Children are more prone to being involved in a pedestrian accident than are the elderly however elderly pedestrians are more likely to be fatal. Children are often victims of pedestrian accidents because they move quickly and are much shorter, making it difficult for drivers to see them. Often smaller children will pull away from their parent’s hand and dart into the street without warning—another reason they become auto accident victims. Older adults, on the other hand are more likely to be a victim of a pedestrian/auto accident due to their slower movements. On a busy city street, an elderly person who walks slowly is unable to get across the street before the light changes, and impatient drivers may not be paying attention as they should.
Overall, as we age, our hearing, vision, reflexes and flexibility diminish. An elderly person may not see an oncoming car, especially if it is coming from the side, and might not hear the car either. The elderly are less flexible and agile, therefore less able to quickly get out of the way when they do spot a vehicle headed toward them. Because almost 64 percent of pedestrian accidents which involve older people occur and non-intersection locations, meaning older pedestrians are being hit in parking lots of shopping centers as they make their way to their vehicle, or in their own urban neighborhoods as they try to cross a street in an area with no markings.
How Negligent Drivers Can Cause Elderly Pedestrian Accidents
Impatient or flat-out negligent drivers are the cause of many serious pedestrian accidents among the elderly, as well as elderly fatalities. Often these drivers are so focused on getting where they are going that they fail to be alert while driving, not yielding to pedestrians. They may run red lights or disregard other traffic signs, never even seeing the elderly person trying to cross until they hit them, and are often driving much too fast for the road. Cell phones, GPS devices and radios or cd players are a huge distraction for drivers and can be the cause of many pedestrian accidents. If such risky driver behavior is found to be present in elderly pedestrian injuries, the driver may be held criminally accountable and could be the subject of a lawsuit for damages. Drivers must be conscientious when operating their automobiles, and must be hyper-alert in city situations where elderly pedestrians could be trying to cross a busy street.
Poor Street Design
Many of our current streets were designed in the 1950’s when there were far fewer pedestrians on the streets, and increasingly many of those pedestrians are seniors. Planners failed to take into account future demographic changes, and essentially designed for younger pedestrians and motorists. Many seniors now live in urban areas following their retirement, and considering some 38-40 million baby boomers will be turning 65 and have doctors who recommend walking for exercise, senior pedestrians will be more and more common.
How Senior Pedestrians Can Stay Safe
Senior pedestrians must always cross at designated crosswalks, being careful to look out for drivers who are distracted or reckless. Seniors must always allow plenty of time to cross the street, and never start crossing during the “don’t walk” signal. If you notice a crosswalk which does not allow enough time to safely cross the street, contact a city transportation official. Never talk on a cell phone while crossing streets or walking in a parking lot. Wear brightly colored clothing to enable motorists to see you better, and always look out for cars backing out of parking spaces or driveways.
Protecting Senior Pedestrian Rights
When an elderly pedestrian is hit by an automobile, they can suffer serious injuries which result in a rapid decline of health, or even an untimely death. Senior injured in an auto accident must ensure their rights are protected by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney in their area. Your attorney will seek to prove negligence on the part of the driver, collecting compensation on your behalf for medical bills, diminished quality of life and pain and suffering.
At The Nahon Firm PLC, our goal is for you to receive the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and loss of enjoyment of life due to car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and all other types of personal injury claims. With offices in Nashville, The Nahon Firm PLC has the experience and resources necessary to investigate and resolve your case. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys are adept negotiators who have the necessary trial experience to obtain the best possible results for your personal injury claim. Call us today to discuss your case by calling (615) 324-2000.
