Elderly Pedestrians

No matter how strong you think you are, if you’re hit by a car, you’re going to get hurt. The human body was not meant to be hit by a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds, even at “slow” speeds. Unfortunately, that injury risk is heightened when a car, truck, or SUV hits someone who is elderly.

It’s a fact of life that as we grow older, we grow more frail. In your 40s and 50s, it means that going out to play with your kids or grandkids means that you’re sore for a few days. In your 60s and 70s, it means that you can’t do things that you used to do. Many lose their mobility, requiring walking assistance. Others lose bone density and have other conditions that make them more susceptible to injury. When you put these two factors together, it’s ripe for serious, and possibly catastrophic, injuries.

Part of every injury is the road to recovery. What many people don’t realize is that one of the worst parts of that road is the uncertainty. We don’t know how long it will take to get better. At the same time, we sometimes have doubts as to whether we’ll get better at all.

The same is especially true for those who are elderly. The older we get, the longer it takes to “bounce back.” The same injury to someone in his/her 20s is much different to someone in his/her 80s. What could take weeks or months for the 20 year old to recover from could take years for the 80 year old to recover from.

It’s also true that the same type of incident can cause much more severe injuries to the elderly. For example, if someone in their 20s is hit by a slow moving car, knocking them to the ground, it might cause some scrapes, or even a back or neck strain. In all likelihood, that young person will have a quick road to recovery. If someone is 85 and struck by a slow moving car, knocking that person to the ground can cause catastrophic injuries. Then, injuries such as broken hips might be something that the elderly victim never recovers from.

When elderly pedestrians are hit by vehicles, a wide variety of injuries can happen. However, there are certain types of injuries that we see most often:

• Broken Bones: A broken bone can be very difficult for someone who is already dealing with physical breakdowns.
• Fractured Hips: These are some of the worst injuries an elderly person can suffer, as they really affect mobility, sometimes permanently.
• Concussions: Head injuries are difficult at any age. However, those who are elderly and maybe already dealing with mild to moderate cognitive decline can have difficulty coping with additional limitations. This might also be a situation where it can be hard to get appropriate medical care, as doctors are sometimes too eager to claim that this decline was preexisting.

At Marcotte Law Firm, we have represented thousands of people injured in car accidents. We know the ins and outs of these claims. We understand that what might seem like a “minor” accident or injury can have significant consequences.

If you or a loved one were injured as a pedestrian, call the experienced attorneys at Marcotte Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation.