North Carolina Accidents Caused by Vision-Impaired Drivers Attorney

People suffering from impaired vision often choose to continue driving because it provides a sense of independence and allows them to accomplish tasks more efficiently. As a driver who has low vision, however, there is a statutory responsibility to use corrective lenses at all times, and to refrain from driving in situations that may cause foreseeable harm to others. If a vision-impaired driver causes injuries to you or a loved one in a motor vehicle collision, you have a legal right to compensation. Raleigh car accident lawyer Carl Nagle and the team at Nagle & Associates are dedicated to advocating on behalf of victims of motor vehicle collisions, and we have successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of people injured on the road by the carelessness of others. Before founding our firm, attorney Carl Nagle worked as insurance defense counsel and as an insurance claims adjuster. This experience has provided him with a keen knowledge of the tactics used by insurance companies and their attorneys in an effort to unjustly minimize payments to accident victims. The team at Nagle & Associates has successfully advocated on behalf of injured individuals across North Carolina, including people in Asheville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem.

Hold a Vision-Impaired Driver Accountable for a Motor Vehicle Accident

Vision is essential to safe driving, since it affects our ability to view distances and provides our awareness of objects, as well as other vehicles on the road. Many older individuals suffer vision loss. Other people medicated for unrelated issues may suffer side effects that lead to eyesight and vision problems. Even before becoming aware of their symptoms, people may experience vision changes that affect their driving.

Drivers who cause a collision due to their impaired vision may be held legally responsible for the resulting injuries. Since all drivers owe others a duty of care, when they are not able to see the road clearly or cannot judge distances and speed, they are putting others at risk of harm and may be deemed negligent. This requires proof that the defendant driver acted more carelessly than the ordinary person would have acted behind the wheel in the same situation.

A vision-impaired driver who caused a motor vehicle collision may try to assert that a plaintiff was also at fault for the crash. Since North Carolina employs a “pure” contributory negligence law, a victim who is held to be partly responsible for their injuries will be prevented from recovering compensation. For example, while a defendant driver may have disregarded a traffic signal and crossed into an intersection, crashing into the victim’s car, they may assert that the victim was speeding at the time of the collision and therefore contributed to it. The “Last Clear Chance” rule may help plaintiffs who would otherwise be stymied by the contributory negligence defense, for it deems the party who had the last clear chance of avoiding the accident entirely responsible for the harm that it caused.

A plaintiff who is successful in a personal injury claim against a vision-impaired driver may be able to recover money damages. Medical bills, including hospital care costs, are among the types of damages that may be recovered by victims. Wages from work missed due to the injuries may also be recovered, as may noneconomic damages, ranging from emotional distress to scarring and disfigurement or reduced quality of life. In the case of a seriously injured accident victim, it is important to recover all of the costs for future care. Since victims are typically paid only once through a settlement or judgment, their attorney must demonstrate the full scope of their damages with the help of medical and vocational experts.

Discuss Your Claim with a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer in the Raleigh Area

Drivers who carelessly or recklessly put others at risk of harm may be held legally responsible so that they are required to compensate victims for the harm that resulted from their behavior. If a vision-impaired driver carelessly caused a collision that harmed you or a loved one, Raleigh car accident attorney Carl Nagle can aggressively pursue your case. Our team can gather evidence, investigate the case, consult knowledgeable experts, and develop a skillful litigation strategy. It costs nothing upfront to retain our legal representation, since we are paid only if we recover compensation for you. With seven offices across the state, we have helped accident victims and their families throughout North Carolina, including in Raleigh, Wilmington, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Greensboro, Hickory, and other cities in Forsyth, Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford, Brunswick, Durham, Catawba, New Hanover, and Cumberland Counties. Call our firm at (800) 411-1583 or complete our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney.