Eye injury compensation and loss of sight claims

How much compensation can I claim for an eye injury?

The amount of compensation our solicitors may be able to claim for you will depend on the severity of your eye injury and the effect it will have on your life.

According to the Judicial College Guidelines from the Ministry of Justice, compensation payouts for eye injuries can vary from £3,950 for an eye injury that may only last a few weeks to £268,000 for total blindness.

The amounts listed above are the compensation you may be legally entitled to claim for your general damages – the amount you can claim for your injuries.

In addition, you can claim for special damages, the amount you can claim for expenses you may have incurred or will incur in the future.

The amount of special damages you may be able to claim is particularly important for those who have suffered life-changing eye injuries, as the loss of sight in one or both eyes can have a huge impact on your life and your loved ones.

In such instances, claims for special damages could include, but may not be limited to:

• The pain, suffering and the impact your injury may have on your life
• For loss of income and the loss of potential future earnings
• Medical expenses for ongoing care, rehabilitation
• Compensation for PTSD or other psychological injuries you may suffer from as a result of the injury, such as depression and anxiety
• The cost of specialist medical equipment you may require
• The cost of full-time care, including the carer’s loss of income if it is a family member
• The cost of adapting your home to the injured person’s specific requirements

Our specialist eye injury and loss of sight claims solicitors have extensive experience handling such cases over the last two decades. Speak to our team today to understand your legal rights or use our personal injury compensation claim calculator to see how much you might be able to claim.

What is the time limit to make an eye injury compensation claim?

In most cases, the time limit to start an eye injury compensation claim is three years from the accident date or three years from the date a medical professional diagnosed your injuries. However, there are some exceptions to the three-year statute of limitation.

The three-year time limit does not apply if the injured person is mentally incapacitated. It will only begin if they regain mental capacity.

You have two years to claim if your eye injury resulted from an assault.

If a faulty product caused you injury, you will have three years to claim from the date the fault was discovered.

If claiming for a child, you can make a claim anytime until their 21st birthday.

If claiming for a loved one who has passed away, you have up to three from the date of their passing or from the date an autopsy was carried out.

Can I make a no win no fee eye injury compensation claim?

Yes. Our eye injury and loss of sight claims are processed on a no win, no fee basis.

When a no win no fee agreement is set up, your solicitor will take an insurance policy out on your behalf, which protects you in the rare event the claim isn’t successful.

The policy covers any costs incurred relating to your claim. These costs could include legal fees, medical reports, court, and other expenses.

The insurance policy, known as after-the-event insurance, fully protects the person claiming if the claim is unsuccessful and from any costs during the compensation claim process, meaning you can claim without paying a penny.

You will only pay a fee if your claim is successful, and the amount will be agreed upon when you enter into the agreement at the start of the claim process.

Can I make an eye injury claim after an accident at work?

Yes, you can claim compensation for an eye injury if it happened at work and someone else’s negligence was the cause of the accident.

There are a number of laws in place for employers to keep you safe in the workplace. If this duty of care was compromised and you have been injured, you may have a legal right to claim compensation.

Common eye injuries caused by accidents at work include;

• Eye injuries caused by defective or not correctly maintained machinery
• Eye injuries caused by lack of safety guards being fitted to machinery
• Eye injuries caused by inadequate training
• Eye injuries caused by not wearing protective glasses or PPE
• Eye injuries on building and construction sites

Can I make an eye injury claim caused by medical negligence?

Yes, you can claim if a medical misdiagnosis, medical error or procedure, including surgery, caused your eye injury. Some of the most common eye injury claims caused by medical negligence include;

• Delayed treatment or surgery
• Failure to diagnose or misdiagnose eye conditions or diseases
• Failed or negligent surgical procedures
• Failed or negligent laser eye surgery

Can I make an eye injury claim caused by a road traffic accident?

Yes, you can claim for an eye injury caused by a road traffic accident if the accident was not your fault. Broken glass and other debris are common in road traffic accidents and can result in significant eye damage.

Can I make an eye injury claim after an assault?

Yes, claims for eye injuries caused by an assault can be made up to two years after the assault. These claims are managed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. It is important to note that compensation can be claimed even if the person who assaulted you was not caught or prosecuted.

How long will my eye injury compensation claim take?

There is no set amount of time for eye injury claims to be processed. Eye injury claims can range from a few months to over a year, depending on the circumstances of how the injury occurred, how complex your claim is and how difficult it may be to prove liability.

How do I start an eye injury compensation claim?

With over two decades of experience successfully representing people who have suffered injuries that may have significantly impacted their lives, we are here to help you claim what you are legally entitled to.

Contact us today, and our friendly, experienced personal injury claims team will provide free, unlimited legal advice, and we’ll be able to let you know your legal rights, including if you can make a claim.

We may ask you for some information about your claim. The more information you can provide, the better we can advise you of your rights.
We may ask some of the following questions;

• When, where and how the eye injury happened
• The level of injuries sustained as a result of the accident
• Who may have been at fault for the accident
• If you have any of the following (if applicable) witness statements, accident reports, photographs, police reports, work accident reports, or CCTV of the accident scene
• What medical diagnosis and treatment has taken place
• How the injuries may have affected your life, and how they may have affected your family’s life

What are the most common types of eye injuries?

The most common types of eye injuries that may lead to an eye injury compensation claim being made include:

• Blindness
• Temporary loss of sight, partial blindness and double vision
• Eye socket fractures
• Scratched cornea
• Detached retina
• Traumatic iritis (iris inflammation)
• Bleeding in the eye (subconjunctival haemorrhages)
• Chemical burns to the eye
• Penetration of the eyeball from foreign bodies
• Punctured eyeball