Some motorists have age-related factors that could increase the risk of an auto accident. For example, teen drivers have a high accident rate because of lack of experience, while medication side effects or vision changes may affect older motorists.
Review the statistics about accident risk for elderly drivers compared to teen drivers.
Driving dangers for teen motorists
Drivers ages 16 to 19 have the highest accident rate according to the National Safety Council. While this age group comprises less than 4% of drivers in the United States, they have involvement in nearly 9% of auto accidents and 6% of fatal crashes.
The accident risk is much higher in this age group when teen drivers have peers in the car, leading many states to introduce restricted license programs for new drivers.
Accident risks for senior drivers
In contrast, motorists ages 75 and older have a much lower incidence of accident involvement than teen drivers. Elderly drivers make up about 7.5% of licensed U.S. drivers, but they comprise only 6.5% of fatal crashes and less than 4% of all crashes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that drivers who are older than 75 have a higher rate of accident fatalities than middle-aged drivers (ages 35 to 54). The agency suggests that elderly motorists often have existing health problems that increase the severity of auto accident injuries.
If a loved one experiences changes in memory, cognition, vision or mobility, he or she may need a driving evaluation to ensure safety on the road.
After a serious auto accident, you can file a Connecticut personal injury lawsuit when another driver’s actions caused the crash.
