Eye Injury Workers Comp Settlements in Asheville

A workplace eye injury can change how you see the world, literally. Whether you caught a metal fragment on a construction site, suffered a chemical splash in a warehouse, or took a blow that damaged your vision, you’re dealing with pain, uncertainty, and fear about your future. At Horton & Mendez, our managing partners are former insurance defense attorneys who know exactly how insurers calculate eye injury settlements, and we use that knowledge to fight for you. Call 910-405-7751 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.

Eye Injuries Are Scheduled Injuries Under North Carolina Law

North Carolina doesn’t leave eye injury compensation up to guesswork. Under North Carolina General Statute § 97-31, the eye is a scheduled member, which means the state assigns a specific number of weeks of benefits based on the degree of vision loss you’ve sustained.

For the complete loss of an eye, the statute provides 120 weeks of compensation at two-thirds of your average weekly wages. If you’ve lost partial vision, your compensation is calculated proportionally. Lose 40% of the vision in one eye, and you’ll receive roughly 40% of that 120-week benefit.

There’s a critical threshold to understand. If you’ve lost 85% or more of the vision in an eye, North Carolina law classifies that as “industrial blindness” and compensates it as total loss of vision in that eye. That distinction can mean tens of thousands of dollars in additional compensation, and it’s exactly the kind of detail insurance companies hope you’ll overlook.

What Determines The Value Of Your Eye Injury Settlement

Two primary factors drive what your eye injury settlement is worth: your impairment rating and your average weekly wages before the injury.

Your impairment rating matters most

The NC Industrial Commission relies on an impairment rating from a qualified medical examiner to determine the percentage of vision loss in your injured eye. This rating directly controls how many weeks of scheduled benefits you receive. A higher impairment rating means more weeks and more money in your pocket.

Insurance companies often try to steer injured workers toward examiners who tend to assign lower ratings. We’ve seen this tactic firsthand from our years on the defense side. We know which examiner opinions hold up before the Industrial Commission and how to challenge a lowball rating when one comes back.

Average weekly wages set your weekly rate

Compensation under § 97-31 is paid at two-thirds of your average weekly wages, subject to the state’s annual maximum. This calculation sounds straightforward, but it isn’t always. Over time, bonuses and irregular pay schedules can all affect the number. Getting it wrong at the start can cost you thousands over the life of your claim.

Don’t leave money on the table. Call 910-405-7751 to make sure your claim is calculated correctly from day one.

Common Workplace Eye Injuries In Asheville

Asheville’s mix of manufacturing, construction, and outdoor industries puts workers at risk for a range of eye injuries. We’ve handled claims involving:

– Metal and wood fragments from cutting, grinding, and drilling operations.

– Chemical burns from cleaning agents and industrial solvents.

– Blunt force trauma from tools, falling objects, or equipment malfunctions.

– Thermal burns and flash injuries from welding arcs.

– Debris exposure at outdoor construction and landscaping sites.

Western North Carolina’s growing construction sector means more job sites, more heavy equipment, and more opportunities for accidents that can cause serious vision loss. If you’ve sustained an eye injury on the job anywhere in the Asheville area, the type of injury and the severity of your vision loss both play directly into what your settlement looks like.

How Your Eye Injury Connects To Your Broader Workers’ Comp Claim

Eye injury settlements under § 97-31 don’t exist in isolation. You’re also entitled to medical benefits covering all reasonable treatment related to the injury, including surgeries, prescription eyewear, specialist visits, and ongoing care. If your eye injury kept you out of work during the healing period, you should have received temporary disability payments on top of your scheduled benefit.

Here’s something important. If your eye injury happened alongside other injuries (a fall that caused both a head injury and vision damage, for example), you may have multiple scheduled injury claims or a broader disability claim. Under § 97-29(f), when an employee is entitled to both general disability compensation and a specific scheduled impairment under § 97-31, the employee can select whichever compensation pathway provides the more favorable remedy. Choosing the wrong path could cost you significantly.

Since 2023, Horton & Mendez has recovered over $80M for injured clients across North Carolina. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different. But our track record shows we know how to build workers’ comp cases that get results. Call 910-405-7751 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Injury Workers’ Comp Settlements In Asheville

How much is my eye injury workers’ comp settlement worth?

It depends on the severity of your vision loss and your average weekly wages before the injury. North Carolina law provides up to 120 weeks of compensation at two-thirds of your average weekly wages for the total loss of an eye. Partial vision loss is compensated proportionally based on your impairment rating from a qualified examiner.

Do I need to prove my employer was at fault?

No. Workers’ compensation in North Carolina is a no-fault system. If your eye injury happened at work or because of your job duties, you’re entitled to benefits regardless of who caused it. You don’t need to prove negligence.

What if the insurance company says my vision loss isn’t that serious?

This tactic is a common one we see. Insurers may push for a lower impairment rating to shrink your settlement. You have the right to challenge that rating, and an experienced workers’ comp lawyer can help you fight for a number that reflects your actual condition. We know these tactics because we used to help insurance companies deploy them.

How long does an eye injury workers’ comp case take to settle?

Most eye injury claims settle after you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), meaning your vision has stabilized, and further treatment won’t improve it. Timelines vary widely, from several months to over a year, depending on injury severity and the complexity of your medical treatment.

Does Horton & Mendez handle eye injury cases in Asheville?

Yes. Our lawyers handle workers’ compensation claims throughout western North Carolina, including Asheville and surrounding communities. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover benefits for you.

Get The Settlement Your Eye Injury Claim Is Worth

You don’t have to navigate the NC Industrial Commission process on your own, and you don’t have to accept what the insurance company offers without question. At Horton & Mendez, we’ve sat on the other side of the table. We know how insurers evaluate eye injury claims, what tactics they use to reduce payouts, and where they cut corners. Let us put that playbook knowledge to work for you.

Call 910-405-7751 now for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.