Older Pedestrians at High Risk of Dying in Traffic Accidents

The results of a new study hold no surprises for Texas vehicle accident attorneys. The research finds that older pedestrians may be at a much higher risk of fatal injuries in a car accident, compared to younger adults.

The study was based on an analysis of pedestrian accident fatalities between 2001 and 2010. The data indicates that the fatality rate for pedestrians aged above 75 years old was more than double the fatality rate for adults aged between 34 and below.

Pedestrian safety is a major issue around the country, especially in Texas, which sees hundreds of fatal and injurious distractions every year. In fact, across the country, as many as 4,000 pedestrians are killed in traffic accidents every year. Elderly pedestrians form a huge chunk of those numbers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the findings of the new study are very concerning because the number of elderly pedestrians is only likely to increase over the next few years, as the senior population in the country increases. Increased access to better health, medical advances and other factors have meant longer lives for American seniors, and most seniors now expect to live active lives, well into their 70s and 80s. That means many seniors walking about on the street as pedestrians.

Pedestrians who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s may be at a much risk of suffering fatal injuries, because they’re increasingly frail, no matter how healthy they may seem. There may also be mental declines, changes in vision and hearing, as well the physical disabilities linked to aging. These factors may increase a person’s risk of dying in an accident.