​Most residents in Louisiana have likely heard people talk about distracted driving and how dangerous it can be. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a 2015 study by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis found that over 1,000 injuries and 9 deaths on U.S. roads per day are attributed to distracted driving.

While the local and national focus on distracted driving has largely centered around handheld use of mobile phones, it is important for people to understand that there are many other forms of distraction that are equally as dangerous. In addition to manual distractions that take a driver’s hands off the steering wheel, visual and cognitive distractions take a person’s eyes and minds away from driving which can be highly risky.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety took a look at how dangerous the use of in-vehicle systems might be. They evaluated 40 systems in cars made in the last two years that required no hands but did require the eyes and minds of drivers. Hands-free navigation systems were found to be the most dangerous of all types of systems. Overall, 17 of the systems in the study were found to require a very high demand on drivers for their mental and visual attention.

What many consider to be a routine task – the programming of a vehicle navigation system – took the average of 40 seconds to complete. During this time, a driver’s attention and eyes may be diverted away from driving, posing a serious risk to not only themselves but others in their vehicles and elsewhere on the road.

To clarify manual, visual and cognitive distractions, please see examples below.

Manual Distractions – handling your cell phone, eating, drinking, applying makeup, passing things from the front of the car to the back, removing clothing, brushing hair or digging in front of the vehicle storage areas.  Manual distraction is anything that takes your hand or hands off the wheel. 

Visual Distractions – looking for a new cd, watching or reading the news on an electronic device, tuning the radio system, programming your navigation system, or looking at passengers.
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Cognitive Distractions – listening to audiobooks, rehearsing a speech, daydreaming, impassioned phone calls, arguing with passengers or on the phone.  Cognitive distractions can be deceiving because on the outside it could appear you are doing everything right, while your mind is focused on something other than driving. The unfortunate consequence of distracted driving are all too real for those in the path of the distracted driver.  Many victims of distracted driving are left injured and alone to pick up the pieces.  At Lundy Lundy Soileau & South, we focus on the victims’ rights, including the right to recover just compensation for the negligent actions of another.  Our team of veteran personal injury attorneys in Lake Charles, La are skilled litigators and diligent defenders of justice.  Should you find yourself on the receiving end of a distracted driving accident, please consider reaching out for a free consultation 

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On behalf of Lundy Lundy Soileau South LLP, posted in Real Estate Law on August 18, 2019.

Nearly every landlord in Louisiana has a horror story: the elderly couple with six cats who never used a litterbox; the college frat boys who threw loud, drunken parties seemingly every other night; the family who let their children run amok and break every appliance in the apartment. You might, so far, have been lucky enough to avoid renting to the worst types of tenants, but that doesn’t mean your renters are ideal. In fact, some might be causing enough of an inconvenience that you wonder if you can evict them.

You might be an easygoing landlord, but even tenants who break minor rules may get worse over time or cause enough cumulative damage to end up being costly after they’ve moved out. The following infractions are some of the most common ones that tenants end up getting evicted for:
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• Not paying rent or consistently being significantly late on rent
• Having pets when the lease prohibits animals
• Subletting the rental, or allowing people who are not on the lease agreement to live there
• Violating the rules regarding late-night guests, parties, music and noise
• Damaging the property, whether intentional or accidental
• Conducting illegal activities on the premises

As FindLaw explains, landlords have the right to evict tenants for violating their lease terms. This is to help you protect your investment, limit the damage a poor tenant is causing and allow you to continue making an income from the rental property. You will need to go through legal channels to evict a tenant, including obtaining a warrant for eviction from the court, having it served and giving tenants a reasonable amount of time to move out. Real estate law may be complex, so this information is not meant to be taken as legal advice. 

If you have found yourself renting to a tenant mentioned above call the real estate attorneys in Lake Charles, La at Lundy Lundy Soileau & South for a consultation on your rights as a landlord.  We can review your current lease agreement and if necessary, write one that is both legal and comprehensive in scope, helping you to protect your investment and responsibility.
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Lundy Lundy Soileau & South – Real Estate Lawyers – Lake Charles LA, protects the rights of landowners and investors in Southwest Louisiana. 

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A full-service legal firm specializes in various areas of the law throughout the Gulf Coast. They provide experienced and dynamic legal representation to protect their client’s rights. A great example of a law firm that works hard for their clients is Lundy Lundy Soileau and South. Their full-service law firm features commercial real estate closing lawyers, their experience in real estate litigation is bar none, and personal injury offshore accidents lawyer – Lake Charles – is their forte.  

Not only does their firm excel in the practice of law identified above, but they also represent clients in other litigation cases like a class action, general civil litigation,  commercial litigaion, and more. Other practice areas include various torts, maritime law, commercial accidents, defective products, harmful pharmaceuticals, and different types of personal injury and wrongful death cases. 

Closing Lawyer For Commercial Real Estate Dealings

Let’s look at the legal field of a commercial real estate closing lawyer. This field of law requires knowledge and skill. Buying and selling real property in the state of Louisiana is not all that simple. Legal representation is a requirement. Your lawyer in real estate matters will review or draft any closing documents. If you are buying, your lawyer will help you avoid any costly mistakes in advance.  
In other words, your commercial real estate closing lawyer will go over contracts, title insurance documents, settlement agreements, deeds, searches, easements, covenants, rights of way, and any other buying or selling documentation required. The process of closing a commercial real estate deal if often complicated from negotiating the purchase price, protecting the buyer’s or seller’s interests, minimizing risks, and understanding all zoning laws. 

Litigation Representation in Real Estate

How can your real estate litigation lawyer help you? Well, first, there is one thing of certainty that we know about real estate, and that is, it is ever-evolving and changing. An experienced real estate attorney continues to focus on real estate issues to best serve his or her client. Just a few of the law practice areas in the field of real estate litigation involve the following:

• sale and purchase of the residential real estate
• leasing, buying, and selling of the commercial real estate
• drafting, review, and the negotiation of purchase agreements
• disputes and litigation matters including breach of contract
• title insurance policies and title opinions 

A real estate litigator represents homeowners, developers, investors, property managers, landlords, tenants, and contractors. 

Lake Charles Offshore Accidents Lawyer

An offshore accidents lawyer – Lake Charles, La –  is experienced in maritime law. Maritime or admiralty law covers offshore activities that may affect the rights of offshore workers who suffer an injury, an accident, or illness while they work on navigable waters or the open seas. 
The maritime industry exposes offshore workers to a variety of hazards, including explosions, fires, oil rig injuries, deck accidents, equipment failure, negligence by the crew or owner, and many other harmful distractions. Only a knowledgeable offshore accidents lawyer Lake Charles can help with your personal injury case as it relates to maritime laws. 

For instance, did you know that workers compensation has a different set of laws governing the workplace accidents of seamen versus those who work on land.  So when injured, it’s wise to seek the help of a lawyer who specializes in maritime law and offshore injuries. They understand the intricacies of maritime law and are able to help you when you need them most. 

Real Estate Endnote

As smartly suggested by Lundy Lundy Soileau and South, when it is time for negotiations, when you have been injured, or when litigation is required in real estate, don’t waste time. Time is critical when you must file a lawsuit or to close a deal. The law has deadlines that must be adhered to, and if you miss those deadlines, you can lose your ability to be rightly compensated or to have your case heard.   Choose wisely. 

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