We help Bakersfield victims who are hurt in accidents caused by an older driver’s mistake. If you have been hurt in a collision, contact us for a free consultation.
You can find out more about what we can do for car accident victims on our Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer page.
How to Tell If You Need a Car Accident Lawyer
For a minor accident, only involving some scrapes or bruises or a crumpled car, victims are often okay handling their claims themselves. However, an accident involving more serious injuries raises the stakes, especially in terms of medical expenses, and makes the path to getting support harder. Insurers will question everything simply to try to get off the hook for the escalating costs.
A skilled attorney fully investigates your case and fights back against greedy car insurance companies. Your attorney can also negotiate for much more than you may be able to win for yourself.
These are a few of the types of injuries that may leave you in need of a lawyer:
- You suffer a bone fracture.
- You suffer a neck, back, or spine injury.
- You suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This can include a severe concussion.
- Your child or some other family member is hurt in an accident.
If you are hurt and an insurer is trying to falsely blame the crash on you, it’s a great time to contact a lawyer.
A Free Consultation with a Real Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney
Victims in Bakersfield and across Kern County can take advantage of a free case consultation with Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield. There’s no obligation for this meeting, and it’s strictly confidential.
We want to help you navigate this difficult recovery period, even if you don’t end up needing to hire us. We make sure you are aware of all the things you can earn compensation for. Because it’s likely an insurer won’t mention many of the benefits available to you.
The Benefits You Should Count On After Being Struck by a Senior Driver
Car accident victims may secure support for their current bills, but they may fail to consider the support they could need in the future. That might include additional surgeries and physical therapy when an injury, especially a broken bone, flares back up.
A skilled attorney would seek compensation for the victim’s future, and some things clients may not realize can add to the amount on a settlement check:
- Support to cover all of the victim’s medical bills, physical therapy costs, and all medical equipment for as long as care is necessary.
- Support for a lifetime if injuries result in a permanent disability.
- Support for the pain victims are put through and may suffer with for months or years.
- Support for the emotional trauma victims experience after a scary accident and through a physically and mentally challenging recovery.
- Support to replace the paychecks victims have to go without while struggling to recover and get back on the job.
- Support to cover the costs of travel to make doctor’s appointments and to see out-of-town specialists.
- Wrongful death support. If a senior driver’s negligence causes a fatal accident, family members of the victim can seek support through a wrongful death claim. A Bakersfield wrongful death attorney can help loved ones seek help with funeral costs and in paying leftover medical bills. The family’s emotional hardships and lost companionship should earn support. Any monthly income the loved one has supported the family with each month must also be replaced.
The Statistics on Older Driver Accidents in Bakersfield
Many older drivers travel more carefully than much younger motorists, but mistakes by senior drivers do contribute to Bakersfield accident numbers each year.
- Bakersfield recorded 1,437 accidents involving injury in 2024. Around 168 of those accidents were blamed on drivers 60+. The figure represents around 11% of all serious accidents in the city. That’s according to California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS).
- Nationally, in 2023, there were 7,810 fatal crashes documented involving drivers 65 and older. That represents almost 20% of all fatal crashes for the year in the U.S. That’s according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Common Risks for Older Drivers in Bakersfield
Older drivers may face a downturn in energy or declining health and not even realize their reaction times have slowed. They may not realize their physical attributes have declined enough to make them a hazard on Highway 99 and along quieter streets like Chester Avenue.
These are just a few of the reasons an elderly driver may
- Problems focusing for long periods
- Vision issues
- Slowed reflexes
- Drowsiness
- Effects of prescription meds
- Medical emergencies
The NHTSA reports on the medical conditions that might affect a senior motorist’s ability to drive. They have articles for drivers and their loved ones explaining the challenges older drivers can face. They may be dealing with symptoms from Alzheimer’s Disease, Sleep Apnea, Glaucoma, Parkinson’s Disease, and other ailments.
Contact a Bakersfield Elderly Driver Accident Lawyer
If you suffered a serious injury, and an older driver’s mistake caused your accident, it’s a good idea to take advantage of a free case review. Contact us to set up a meeting with a real lawyer.
Remember to act quickly. California’s statute of limitations on car accident cases is two years. However, patients shouldn’t delay for years to explore their options. Valuable evidence can be cleaned up or hauled away. Cars can be demolished. Witnesses can become hard to reach. Contact a skilled attorney within days of your accident while the evidence is still available.
At such a devastating time, you may not have the money to hire a lawyer. That’s okay. You can still afford Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers. We work on a contingency basis. It means if we lose your case, you don’t pay us anything. If we win, then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company is forced to write for you.