Ocular trauma is a worldwide cause of blindness. Every year there are 2.4 million eye injuries in the United States. Damage to the orbital and every ocular structures are reported. The most common damage is damage to the anterior structures due to blunt or concussive forces or workplace chemical exposure.
More than 15 percent (65,000) of eye injuries occur in the workplace. Each day, 2000 workers suffer an eye injury that requires treatment, ranging from abrasions to perforation.
Of the 2.4 million, there are over 50,000 cases of monocular blindness following a traumatic eye injury. Potential eye hazards are found in every industry. OSHA standards require that every employer proved the appropriate eye protection for the type of hazard to be encountered. Yet, eye protection may not prevent blunt trauma from causing a blowout fracture.
Joe Lyon is an experienced Personal Injury and product liability attorney reviewing injury claims for plaintiffs nationwide.
Ohio Work Injury Lawsuits
Joe Lyon is an experienced traumatic eye injury attorney who is well versed in the science and human impact that such an injury has on the injured person’s life.
Working on contingency fees, The Lyon Firm has developed compelling evidence in traumatic eye injury cases through medical professionals to present the highest quality evidence and arguments on the Plaintiff’s behalf. This work has resulted in significant settlements and improvement to quality of life and healthcare.
Types of Traumatic Eye Injuries
- Corneal Abrasion
- Corneal Foreign Bodies
- Corneal Perforation
- Scleral Laceration
- Globe Rupture
- Orbital Compartment Syndrome
- Carotid Cavernous Fistula
- Blowout Fractures
- Traumatic Iritis
- Commotio Retina
Common Causes of Traumatic Eye injuries
A large variety of injuries, infections and activities can result in serious, permanent ocular trauma, causing significant financial stress and can severely diminish overall quality of life. The following is an incomplete list of common causes for eye injuries.
When to Contact an Attorney
Following a traumatic eye injury where you suspect there was negligence or simply have questions about what may have happened, you should contact and experienced catastrophic injury lawyer.
Do Not:
- Resolve a catastrophic traumatic eye injury case without the advice of qualified legal counsel. The loss of vision is a significant loss and requires a full analysis of the legal issues involved in the case.
- Destroy any evidence including social media posts and photographs.
- Provide a verbal or written statement to the insurance company without seeking legal counsel first.
- Settle your claim without addressing the medical subrogation lien.
Eye Injury Lawsuits
The legal options will depend in part upon on the root cause of the eye injury.
Industrial/ Construction Accidents: Many traumatic eye injuries are a result of mismanagement or independent contractor negligence during industrial or construction work. The first step is whether the case is limited to Worker’s Compensation. This analysis requires a thorough understanding of Employer Intentional Tort law which has become more difficult in recent years.
Often, where the employer is at fault, the case requires a removal of an equipment safety guard or a knowing violation of an OSHA regulation to move past a motion for summary judgment. A subcontractor or third party defendant, however, is subject to general negligence.
Product Liability: The inadvertent deployment of an airbag may be an issue, or certain medication have been linked to eye trauma due to infections. In either case, the litigation will be focused on the manufacturer or the product and whether there was a design or manufacturing defect.
Traumatic Eye Injury Case
Bausch & Lomb recently paid approximately $250 million to resolve 600 cases where patients were exposed to the fungal infection Fusarium keratitis while using B&L’s contact solution ReNu with MoistureLoc.
“The culprit, an infection so rare that most eye doctors had never seen a case, somehow eluded MoistureLoc’s disinfecting defenses,” explains the Associated Press. The CDC confirmed 180 cases of the infection between June 2005 through September 2006. Seven people exposed to the fungus had to have an eye removed, while 60 more received corneal transplants.
The Lyon Firm represented one individual who suffered this infection resulting in permanent vision loss and corneal transplant. The case was resolved favorably for a confidential amount.
Eye Injury Settlements
Provided the burden of proof is surmounted, Ohio provides substantial monetary compensation for electrical injuries. Compensation may be awarded for the following elements where the evidence supports the elements:
- Past Physical Pain and Suffering
- Past Mental Pain and Suffering
- Past Lost of Enjoyment of Life
- Past Medical Expenses
- Past Lost Wages
- Future Physical Pain and Suffering
- Future Mental Pain and Suffering
- Future Medical Expenses
- Future Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Future Lost Wages or Loss of Earning Capacity
- Life Care Plans (home or vehicle improvements)
- Spousal Loss of Consortium (if applicable)
- Parental Loss of Consortium (if applicable)
The Lyon Firm specializes in personal injury cases and product liability lawsuits involving workplace injury, defective consumer products, auto negligence and a wide variety of class action litigation on behalf of injured plaintiffs nationwide.
