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 (Bronx and 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 Queens County personal injury attorney. You need
Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.!
Contact us for your free, initial consultation.
Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C.
61-43 186th Street, Suite 524
Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
(718) 520-8787
Serving: New York City, including the Boroughs of Queens, Manhattan, Staten
Island, and Bronx, and the Counties of Kings, Richmond, Queens, New York,
Bronx, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess.
