Eye Injuries
Depending on how an accident has happened, eye injuries can lead to blindness, the loss of an eye, diminished vision and/or limited ability to see.
For eye victims who have had a lifetime of normal vision suddenly snatched away, adjusting to blindness or diminished vision can be an expensive, laborious and psychologically punishing process. Getting fair monetary compensation for an eye injury accident is important, particularly if the eye injury has resulted in partial or full vision loss and an inability to work and earn income and wages as before the eye injury accident. Essential are the services of an eye injury attorney who specializes in complex and catastrophic medical injuries, such as eye injuries. For eye injury or eye accident victims
hurt while at work, Worker’s Compensation benefits may be obtained to pay for medical bills, treatment an rehabilitation and to compensate for lost wages in addition to union disability and Social Security Disability benefits.
New York City construction work sites have chemicals and dangerous materials that can cause
a construction worker eye injury. Safety procedures must be taught and enforced. Better safety training and education is essential. Protective goggles are very important, to reduce the risk of injury from splinters,
nail guns, dirt, pieces of metal or wire and even the
welding process. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2002 welding equipment contributed to more than 11,000 eye injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, with power grinders and buffers coming in second with nearly 10,000 eye injuries.
In the skilled trades, more than 40 percent of injuries studied occurred among craft workers, like mechanics, repairers, carpenters, and plumbers. Over a third of the injured workers were operators, such as assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators. Laborers suffered about one-fifth of the eye injuries. Almost half the injured workers were employed in manufacturing; slightly more than 20 percent were in construction.
Away from a construction work site, eye injuries can come from fireworks or an exploding car battery or a open car radiator gushing hot liquid. I represented a client who broke the bones all around his eyes when he accidentally
fell off a ladder that slipped while he was painting at work. To see a medical drawing prepared specially for his case, which shows these injuries and
fractures to the bones of his face and surrounding his eyes, click the link.
Common Causes of Eye Injuries
According to
Prevent Blindness America (PBA), an estimated 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year, and nearly 1 million Americans have lost some amount of eyesight from an eye injury. Yet experts say wearing safety glasses can prevent or reduce the severity of more than 90 percent of these eye accident injuries.
At home, household cleaners and chemicals are common causes of eye injuries. Other causes include:
- Eyelash curlers;
- Mascara brushes and other cosmetic applicators;
- Fingernails (such as when applying and removing contact lenses);
- Lawn, garden and hand tools (mowers, etc.);
- Air-blown and wind-blown particles;
- Bungee cords;
- Falls, bumping into walls, etc.;
- Champagne corks;
- Battery acid; and,
- Toys and games with hard or sharp edges.
Most eye injuries are caused by accidents including the following:
PBA says the most common causes of
eye injuries at work include:
- Flying objects (bits of metal, glass, plastic) Air-blown and wind-blown particles (dust, wood, sand);
- Tools (screwdrivers, wrenches);
- Chemicals (gasoline, oil, solvents, acids); and,
- Harmful radiation (welding arcs, UV).
Blunt trauma (someone or something hitting your eye) causes many sports-related eye injuries.
Besides another player's body, hand or finger, other causes of eye injuries during sports include:
- A ball or puck;
- A stick, bat or racquet;
- Wind-blown and airborne particles (sand, dirt);
- Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight;
- Paintballs; and,
- Fireworks.
There is also no way to prevent unanticipated stupidity. To read my blog about an attorney who was disbarred after he got into a
bar fight and knocked out a man’s eye, click here.
If you suffer any eye injury, contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately for advice. Most eye doctors have emergency contact numbers for injuries that occur after normal business hours or on weekends. If none are available, go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?
An optometrist is licensed to provide primary eye care services needed by a large percentage of persons. This may include diagnosing and treating conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatisms, and other related conditions.
Optometrists will also prescribe glasses and contact lenses as well perform minor surgical procedures such as removing foreign matters from the eye.
An ophthalmologist is a licensed Medical Doctor and specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to provide a full and complete range of treatment to the eye. Their capabilities range from prescribing glasses and contact lenses, to performing complex and delicate eye surgery.
There is much to know about eye injuries and accidents, you need an experienced New York (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens) accident lawyer to address the complex medical and legal issues that can arise in your case.
For your serious personal injury, you need serious legal representation from a qualified personal injury attorney. You need the Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.! Contact us for your free, initial consultation.
Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.
109-01 72nd Road, Suite 1A
Forest Hills, New York 11375
(718) 520-8787
26 Court Street, Suite 404
Brooklyn, New York 11242
Serving: New York City, including the Boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Bronx, and the Counties of Kings, Richmond, Queens, New York, Bronx, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess.