More than any other age group, newly licensed teens and adults 65 and older run the highest risk for an auto accident in Indiana and across the U.S. The highest car crash fatality rate is seen among senior citizens. Combine this with the fact that these two age groups tend to drive older vehicles, and one can see how much they can put themselves in danger.
Study on older vehicles with teens and seniors
A large-scale study, the first of its kind, addressed this trend, and its results were published in August in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention, which is part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, looked at the 2010-2017 car crash data in New Jersey and determined each vehicle’s model year, engine power and other characteristics.
One thing that researchers focused on was whether a vehicle had electronic stability control and side and curtain airbags. The latter can prevent side-impact collisions while the former helps keep vehicles safe on slippery roads and around sharp curves. Older vehicles lack these features and thus put teens and older drivers at risk.
Prioritizing safety despite financial limitations
Researchers acknowledge that lower-income drivers are more likely to own an older vehicle. Nevertheless, researchers say that prioritizing safety is important. For less than $7,000, drivers may purchase a relatively safe vehicle.
Hiring a lawyer for your personal injury case
Car accidents can leave the victims dealing with lingering pain and a disability that keeps them from work. If this sounds like your situation, then you may want a lawyer to assess your situation and determine if you can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company. The lawyer may hire accident investigators to help show just how the defendant failed to exercise their duty of care toward you.
