Recent studies are suggesting that elderly and senior citizens are far more likely to be struck in the roadway by a passing vehicle. Motor vehicle accidents in which a pedestrian is struck by a car are always serious. An unprotected pedestrian is likely to sustain very serious injury such as broken bones, scars, head injury, and even death. Such serious injuries are compounded when the victim is a senior citizen.
There may be a number of reasons why senior citizens are a disproportionate number of pedestrian accident victims:
- Senior citizens are less agile and capable of reacting to a sudden danger;
- They may be unable to cross a crosswalk in the limited amount of time that the lights allow them;
- Seniors who are hard of hearing may be unable to hear the horn of an oncoming vehicle;
- Seniors are more likely to be disoriented or confused at a busy intersection.
A recent NPR study also demonstrated that these statistics become even worse if the elderly person is distracted. In that study, seniors over the age of 59 who were talking to a friend or on a cell phone, were more likely to be injured in a simulated accident than a senior who was not distracted.
It is incumbent on all of us drivers to be careful of pedestrians in the road regardless of age. Particularly in high traffic areas such as city centers, outside libraries or churches, or in parking lots, a driver must always be aware of pedestrians in the road.
The Law Office of Joseph Lamy has extensive experience representing clients who were struck by cars in the roadway. These accidents are very serious and need to be approached aggressively. If you or a family member was struck by a motor vehicle, contact our office right away for a free consultation.