Advocating for Victims of Vision Loss in New York
Sight is arguably the most important of our senses and so many of us rely on it in our day-to-day life, from our leisurely pleasures to our careers. That is why any injury to the eyes can severely decrease our quality of life and impact our livelihood. From dangerous construction accidents to catastrophic vehicle collisions, there are a wide range of ways someone can suffer an eye injury.
If you have suffered an eye injury due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to reach out to the New York eye injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP. Our legal team can review your injuries, the accident, and any available insurance policies to determine if you have a case for compensation. We have a proven track record of advocating for compensation on behalf of New York residents who have suffered debilitating injuries. Call us at (212) 986-7353 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
What Are the Different Types of Eye Injuries?
The delicate organs that make vision possible are susceptible to injuries in a variety of ways. Damage can involve chemical exposure from acidic or alkali substances to puncture wounds caused by shrapnel. While some injuries are treatable with surgery, many victims suffer from partial or total vision loss even after treatment. Eye injuries can include:
- Orbital fractures (breaks in the bone around the eye)
- Scratched corneas
- Detached retinas
- Cataracts (caused by radiation exposure or lead poisoning)
- Bleeding of the anterior chamber of the eye
- Inflammation of the eye caused by trauma
- Temporarily or permanently impaired or blurry vision
- Disorders involving pupil dilation
- Impaired eyelid movement
- Damaged tear ducts
- Loss of one eye
- Blindness
If you have suffered any one of these injuries because of someone else’s recklessness or carelessness, then you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation.
Types of Eye Injury Cases
Because the eyes are so vulnerable, several types of accidents can damage them, from everyday situations like crossing the street to using a new product. A key element to an eye injury is often an act of negligence that allowed the injury to occur. Many of the most common types of accidents that lead to eye injuries include:
Car accidents: High-velocity collisions have the chance to severely damage a driver’s, passenger’s, or pedestrian’s face, resulting in lacerations across the eyes or brain damage that impairs the optic nerve. While most vehicles are designed with shatter-proof glass, older models can cause shards of glass to enter the eye.
Construction accidents: More than 10,600 eye injuries cause time away from work in the industry every year, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Everything from nails to splinters to toxic chemicals can enter the eyes if workers are not provided with proper safety goggles and if they are not careful in performing their duties. Construction sites can become extremely chaotic and one wrong action can cost a worker their vision.
Defective products: While we expect manufacturers to fully test each product before they go to market, numerous everyday appliances are recalled each year for defective and dangerous designs. Improperly packaged chemicals, children’s toys, and even power tools can all contribute to a damaging eye injury.
Medical malpractice: Like other medical professionals, eye doctors could commit malpractice. Misdiagnosis, infections from the negligent use of tools that have not been properly sanitized, and surgical errors are just some of the negligent actions that can result in an eye injury.
These are just some of the negligent scenarios that can lead to an eye injury, but at the core of each of them is an individual or group who failed to fulfill a duty of care towards a victim. While some situations only lead to minor injuries like scrapes and bruises, eye injuries, on the other hand, are extremely costly, and most victims require extensive medical treatment and changes to their lifestyle to live comfortably.
Pursuing Compensation for an Eye Injury in New York
There is no easy way to recover from a severe eye injury. Because of the delicate nature of eyes, trauma, nerve damage, and chemical exposure all have a high chance of causing partial or total vision loss, effectively leading to a debilitating disability. Even if your injury is minor, you may need costly surgeries, medication, and time off work to recover properly, which can be extremely difficult to deal with if you work paycheck to paycheck in New York.
That is why a personal injury claim may be your best chance at recovering the costs of your injury and moving forward with your life. While we cannot undo the damage done to you, the legal team at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, have successfully won tens of millions of dollars for New York residents injured by negligent parties. If your injury was caused by someone else, we can pursue a claim for damages that includes:
- Medical expenses related to your injury, both past and future
- Lost wages from time off work
- Lost earning capacity if you had to change careers
- Long-term costs of a disability
- Adjustments to your home
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
At the end of the day, there are several legal options available to eye injury victims, but the best chance you have at recovering the compensation you need to move on from a tragic event is a skilled and experienced New York eye injury lawyer who can pursue all avenues of compensation.
Compassionate Representation Following a Tragic Accident
Whether you were injured due to a negligent doctor or on an unkept construction site, the legal team Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, can pursue a claim for damages on your behalf to get you the money you need to recover from your injury. Our New York personal injury attorneys are devoted to pursuing compensation for our clients and professionally negotiating with insurance companies. While we can successfully reach fair and proper compensation in negotiations, we prepare for each case as if we have to go to trial and will leave no detail out of your claim. If you have suffered a serious eye injury through another party’s negligence, call us today at (212) 986-7353.
Additional Information
NY Eye Injury Verdicts & Settlements
$1.55 Million - Medical Malpractice: Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment, Resulting in Blindness
$1.2 Million - Medical Malpractice: Vision Loss
$1.175 Million - Defective Product: Resulting in Vision Loss