When it comes to car accidents, children and elderly people are more likely to suffer severe injuries than healthy adults. Accidents involving senior citizens can have dramatic consequences on their health, as the risk of an accident being fatal increases.
Although statistically, the elderly are more likely to use the car’s safety devices and are less likely to speed in traffic, car accidents can still inflict serious injuries on them. Starting with age 75, a car accident victim is more likely to die in a car accident, and at age 80 this probability increases significantly.
Here are the most common types of injuries an elderly person might suffer in a car crash.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are some of the most common ones in a car accident, and they can be particularly dangerous to the elderly. As we get older, our body decreases in proportions, and the brain goes through the same process. In patients aged 70 or older, the brain occupied less space in the cranium, which makes it more susceptible to damage. Something as common as whiplash can cause brain bruises, bleeding and a higher rate of TBI (traumatic brain injury).
Bone Fractures in Arms, Legs, and Spine
Injuries to arms and legs are prevalent in car crashes involving senior citizens. To make matters worse, they often suffer from limited mobility and conditions such as osteoporosis, which makes their bones and joints more fragile.
Spine injuries are also dangerous to this age group, and the recovery period longer than in younger patients. Hip fractures often result in death if they lead to complications, and patients can also be left with limited function of their limbs or spine.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries are more likely to happen to the elderly age group compared to the younger group. Rib fractures, flail chest, and sternum fractures are the three most common chest injuries that the elderly suffer during a car crash. These injuries can lead to many complications, depending on the health condition of the victim at the time of the accident and the complications that can arise afterward.
Speak With a Car Accident Lawyer
Given their fragile tissues, even when being in an excellent health state, older citizens are more likely to sustain injuries following a car crash. More so, their recovery period will be significantly longer than victims in other age groups, and complications are more likely to appear.
If you’ve been in a car accident and decided to file a settlement claim, then you should know that it’s important to evaluate the full extent of the medical treatment you will need. Working with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney who can properly evaluate the settlement amount you should get is in your best interest. A good lawyer will ensure you will get proper compensation and not let the insurance company trick you.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
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