Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Car Accident Attorney: Risks and Safety Concerns for Senior Drivers (Part B)
Warning Signs for Senior Drivers
Some habits or warning signs associated with senior driver car accidents include:
- Failure to use turn signals, or forgetting to turn off a signal after use.
- Slowing or stopping in the middle of traffic without cause or indication.
- Stopping or slowing at green lights, or neglecting to stop at red lights and stop signs.
- Mixing up the gas and brake pedals.
- Changing lanes suddenly, or “drifting” into other lanes.
- Driving far above or far below the posted speed limit.
- Near-misses or side-swipes with posts, other cars, pedestrians, bikers and the like.
- Trouble with reaction time, range-of-motion and attentiveness.
- Reversing in traffic.
- A decrease in confidence, leading to hesitation, nervousness and inability to make quick, split-second decisions.
In some cases, it might be necessary to consult a doctor, health care professional or police officer in order to assess an older driver’s skills and road safety.
How to Keep At Risk Seniors of the Road
A doctor can assist in keeping an at-risk elderly driver off of the road by submitting a report to a state driver’s license authority that indicates their concerns.
If talking to an elderly driver about the issue or doctor intervention do not bring satisfactory results, it might be necessary to take more extreme measures to prevent an older driver accident.
A person that is involved in the situation might have to:
- Remove the keys to the car from the senior’s possession.
- Make the car inoperable, or remove it from the premises.
As difficult as it is to tell a loved one that they can no longer drive, it is far more difficult to deal with the pain and consequences of an accident caused by an older driver who no longer should have been behind the wheel.
An auto accident can ruin and completely change your life. If you have been injured in a car crash, you should contact a Boston car accidents lawyer to learn about your rights and determine liability. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit, so hurry and call today for a Free advice on your case.
Free Consultations: 1-888-208-1695.
