Car accidents happen to drivers at any age. But does the frequency of those accidents change depending on the age of the individual who is behind the wheel? Studies have found that age is certainly one of the factors that you would be wise to consider.
For example, teenagers have the highest rate of fatal accidents out of any age group. Often, the reason given for this is just their inexperience. Someone who is 16 or 17 years old hasn’t been driving for very long, so they’re going to make mistakes that they wouldn’t make if they were older. They do get better at driving, which is why crash rates decline in their 20s and 30s, but gaining experience is the only way for them to become safer – and that means spending time on the road.
Is there a risk with older drivers?
There can sometimes be a greater crash risk with older drivers. For instance, they may struggle with physical limitations or cognitive difficulties that make it harder to drive safely. Someone struggling with a mental disorder may make logical mistakes behind the wheel, while someone with physical limitations may struggle to stay in control of the car. Older drivers have higher fatal accident rates than middle-aged drivers, though not as high as teens.
But the main reason that elderly individuals do have these relatively high injury and fatality rates is just a higher level of frailty. Accidents are more dangerous for older individuals because the ramifications can be more severe – it’s easier to get injured – whereas teenagers are more physically resilient, but much more likely to cause these accidents.
Regardless of your age, if you’ve been involved in an accident caused by another driver, you may be able to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs. Be sure you know what legal options you have.