Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
According to Florida officials, about one quarter of Florida drivers will be seniors by the year 2030. Currently, about 20 percent of drivers in the state are seniors age 65 or older. Much has already been written about elderly drivers and Miami car accidents. Some experts claim that age-related health concerns could make these drivers a risk. Others argue that health concerns that affect driving ability can occur at any age, so it is unfair to target elderly drivers.
A new study, however, suggests that it is not only elderly drivers we need to be concerned about: it is also senior personal injury victims injured in car accidents. According to TRIP, a transportation research group, more senior drivers were killed in 2010 in car accidents in Florida than in any other region of the US. According to the study, 271 seniors were killed in car accidents in Florida in 2010. The study also found that in 503 deaths related to car accidents, the drivers involved were senior drivers. Florida has 9.87 elderly fatalities per 100 000 individuals. Only Texas had a higher rate related to population, with 10.7 senior deaths per 100 000 people.
According to both TRIP and an advocacy organization known as Floridians for Better Transportation, more needs to be done to make Florida roadways safer for everyone, especially now that the number of senior drivers is on the rise. According to Floridians for Better Transportation, one of the issues is that many retirees choose to settle in Florida in their golden years, and this can mean that drivers who are used to driving in other states (and not used to driving in Florida) end up in Florida. Another issue is that drivers are driving longer and seniors are living longer, meaning that elderly drivers spend more time behind the wheel than in past generations.
One issue with Miami car accidents and traffic accidents is not only what causes them, but also the types of injuries which passengers and drivers can sustain. The high rate of fatalities found in the TRIP study could suggest that elderly drivers are vulnerable to injuries sustained in car accidents. Some age-related illnesses, such as osteoporosis, can make elderly victims of Miami truck accidents and traffic accidents more susceptible to broken bones, for example. If an elderly driver or passenger has a pre-existing health condition, any brain injuries, fractures, burn injuries, and other injuries can take longer to heal.
Elderly car accident victims face many challenges as they recover as well. Since many seniors are on fixed incomes, medical costs, car repair costs, and other Miami traffic accident-related costs can create substantial financial distress. At the same time, insurers do not always provide elderly injury victims with fair claim amounts. Since elderly victims may not be income earners, for example, they may not recover for lost income and other related expenses. In addition, elderly drivers may sometimes be unfairly blamed for an accident.
For all these reasons, it is important for elderly car accident victims to consult with a qualified Miami personal injury attorney after their accident. An experienced Miami personal injury attorney can investigate the cause of the accident, can help the accident victim understand the value of their case, and can negotiate with insurance carriers for fairer compensation.
Are you looking for a Miami car accident attorney to review your case? Contact the Flaxman Law Group. The legal team at the Flaxman Law Group have decades of experience in South Florida personal injury cases and have offices conveniently located in Miami. The Flaxman Law Group is also pleased to offer a free initial consultation to all new clients, so contact the Flaxman Law Group today.