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  • Eye Injury Compensation

Workplace Eye Injury Compensation

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The eye is an extremely delicate organ and needs special protection in dangerous workplaces. Eye injuries at work can have devastating consequences, so your employer has a duty to make sure that you’re safe in your working environment.

Our workplace accident solicitors could help you claim compensation if you’ve suffered an eye injury (ocular trauma), sight loss or eyesight deterioration because of your employer’s negligence. Common causes of eye injuries at work include:

  • Goggles, safety glasses and face shields not being provided
  • A lack of training
  • Defective machinery
  • Improper storage of dangerous chemicals

Effects of eye injuries can include:

  • Blindness
  • Corneal damage
  • Eyesight deterioration
  • Loss of an eye
  • Retinal detachment

We understand how devastating an eye injury can be, having an impact on almost every aspect of your life. That’s why we’ll work closely with you to ensure that all of your needs are taken into account by the compensation.

This could mean helping you access private medical treatment for your eye, getting funds for a piece of specialist equipment or advising you on your benefits situation if you’re no longer able to work.

Most of our eye injury claims are funded on a No Win No Fee basis, which means you won’t have to worry about legal costs during your case*. As we have personal injury experts across the country, we can help you wherever you’re based.

To arrange a free initial consultation about your claim, call us free on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online.

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Eye injury compensation - more information

After you’ve contacted us, we’ll set up a free initial consultation to discuss your eye injury whether you have a claim.

Having helped many other clients who have suffered from eye injuries, we can use our experience to get a positive outcome for you and your family.

We’ll then get in touch with your employer to see if they accept the blame for your injuries. If they accept responsibility, we’ll try to secure interim compensation payments which can fund private medical care and ongoing expenses, before your claim fully settles. Any interim payments will be taken out of your final compensation award.

Our lawyers will look into your case in detail such as, did your employer provide adequate eye protection, training or health and safety reviews. We can gather evidence from independent eye doctors and health and safety specialists. These experts will analyse why your accident happened and can determine any future implications to your eyes. They’ll also advise us on the care you’ll need in the future and any precautions that need to be implemented in your workplace.

Depending on the extent of the injuries, our solicitors can help you get rehabilitation support or even home adaptations. We have specialist employment teams if you are concerned about your losing your job or suing your employer.

The amount of compensation you receive for an eye injury will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. For example loss of sight or loss of an eye might mean we can secure compensation for home adaptations or specialist medical treatment. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.

Compensation can make a real difference to your life if your sight has been affected by a workplace injury. By making a claim with us, we can get you funds which can help pay for:

  • Private healthcare treatment
  • Optical treatment and surgery
  • Glasses, contact lenses or prosthetic eyes
  • Psychological therapy
  • Expenses (such as travel costs to hospital appointments)
  • Loss of income
  • Household adaptations

If your employer accepts responsibility for your accident, we could help you get early compensation payments. Often known as interim payments, these funds will be taken from your final settlement and can help pay for ongoing care costs and expenses, before your claim has settled.

We could help you make a claim if you’ve suffered an eye injury in the workplace, whether you’re an employee, a contractor, a member of the public visiting a factory, manufacturing plant or construction site.

Even if you’re a casual worker or self-employed, you might still be considered as an employee under UK law, giving you the same rights as other workers when it comes to health and safety.

If you have suffered and eye injury out of the workplace, our personal injury team can advise.

If you’re an agency worker who has suffered an eye injury, both the agency you work for and the owners of the business should take responsibility for your safety. They should work together to make sure that precautions are in place to protect you.

We can also help with claims being made on behalf of others including:

  • On behalf of a child who has been in an accident before their 18th birthday
  • or someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle their own case
client quote looking out to sea

I will always hold Irwin Mitchell in the highest of regard. Best decision I ever made to choose them. Thank you."

Stuart, client

Client story

Eye injury at work claim Eye Injury

Our client, a recycling plant worker from South Yorkshire, was acting as banksman to a fellow worker who was unloading some waste materials. As his colleague unloaded the waste, a sharp piece of plastic from the load rebounded outwards and struck him in the left eye, piercing his eyeball and causing him serious injury. 

As a result of the accident our client required surgery on his eye and had to undergo “posturing”, which required him to sit for many hours a day with his face downwards, resting on a table, to give his surgery to reattach his retina the best possible chance of success.

Although there has been some improvement in his vision in the injured eye, it will never be the same again. He agreed an out-of-court settlement of £50,000 with his employers.

Eye injury

“The problem here was that our client did not have appropriate goggles, and the system of work being used had not been properly thought out. As a result he has suffered a permanent injury to his eye."

Lisa Fairclough, Solicitor

“Thankfully, my client has been able to return to work following his accident, but he will continue to need specialist eye care for the whole of his life, and now has an increased risk of loss of vision in the injured eye.” Lisa Fairclough, solicitor

Read More Client Stories

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common causes of workplace eye injuries?

The eye is vulnerable to a range of different injuries if not protected properly. Accidents can have long-term effects on your eyesight, so it’s vital that you’re given the right training and equipment to safeguard against harm.

Some of the most common workplace eye injuries involve:

  • Blunt force (e.g. being struck by a piece of machinery or a falling object)
  • Chemicals (e.g. acids and fuels)
  • Different kinds of small particles (e.g. dust, metal and concrete)
  • Exposure to heat
  • Sharp objects (e.g. fragments of glass)

We’ll investigate the circumstances leading to your eye injury, working out how it could have been prevented. Our solicitors have years of experience helping people who have suffered because of poor health and safety procedures. Phone us on 0800 056 4110 to find out more about making a compensation claim.

What constitutes employer negligence?

Employers have a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect their workers from harm. When it comes to potential eye injuries, this means making sure that those working in dangerous environments have access to the right safety equipment, such as: 

  • Goggles
  • Safety glasses
  • Face shields

However, it’s not enough just to provide employees with safety equipment. Employers must ensure that gear actually fits the person using it. If you wear prescription glasses, for example, you should be supplied with equipment that takes this into account. Similarly, anti-fog treatment is important in some workplaces.

If you’ve been injured after your employer has failed to provide you with suitable equipment, you may be able to make a compensation claim. Please phone one of our legal advisers on 0800 056 4110 for a free initial discussion about your case.

What happens if I’ve lost an eye or gone blind?

Losing your eye or your vision is a life-changing experience. We’ll take great care to guide and support you through a distressing time, helping you access vital services and treatment.

Our dedicated team of support and rehabilitation coordinators understand the kind of challenges you’ll be facing, and we’ll tailor our service to your needs. We could help you with:

  • House adaptations to increase your independence
  • Specialist rehabilitation treatments
  • Care requirements
  • Managing your compensation funds
  • Ocular prosthetics

We can also advise you on what benefits you’re eligible for after your eye injury, such as:

  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Employment and Support Allowance

With decades of experience representing people who have suffered serious injuries, our lawyers have first-hand experience of the issues you may be dealing with. We’ll treat your claim with the sensitivity and tenacity it deserves.

For a free initial consultation about your case, please phone 0800 056 4110 or contact us online.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Eye Injury Compensation

Employment Our employment lawyers could help you defend your rights at work
Defective Work Equipment Claims Our team could help if you’ve been injured by faulty equipment
Great Adaptations Find out how home adaptations can improve your independence after a serious injury
Construction Accident Claims We’ve represented many workers who have been injured in construction accidents

Scottish Flag All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

 

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