Injuries involving the eyes can be extremely painful and debilitating, sometimes causing temporary or permanent vision damage. For this reason, eye injury cases need attention from a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can express the severity of the victim’s eye injury to an insurance company or jury, helping to maximize the client’s financial recovery.
About Eye Injuries
Eye injuries can cause significant physical, psychological and financial harm, as well as effects on the individual’s life and livelihood. Common types of eye injuries are corneal abrasions, dirt or foreign objects in the eye, orbital fractures, optic nerve injuries, lens dislocations, detached retinas, and burns.
Eye injuries can result in pain, impaired vision, blurred vision, sensitivity of the eyes, or total blindness in one or both eyes. The victim may be entitled to disability pay for irreversible eye damage or permanent vision loss. For this reason, eye injuries are often classified as “catastrophic.”
Common Types of Eye Injury Claims in California
Not all eye injuries in California can lead to a financial recovery. If the injury arose due to someone else’s negligence or lack of proper care, however, the victim may be entitled to damages.
Accidents commonly behind eye injury cases include:
- Workplace incidents
- Welding injuries
- Explosions or shrapnel
- Fires or steam
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Sports accidents
- Flying objects or debris
- Blunt-force trauma
- Gunshot wounds or assaults
- Chemical splashes
- Medical malpractice
Eye injuries may result in car accident, premises liability, product liability, workers’ compensation and other types of legal cases in California. If you choose to hire an attorney, make sure they have experience with your specific practice area.
What Is the Average Settlement for an Eye Injury Claim in California?
If one or more parties are liable for an eye injury in California, the victim may receive a settlement that makes them whole again. The value of an eye injury claim will depend on the extent and severity of the injury, as well as its impact on the victim’s ability to earn a living wage and enjoy daily life.
Available types of compensation may include present and future medical costs, eye surgeries, rehabilitation, therapies, medications, lost wages or income, disability, and pain and suffering. An eye injury claim involving permanent disability could lead to a case result of $500,000 to $1 million or more. Every case is unique; discuss the potential value of yours with an attorney for a personalized estimate.
How to File a California Eye Injury Claim
If you end up in the hospital with a serious eye injury after a preventable accident in California, one of the first things you should do is consult with a personal injury lawyer. A free meeting with an attorney can inform you of your rights so that you can make educated decisions about your case moving forward.
A lawyer can review and investigate your situation to determine whether your case has merit. If so, your lawyer can identify the correct liable parties, gather evidence of negligence or fault, and file an injury claim before California’s deadline. Most cases must be filed within two years under the statute of limitations.
If you or someone you love recently suffered an eye injury anywhere in California, call (949) 831-6611 anytime to schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers. We have years of experience handling serious injury cases, including eye injuries.