Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
When drivers get a license in Florida, they need to pass a vision test and prove they have at least 20/70 vision. Drivers who do not meet this minimum standard have restriction code A on their licenses, meaning they must wear corrective lenses whenever they’re driving. Drives who cannot meet the minimum standard for vision (for example, individuals who need glasses with telescopic lenses or individuals who cannot meet the minimum vision requirements with corrective lenses) may not get their license.
The problem is that vision can decline over time, often gradually, and some drivers with vision problems may not wear corrective lenses or take other precautions. If this kind of driver causes an accident that results in your injury, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation with a Hollywood car accident injury lawyer. You may have a claim.
The Impact of Vision Problems
There are many kinds of vision problems that can cause car accidents:
- Refractive Errors. Conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can affect a driver’s ability to see clearly. These conditions can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, but these lenses need to be worn every time someone drives.
- Glaucoma. This condition involves increased pressure within the eye, which can lead to peripheral vision loss, impacting a driver’s awareness of their surroundings.
- Cataracts. Cataracts cloud the eye’s lens, causing dimmed or blurred vision.
- Macular Degeneration. Macular degeneration is most common in older adults, and it causes them to lose central vision. This can be a degenerative disease, where eyesight becomes worse with time. It can even cause full vision loss.
- Retinal detachment. In this medical emergency, the retina moves away from its usual position, which can lead to blurry vision, the appearance of flashing flights, and “floaters.” This requires a prompt visit to a medical professional to save the patient’s eyesight.
- Diabetes. Diabetes causes damage to the retina. Untreated, it can lead to partial or full loss of vision.
Vision-related car accidents can happen for a few reasons. Someone may have one of the above conditions and may not be maintaining it adequately. For example, a driver may refuse to wear glasses or may not go to their doctor when they notice their vision declining.
In some cases, vision-related car accidents are more of a sudden emergency. A driver may get something in their eye or suffer a detached retina and find their vision suddenly affected.
Drivers in Florida are expected to care for their vision and to seek help if they notice vision problems. A driver’s license can be suspended if they can’t meet the state’s minimum vision standards. If a driver does not take care of their vision and this causes an accident or if a driver tries to hide their vision problems and they cause a car accident because they can’t see properly, they can be held liable for the injuries and property damage they cause.
In cases where a driver is hired to operate a vehicle for someone else (like a delivery company or truck carrier), the employer may be partly liable if they’re not making sure vision requirements are enforced.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident with a driver experiencing vision problems, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation with a Hollywood car accident claims lawyer. Our family based legal team has offices in Hollywood, Miami, and Homestead and we bring more than 60 years of combined experience to the table. We work with medical experts and investigators to determine exactly what caused your accident and in a free accident consultation we can explain whether you may have a claim. Call Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 today to learn more.