Vision Loss and Construction Accidents
Vision is one of the most relied upon senses. People need clear eyesight to drive, read, work, and perform other daily tasks. If a construction accident causes vision loss, the injury victim’s life could be permanently changed.
A worker’s compensation settlement is unlikely to cover the extent of damages that a construction accident resulting in vision loss causes. That is why it is important for accident victims to work with an attorney, such as Michael E. Shelton, who understands that construction accidents often result in physical, emotional, and financial damages. Mr. Shelton can help our Houston, TX, clients obtain compensation.
Causes of Construction Site Eye Injuries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, requires that employers provide proper eye protection that should be worn any time an employee is exposed to potential eye injuries. In addition, employees must be trained on the importance and use of this protective gear.
Despite their safety standards, OSHA reports that thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related injuries. Many of these injuries occur in the field of construction.
The most common causes of construction site eye injuries include:
- Building materials entering the eye (i.e. wooden shards, metal fragments, screws, or nails)
- Blunt force trauma to the head or eye from falling objects
- Chemical burns or exposure
Damages from Eye Injuries
If the eye is scratched, burned, or otherwise damaged, the vision may be impaired. When injury damages are minor, the victim may experience partial or temporary vision loss. Unfortunately, severe injuries can damage the vision for good, and can even lead to total blindness.
Whether an injury results in vision loss that is temporary or permanent, it will require medical treatment. Medical treatment itself can be costly, especially if the patient needs long-term care or follow-up treatment.
The financial damages of an eye injury are further compounded by a loss of income. Following a construction accident, injury victims will need time off of work to heal. If vision loss occurs, a worker may be unable to return to work for a significant period of time, or may not ever be able to return to work.
The financial damages of an eye injury can be severe, but there are also non-monetary damages to consider. Eye injuries cause significant pain and suffering. Emotional stress is also likely, especially when vision loss occurs. Vision loss requires patients to change their entire way of life and retrain themselves to perform even the most basic daily tasks.
Seeking Compensation
When vision loss is the result of a construction accident, worker’s comp insurance should offer some financial compensation. However, insurance companies rarely offer the full compensation that the victim actually deserves, which is why it is important to work with a construction accident attorney.
Mr. Shelton considers all avenues of loss in a construction accident and fights hard to collect just compensation for our Houston clients.
Contact Us
If you have been in a construction accident that resulted in vision loss, it is important that you understand your legal right to financial compensation. Contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of your case and learn more about your legal options, or call us in Houston at (713) 807-0700 to set up a personal consultation with attorney Michael E. Shelton.
