Elderly Drivers Involved Illinois Car Crash

As a person gets older, his or her eyesight may start to get worse and reaction times may slow down. These factors, in combination with decreased mobility as a person ages, can make it dangerous for elderly drivers to be out on the road.

Recently, a three-vehicle accident involving three people over the age of 75 occurred just after the morning rush hour, in Schaumburg, Illinois. The serious car accident left one woman dead and two others hurt.

According to Schaumburg police, an SUV was making a left-hand turn from Irving Park Road onto Mitchell Road when it crashed into a second car. The SUV struck the car on the passenger side. The 77-year-old woman riding in the car was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.

The driver of the SUV and the driver of the second car were also elderly individuals, ages 78 and 82, respectively. Both drivers were injured in the car crash and treated, although the injuries were not life-threatening.

Law enforcement was forced to close the intersection through the afternoon. Police officers investigated and reconstructed the crash. At the end of the afternoon, there were no charges filed related to the crash.

Some elderly drivers may not know the extent of their limitations but others may be well aware and choose to drive anyway. A Chicago car accident lawyer can assess the situation, as well as the investigation findings, and determine if a driver acted negligently in causing an accident. Choosing to drive even though a driver is aware of the potential risks to others, could be classified as negligent driving.

Source: ABC 7 Eyewitness News, "Woman ID'd in fatal Schaumburg crash," April 1, 2014