Eye Injury Claims
Our eyesight is priceless. It’s how we perceive and experience the world. Thanks to our eyesight, we can enjoy special moments with loved ones and other important life events. Experiencing an eye injury can therefore be extremely distressing. No matter how your eye injury came about – be it due to an accident at work, because of someone’s negligence, or due to an issue during a medical procedure – they’re among the scariest and most stressful injuries you can suffer.
If you have suffered an eye injury, firstly, we are very sorry you have experienced this. However, if the eye injury wasn’t your fault, you may be able to make an eye injury and vision loss claim.
What Does Eye Injury Compensation Cover?
Compensation for eye injuries covers a variety of expenses, not just expenditures directly relating to the incident. When making your eye injury claim, it’s worth considering the following factors:
Pain & Suffering
Eye injuries can result in a lot of pain and suffering, so your claim amount should accurately reflect the pain you’ve endured. Your claim should cover both physical and emotional suffering. Your claim should also encompass loss of amenity, which describes the impact that the injury has had on your quality of life. For example, you may have to give up hobbies you used to enjoy or you may not be able to attend special ceremonies with your loved ones.
Additional Care & Treatment
There is a high probability that you’ll need to receive treatment as a result of your injury. You may require professional carers, assistance from family members and friends, or another form of additional care at home. You may also need additional visits to an ophthalmologist, all of which will incur extra expenses. These are all things that should be considered as part of your claim.
Loss of Earnings
If your treatment affects your ability to work, your eye injury claim must reflect any loss of income. Recovery might require you to take a break from work due to the physical and emotional effects of the injury. For serious injuries that result in lasting damage (like permanent vision loss), you may even need to switch careers or stop working completely. The compensation for your eye injury should account for both the income you have already lost and any future earnings you may miss out on. If you were in line for a promotion and can no longer put yourself forward due to the injury, then this should also be considered.
Signs of Eye Injury
The type of eye injury will greatly determine the symptoms you feel. Some of the most common signs of eye injury include:
- Moderate to severe eye pain
- Redness around the eye
- General changes in eye appearance
- Abnormal pupils
- Increase in floaters
- Loss of vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Headaches and migraines
If you experience any of these symptoms then be sure to consult a medical professional as soon as possible.
How To Make An Eye Injury Compensation Claim
Making an eye injury compensation claim is not too dissimilar to making any other form of personal claim. Your compensation journey may look something like this:
Seek Medical Attention
Directly after the incident, but before any paperwork is filed, you must seek medical attention. Your health is of paramount importance, so ensuring your injury is treated quickly and efficiently is the top priority.
Report The Incident
Once you have received medical attention you should report the incident through the appropriate channels. It is vital that you report the incident as quickly after the event as you can. This ensures you remember as many details as possible and increases the likelihood of you receiving a quick settlement.
Gather Evidence
Gathering evidence is a quintessential part of making any personal injury claim. Evidence you may wish to gather includes photographs of the accident, witness statements, CCTV footage of the incident, and any other relevant documentation that may support your claim. You will also want to keep a record of how the incident has affected your life, including notes of any time off work, the impact it had on your earning potential, and how the event may have affected your social calendar.
Consult a Legal Professional
Once you have gathered all applicable evidence, it’s time to consult a legal expert. They can offer guidance on how much to claim for, and advise on the likelihood of your claim’s success.
File Your Claim
With help from a professional and experienced solicitor, you can then submit your claim against the party responsible for your eye injury. Your solicitor will negotiate your settlement and handle all necessary paperwork. If a settlement is not agreed, it is always wise to prepare for court proceedings.
Common Eye Injury Compensation Payouts
The payout you receive from your eye injury compensation will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of the injury and the impact it has on your life. The Judicial College Guidelines (or JCG for short) have given a general indication of the payout you can expect to receive from each level of injury.
| Level of Injury | Compensation Amount (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Complete blindness and deafness | £403,000 |
| Complete blindness | £268,000 |
| Sight loss in one eye with reduced vision in the other eye, with a risk of deterioration | £95,000-£180,000 |
| Sight loss in one eye and reduced vision in the other with the possibility of further problems | £65,000-£100,000 |
| Complete loss of one eye | £55,000-£65,000 |
| Sight loss in one eye | £50,000- £55,000 |
| Serious but incomplete loss of vision in one eye | £23,000-£39,000 |
| Minor but permanent visual impairment in one eye | £9,000-£20,000 |
| Minor eye injuries | £3,000-£9,000 |
While these figures are based on previous real-life claims, it’s always worth noting that they’re only estimations. To establish a clearer picture of the compensation you may receive, you should consult with a legal professional.
Common Causes of Eye Injury
Workplace Incident
Suffering an injury at work is never a pleasant experience. Your workplace is meant to be a place where you can feel safe and secure. However, there are a high number of workplace eye injury claims being made every year.
An eye injury may occur at work for a number of reasons, including:
- As a direct result of dangerous work that you’ve been ordered to carry out.
- Because of improper training from your employer.
- Insufficient equipment supplied by your employer.
- As a direct result of someone else’s negligence, be it your employer or a fellow coworker.
Medical Negligence
Medical negligence is also quite disconcerting. When you receive medical treatment, you should be able to expect a certain level of care. After all, you are meant to be in safe hands. Procedures that could result in an eye injury include:
- Laser eye surgery.
- Retinal detachment treatment.
- Eye muscle surgery.
- Blocked tear procedures.
- Vitreo-retinal surgery.
- Cataract surgery.
- Eye trauma treatment.
- ‘Foreign body in eye’ treatment.
- Missed, incorrect or delayed diagnosis.
- Generally poor medical care.
Time Limit
Much like other personal injury claims, you will have 3 years from the date of an eye-related incident to make a claim. However, there are sometimes exceptions to this time frame. So please contact us if you are unsure.
Traumatic Eye Injuries
Traumatic eye injuries are amongst the most common types. The most usual problems include:
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment can occur when the retina (that’s the lining of the back of the eye) becomes detached from the normal position. Some of the symptoms of this include a sudden change and increased number of ‘floaters,’ sudden flashes of light and sudden deterioration of vision.
Orbital Fracture
Orbital fractures are among the most common symptoms of eye injury. They occur when one or more bones around the eyeball break, causing the eye socket to collapse. Symptoms of orbital fractures include swelling, bruising, pain, facial numbness, and changes in vision. This type of eye injury may require immediate medical attention.
Penetrating Injury
A penetrating injury refers to a type of injury when the cornea or sclera is punctured. As with all of these injuries, you should seek medical attention to ensure your injury is treated effectively and promptly.
Corneal Abrasions
A corneal abrasion refers to a small scratch on the cornea (the transparent part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil). Corneal abrasions are slightly unique as they are typically considered to be non-serious. In fact, your cornea should heal on its own over time. Regardless, you should still seek medical attention to rule out any serious injury and, in a lot of cases, you can still make a claim.
Contact The Claims Partnerships for Eye Injury Compensation Claims
If you want to make an eye injury compensation claim, then please contact the team at The Claims Partnership today. We have many years of experience when it comes to handling all manner of personal injury claims, and we’re sure we’ll be able to help you.