Houston Eye Injury Lawyer
The eyes are one of the most vital parts of the body—and one of the most sensitive and vulnerable to injury. Eyes can be damaged in countless ways, and some eye injuries can lead to permanently damaged vision or total blindness. The CDC estimates that around 2,000 workers in the United States experience an eye injury every day. Some of these injuries cause missed time from work, and some have permanent, devastating effects.
Types of Eye Injuries and the Results
An eye injury may entail the bones of the eye socket, the eyeball itself, or the eyelids and skin surrounding the eye. One of the most common eye injuries is debris that becomes trapped in the eye or punctures it. Anyone who has had a bit of dust or sand in his or her eye knows that even tiny pieces of debris in the eyes can be incredibly painful. If left untreated, they can have serious, lasting effects. Larger pieces of sharp wood, glass, or metal can be even more damaging and result in permanent vision loss.
Impacts to the eye area can damage the bones of the eye socket and even cause internal bleeding. One of the most common blunt force trauma wounds to the eye most people have seen are black eyes—commonly associated with fist fights—in which the eye socket is bruised and the eye swells shut, either partially or totally.
Chemicals can also seriously damage the eyes. Cleaning solutions, toxic substances, fuels, and other chemicals can cause severe permanent damage to the eyes. Fireworks are another common cause of eye injuries. In any case, eye injuries require immediate medical attention; otherwise, the victim risks permanently impaired vision.
What to Do if You Have Been Injured
If you believe your eye injury was caused due to someone else’s negligent behavior, a defective or inappropriately labeled product, or your employer’s failure to address a known safety concern, it is vital to know your legal rights. Depending on the nature of your work-related injury, worker’s compensation may not cover much more than your initial medical bills and lost wages from time away from work. If you sustained an eye injury outside of work, you will need to assess the circumstances of the incident to determine if legal action is a viable option.
An eye injury that results in long-term visual impairment or blindness can lead to a diminished earning ability or the inability to work in the future. If your injury was caused by someone else’s reckless or irresponsible actions, you will have to prove negligence on their part in order to win a civil suit against them. Proving negligence requires establishing three things: that the defendant owed you a duty to act with reasonable care, he or she violated this duty by some action or inaction, and this violation directly caused your injuries.
If your eye injury was the result of a defective or inappropriately labeled product, a product’s liability claim against the manufacturer will be the best course of action. Manufacturers are required to create their products using consistent materials and consistent methods. Products must perform as advertised and include clear instructions for proper use. Manufacturers must also include warnings for any potential risks or hazards associated with the products’ use. If they failed to include a warning that their products may cause eye injuries, they can be held liable for the eye injuries they cause.
At Nielsen Law Firm, we believe in aggressively pursuing justice on behalf of our clients in the Houston, TX region. We will try to get you the biggest settlement possible without going to court, but we will not shy away from intense litigation should a trial be unavoidable. Eye injuries are serious and often have permanent effects. Reach out to us for a free case evaluation so we can help you determine the next legal steps toward just compensation for your injuries.