Car Accidents Can Cause Severe Eye Injuries
Eye injuries are some of the most debilitating injuries that a driver can suffer from because of a car accident. Eye injuries can leave a car accident victim with temporary or permanent blindness, reducing the ease with which they can perceive the world around them.
Eye injuries are known to be some of the most expensive to treat. If the negligent actions of another driver lead to an accident that caused you an eye injury, filing a car accident claim can possibly help you receive compensation for your injuries. A car accident lawyer can assist you in dealing with the legal ramifications of a car accident claim while you begin the long road to recovery.
How Can a Car Accident Cause an Eye Injury?
The risk factors for an eye injury are high during a car accident because of how exposed your eye is to trauma. The eye is a sensitive area of the body, with essentially no protection from the impact of a crash. Any physical trauma from the crash that affects the eye can easily cause an eye injury.
Blunt force trauma, a non-penetrating impact from an object or surface, can impact the eye during a crash when someone hits their head on a steering wheel, an airbag, or the dashboard. This direct hit forces your eye to compress and leads to a collection of blood that can cause an eye injury.
During a car crash, many sharp objects can fly around the car. Shattered glass and car debris can slice the eye’s surface and cause a laceration or abrasion.
Symptoms of a Car Accident Eye Injury
The following are some of the symptoms that can indicate you suffered an eye injury from a car accident:
- Swelling around the eye
- Bruising and redness
- Inability to move the eye
- Vision changes
- Double vision
- Droopy eyelid
- Abnormal pupils
- Bleeding
Impact With an Airbag Can Cause Retinal Detachment
If your face comes into contact with an airbag, the impact could cause retinal detachment. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina, a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that provides oxygen, detaches from the eye.
A detachment of the retina can cause permanent vision loss if not treated properly. Retinal detachment is painless; the only way to have the issue diagnosed is by visiting an eye doctor after an accident. Surgery is needed to repair the damage and prevent vision loss.
A Car Accident Can Cause a Globe Rupture
A globe rupture occurs when blunt force trauma disrupts the outer membranes of the eye. It can happen to the cornea or sclera and cause intense intraocular pressure. The aqueous humor, the liquid in the front part of the eye, will drain through the rupture and lead to the eye deflating. A globe rupture can cause vision loss if left untreated.
A Corneal Laceration is a Form of Globe Rupture Caused by a Car Accident
Another form of a globe fracture is a corneal laceration, which can be caused by penetrating trauma. Debris flying around a car can penetrate the eye and lead to a cut. This deep cut can slice through the cornea and tear into the eyeball, causing severe pain, sensitivity to light, bleeding, and vision loss. A corneal laceration will require surgery to close the cut and prevent infection.
Orbital Fracture Caused by a Car Accident
An orbital fracture is when blunt force trauma causes one of the bones surrounding the eye to break. An orbital fracture causes bruising, facial numbness, pain, and swelling. Although an orbital fracture cannot lead to blindness, it can do enough damage to lead to double vision, blurry vision, and bleeding from the eye.
There are three types of orbital fractures: orbital rim fracture, blowout fracture, and orbital floor fracture.
However, an orbital rim fracture is the only one likely to happen during a car accident. Direct impact to the face causes this fracture to the thick bone on the outer edge of the eye socket. The force necessary to fracture this tough bone can lead to other eye injuries, such as optic nerve damage.
Filing a Car Accident Claim OVer Eye Injuries
Drivers in Florida are required by law to purchase personal injury protection coverage. PIP insurance can cover up to $10,000 worth of damage caused by a car accident. In the event you are involved in an accident then you are required to utilize your own PIP or other personal insurance coverage first in order to deal with your damages thanks to Florida’s no-fault policy. No-fault insurance does not cover property damage, non-economic damages, or medical expenses exceeding your policy limits.
An eye injury caused by a car accident will likely require ocular surgery to prevent partial or total blindness. If the surgical treatment costs more than your policy covers, you may need to pursue a car accident claim to recover damages from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
A car accident lawyer can assist you with proceeding after a car accident in a no-fault state. They can help you file the claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company to recover damages caused by a driver’s negligent actions. They can also collect evidence, help you build your case, negotiate a settlement, and represent you in court.
Liability in a Car Accident Claim
For a driver to be held liable for the damages caused by a car accident, your lawyer must be able to prove their negligence caused the accident. Some examples of negligent behaviors behind the wheel are distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, not using a turn signal, etc. Your lawyer must present proof of this negligence, such as video footage, photos, witness statements, or vehicle accident reconstructions to effectively make your case in court or use it as leverage at the negotiating table.
A successful car accident claim could recover damages including medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, property damage, costs associated with temporary or permanent blindness, and pain and suffering.
Contact Dolman Law Group for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
At Dolman Law Group, our car accident lawyers will be meticulous in assessing your car accident case to put your claim in the best position to succeed. They will use every legal technique possible to help you receive fair compensation for your car accident injuries.
Get in touch with Dolman Law Group today for a free consultation. Call 833-55-CRASH or leave us a message on our online contact page.
