We talk often about work injuries, but today we want to get into a specific type – eye injuries. They are surprisingly common in the workplace, and not in the ways you would think. Across many industries, people sustain eye injure their eyes. In fact, around 2,000 people suffer from workplace eye injuries each day in the US.
We know that most of these injuries are preventable. Today, we want to turn to the organization Prevent Blindness to give us some insight into how these injuries happen as well as ways to prevent them. At Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP, we specialize in helping people recover compensation in the aftermath of a workplace injury. If you need a San Diego vision loss attorney, call us today. Our team will get to work on securing the financial coverage you need.
The Reality Of Workplace Eye Injuries
The article we cited above claims that up to 90% of workplace eye injuries could be prevented or their severity lessened if the correct kind of eye protection was available to employees. The most common causes of eye injuries are:
- Tool mishaps
- Particles
- Chemicals
- Radiation
- Flying objects like wood, metal, and glass
You can see just how many industries may have workers susceptible to these kinds of injuries. We know that the construction, manufacturing, and mining industries have the highest numbers of worker eye injuries. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these injuries cost more than $300 million a year in lost productivity.
They can cost the victims even more
People who sustain these injuries often face long recovery periods. During this time, they may not be able to work, drive, or do anything they love to do. The medical expenses for these injuries can be tremendous, but they are not the only costs. Many people do not consider lost wages and benefits, of which workers compensation will not cover the entire amount.
Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their workers have the right equipment to do their job without getting injured. They should also provide employees with proper training. If they fail to do this, they could be held liable the injuries that happen.
If You Sustain An Eye Injury
Any work injury can be difficult to deal with, but an eye injury can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. If you or someone you love have sustained an eye injury in the workplace and are not being compensated, contact Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP today. Our qualified and experienced personal injury team will work to secure the compensation you deserve. This can include:
- Coverage of current and future medical expenses related to the injury.
- Loss of income and benefits for time away from work.
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages.
- Possible punitive damages.
If you need a San Diego vision loss attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling our office. Let us get to work for you so you can focus on healing.