roadways safer than ever before. At the same time, however, the roads are increasingly complex and congested, increasing the risk of accidents.

3) Medical issues. Any driver can suddenly develop medical problems that can affect driving ability. However, elderly drivers are especially prone to some medical problems, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dementia, which have subtle symptoms but which can significantly impact driving safety. Conditions such as these can be hard to detect at first, even as they affect a patient’s ability to drive safely.

4) Senior citizens may be more likely to walk. In many cities, senior citizens are more likely to be injured in a pedestrian accident than other adults. Part of the reason why seniors are at risk for Miami pedestrian accidents is because seniors often take part in walks for fitness or may rely on walking as a mode of transportation, potentially putting them more at risk. Seniors who have mobility problems are especially at risk for pedestrian accidents and Miami slip and fall accidents while walking.

Unfortunately, seniors may suffer more serious injuries as a result of traffic accidents. Since seniors are more likely to suffer from conditions such as osteoporosis, bone breakage caused by a car accident may be more likely in the senior population. As well, the elderly may be more vulnerable to complications as a result of their injuries and may take longer to heal from brain injuries and other injuries sustained in car accidents. Underlying conditions and overall condition can mean that healing simply takes a long time.

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Medical Conditions Can Lead to Miami Car Crashes

Published on: November 25, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Some medical conditions can make drivers unfit for the road. There are measures in place to ensure that drivers who have seriously and potentially dangerous medical conditions can be reported by their doctors and can have their licenses revoked. Each year, across Florida, thousands of drivers have their licenses revoked to ensure that they are not a threat on the roads. The aim of this policy is to ensure that preventable Miami car accidents and Florida traffic accidents in general do not occur because of a known medical condition.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and other groups, however, some known drivers with unsafe medical conditions are getting behind the wheel – and it is putting drivers across the state at risk. In the past few months, at least two fatal accidents in the Tampa area alone have been caused by known medical conditions.

Under Florida law, drivers who have had their licenses revoked due to medical reasons have the right to submit medical reports in order to get their licenses re-instated. Cases can be reviewed by a medical board and doctors can submit regular reports to ensure that someone is not deprived of a license because a condition that is under a control and therefore no longer a threat. However, some experts say that the system is far from perfect.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, some drivers may underreport systems or downplay the extent of their illness in order to get a license reinstated. Other drivers may notice dangerous symptoms but never go to a doctor, so that their license is never revoked in the first place. In some cases, drivers have chosen to alter their names in order to obtain a new license after theirs was revoked for medical reasons.

With the number of licenses revoked for medical reasons on the rise, this is becoming a serious issue in Florida. In 2000, the number of Florida licenses revoked for medical reasons was 3559. In 2010, the number was 7716, more than double. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, many of these revocations occur due to illnesses such as cardiac illness, seizures, dementia, and strokes. About half of licenses revoked are revoked due to these types of illnesses while the remaining half are largely due to addiction-related illnesses and drunk driving accidents.

It’s a sensitive issue, especially with growing numbers of elderly Miami drivers being diagnosed with illnesses every year. Many argue that revoking licenses limits mobility and independence, especially in cases where a person’s ability to drive is not tested and may not even be affected. As well, most patients usually receive care to help control symptoms. In most states, drivers who have not had symptoms for six months and patients who submit to treatment for their conditions are allowed to apply for reinstatement of their licenses. Some argue that this is the best way to give everyone freedom. Others argue that the reinstatement process is too lax and relies too heavily on patient and doctor honesty. If patients are not honest about their treatment and condition, Miami traffic accidents can result.

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Older Drivers and Florida Car Accidents

Published on: March 15, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

Viral videos online and media news stories sometimes give the impression that older drivers are unsafe drivers. In fact, some states have special rules for older drivers, which require them to get re-tested for their license every few years. Rules such as this as well as popular perceptions of drivers have provoked a lot of controversy.

Although driving is considered a privilege, in today’s society it is considered very important for personal freedom. Driving allows people to remain independent, to work, and to remain active in their communities. It also ensures that they are not isolated. At the same time, however, it is important to keep everyone safe by removing unsafe drivers from the road. However, experts often disagree about whether tests for older drivers are age discrimination or simple safety precautions.

Some claim that testing for older drivers just makes sense because it ensures that dementia, vision loss, and other age-related problems do not affect driving skill. These experts believe that because drivers are so dependant on driving they may not readily surrender their privileges even if they have problems which can affect their driving. They also note that other high-risk groups – such as young drivers – have additional restrictions in place to keep accident rates low.

Other experts claim that elderly drivers do not have a worse driving record than any other age group and such tests do not necessarily remove unsafe drivers from the road. They also claim that drivers who are elderly may prematurely give up driving rather than submit to testing, even if they are safe on the road. Finally, some experts claim that if other age groups do not have submit to testing, elderly drivers should not have to submit to retesting, either.

In Florida, drivers over the age of 80 must take a vision test when applying to renew their license. There are 2 million drivers in Florida over the age of 65 and there are 250 000 drivers in the state older than 85. According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, in 2009, 5928 drivers between the ages of 80 and 90 were involved in Florida car accidents. There were 116 fatalities caused by these accidents. That year, Florida had 629,699 drivers 80-90 years of age.

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Scooters and Florida Car Accidents

Published on: February 24, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

While most Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents involve cars, the increased presence of scooters on city streets and pedestrian areas has created a whole new hazard and legal question – one that is difficult o resolve. Scooters, also known as EMDs (electric mobility devices) are showing up in greater numbers to help those who are too elderly, too ill, and too obese to walk easily.

The difficulty with scooters is that they are an in-between entity. Those who ride scooters are not exactly pedestrians and not drivers, either. Under Florida laws, these devices do not require registration or licensing. However, these devices can cause serious accidents if they run into a pedestrian. When drivers use scooters in the roads, they can also cause Florida car accidents.

Currently, auto insurance is not applicable to EMDs and homeowners insurance does not cover any accidents or injuries caused by these devices outside the home. Worse, many who use scooters are in fact using them in ways they should not be used. Manufacturers of EMDs state that scooters should not be used on the roads and Medicare only pays for EMDs if they will be used indoors only. Drive-thru restaurants will not serve people on EMDs due to concerns about liability issues. However, many people who use scooters do use them in sidewalks, in parking lots, and even on the roads. In the event of an accident, this raises further complicated questions about liability.

There have been a number of well-reported scooter accidents across the US over the past year and this has prompted many people to discuss possible ways to insure EMDs. There has been discussions as well about ways to define scooter users legally and possible legislation which can be put in place to protect the public.

In Florida, a recent high-profile case involves a 73-year old EMD driver who got intoxicated and drive home on his scooter, only to be struck down by a car. He was issued a ticket as a pedestrian – for walking out in front of a car. The case underscores the lack of regulations concerning EMDs. While drivers of cars have rules and laws they must follow to prevent Florida drunk driving accidents, there are no laws preventing scooter users from driving drunk.

Scooters can also pose a serious hazard to pedestrians and can cause Florida pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents when the devices are used on sidewalks and pedestrian trails. EMDs are quite wide and can move quickly. If they collide with a bicyclists or pedestrian, serious injuries are the likely result due to the bulk and the speed of the scooter. Currently, however, anyone who is injured by a scooter must seek recovery through civil court because there are too few laws in place protecting pedestrians, car drivers, and scooter users.

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Could Extra Education For Elderly Drivers Help to Prevent Florida Car Accidents?

Published on: February 8, 2011 | By Flaxman Law Group

While car accident rates and car accident fatalities have dropped nationwide in the last few years, car accidents still claim about 40 000 American lives each year. As well, some groups of drivers have more to worry about than others. According to AARP, drivers who are between ages 30 and 64 have fewer crashes per mile than elderly drivers over 65. As well, elderly drivers are less likely than younger drivers to survive a collision. Since Florida has a large population of seniors, preventing Florida car accidents means addressing these elderly drivers.

AARP has instituted the AARP Driver Safety Program nationwide. This program allows seniors to take refresher driving courses from experienced, volunteer driving instructions. The idea behind these programs is to refresh driving skills, address changes in legislation, and address changes to cars that may have taken place since an elderly driver first received their license. Drivers who complete the course receive an AARP driving-school certificate, which may qualify them to get a discount on their car insurance. Among the things that these classes teach are:

1) The importance of yielding right of way. According to AARP driving instructors, failure to yield right of way leads to a large proportion of car accidents. It is important for all drivers to remember that they are given right of way. While in some cases a driver must yield right of way, it is important to never assume that another driver will stop.

2) Age-appropriate driving. AARP driving instructors teach students that sight, hearing, stamina, and other physical features may suffer with age. It is important for all older drivers to get annual checkups as well as yearly eye exams to keep fit for the road. Any medications should be cleared with a doctor and pharmacist first to ensure that they will not affect driving ability.

3) Check blind spots. AARP recommends that drivers exercise their necks with neck rolls to ensure that they can turn around to check blind spots. Mirrors alone are not enough.

4) Keep mentally alert. All drivers need to avoid anything – audio books, texting, phone calls, food, drinks, newspapers – that can pose any distraction on the road. It is important to keep 100% of your focus on the road. It is also important to get any mental symptoms – such as memory loss or trouble concentrating – checked out by a doctor. These can affect your driving skills.

5) Be realistic about when it’s time to hang up the keys. No one can drive forever. As physical health deteriorates, there may be a time when a driver must stop driving for their own safety and for the safety of everyone around them. Any driver who has any symptoms which could indicate a problem is ethically obligated to seek help. If you can no longer safely drive, it is important to get your condition treated. If this is impossible, it is important to stop driving before your condition leads to an accident.

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Could Brain Training Help Reduce Florida Car Accidents Involving Elderly Drivers?

Published on: November 4, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

At least one study suggests it might be the case. According to researchers at the University of South Florida, elderly drivers who take part in brain training reduce their risk of being in car accidents by half, when compared with elderly drivers who receive no brain training. The training involves cognitive training programs which do not address driving skills in particular, but are rather concerned with strengthening cognitive power.

The study tested 908 drivers with an average age of 73. Some drivers were given no training, some took part in a program designed to improve reaction speed while others trained with a program designed to hone reasoning skills. A final group worked with a program created to improve memory. All drivers received ten sessions and were then tracked for six years. According to researchers, drivers who took programs designed to improve reasoning skills and reaction speed were able to reduce car accidents by 50%. The programs designed to improve memory had no discernible outcome on accident rates.

Of those drivers who took the memory training course, 16% had at least one accident that was personally their fault. The drivers who took no training had an 18% accident rate. However, of those who took the reasoning program, only 12% were in car accidents. Only 10% of those drivers who took the speed response program were in accidents over the six-year period.

The study seems to suggest that training – even training that does not have anything to do with improving driving skills – may be able to help prevent Florida pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents involving elderly drivers by honing specific skills. Researchers are especially excited by the fact that the brain training seems to have long-term impact on driving ability, since participants were still seeing different car accident rates years after their mind training sessions.

However, another study from the University of Cambridge that studied 11, 000 drivers found that brain training did not help cognitive skills in real-life tasks such as driving. However, authors of the University of South Florida note that theirs is the first study to take driving skills into consideration specifically and to test different types of brain training.

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Reducing Car Accidents Among Elderly Florida Drivers

Published on: June 29, 2010 | By Flaxman Law Group

The country as a whole has a graying population, but Florida is a popular retirement destination, which means that the state has an even larger proportion of elderly drivers. This has created some challenges on the roads, but Florida has implemented many strategies in recent years to help drivers of all ages drive safely with fewer car accidents:

1) Mandatory eye testing. In 2004, Florida created a mandatory vision screening program for elderly drivers. The program required drivers over the age of 80 to submit to mandatory eye testing and to pass basic vision testing in order to continue driving. According to a study published by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Florida law reduced fatal car accidents involving elderly drivers by 17%.

2) Improved road visibility. Since 1991, Florida has introduced a number of innovations to improve visibility on the roads. For example, state highway pavement stripes have been increased in size from 4 inches wide to 6 inches wide. Where middle-of-the-road reflective pavement markings were once 80 feet apart, they are now 40 feet apart. Florida has also increased more “advance” street signs (to give drivers more time to prepare for a turn) and has made street name signs larger.

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