Eye injuries at work are much more common than you might think. According to the American Optometric Association, around 2,000 workers across the country suffer work-related eye injuries every day. Eye injuries can be difficult and expensive to treat, if treatment is an option at all. In many cases, people who’ve suffered an eye injury may be unable to work for a significant period of time. Sometimes eye injuries are so severe that victims are unable to work at all.
For people who have suffered an eye injury on the job, workers’ compensation benefits are a financial lifeline. The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. can help you pursue the full benefits you need after an eye injury. With more than 20 years of experience, our workers’ compensation team has helped our clients recover more than $221 million in compensation.
Get a free initial consultation today by calling either of our Pennsylvania offices, or visit our contact page online.
What Is the Average Workers’ Comp Settlement Amount for Eye Injuries?
It’s difficult to talk about the average workers’ compensation settlement amount for eye injuries for one simple season: Every case is different. There are many factors that can affect how much you may ultimately receive. Some of the factors that determine how much you could receive for your injuries include:
- How much work time did you miss due to your injuries
- The cost of medical treatment for your eye injuries
- Your earnings history
- Your doctor’s determination of the maximum level of medical improvement you could reach after receiving treatment
- Whether your eye injury qualifies you for total or partial disability benefits
For a personalized and free review of your specific case, contact Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C.
Which Accidents Cause Eye Injuries and Blindness?
Work-related eye injuries can happen for many different reasons, even in seemingly “safe” professions like office work. Some of the most common accidents that lead to eye injuries at work include:
- Foreign objects embedded in the eye – Wood splinters, metal shavings, shards of glass, staples, nails, wires, and various cutting instruments and tools can all damage the eye by penetrating it or scratching the cornea.
- Blunt trauma – A hard blow to the eye or the area around it can lead to an eye injury, even if the eye itself isn’t scratched or penetrated. Slip and falls, physical assaults, falling objects, and other sources of blunt trauma can cause bleeding inside the eye, retinal detachments, and damage to the different bones around the eye.
- Caustic chemicals – Getting splashed in the eyes by hazardous chemicals often causes severe, permanent damage. Even if your eyes don’t come into direct contact with a chemical in liquid form, certain noxious fumes can also damage your eyes if you don’t have adequate protection.
- Exposure to UV rays – Being exposed to too much ultraviolet light can hurt your eyes in a variety of ways, including causing cancer of the eye and cataracts. Common sources of UV rays in the workplace include lasers, fluorescent lights, sunlamps, and natural sunlight.
- Looking at computer screens for too long – The backlight from most computer screens is much brighter than necessary for us to read what’s on the screen. While screens do not directly lead to many eye-specific injuries, they can cause migraines, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Eye Injuries
Pennsylvania law lays out the specific benefits all workers can get if they qualify for workers’ compensation coverage. Those benefits include:
- Payments to cover the full cost of any necessary medical treatment (as long as it’s related to your injuries).
- Two-thirds of your average weekly wages, up to a predetermined maximum level set by state statute.
- The cost of transportation to and from your various treatments.
- Partial or total disability benefits, which may be temporary or permanent, depending on the nature of your injuries. Your doctor will assign you an impairment rating, which will determine how long you can receive disability benefits. In rare cases, a permanent, total disability can qualify you for disability benefits for the rest of your life.
- Benefits for the loss of specific body parts. If your doctor finds that you can no longer use one eye, you qualify for payments equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wages for up to 275 weeks (a little over five years). Losing both eyes is generally considered a permanent, total disability under Pennsylvania law.
What Should I Do If I Injured My Eye at Work?
Here’s what to do if you’ve injured your eye at work:
- Notify your employer right away. Make sure you document the accident in writing or fill out an incident form.
- Get treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. Especially for eye injuries, getting treatment quickly can make a significant difference in your outcome. Your employer should provide you with a list of doctors who can treat you under your workers’ compensation plan. If they don’t provide a list, you may be free to choose your own doctor.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions precisely. Otherwise, your benefits could be reduced, or you may have difficulty obtaining them.
- Contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Because eye injuries can be so serious, it is crucial to have a skilled attorney on your side from the beginning to help you pursue the maximum benefits you deserve.
How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. Can Help
The workers’ compensation system in Pennsylvania is supposed to help injured workers get treatment quickly. But it doesn’t always work that way. With help from a workers’ compensation lawyer at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C., you have a much better chance of getting your full benefits in a timely fashion.
We can help you properly fill out and gather the necessary documentation to file your initial workers’ comp claim. If your claim has been denied, we can help you navigate the appeals process and fight for the benefits you need.
Don’t wait to talk to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Get in touch with Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. today for a free consultation.
