If you were injured at the hands of a teen driver or an elderly driver here in New York, you’re not alone. Teens and adults 65 and older are, in fact, the two age groups with the highest risk for a car crash. Seniors even see the highest crash fatality rate of any age group. A recent large-scale study of crashes in New Jersey found that these two age groups compound their risk by tending to drive older vehicles.
Why older vehicles are unsafe
Older vehicles don’t come with the safety devices that newer ones have as a matter of course, especially features that make up an advanced driver-assistance system. For their study, researchers focused on whether a given vehicle had side and curtain airbags and electronic stability control. This feature can prevent collisions by keeping vehicles under control on sharp curves and wet or icy roads.
Income levels a major factor
As might be expected, researchers found that drivers in lower-income neighborhoods were less likely to own a newer vehicle with these safety features. The cars that lower-income teens drive can be twice as old as those driven by higher-income teens. Also, higher-income teens were 53% likelier to own a vehicle with side airbags. Among older drivers in high-income neighborhoods, the chances were 35% higher.
Legal representation for accident victims
Perhaps your auto accident injuries were so severe that the losses far exceed what your insurance company can cover. In that case, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Though you may be worried about finances, it might be a good idea to hire a lawyer for this process. A lawyer may give your case personal attention, hire investigators to gather evidence and then negotiate on your behalf for the maximum amount in damages.
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