Eye injuries are unfortunately common in the workplace, especially in environments where chemicals or loose debris are present. You may deserve compensation through a workers’ comp eye injury settlement if you suffer an injury that might affect your ability to work in the future.
As part of your workers’ compensation benefits, North Carolina law entitles you to pursue damages for a work-related eye injury. You can contact Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys to learn more from our Wilmington workers’ comp attorneys how we can help you every step of the way.
How an Attorney Can Help With Your Workers’ Comp Eye Injury Settlement
Your workers’ compensation attorney can provide invaluable guidance at every phase of the claims process. Filing a workers’ compensation claim starts with notifying your employer of the incident. Involving our team early in your case can ensure that we can help you understand the time limit for reporting your injury. We can also advise you on actions you can take when speaking to your employer and undergoing treatment to help you protect your claim.
As your workers’ comp eye injury settlement case develops, your injury lawyer can also provide the following services:
- Facilitating communication with your medical providers
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Handling paperwork and administrative tasks regarding your claim
- Representing you in court if necessary
The role of a workers’ compensation attorney is ultimately to expedite the settlement process, ensure you get the maximum eye injury settlement amounts and remove the legal burden from you as you focus on recovery.
Common Causes of Eye Injuries on the Job
Eye injuries can occur in practically any work environment. Certain professions require the use of personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of such injury, but damage to the eyes will always remain a possibility.
Some of the common causes of eye injuries for which you can seek a workers’ comp eye injury settlement include:
- Chemicals: In professions that require handling caustic chemicals, there is a risk of exposing the eyes to those chemicals via splashing or rubbing one’s own eyes after handling.
- Flying debris: Flying or falling debris can occur in a wide variety of workplaces, especially those in which workers regularly handle heavy machinery or power tools.
- Fires: Open flames can cause direct or indirect burns to the eyes, especially if a sudden flare-up occurs that is impossible to avoid.
- Physical trauma: Impacts on the areas near the eyes which might cause broken bones or damaged blood vessels can also lead to devastating eye injuries.
Preventing eye injuries in the workplace is a responsibility that rests not only on your shoulders but also on the shoulders of your employer. If unsafe work conditions lead to an eye injury, then the business must provide relief through workers’ compensation.
Eye Injuries That May Qualify for Workers’ Comp
When considering whether or not to pursue a workers’ comp eye injury settlement, many individuals worry that the injury might not qualify for a claim. Your workers’ compensation lawyer can advise you on your eligibility to recover eye injury compensation and help determine how much your claim may be worth.
In addition to scratches, abrasions, burns and inflammation, other eye injuries that may qualify for workers’ compensation include:
- Hyphemas
- Infections
- Detached retinas
- Punctures
- Orbital fracture
Symptoms of an eye injury might not always be apparent. Knowing what signs to watch for can help you determine if you have a significant eye injury. These signs include swelling, bleeding, sensitivity to light, changes in vision or blindness.
Factors That May Affect Settlements for an Eye Injury
An eye injury has the potential to affect you for the rest of your life or even impact your ability to earn an income. You have the right to pursue the maximum workers’ comp eye injury settlement in accordance with the terms of your benefits. To that end, it is important to know what factors might impact eye injury settlement amounts.
The factors that may affect the amount of damages you can recover in your workers’ compensation case include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Development of an impairment or disability
You can speak to both your doctor and your workers’ compensation lawyer to better understand how much your claim may be worth.
Benefits You Can Receive in a Workers’ Comp Eye Injury Settlement
North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits include medical treatment coverage and wage replacement for injuries or disabilities resulting from workplace accidents. Knowing the extent of these benefits will help you understand what eye injury compensation you might receive.
The workers’ compensation medical treatment benefit extends to any treatment you must undergo in curing your workplace injury, obtaining relief from physical pain or lessening the severity of a disability. Keep in mind the factors that can affect the workers’ comp eye injury settlement amounts you can receive as part of these benefits, such as the overall costs of medical treatment.
How To Move Forward if the Insurer Denies Your Claim
While workers’ compensation benefits exist to protect you as an employee, the insurance companies that cover these benefit policies are ultimately businesses that might prioritize their own bottom lines above your well-being. With that in mind, the insurer might respond to your workers’ compensation claim with a lowball settlement offer or even outright denial.
In cases such as these, it is more important than ever to have an experienced injury lawyer who can advocate on your behalf. Our team can investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury and present evidence to the insurance company during negotiations.
In some cases, it may even be necessary to take the matter to court in order to secure a verdict demanding that the insurance company pays what they owe. The mention of litigation can, at times, urge an insurance provider to offer a more favorable settlement. In other instances, you may need to commit to a longer trial in order to secure the compensation you need.
Contact an Attorney Who Can Secure Your Workers’ Comp Eye Injury Settlement
If you have questions about a workers’ comp eye injury settlement or other concerns about your claim, the lawyers at Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys are standing by and ready to help you. Contact us today by phone at 910-405-7751 or by sending us a message online for a free consultation.
