Savannah Elderly Driver Injury Lawyer

A Savannah elderly driver injury lawyer from George Sink, P.A.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) reports that there are more than 1 million drivers in the state of Georgia who are over the age of 65, and more than 768,000 of these drivers are over the age of 70. While driving can help elderly individuals feel more independent, they sometimes pose risks to others on the roadway.

If an elderly driver caused your injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. An elderly driver injury lawyer in Savannah at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can explain your legal rights and options. Contact us to speak to a member of our team.

Potential Dangers Posed By Elderly Drivers

While many elderly drivers drive safely and cause far fewer accidents than the general public, others are not as safe. Elderly individuals may suffer from a variety of medical conditions or the general effects of aging that can make their driving less safe. The National Institute on Aging identifies the following potential dangers of elderly drivers:

• Delayed reaction times and slower reflexes: part of the natural aging process is that you cannot move as quickly as you did when you were younger. Your reactions and reflexes may be slower than they once were, so you may not be able to avoid an accident as easily as you could when you were younger.
• Stiff joints and muscles: many elderly individuals suffer from arthritis or stiff joints and muscles. These conditions can also make it more difficult to quickly maneuver a vehicle after noticing a hazard.
• Vision problems: vision often gets worse over time. Additionally, elderly individuals may struggle with medical conditions related to their eyes, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and eye diseases that impair vision.
• Hearing loss: many elderly individuals suffer from hearing loss. This can make it so that the elderly driver does not hear horns or other noises that may alert them to danger.
• Cognitive impairment: some elderly drivers may suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, strokes, or other medical conditions that impair their cognitive abilities. These conditions can affect a driver’s decision-making abilities, memory, and judgment.
• Medications: the medications that elderly individuals take for various medical conditions may affect a driver’s alertness or may make them drowsy.

A Savannah elderly driver injury lawyer from our team can investigate the factors that led to your collision and seek to hold the other driver liable for the injuries you sustained.

Savannah Elderly Driver Injury Lawyer Near Me912-225-4600

Georgia’s Licensing Laws for Older Drivers

According to the Georgia DDS, drivers age 64 and older in this state must take and pass an in-person vision screening as part of their license renewal process. If they cannot complete this test, they are given a Vision Report Form that a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist must complete in order for the driver to renew his or her license.

Drivers can have certain restrictions placed on their driving privileges when safety warrants these measures. Some restrictions that elderly drivers may be subject to include:

• Requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses at all times when driving
• Requirement to wear hearing aids when driving
• No driving on expressways
• Installing additional outside mirrors
• Limitations on the number of passengers permitted in the vehicle
• No nighttime driving

Additionally, relatives, caregivers, and others who worry that a particular driver is not safe can trigger an unsafe driver investigation.

Warning Signs of Elderly Driver Impairment

Not all elderly drivers are a safety risk. Some warning signs that a driver may be losing their driving ability include:

• Having more accidents or near misses
• Being cited for traffic violations
• Having wandering thoughts when driving
• Having problems concentrating when behind the wheel
• Suffering from a health issue that may affect driving
• Complaining about other drivers’ speed or driving behaviors
• Driving too fast or too slow
• Getting lost on familiar roads
• Having difficulty reading normal road signs
• Expressing concerns about driving at night
• Other drivers honking
• Hearing comments and concerns from neighbors and friends about the elderly driver

Our Savannah Elderly Driver Injury Lawyers May Be Able to Help You

Our lawyers handle all of the legal aspects of your claim. You never have to worry about your case because it is in competent hands. This allows you to concentrate on your health and recovery.

We begin the process by talking to you about the accident. We conduct an investigation to determine how the accident occurred and the factors that contributed to it. We speak with the insurance company on your behalf so that you do not have to be inconvenienced by them and so that we can protect the value of your claim. We prepare a demand package that clearly spells out the economic and non-economic impact the accident has had on you. Then, we negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

If the insurance company does not agree to provide you with your just compensation, we can then consider taking legal action and filing a lawsuit. If this is the route your case takes, we may obtain additional evidence to establish liability in the case. We may request medical records or a physical examination of the defendant to show that he or she likely suffered from a condition that affected his or her ability to safely operate a vehicle. All the while, we will continue to support your claim and negotiate for a fair resolution of your claim.

If you were harmed by an unsafe elderly driver, you have a limited amount of time to act. Contact us today so that you can get started with your claim.

Contact Us Today for Your Free Consultation

If you were injured by an elderly driver, a Savannah elderly driver injury attorney from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers is here to help. We can thoroughly investigate your claim and determine if the driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle was impaired. We can handle all aspects of your claim.

Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you pay us no attorney fees unless and until we are able to recover compensation on your behalf. Call us for your free consultation.