Pittsburgh hospital: Condition of pedestrian injured in crash worsens

Americans are living longer than ever and enjoying life in their senior years in new and exciting ways. Unfortunately, a 78-year-old Pennsylvania man is struggling to hang on to his golden years after being struck in a pedestrian accident a few days ago.

The Pittsburgh hospital caring for his severe injuries has downgraded his condition to critical, an area newspaper reports.

Allegheny General Hospital initially listed the North Sewickley Township man in serious condition. He was struck by a vehicle driven by a 70-year-old woman in Ellwood City, about 45 miles north of Pittsburgh, the paper said.

Law enforcement officials said the man was crossing the street when the vehicle hit him. The driver said she did not see the pedestrian until it was too late.

The man suffered head trauma and a broken neck in the crash that happened just after 10 p.m., officials said.

The National Institute on Aging points out that older drivers can have trouble seeing, especially at night. The government agency reminds older drivers that they are obligated to be fit to drive and notes that not only can vision diminish in older people, but so can hearing. Also, it notes that reaction times and reflexes are both likely to slow as we age.

It also cautions seniors to “cut back on night driving or stop driving at night if you have trouble seeing in the dark.”

Pedestrian accident injury victims and their families often turn to experienced attorneys to help them understand their options in negotiations with insurers and in litigation.