Insurance companies exist to make a profit, which means they will try any trick available to avoid paying a claim. This includes suggesting that your age caused your car accident. To protect your right to full compensation for the damages you’ve suffered, you will want to seek assistance from a skilled attorney as soon as possible.
Age Is Nothing but a Number
Statistically, drivers over 65 are 16% more likely to cause an accident than adult drivers age 25-64. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story.
Making assumptions about age-related changes in reflexes, hearing, vision, and cognition is dangerous. While it’s true that some 65-year-olds are in poor health and can no longer live independently, many people continue to work full time, exercise regularly, and enjoy thriving social lives well into their 70s or 80s. Diet, exercise, genetics, and access to quality medical care all play huge roles in how aging affects a particular person.
Insurance Adjusters Hate Paying for Severe Injuries
While age doesn’t necessarily make someone an unsafe driver, getting older can make you more vulnerable to severe injuries when a crash does occur. For example, bones become more fragile with age. Half of women and one in four men over the age of 50 will experience at least one fractured bone.
Fractures in older adults also take longer to heal, which means you’re more likely to require additional treatment than a younger driver with the same injury. If you’ve fractured a hip, the injury may even be severe enough that it limits your ability to live independently.
How an Attorney Can Help
An insurance adjuster should not assume that you’re at fault for an accident because of your age. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help protect your right to compensation after a traffic accident caused by another driver’s negligence. Your attorney can:
- Limit access to your medical records to what’s relevant for your claim, so past doctor visits don’t cast doubt on your driving ability
- Handle communication with the insurance company on your behalf, so your words aren’t unfairly misinterpreted
- Maximize your compensation by fully documenting your damages—including any future costs you’ll incur as the result of your injuries
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.