Workers' Comp Eye Injury Settlement

Loss of vision and permanent damage to the eye can occur from such things as chemical exposure, debris, or even traumatic brain injury. No matter how the eye injury occurs, you will need to find an experienced law office to handle your comp case and provide you with the best outcome.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a workplace accident and has filed a workers’ comp claim, the law firm of Terry Katz & Associates is here to help.

‍Contact us online or call (516) 997-0997 today to speak with a workers' comp lawyer about your eye injury claim.

The Most Common Types of Workplace Eye Injuries

Almost all types of eye injuries that occur in the workplace could qualify as a workers’ compensation case, but there are some causes that happen more often than others.

The most common types of eye injuries in the workplace are:

• Blindness: Blindness is the total loss of vision and will qualify as a permanent disability. Blindness can occur from blunt force trauma, severe chemical burns, and even punctures.
• Burns: Burning from caustic chemicals in the workplace, such as acids are another common type of eye injury that can result in complete or permanent partial disability.
• Abrasions: Abrasions are scratches on the cornea that are often the result of contact with a foreign object. These are often treatable as medical care, but if treatment is not sought right away, it can result in ulcers, which will incur higher medical expenses.
• Infection: Eye infections can occur when foreign objects or chemicals get into the eye. While these are easily treatable, proper medical attention is vital to prevent permanent damage from occurring.
• Detached Retina: Often the result of a head injury, a detached retina is a serious medical emergency that can result in a loss of vision if not immediately and properly treated.
• Punctures: Punctures to the eye can occur from machinery, loss objects, or sharp debris. Severe punctures can result in partial to total vision loss and in some cases, entire loss of the eye.
• Iritis: Traumatic iritis can result from direct trauma to the eye and is a form of inflammation in the colored part, or iris, of the eye.
• Orbital Fracture: Head injuries and falls can result in a fracture of the orbital bone.
• Hyphema: Caused most often by blunt trauma to the eye, hyphema is bleeding between the iris and the cornea.

While some of the above injuries can be easily treatable with medication and rest, many may result in more severe problems and require possible surgery, which can lead to significantly higher medical bills.

Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

The cause of the eye injury you suffer will largely have to do with the type of environment you work in. Even though a higher number of injuries resulting in vision loss or eye damage occur in manufacturing and construction sites, they can occur in almost any environment, even with proper safety protocols. Some of the most common causes of eye injuries in workers’ compensation claims include:

• Chemical Burns: In environments where caustic chemicals are used, such as acids, a common cause of eye injuries are burns from getting these chemicals in your eyes.
• Flying Debris: Debris from tools, machinery, and even the workplace environment can easily become looks and propelled through the air into your eye. When this occurs the body reacts by closing the eye, causing even more damage by trapping the debris.
• Fires: Burns to the eye can result in permanent disability and even blindness. Welders and other occupations dealing with fire sources on a regular basis are more likely to suffer these types of injuries.
• Trauma: Trauma to the face or head can result in broken bones, detached retinas, and damage to the soft areas and blood vessels in the eye. These injuries are often severe and can possibly result in complete vision loss.
• Falling Debris: Even small particles of debris, such as glass and metal shards, are commonly on the surfaces of some workplace environments, and can fall in the air as the air is circulated around the workplace. When these particles are trapped in the eye in can lead to abrasions, infections, and even small punctures.
• Explosions: Explosions are not common in many workplace environments, but when they occur they can result in devastating injuries. With all types of debris flying through the air, it is very likely for damage to the eye to occur.
• Car Accident: Employees who drive for the company, or operate heavy machinery are also at risk for developing eye injuries in the event of a car accident.

Ways to Prevent Eye Injuries in the Workplace

Work-related eye injuries are not always avoidable, but there are some steps that can be taken to avoid injuries. The first is to ensure that the work environment is clean, well-maintained, and follows proper safety protocols.

Proper cleaning will help to remove excess debris that can travel through the air and damage worker’s eyes and safety switches and shutoffs, which can help reduce the number of injuries during machine operation.

All workers should also work to protect themselves by wearing eye protection at all times and being aware of objects and equipment around them.

Workers should also be provided with and instructed on how to operate an eyewash station and how long the station should be used to appropriately rid themselves of chemicals or substances they may encounter.

Up-to-date MSDS sheets on the products used in the workplace should include these instructions and be posted in a conspicuous place.

A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You Get the Settlement Amount You Need

Injured workers will need money from their workers’ comp benefits to cover their weekly wage and cost of medical treatment that the insurance company should pay. An experienced attorney will help you gather the appropriate information and determine the best way to present your case, ensuring that your rights are protected. They will help you navigate the legal process and court system so that you can achieve the best possible results for your case.

Don’t wait for your workers’ compensation case to be denied before you seek out legal advice.

Call Terry Katz & Associates today at (516) 997-0997 to schedule your free consultation.