Being injured in an accident is difficult at any age, but car accidents can be especially traumatic for older drivers. Drivers over age 65 often worry they’ll be blamed for an accident solely because of their age and be forced to stop driving as a result. However, this fear is unfounded. With an experienced attorney by your side, you can receive compensation for your accident-related experiences without worrying about age discrimination. 
Older Drivers Often Face Challenges on the Road
Statistically, older drivers cause fewer car accidents than any other age group. However, this is primarily because they are no longer driving long distances on a regular basis. If you measure accidents per mile driven, the rate steadily increases for drivers age 65 and over.
Some people in their early 60s have limitations that make it hard to drive, while others can easily drive down a busy interstate in their 80s. There is no reason to assume that someone is an unsafe driver solely because of age, and there’s no magic age at which someone should stop driving.
However, when seniors do struggle with driving and accidents are involved, it might be because of:
- Hearing problems
- Slowed reaction time
- Difficulty remembering directions
- Anxiety while traveling in heavy traffic or unfamiliar locations
- Medication that causes drowsiness and fatigue
Laws Affecting Senior Drivers
Every state handles senior drivers a little differently, but there is no state where your license is automatically taken away once you reach a certain age. Louisiana law requires drivers age 70 and over to renew their license in person every four years and to complete a vision exam as a condition of renewal, while most younger drivers are allowed to renew online. However, older drivers do not need to complete a written or road test unless there is indication of driver impairment such as a report from a doctor about a medical condition affecting driving or an unsafe driver report from a concerned citizen.
Drivers who don’t qualify for an unrestricted license can still receive a license that allows for limited driving privileges. Common restrictions given to older drivers include:
- No nighttime driving
- Driving only within a certain radius of home
- Wearing a hearing aid to drive
- Driving only for short trips
Proving Fault After an Accident
If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident, you won’t be determined to be at fault solely because of your age. Fault is determined by producing evidence such as:
- Driver reports
- Witness testimony
- Photographs from the accident scene
- Vehicle damage reports
- Accident reports filed by police, including whether any parties involved were ticketed
- Accident reconstruction
If you were speeding, ran a red light, or made some other mistake that contributed to the accident, you could be found partially at fault. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t be entitled to compensation. Under Louisiana law, your settlement will be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault. This means, if you’re found to have been 10% at fault for the accident, you’ll receive 90% of what you’d be able to receive if the other driver was solely at fault.
How Neblett, Beard & Arsenault Can Help
Even though most personal injury cases involving car accidents are settled out of court, this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to forgo legal representation. An experience attorney can gather evidence, locate relevant experts to testify on your behalf, and negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company for the highest possible compensation. If you are partially at fault for the accident, your attorney can also help negotiate a lower percentage of fault—thus increasing the overall size of your settlement.
Have You Been Injured In A Louisiana Car Accident?
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Alexandria office directly at 318.541.8188 to schedule your free consultation.