Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
When Your Aging Parents Drive Dangerously (Part B)
When Your Elder Is Injured or Causes Injury in a Car Accident
Your task may become easier, in some respects, if you have to discuss the subject following a serious senior driver car accident, especially if you handle insurance and legal matters for your parents.
Seniors cannot deny the reality of physical injury caused to themselves or others directly resulting from a driving collision.
A personal injury or traffic court lawsuit may require a trial appearance. Your parents will be receptive to talking over the issue and finding a solution if their right to drive and their health are threatened.
Injuries and Consequences of an Elderly Driving Accident
Deal with the fallout from the accident before turning to long-term driving issues.
- How serious are the injuries?
- Are your parents or any other injured parties going to fully recover?
- Has there been a personal injury claim filed in court?
Talk to seniors about their role in the harm caused and ask them what they could have done differently. Help them to create a personal report of events in order to clarify whether their driving was indeed at fault. You may need this information when consulting with a lawyer.
Pursue other aspects of the incident.
- Was a traffic ticket issued?
- Was medication or alcohol a factor?
- Was this a repeat incident?
Any of these possibilities will carry further consequences, such as fines, mandatory safety classes or license suspension. Discuss what happens if traffic court, civil court or DUI penalties are levied. Talk about body or internal damage to any vehicles involved, and how you will pay for repairs and a likely increase in insurance rates.
Senior Driver’s License Revocation
Another consequence of repeat infractions or an accident that causes serious injuries is license revocation. If your parents are in a wreck in which police and emergency services are called, they may be reported to the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Medical personnel and law officers who suspect dangerous driving as the cause can refer suspects to the DMV for an assessment of the senior driving skills and vision.
If there have indeed been charges filed, voluntary surrender of a driver’s license might mitigate the claim. In any case, this is an opportune time for a thorough physical and practical examination of your parents’ fitness for driving a car.
Call a top rated Boston car accident injury lawyer at (888) 208-1695 today to schedule a FREE Legal Evaluation of your accident case.
