Senior citizens are routinely stereotyped as bad drivers. Indeed, we’ve all seen examples of elderly drivers who mistook the accelerator for the brake or who had some type of medical emergency behind the wheel and caused a serious crash. With the number of older drivers increasing, that can be cause for concern. Here in Michigan, the percentage of drivers who are at least 65 has grown by almost 25 percent in less than a decade.
However, data from the Michigan State Police shows that older drivers are much less likely to be involved in collisions as the drivers young enough to be their grandchildren. In 2017, 75 out of 1,000 drivers were involved in a crash in the state. However, that number is less than half (35.5) for drivers who have reached 65. Interestingly, it gets even smaller for drivers 80 and older.
Meanwhile, 69 out of 1,000 drivers between 25 and 64 were involved in a crash. Approximately 125 out of 1,000 drivers under 20 had accidents.
While many older drivers may not have the physical dexterity or mental acuity that younger drivers have, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), they’re more likely to practice defensive driving, wear their seat belts and avoid driving under the influence. Further, according to AAA, “[m]ost older drivers recognize and avoid situations where their limitations put them at risk. They drive less after dark, during rush hour or in bad weather, and avoid difficult roads such as highways and intersections.”
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a crash or if you lost a loved one due to the actions or negligence of another driver, you can seek the compensation you need and deserve for medical care, physical therapy, burial costs and other expenses and damages. An experienced attorney can help you with this process.
