Purposefully Accident-Adverse

Purposefully Accident-Adverse

Just yesterday, at the end of July, I heard an ad on the radio tell me that “the summer’s almost over…“ to which I thought: “No it isn’t!“ Mainly because (I know how to read a calendar and recall that) the first day of summer is usually about June 21 and the last day is on or near September 21, which makes the summer calendar halfway point approximately August 6. Why the rush? I believe the radio ad was related to back-to-school items for sale…But there does seem to be a “societal rush” to move onto the next thing, to be ready for the next phase, whether the “rush” is about getting ready for school or preparing for retirement or finally fixing up the home, or maybe it’s the constant nagging of the texts, phone calls, apps, and all the binge-watching and social media to be viewed, liked or posted. I reckon a person can be a “distracted driver” in their own lives. Surely you have seen and had conversations where the person with whom you’re speaking is not fully present and distracted by driving, texting, YouTube-ing, gaming, multitasking… nevertheless, the “observant driver“ of one’s own life will know that summer is actually never almost over at the end of July, ever.

I’ve noticed that we are moving into an era in which the actual facts of a matter are often less important than a person’s present “perception” or “feeling” about those facts. Possibly, people are trying to pack too much into their present and in the constant “rush” and concern about the future, people can lose sight of the present, lose track of one’s place, and suffer from or cause others unfortunate results, especially in cases of falls in the home and vehicular accidents. Accidents will happen regardless of how people feel about them. In my humble observations, accidents will happen more often when people are distracted, not fully aware of their surroundings, or are not fully “here” in the present.

A Few Examples On This Point From Personal Experience:

Hit by car on bicycle ride because of Apple Watch-distracted driver:

Near the end of June, approximately 7 AM on a Friday, a young woman was listening to road navigation from her Apple Watch from her left wrist as she took a right turn and slammed the car’s passenger side into a road cyclist throwing cyclist from the bicycle, injuring cyclist. The cyclist is the author here. With a small settlement and enough healing time, there has been mostly a full recovery.

Broken leg and ankle from 2-inch patio step-down while looking at MacBook screen:

Over two years ago, my sister was on vacation, enjoying time on an outdoor patio, looking at her computer, and walking without seeing a small step down onto turf-grass at the patio’s edge. When her full weight came down off the patio, it caused a fractured ankle and leg bones and ruptured tendons. She has mostly recovered now, but it did take the better part of two years to get close to full recovery.

Broken back from sliding off the side of the bed:

Last month, on vacation, my mother sat down on the edge of a bed, but not squarely. As a result, she slid off the edge of the bed, directly hitting the tailbone on the floor, causing a lumbar compression fracture, ruptured and herniated vertebral disks and complications. With a few days in the hospital, lots of medical tests, pain medication and severely limited mobility, she is just in the early stages of recovery. It is unknown when she will fully recover.

Start Planning For Your Future Today

Death and taxes are said to be inevitable. To that, I would add that accidents from falls in the home or vehicle impacts, though frequent, are risks that can be reduced by always being fully present and aware of one’s surroundings.

There is a theory of physical activity called “use it or lose it”. (Google it.) There is the fact that active elders live longer. People who have less anxiety tend to live longer. Take frequent breaks from extra worry and concerns about the future by living in the present and appreciating every moment. One way to ratchet down the worry about the future is to actually prepare for the inevitable or the likely events that could happen, which is what estate planning is all about.

In the end, we are responsible for our own well-being. It is important to take the necessary measures to ensure a healthier life which in turn, can lead to a longer life. As my Mom and the Bible says: “There is a time for everything.”  When the time comes to worry less about your present by planning your future, we will be here to help. Don’t let a fall or the winter of your life sneak up on you unprepared.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about creating a last will and testament or need help with estate planning, contact Atlanta’s expert estate planning attorney, Robert S. Meyring, today to request a consultation.

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