San Diego Eye Injury Attorney

Have you suffered an eye injury that has left you with impaired vision or blindness? An accident that affects your vision is a frightening and life-changing event. If your injury occurred on the job or due to someone's negligence or intentional wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation. A San Diego eye injury attorney can help.

At Berman & Riedel, LLP, we are prepared to give you the aggressive representation you deserve. We will protect your rights and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Call our law office to schedule a free consultation with a San Diego eye injury lawyer today.

How Berman & Riedel, LLP, Helps Eye Injury Victims in San Diego CA

At Berman & Riedel, LLP, our attorneys have extensive experience with serious personal injury cases, including those involving vision loss and impairment. We work closely with medical experts and other specialists to pursue the best possible outcome for our clients. Our San Diego eye injury attorneys are committed to recovering all of the damages to which you are rightfully entitled.

We are here to:

• Provide compassionate legal advice and guide you through the legal process
• Carefully evaluate your case to develop the best possible legal strategy
• Consult with experts to strengthen your case
• Negotiate on your behalf to seek maximum compensation for your loss of vision
• Take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer
• Protect your legal rights and act in your best interests

If you have suffered vision loss or impairment as a result of another's negligent or reckless conduct, Berman & Riedel, LLP is here to help you. Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with a San Diego eye injury attorney ready to fight for you.

Common Types of Eye Injuries

Mild eye injuries can cause blurred vision, double vision, and temporarily impaired vision. More severe injuries can result in partial vision loss and permanent vision loss. All eye injuries should receive immediate treatment to reduce the risk of permanent damage.

Common eye injury types include:

• Corneal abrasion: A scratch on the cornea (the eye’s clear surface), often caused by a foreign object. This may be a minor injury if the scratch is shallow, but deeper damage can be serious.
• Burns: Damage from exposure to harmful chemicals (e.g., acids or alkalis), radiation, or steam that can irritate or severely injure the eye. Corneal flash burns are like sunburns on the eye. Chemical burns are serious eye injuries with a high risk of permanent loss of vision.
• Blunt trauma: Injury from a direct impact (like a ball or fist) that can result in bruising, bleeding, or even orbital fractures around the eye. Blunt force can also tear, detach, or dislodge structures in the eye. Globe rupture and globe contusion are examples.
• Retinal detachment: Separation of the retina from the back of the eye. This can occur after trauma and may lead to vision loss.
• Hyphema: Bleeding in the anterior chamber (the space between the cornea and iris), often due to blunt force trauma.
• Orbital fracture: A break in one of the bones surrounding the eye. This can affect eye movement and stability.
• Penetrating injury: These severe injuries are caused by a sharp object piercing the eye, potentially leading to serious internal damage.

What Causes Most Eye Injuries and Vision Loss?

A San Diego eye injury lawyer from our team can handle cases involving all types of accidents that cause blindness and impaired vision.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents, truck accidents, and other collisions can result in blunt force trauma to the face and eyes, as well as injuries from shattered glass or debris. Alkaline gas exposure during airbag deployment can also cause corneal abrasion and alkaline keratitis.

Foreign Bodies

Particles like dust, metal, or wood entering the eye can cause eye damage, irritation, and infection. Foreign bodies are a leading cause of acute eye injuries. Wearing eye protection is the most effective way to prevent eye damage from foreign particles.

Workplace Accidents

In 2020 alone, there were 18,510 work-related eye injuries and illnesses, according to the BLS. There were 1.7 workplace eye injuries per 10,000 full-time workers.

These injuries were caused by:

• Contact with equipment or objects (11,980)
• Exposure to harmful substances and environments (4,830)
• Violence and injuries caused by others (1,200)
• Slips, trips, and falls (290)

Industries with the highest rates of eye-related work injury were construction, manufacturing, material-moving, mining, and welding. In construction, electricians accounted for almost 23% of eye injuries, and construction laborers made up 31% of injuries.

If you have suffered an eye injury in a workplace accident, a San Diego eye injury attorney at Berman & Riedel, LLP, is here to help.

What Is the Number One Cause of Eye Injuries for Construction Workers?

The leading cause of construction-related eye injuries is flying debris, such as metal fragments, wood chips, and dust that can be dislodged during activities like cutting, grinding, or hammering. These tiny, high-speed particles can easily penetrate the eye, leading to severe eye injuries if proper eye protection is not used.

Sports and Recreational Accidents

Impact from fast-moving balls, racquets, or even accidental contact during play can cause blunt trauma and serious eye injuries. There are about 30,000 eye-related sports injuries treated in emergency rooms every year.

Basketball causes the most sports-related eye injuries, followed by baseball, softball, hockey, and airsoft rifles/pellet guns. Boxing and martial arts, however, have a high risk of serious eye injuries that can cause blindness.

If you suffered an eye injury while playing sports, our San Diego eye injury attorneys can help you explore your options for recovering compensation.

Home Accidents

Many injuries happen at home due to falls and DIY projects like repairs and woodworking. Even cleaning can result in eye damage due to exposure to household chemicals that cause chemical burns.

Chemical Exposure

Exposure to harmful chemicals can result in burns and severe eye damage. Aerosol, powder, solid, and liquid chemicals can all result in injuries. It isn't just industrial chemicals that can be dangerous; pesticides, fertilizers, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, ammonia, bleach, and even cosmetics can injure the eyes.

Alkaline chemicals like ammonia and oven cleaner are the most dangerous and cause the most severe eye damage.

Medical Malpractice

Medical mistakes can cause serious eye injuries. Examples of errors that can lead to medical negligence eye claims include:

• Misdiagnosis, such as failure to diagnose a condition like a detached retina. This may cause a delay in treatment that worsens the damage.
• Medication errors, such as prescribing the incorrect eye drops, can cause damage.
• Failure to refer a patient to an ophthalmologist to treat a complex condition
• Delayed treatment or failure to address eye injuries promptly, which allows the condition to worsen
• Surgical errors by an eye doctor, such as wrong eye surgery, using unsanitized tools, or performing an unnecessary procedure

Our San Diego eye injury attorney can handle all types of medical malpractice eye claims.

Chronic Conditions

Vision loss is often linked to chronic eye diseases such as:

• Glaucoma, where increased pressure damages the optic nerve
• Cataracts, or clouding of the lens
• Diabetic retinopathy, damage caused by diabetes
• Age-related macular degeneration or deterioration of the central retina

Damages Available in Eye Injury Claims

If someone else's negligence caused your eye injury, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party for your damages. A personal injury lawsuit allows you to pursue money for your financial and personal losses.

Economic damages cover your financial expenses, such as:

• Medical bills like hospital bills, physical therapy, prescriptions, and other ongoing medical treatment
• Future medical costs you will face
• Lost wages during recovery
• Diminished or lost earning capacity if you cannot work again
• Out-of-pocket costs that are necessary and reasonable

You can also recover money for your non-economic damages or your personal losses with no financial value. Many eye injury victims face not only physical pain but also a need to completely change their way of life. Adjusting to vision loss can be challenging and cause depression, anxiety, fear, and social isolation. Compensation for eye injury pain and suffering considers the impact of your injury on your daily life.

A San Diego eye injury attorney at Berman & Riedel, LLP, will help you pursue the fair compensation you deserve.

Eye Injury Compensation: What Is a Loss of Sight Claim Worth?

Loss of sight compensation depends on many factors. An eye injury attorney may consider these factors and more to estimate the value of loss of sight claims:

• Severity of the injury and whether it results in the permanent loss of vision, blindness, or partial loss of vision
• Whether one or both eyes are affected
• The victim's ability to return to work
• Insurance coverage
• The psychological and emotional toll of the injury

No eye injury claim calculator can tell you what your case is worth, and all personal injury claims are unique. Schedule a free consultation with a San Diego eye injury lawyer at Berman & Riedel, LLP, today to discuss your case in detail and understand what you may be entitled to recover.

Average Eye Injury Settlement Amounts

How much compensation you may recover depends on many factors. Eye injury compensation value can range from a few thousand to more than $500,000. Here are examples of eye injury settlement claims:

• Minor injury: $10,000
• Retinal detachment settlement: $50,000 to $75,000
• Compensation for loss of sight in one eye: $50,000 to $150,000
• Loss of an eye compensation: $150,000 to $250,000
• Vision loss in both eyes: $300,000+

These are only examples. An experienced San Diego eye injury attorney can review your case to help you understand what it may be worth and explore your legal options.

Workers' Compensation in California

In general, most businesses in California with employees are required to purchase workers' compensation insurance. You are typically eligible for workers compensation benefits for an eye injury sustained on the job. A workers compensation claim allows you to recover financial compensation and benefits for:

• Medical expenses
• Partial replacement of lost wages and benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Treatment-related travel expenses
• Permanent visual impairment, vision loss, or eye loss

How much is an eye worth in a workers comp claim? The average workers’ comp settlement for eye injury or facial injury is $34,560, according to the National Safety Council.

In California, you can receive workers comp benefits in several ways after a serious eye injury. A compromise and release (C&R) allows you to recover a one-time lump sum settlement if you are permanently disabled. Another option is a Stipulation with a Request for Award. This option includes future medical care and a monetary award based on your percentage of permanent disability paid weekly until the full value is reached.

A San Diego eye injury attorney can help you with your workers' comp claim, ensure your injury is rated accurately, and help you understand your compensation options. Your lawyer can also assist with appealing a denied claim.

San Diego Eye Injury Attorney FAQs

What Happens During a Free Case Evaluation for an Eye Injury Claim?

During a free case evaluation, a San Diego eye injury attorney will review how your injury happened, discuss liability, and explain your options under personal injury law. This gives you a clearer understanding of whether someone else's carelessness may entitle you to compensation.

Can I Recover Compensation for Emotional Distress After an Eye Injury?

Yes, serious eye injuries often lead to significant emotional distress, especially when vision loss affects independence, work, or daily life. A San Diego eye injury attorney can help pursue damages that reflect both physical harm and the emotional impact caused by a San Diego accident.

Can a Law Firm Help If My Eye Injury Was Caused by a Dog Attack?

Yes, a law firm can help if your eye injury resulted from dog bites or another preventable incident. An experienced legal team can investigate liability, gather evidence, and determine whether the dog owner or another party may be financially responsible for your injuries.

What Makes Eye Injury Cases Different From Other Personal Injury Matters?

Eye injury claims are often more complex than other personal injury matters because vision loss can create lifelong medical, financial, and emotional consequences. A firm with a proven track record of handling catastrophic injury claims can better assess damages and build a stronger case for recovery.

Do I Need a Lawyer If My Eye Injury Was Caused by Another Person?

If your eye injury happened because of another person's negligence, working with an attorney can improve your chances of recovering compensation. Cases involving serious injuries often require proving fault, documenting long-term losses, and showing how the injury impacts your future, especially after a serious accident.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a San Diego Eye Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has suffered vision loss or impairment, Berman & Riedel, LLP, is here to help you. Our California personal injury attorneys are prepared to give you the aggressive legal representation you deserve to protect your rights and safeguard your future. The San Diego eye injury lawyers at our law firm handle cases throughout California.

Schedule a free case evaluation today with a San Diego eye injury attorney to discuss how we can help you recover fair compensation for your eye injury. Give us a call today at (858) 350-8855 or fill out our online form.