It’s difficult to tell an elderly loved one that they need to stop driving. However, it may also be impossible to avoid.
If you need to have this conversation for their own safety — and that of others on the road — it can help to provide specific examples of why you think that they should stop. Don’t just note that it’s common at their age. They’re likely to say that they can still drive safely, even if others cannot.
So, what are some common signs to watch out for, which you can also use as examples? A few of them include the following:
- The elderly person seems nervous behind the wheel, as if they even lack confidence that they can still drive well.
- It becomes more and more difficult for them to react quickly to the unexpected, so they’re only safe when everything around them goes as planned.
- They start to lose focus while driving, becoming progressively more distracted.
- They have been diagnosed with a medical condition that impacts their mental and/or physical abilities as a driver.
- They repeatedly get into close calls or even minor accidents. For instance, even if they haven’t hit another car yet, they keep running into the mailbox at the end of the driveway. You know it’s only a matter of time before there’s a more serious crash.
Having this conversation with your loved one is important, but it’s also not something that everyone does in time to avoid a crash. If you are injured in a crash with an elderly driver, you need to know how to seek the appropriate financial compensation.
Contact Bethleham car accident attorney to learn more.
