| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys

Have Your Vision Checked and See What You Might be Missing – Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys

Accident statistics have advanced to the point where we have a good idea how many accidents happen because of temporary driver impairment (drugs, alcohol, etc) and driver distraction (texting or talking on the phone) but we don’t have accurate data regarding how many accidents are caused by poor vision. Even though the first thing many people say after an accident is “I didn’t see them” we don’t test people’s vision after an accident to see if indeed they didn’t see the other car or the pedestrian because they simply can’t see well.

Fort Lauderdale Accident AttorneysWhen someone applies for a driver’s license in Florida for the first time they much pass a written test, a driving test, a hearing test, and a vision test. After that they can renew their license every eight years with no further tests, until they reach the age of 80. Customers who are 80 years of age or older and are not eligible to renew their driver license online are required to pass a vision test.

Requiring elderly drivers to have their vision checked is probably a good idea, but eye problems happen in people of all ages. For example, is it difficult for you to see at night, especially while driving? Is it tough to find your way around in dark places, such as movie theaters?

That is likely night blindness. It’s a symptom, not a problem in its own right. Nearsightedness, cataracts, keratoconus, and a lack of vitamin A all cause a type of night blindness that doctors can fix. Some people are born with this problem, or it might develop from a degenerative disease involving the retina, and that usually can’t be treated. If you have it, you’ll need to be extra careful in areas of low light. Retinal detachments can occur to people at any age, and it is a dangerous situation that can result in blindness if not treated immediately.

Lazy eye, color blindness, cataracts, crossed eyes, and glaucoma are all vision problems that can happen to anyone at any age, and they can all cause a reduction in a driver’s ability to see the road as well as they should. Even someone who works long hours at a computer can have blurred vision and should probably not drive.

The solution: see your eye doctor regularly. A thorough exam will spot any irregularities or disease and early treatment may correct or stop the progress of damage.

Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus helps people who have been injured in automobile, truck, and motorcycle accidents and we have over 25 years of experience getting results. If you have been involved in an accident and have questions, please call us at 954-356-0006 and we’ll listen to you.

 

| Gary T. Lazarus | 0 Comments | Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney, Uncategorized

The Power of Persuasion – Choosing a Personal Injury Accident Attorney

Did you ever go to a restaurant, look at the menu, but after several minutes you still don’t know what you want to eat? Sometimes a really talented server will recommend an entree with such descriptive and persuasive articulation that your mouth waters, so you order it and sure enough it’s delicious! Servers that good should consider going to law school because an important skill for successful attorneys is the power of persuasion.

Successful lawyers have many skills and abilities, but one of the most important is the ability to communicate, inform, explain, and persuade people. The ability to persuade goes beyond the courtroom theatrics we see on television, when an impassioned plea is made to a jury to spare the life of a defendant or something along those lines. In real life attorneys make phone calls, write emails, write motions to the court, and meet personally with other lawyers to obtain the best possible outcome for their client, often relying on their power of persuasion.

If you’re an iPhone or other Apple product user you probably look forward to the release of the next new computerFort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney or phone with great anticipation, and founder Steve Jobs introduced his latest and greatest gizmos with great fanfare. Many people believe Jobs was the greatest persuader of our time, and today the company continues the tradition he started with spectacular launch events. Enough people are persuaded to make Apple one of the top 10 richest companies in the world.

In the legal profession, we don’t have big publicity events to make our case. The courts have a very strict set of rules and guidelines to follow so our system retains the integrity that inspired the phrase engraved on the front of our United States Supreme Court building, “Equal Justice Under Law.” We’re not selling cell phones or cars, we are working to see that justice is done and that our clients receive the best possible outcomes while protecting their rights. In addition to being persuasive, attorneys must have the education, license, skills, and character to execute their duties according to the law and, in Florida, the rules and ethics established by the Florida Bar.

In addition to the ability to persuade, attorneys must have many other attributes and qualities, including compassion. We’ll write about more in the near future.

If you have questions about anything related to an accident or personal injury situation, we’re here to help. Call us 7 days a week at 954-356-0006.

The materials contained on this website have been prepared by Lazarus and Lazarus and are intended for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

Past results obtained by Lazarus and Lazarus attorneys are no guarantee of future results. Each case or matter is different and is judged on its own merits. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free, written information about our qualifications and experience.

Personal Injury Attorney
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Florida Personal Injury Attorney

When Should Seniors Stop Driving? Broward County Accident Attorneys

Every young person looks forward to their first solo trip in an automobile! The feeling of freedom is overwhelming as you zoom down the highway with the windows down and your favorite song on the radio. You’re in control of the destination and the route, and it’s a day most people never forget.

When people begin to grow old, there often comes a time when it might be necessary to relinquish some freedom and leave the driving to someone else for safety’s sake. There may be no subject for a family to consider that is less stressful than asking a loved one to give up driving. A car means freedom and independence, and not having access to one means dependence on others, public transportation, or expensive trips in taxis and Ubers.

Broward County Accident AttorneyThe American Automobile Association (AAA) recently completed a study that found most elderly drivers never have a conversation with their doctor or their family about the possibility of giving up their driving. Most respondents said it is simply because they fear losing their independence.

According to an article in Consumer Reports magazine, “most people under 65 are unwilling to talk to their parents about when it’s time to stop driving; in fact, 40 percent said they’d rather discuss funeral arrangements with their parents.”

Florida Class E (non-commercial) driver licenses for citizens and immigrants are valid for eight years for individuals under 80 years and six years for individuals over 79. Drivers over 79 must pass a vision test to renew. Other than the vision test there is no other screening, so friends and family of elderly drivers must speak up if there is a reasonable suspicion that a person is unable to drive safely due to some physical or mental deficiency.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has an excellent page on their website about how to sit down and have a talk about elderly driver issues and it’s better to have discussions now rather than later when a decision may have to be made or after an accident. Click here to visit the page.

Broward County Accident Attorneys

We have worked with the victims of serious car, truck, and motorcycle accidents over the past 26 years and some of them were the result of elderly drivers who were not capable to see or respond to other vehicles as well as they perhaps used to. These are preventable situations, and while we understand the serious implications of taking away an elderly individual’s ability to drive, we recommend that families at least examine the situation. Perhaps a family physician can help.

If you have questions about an accident you were involved in, please call us and we’ll do our best to help. We are available at 954-356-0006

The video below is not intended to shock anyone into an imprudent decision regarding an elderly driver, but it represents a real isolated incident involving a motorist who could have caused a very serious accident because of her confusion.