Sudden, traumatic blindness is a life-changing injury. Nearly every part of your life and the lives of your family members will be turned upside down, including your home life, career, relationships with friends and family and your emotional well-being. While there are illnesses such as diabetes that sometimes lead to blindness, a traumatic injury to the head, face or eye can also affect your ability to see. For instance an automobile accident, bicycle accident or a motorcycle accident where you suffer a head injury can ultimately lead to partial or complete blindness. Similarly, accidents where you are hit on the head, where you fall and hit your hit, or where you come in contact with noxious chemicals or bright lights can also lead to blindness. Sadly, traumatic loss of a vision in an accident is typically caused by someone's negligent and could have been prevented. If you are in need of a personal injury attorney because you suffered a loss of vision in an accident caused by someone else, contact an experienced Brooklyn personal injury attorney who explain your legal rights and who will work closely with you to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation to which you are legally entitled. You should do so quickly, as there are time limits that you must follow when you file a personal injury claim.
Traumatic loss of sightLoss of sight can be caused by an illness such as macular degeneration and diabetes. However, trauma to the eye can also cause blindness. One of the most common causes of traumatic blindness is an injury to the head. Sometimes the head trauma is caused by a heavy object hitting the head, the head hitting a hard surface in a car accident, or an assault to the head or face. Even a mild injury to the brain could cause a loss of sight. Similarly, an object that pierces the eye can lead to blindness. Sharp objects such as scissors, knives, pens or pencils can lead to a permanent loss of sight. Workplace accidents that involve chemicals splashing into the victims eye can cause a burn that leads to a loss of sight. Also, grit and other small articles can lead to a severe injury to the eye. Workplace safeguards such as wearing protective eyewear are designed to prevent injury to the eyes in the workplace. Bright lights can also cause temporary or permanent blindness. Dangerously bright lights can come from an explosion, lasers, or defective electrical equipment.
If someone's negligence causes an accident that leads to your blindness than that person is legally and financially liable to you.
Loss of sight due to medical malpracticeSadly, in some cases victims lose their sight due to a mistake made by a doctor or other medical professional. For example, over the past few decades LASIK eye surgery has become routine. It involves cutting the cornea which is the clear covering on the front of the eye. However, not every patient is a good candidate for LASIK surgery. It is up to the doctor to properly screen patients for pre-existing conditions that could lead to complications. If doctor performs LASIK surgery on a patient who is not healthy enough for LASIK and as a result the patient suffers a loss of sight, that doctor may be liable for medical malpractice.
Pursuing compensationUnder New York law if you are injured because another person was negligent, you are allowed to hold that person accountable. That means that you can file a claim against that person and demand that they compensate you for the losses you suffered because of the negligent act. In the case of a loss of sight injury, you will have medical expenses that are compensable. Your medical expenses are not limited to the fees that your doctor charges you. Medical expenses include emergency room fees, surgical fees, prescriptions, assistive equipment and any other past or future medical expenses associated with your loss of sight.
If you lose part or all of your sight you may not be able to continue working at the same job you have had, or you may not be able to work at all. Through a personal injury lawsuit you can demand that the negligent person compensate you for the wages you lost. This includes the paychecks that you lost as well as the future income that you would have earned but for the loss of your sight. In addition you may be awarded compensation for pain and suffering. Courts typically award damages for compensation in cases where the victim's physical and emotional suffering is particularly acute. In cases where the injury is permanent such as when the victim is left partially or completely blind, there is a good chance that the negligent party will be ordered to pay the victim compensation for pain and suffering.
Contact us today for a free consultationA loss of sight is devastating as it affects your ability to work and enjoy life. If your loss of sight was caused by the negligent act of another person, you are entitled to seek compensation from that person for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In order to maximize your chances for receiving all the compensation to which you are legally entitled you must be represented by someone with experience. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have years of experience representing clients injured by the accidental or intentional acts of others. Contact our staff at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free consultation to find out how we can help you with your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.