Eye injuries can occur in any workplace, with the most common people affected with eye injuries being construction workers, welders, and other professionals dealing with hazardous chemicals and other types of substances.
Back in 2018, there were a total of 6103 workers' compensation claims for eye injuries in the state of Pennsylvania. Although that is a small number, the eye is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. It is important for people to understand how they can handle their eye injury claims.
In this article, we will be looking at some of the common workplace eye injury causes and how to seek compensation.
Causes of Eye Injuries in Workplace
The kind of an eye injury a victim suffers will mainly be determined by the type of environment they are working in. Despite the high number of injuries that result in eye damage or loss of vision, especially in construction and manufacturing sites, such injuries can occur in any type of environment despite some of the safest protocols. The fact is that you cannot focus on medical care and compensation at the same time. It is appropriate that you hire Alaska personal injury accident lawyer to help with filing for eye injury compensation as you focus on your recovery.
Here are some of the common causes of eye injuries in workplaces:
Chemical burns: There is a possibility of caustic chemicals causing eye injuries like burns.
Flying debris: Debris from machinery, tools, and the workplace environment can easily be propelled through the air into your eye. The eye will always react by closing itself, which will cause even more damage.
Fires: Burns on the eye can lead to permanent disability or even blindness. Welders and other people dealing with fires can suffer from burns on their eyes.
Trauma: It can lead to detachment of the retina, broken bones in the eye. The injuries can be very severe and can result in total vision loss.
Falling Debris: Tiny particles of metal and glass shards that are very popular in workplaces can cause eye injury.
Explosions: Explosions are not very common in a workplace environment. However, when they occur, they can lead to devastating eye injuries.
Compensation for Eye Injury at Workplace
Most of the workers who suffer eye injuries at their place of work are always eligible for workers' compensation. Some of the benefits workers can be entitled to include medical treatment, permanent partial compensation benefits, total compensation benefits, death benefits, or permanent total benefits. However, the value of the compensation benefits will be determined by factors such as the severity of the injury and if the worker is lost vision or not.
When hurt at work, you will have to report the injury immediately. It will trigger the employer to offer you a workers compensation sheet and instructions for filing the claim. In most cases, you will be required to demonstrate that you have a particular injury and that the eye injury is work-related.
In different situations, especially those that involve serious injury to the eye, the insurance company of the employer should approve the claim to ensure you receive treatment and any corresponding benefits. However, there are times when the insurer can dispute the claim.
When an insurance company is disputing the severity of the injury or your claim, it is important that you hire a personal injury lawyer. The lawyer will help you properly document the injury and provide proof that it is work-related.
The amount of compensation one can receive from eye injury will be determined by the seriousness of the injury and the prognosis of any future improvement. When calculating financial compensation for eye injury, factors such as loss of amenity, loss of earning, ongoing treatment cost, support, and rehabilitation have to be considered.
Compensation that will assist you in adapting to the loss of sight and living life to the fullest can run into millions of dollars, especially when your loved one has lost their sight due to someone's negligence at the place of work.
Apart from the worker’s compensation for the injury, you can file a personal injury claim if the eye injury resulted from someone else negligence. Here are the main categories of damages you can always claim for:
General damages: Compensation for general damages will cover the severity of the injury, pain, and suffering the victim experienced when the accident was taking place.
Special damages: It covers financial losses resulting from the accident and injuries like travel expenses, medical expenses, loss of income, and care claims.
Contact Eye Injury at Workplace Attorney
Personal injury lawyers have vast experience in dealing with eye injuries in workplace cases. The lawyers know how to work with medical experts to provide evidence that will help in ensuring successful compensation for eye injury.