Georgia Injury Law Blog

The decision to step in and take action when you see an elderly motorist beginning to lose his driving abilities, is never an easy one to make. However, for millions of Americans in the position of caregivers for their parents, it's a moment that presents itself sooner or later. 

Studies estimate that elderly motorist safety is likely to become an even bigger safety concern in the years ahead, as the baby boomer population hits its 70s. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2008, 78% of the senior population in the United States had driving licenses, compared to 73% just a decade earlier. Those numbers are expected to increase over the next decade.

It’s important for families of these motorists to know when to make the decision to suspend or restrict the person's driving privileges. It's also important to gently ease the person into giving up the keys, or at least present him with a set of alternatives to driving. Here are some steps you can take to keep your loved one and others safe.

·        See if you can get someone to accompany the motorist when he/she drives.

·        Restrict driving at night.

·        Restrict driving only to nearby locations.

·        Don't allow senior motorists to drive during rush hour.

If none of this is possible, and you would like your loved one to stop driving altogether, stage an intervention. Get a member of the family who is close to the senior driver, to stage the intervention, so it's less stressful. If that doesn't work and the person continues to be stubborn about driving, you may simply have to take away the keys, or move the car to another location where it cannot be accessed. 

If the person willingly gives up the car keys however, you must have other options in place. For instance, who's going to take over the responsibility of driving him around now that he can't drive himself? Entrust someone in the family with the responsibility of doing this, or establish a schedule rotating the task among family members.

The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto/car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In Senior Citizens | 0 Comments Permalink

More Older Drivers Doesn't Necessarily Mean More Accidents

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has, in the past, warned about a growing population of senior motorists and the implications for highway safety. The agency had published a study nine years ago, expressing its concerns over the heightened risk of accidents with more numbers of elderly motorists on the road.

As it turns out, those concerns may have been completely misplaced. An updated report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that although there are more numbers of elderly motorists on the roads, they are not necessarily being involved in more numbers of accidents. In fact, there has been a decline in the number of serious/fatal accidents involving elderly drivers over the past decade.

There are more elderly drivers on the roads, but crash rates involving senior motorists have declined by approximately 37%. In fact, senior drivers seem to become better motorists as they age. The biggest decline in fatal accident rates among senior motorists was seen in drivers aged above 80 - a staggering drop of 47%.

To arrive at these results, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety compared accident rates for a group of elderly motorists, with a control group of motorists aged between 35 and 54. These motorists were selected because they were experienced drivers, but had not yet reached the age where age-related conditions could impact their driving abilities. The study however found that the elderly motorists did far better than the younger drivers.

So, what has caused this welcome, but puzzling decline, in senior citizen-related accidents and fatalities? Safer cars seem to have had a lot to do with this. In fact, senior citizens seem to benefit more from auto safety technologies. Besides, old motorists now are healthier than they used to be a couple of decades ago. When you see or hear better, you're less likely to be involved in an accident.

The Atlanta car accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto and truck accidents in the metro Atlanta area and across Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In Senior Citizens | 0 Comments Permalink

Elderly motorists in Georgia have restrictions imposed on their driving abilities. These are in place to make sure that senior citizens can continue to drive safely in Georgia, without endangering their own safety, as well as the lives and safety of other drivers. Driving for elderly people is not just a convenient way of getting around, but also a major factor in their mental health. Studies have shown that elderly citizens, who have their car keys taken away from them, can fall into a depression. More senior motorists may soon be able to continue with their driving privileges.

The American Academy of Neurology this week said that it would be revising its guidelines allowing patients with mild dementia to continue driving. As of now, the group does not recommend driving privileges for patients diagnosed with even a mild degree of dementia. However under the new guidelines, patients with mild dementia who have a safe accident record and whose families believe they can drive safely, may be able to continue to do so.

According to the group, studies seem to indicate that most persons who suffer from mild dementia pass driving tests successfully. In fact, studies showed that 77 percent of these persons were able to pass these tests, confirming their driving abilities.

As Atlanta car accident lawyers, we believe that families and caregivers of these patients must make the all-important decision of taking away the car keys. If you are a person concerned about your loved one's ability to drive after he or she has been diagnosed with mild dementia, base your decision on this simple question - would you feel safe traveling in a car he or she is driving? If the answer to this question is no, then you must make a firm decision, unpleasant as it may be.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In Senior Citizens | 0 Comments Permalink

Study Indicates Rise in Elevator Injuries Among Senior Citizens

Every year, thousands of elderly persons are injured in elevator accidents. That information comes via a study conducted by researchers at the Department of public health at the Indiana University School of Medicine. According to the researchers, elderly persons are likely to suffer slip and fall accidents, or get caught between elevator doors. Those are two of the most common ways senior citizens suffer injuries in elevators. 

The researchers studied data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission between 1990 and 2006. They found that there were approximately 44,870 elevator injuries involving the elderly, during this period of time. The injuries were serious enough for the person to be admitted to the hospital. Fifty one percent of these injuries were caused by slip and fall accidents. The most frequently seen injuries were sprains, followed by fractures and cuts. Hip fractures were the most common injuries that required admission into a hospital. Most injuries involved women, and the risk of injuries increased with the age of the victim.

The elderly may not be able to avoid using elevators. However, they must exercise great care when using these. Most injuries occur when the person is getting into or out of the elevator. Therefore, avoid rushing to get in. It’s far better to wait for another elevator car. The elderly must also take great care with their walkers and canes as they get into and out of the elevator. Most injuries involve hands, legs and walking aids getting caught in the elevator doors.

The Atlanta slip and fall accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of slip and fall accidents in the metro Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia.

Posted By Lisa Siegel In Senior Citizens | 0 Comments Permalink