Senior Citizens and Car Accidents

Representing clients in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

If you are a senior citizen involved in a car accident, the chances are that you suffered more serious injury than a younger person might have in a similar accident. You might also be fighting an uphill battle when it comes to recovering for your damages after your accident. The other driver and his or her lawyer might attempt to use stereotypes of older drivers being less safe (despite evidence that older drivers are as safe as or safer than younger drivers). Insurance companies might also try to portray your injuries as being related to pre-existing conditions and therefore not related to the accident. Also, medical insurance companies and Medicare will demand reimbursement, which can leave you in debt. Experienced car accident attorneys can help you overcome these obstacles to get the compensation you deserve.

If you are a senior citizen involved in a car accident in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and are having trouble, the lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. can help. Please schedule a free consultation today.

Senior Citizens Are Safe Drivers

Evidence shows that older drivers have built on a lifetime of experience to become safer drivers. In recent research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was shown that drivers between the ages of 50-69 had the lowest involvement in car accidents of any age group. Nearly 20% of licensed drivers below the age of 18, 11% of drivers aged 18-24, and 6% of drivers aged 25-49 were involved in an accident over a given 1-year period. In contrast, only about 3% of drivers aged 50 to 69 were involved in an accident and only 5% of drivers over the age of 69 were involved in an accident. Senior citizens are safer drivers than any other age group.

Senior Citizens Suffer Disproportionate Injuries

Unfortunately, when a senior citizen driver is involved in an accident, he or she is more likely to suffer serious injuries. Older women are especially susceptible to serious injuries as a result of even low-speed car accidents. A driver aged 65 or older is more than four times more likely to suffer a severe injury in a car accident than a driver aged 16-24, according to NHTSA analysis of crash data. This is true for all types of accidents, including dangerous rollover accidents.

Why You Need a Lawyer's Help

If you are in an accident and injured, your expenses may initially be covered by Medicare and/or other insurance. However, once you receive a settlement, these insurers will ask to be reimbursed out of that settlement. In seeking compensation, it is important to evaluate how much you are likely to get and whether it will even cover the sums paid by health insurers. An experienced lawyer can be invaluable here because they have the experience to give you an estimate of how likely you are to receive compensation and how much.

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C., we have helped over 10,000 accident victims who have suffered serious injuries. We can look at the facts in your case and help you decide what might be the best course of action for you. Please schedule a free case evaluation today.

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