Blind

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 253 million people suffer from some type of vision impairment. Fortunately, prescription lenses and surgery allow many of these individuals to lead perfectly normal lives, which includes driving with an unrestricted license.

There are no federal vision standards for drivers of non-commercial vehicles in the U.S. Instead, each state is responsible for creating its own vision requirements for licensing. Unfortunately, despite the existence of these guidelines, many individuals with restricted licenses continue to drive, putting others on the road at risk. Those who drive, knowing that their visual limitations make them unfit to drive, can and should be held accountable for their negligence when it results in an accident. To learn more about filing a claim for your own injuries, please contact a dedicated car accident attorney for advice.

Nevada Requirements

Nevada, along with all but three other states, bases licensing decisions not on uncorrected vision, but on a person’s best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). In Nevada, the minimum BCVA requirement is set at 20/40 in the better eye. Those who satisfy this standard are eligible for an unrestricted license, which allows drivers to operate a car without glasses in any light conditions or location, and for any distance. Drivers who must wear contact lenses or glasses to meet this standard can also be issued a license, although they are required to use their corrective lenses when driving. Those who do not meet this standard could be restricted to driving during daylight hours only, denied a license, or required to stake a yearly vision test.

Drivers who are aware that they have vision problems or who are required to wear corrective lenses, but fail to do so can be held accountable if their negligence causes an accident. Furthermore, injured parties who can demonstrate that the at-fault party’s lack of visual acuity caused or contributed to their accident may be able to collect compensation for the following losses:

• Past and future medical expenses resulting from accident-related injuries;
• Lost wages incurred as a result of an inability to work while rehabilitating;
• Loss of future income if the injured party suffered a disability as a result of their injury;
• Repair or replacement of damaged property; and
• Pain and suffering endured by the victim and his or her family as a result of the accident.

Although these damages cannot always make an injured party whole, collecting compensation can go a long way towards helping accident victims begin the process of moving on from their ordeal.

Moving Forward After an Accident

Sadly, many drivers who are legally blind still choose to get behind the wheel of a car, and, in doing so, cause catastrophic accidents that lead to property damage and serious injury. If you have been hurt in a crash caused by a legally blind driver, it is in your best interest to reach out to a Las Vegas, Nevada blind driving attorney to learn more about the personal injury claims process and how you may be able to recover compensation for your damages.