How To Get The Right Support For Seniors After A Car Accident

Car accidents can happen to anyone, even to senior citizens. But compared to adults who are still in their prime, elderly people are at greater risk of serious injury because they usually have existing medical conditions. They may also need assistance from other individuals to ensure they’ll be properly compensated for their damages.

Below are some of the best ways to get the right support for seniors should they get into a car accident.

Use The Emergency Hotline

You have to treat auto accidents involving seniors like any other emergency, so it’s important to contact the emergency hotline as soon as possible. Take note that senior victims may have chronic conditions like heart disease, and a car accident might trigger hypertension or a heart attack.

If you’re among the bystanders, wait for the first responders to arrive. If you’re not trained to provide first aid, then never attempt to do a cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an elderly victim. Inexperienced rescuers can just aggravate the person’s condition.

Call A Lawyer

If you or a senior loved one gets involved in a car accident in Jacksonville or in nearby areas, it’s important to know how you can obtain the right support. For instance, you can use 1-800-Injured to connect with a lawyer who can help seniors when it comes to taking legal action.

A car accident lawyer can help with the following:

• Filing A Claim: Car accident attorneys are highly knowledgeable about the process of filing a claim against the at-fault driver. They’ll handle all the paperwork involved, so their elderly clients can have one less thing to worry about.
• Collecting Evidence: A car accident lawyer can contact private investigators who can help gather substantial evidence in order to prove a client’s claim, which would ideally result in proper compensation. This is especially helpful for older victims who end up with substantial medical expenses.
• Calculating The Value Of The Claim: A good car accident attorney can compute the value of an accident claim based on the extent of the senior victim’s physical injuries. Other damages may include pain and suffering, which can lower an individual’s quality of life due to temporary or permanent disability.
• Negotiating With Insurance Companies: Seasoned lawyers have the skills to negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault driver, present their client’s case, and demand settlement. 
• Court Proceedings: If negotiation fails, the attorney will take the case to court, which will decide on the entire matter and possibly award the right amount of compensation to the elderly client.

Reach Out To The Authorities 

Police officers and other government authorities can help an elderly individual after a car accident by creating a detailed report of the accident. They can document the incident by taking photos and checking the closed-circuit television or CCTV videos of nearby establishments. All of these pieces of evidence can help support the claim of a senior car accident victim.

Ask Your Local Community To Help

Social welfare offices in local communities have dedicated personnel to handle senior citizens’ complaints and uphold elder law. You can reach out to your local community to provide you with the necessary assistance on how you can go about seeking justice for what happened to your elderly loved one.

For instance, if you can’t find a lawyer, your local community service personnel can help you search for one. You’ll also be referred to the right agencies for financial support, most especially if your senior relative has significant medical and personal expenses associated with the incident.

Contact Your Family And Friends 

More than anybody else, the best people who can help your elderly loved one after a car accident are the rest of your family as well as your and their friends. They can help in various aspects such as making sure that your senior relative has access to excellent medical services and finding a good lawyer. They can also assist in ascertaining the victim’s rights.

Apply For Relevant Senior Programs

There are many senior programs available nowadays. Elderly people and their families just need to look for and meet the eligibility requirements in order to receive support in the event of a car accident.

Local- and state-level elderly assistance programs are meant to address healthcare, financial, and social needs. Federal government programs include housing and medical coverage. Since seniors have plenty of options, a car accident lawyer can help them take advantage of such programs as mandated by the law.

Conclusion

Seniors need to obtain legal, medical, financial, and social support after a car accident. If an elderly loved one has been harmed in anyway during an auto collision, don’t hesitate to reach out to the right people, including professionals, who can help your relative seek justice and proper compensation. It’s equally important to be aware of the latest elderly programs your senior loved one can make the most of so you can enable them to get back on their feet and continue enjoying life.