Drivers in Louisiana who are over the age of 60 should understand that they are undergoing certain natural changes that will impair, or are already impairing, their driving if they are not careful. Vision deteriorates, reaction times slow down, and other physical changes make driving more dangerous for seniors.
The American Optometric Association states that elderly drivers find it more difficult to transition from looking at close-up objects, such as the car instrument panel, to faraway objects, such as road signs and other vehicles. From this can arise misjudgments of distances and speeds.
Older drivers have a harder time adjusting to bright sunlight and glare as well as to night. There is also the loss of one’s field of view to contend with. For example, a 16-year-old approaching an intersection would be able to see the whole intersection, but a 76-year-old would likely not see much to the left and right and even fail to see oncoming traffic.
The first thing that older drivers must do is acknowledge their limitations and then exercise more caution. When entering an intersection, they should look both ways. They should drive less, especially during the evening, and wear sunglasses when necessary. Lastly, they could talk to their doctor about when they should stop driving altogether.
A personal injury case may arise if elderly drivers do not exercise caution and cause an accident as a result. As for those who were injured, they may want to see a lawyer about how to pursue the case and what they might be eligible for in damages for medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repair costs and pain and suffering. The lawyer may hire third parties to show how the elderly driver was at fault.