A San Francisco car accident caused by an elderly driver left eight people, including the driver, injured, CBS News reports. According to San Francisco police officers, a gold Ford Taurus was traveling south on 19th Avenue when it ran a red light at Taraval Street, the afternoon of April 26, 2010. The Ford then struck a vehicle at the intersection, jumped the median and then hit four other cars that were heading north on 19th Avenue. Police are looking into whether the elderly man behind the wheel of the Taurus had suffered a medical condition just before the crash. Eight people were transported to area hospitals including the driver of the Taurus who is listed in critical condition.
I sympathize deeply with everyone who has been injured in this horrific accident. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
San Francisco Car Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 35 deaths and 3,577 injuries involving car accidents in San Francisco, California.
The Issue of Elderly Drivers
Based on this news report, it is still not clear how or why this major injury collision occurred. Did the elderly driver of the Taurus in fact suffer a medical condition? Was he healthy enough to drive in the first place? Did he have a valid license? Or was there any negligence or wrongdoing involved? I trust investigators are examining these and other factors in order to determine exactly what occurred in this case.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), California now has almost 3 million drivers who are 65 years or older. A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65. In 2005, about 11 percent of fatal crashes in the United States had involved drivers 65 or older.
Such accidents are constant reminders to the rest of us that we share our roadways with senior drivers. Many of them are able to drive without any problems or issues. However, some of them evidently should not be driving. Their yearning for independence and mobility is understandable. But, it should not come at the cost of public safety.
Fault and Liability
The injured victims in this accident would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of an incident and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. Where negligence is involved, injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other related damages.
Should elderly drivers be retested and if so, how often do you think they should be reexamined and retested?
SLS Consulting