Can I File an Injury Claim for Accidental Vision Loss or Blindness?

Losing your vision due to an injury is one of the most devastating challenges anyone can endure. It can profoundly impact your life, from being unable to work to losing the simple joys of hobbies and leisure activities. If you or a loved one has experienced accidental vision loss or blindness, you are likely dealing with both financial and emotional hardships.

The good news is that if someone else’s actions caused your injury, you may be able to seek compensation. Filing an injury claim can help you secure the financial support you need for medical costs, ongoing care, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured. With over 75 years of experience, Brassfield & Krueger helps individuals like you fight for justice. This blog will break down the process and what you need to know when filing an injury claim for vision loss.

Causes of Accidental Vision Loss

The first step in determining if you may have grounds for an injury claim is identifying whether a specific situation or incident caused the vision loss. Accidental vision loss can happen in many different situations, including:

• Car accidents or bike collisions: Trauma to the head or eye during a crash can lead to partial or total loss of vision.
• Defective products: Faulty products, such as malfunctioning tools or improperly labeled chemicals, can result in permanent eye injuries.
• Workplace incidents: Research has shown that nearly 20,000 eye injuries stem from the workplace annually. Exposure to harmful substances, flying debris, or the lack of protective gear in industrial settings can cause serious harm.  

Liability and Negligence in Vision Loss Cases

Understanding who is legally responsible for your eye injury is the next important step in filing a successful claim. Liability often depends on whether negligence played a role in the accident. Negligence occurs when someone doesn’t take reasonable action to prevent harm to others. Here are some examples of how negligence might come into play:

• At-fault drivers in motor vehicle accidents who caused the crash through reckless driving, speeding, or distracted driving.
• Manufacturers of defective products that led to your injury by failing to design, test, or label their products properly.
• Employers or supervisors, especially in industrial settings, who failed to provide proper safety equipment like goggles or failed to train employees effectively.

Gathering evidence and proving negligence is critical, and that’s where having an experienced attorney makes all the difference.

Compensation You Can Seek for Eye Injuries

The impact of vision loss extends beyond the physical. It can significantly affect your ability to earn a livelihood and maintain your quality of life. Routine tasks like reading, navigating your home, or even enjoying time with family can become monumental challenges. This level of disruption underscores the importance of seeking fair compensation to cover not only medical costs but also emotional suffering and loss of enjoyment in life. Here’s an overview of the types of damages you may be entitled to:

• Medical Expenses: Covers the initial treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, and specialist visits related to your eye injury.
• Lost Wages: Compensates for income you’ve lost because you were unable to work due to your injury.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injury keeps you from returning to your previous job or limits your ability to work in the future, you can claim compensation for this loss.
• Pain and Suffering: Accounts for the emotional anguish, physical suffering, and psychological distress caused by the trauma of losing your vision.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injury has limited your ability to participate in hobbies, travel, or other activities you once enjoyed, this can also be included in your claim.

Eye injuries have life-altering implications, and courts recognize the multidimensional impact they can have. By filing a claim, you can alleviate the financial strain and gain some measure of justice for what you’ve endured.

The Role of a Personal Injury Attorney

Navigating an injury claim can be overwhelming, especially if you’re coping with the aftermath of vision loss. Partnering with a skilled personal injury attorney helps streamline the process and maximizes your chances of a favorable outcome.

Here’s how an attorney can assist you:

• Evaluate Your Case: A thorough review of your case will determine whether you have a valid case.
• Gather Evidence: Documentation is critical in personal injury claims. Your attorney will collect key evidence like medical records, accident reports, and witness testimonies to strengthen your case.
• Calculate Compensation: Beyond immediate medical expenses, an attorney ensures that all facets of your injury, including future costs and emotional damages, are factored into the claim.
• Negotiate Settlements: Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts. A seasoned attorney will negotiate aggressively to secure the best possible settlement.
• Litigation Support: If your case goes to trial, having an experienced litigator who knows the ins and outs of personal injury law is invaluable. They’ll represent you in court and fight for your rights.

Secure Your Future After Vision Loss

Accidental vision loss or blindness can feel like an insurmountable challenge, but you don’t have to face this alone. Filing an injury claim can help you get justice and compensation, helping remove some of the burdens weighing on your shoulders.

If you or a loved one is dealing with the aftermath of vision loss, reach out to Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd. today. You deserve compensation that reflects the true impact of your injury—and we’re here to help you fight for it.