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Accidents that cause eye injury at work in Atlanta are not uncommon and can be caused by several different events. Such accidents can also have severe and long-lasting consequences, including vision loss in one or both eyes.
These injuries are undoubtedly upsetting, making it difficult for the workers to return to work and affecting their quality of life outside of work.
If you or a loved one has suffered an eye injury in Atlanta, Georgia, you may be entitled to eye injury compensation.
Georgia’s workers’ compensation system provides medical care and temporary disability benefits to those injured due to a workplace accident. However, sometimes, you may not get the benefits you deserve.
In such a case, you need an atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer to fight the legal battle. Continue reading to learn more about the causes of eye injuries at work and how you can claim your rights after suffering an eye injury in Atlanta, Georgia.
How Common is an Eye Injury at Work in Atlanta, Georgia?
Eye injury at work is more common than one might think. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, thousands of eye injury cases are reported every year, ranging from mild irritation to severe trauma. They may also lead to permanent loss of vision or partial blindness.
More than 2000 US citizens suffer an eye injury at work each day. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), most eye injuries are severe and require medical treatment.
What’s alarming is that 100 of these reported injuries require the individual to take off for a day or two and recover at home. This affects their work life and disrupts their normal daily functioning.
Causes of Eye Injuries in the Workplace in Atlanta
Specific activities at the workplace can result in an eye injury. No matter which incident contributes to an eye injury at work, you are entitled to eye injury compensation.
Some of the most common causes of work-related eye injuries include:
- Flying objects such as pieces of metal glass
- Particles in the air
- Splashes from chemicals
- Overexposure to chemicals
- Machinery accidents
- Blunt force trauma
- Strain from overexertion
- Electrical accidents
- Allergic reactions like pink eye or conjunctivitis
- Prolonged screen usage
- Exposure to radiations from lasers, sunlamps, or fluorescence lights
Common Industries Where Workplace Eye Injuries Occur
Industries where workers are particularly at risk for eye injuries include:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Automotive Repair
Some of the professions that can lead to an eye injury at work include:
- Construction workers
- Welders
- Assembly line workers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Mechanics
Settlement Calculator for Eye Injury Workers Compensation
Eye injuries can sometimes result in permanent damage and loss of vision. Whether you are seeking compensation for minor injuries or loss of vision in a one-eye settlement depends on the severity of the injury, the extent of vision loss, the victim’s age and occupation, and the impact on their ability to work and quality of life.
If you experienced an eye injury at work due to someone else’s negligence, an eye injury calculator will likely assess the following damages:
1. Current Medical Expenses
This includes the total cost of medical treatment you have received, such as emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and other medical procedures.
2. Future Medical Costs
These may cover expenses for future treatments or procedures related to your eye injury, such as ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, or assistive devices needed due to vision loss.
3. Lost Wages
Many individuals with eye injuries cannot work temporarily or permanently, resulting in lost income. Your lost wages can be calculated using pay stubs or time sheets.
4. Loss of Earning Ability
This refers to the decrease in your ability to earn income due to the severity of your eye injury. Your earning capacity may be reduced if you can no longer perform the same work as before the accident.
5. Pain and Suffering
While it’s challenging to quantify emotional and physical pain, an experienced Atlanta worker comp attorney can help determine an appropriate amount for pain and suffering compensation. Factors such as permanent disability or disfigurement will be considered in these calculations.
Consulting with a catastrophic injury lawyer is necessary to get an accurate assessment. However, in cases like eye injury at work, you can get a rough idea because you may be entitled to weekly income benefits, which include Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits, Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits, or Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits.
Temporary total disability (TTD) Benefits
TTD benefits apply when you are not working at all. It is when the doctor does not allow you to work at all or only allows light-duty work but no light-duty work is available.
When you have completed your waiting period, which means you have been out of work for a week, you will be entitled to weekly checks for the lost wages.
You can be paid for the waiting period if you have been absent from work for 21 days. These checks are due 21 days after the injury.
⅔ of your average weekly wage (up to a maximum of $800) is the amount you will get in weekly checks as TTD benefits for eye injury compensation.
Note: Georgia has one of the lowest weekly TTD rates in the country.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits
TPD benefits apply when you are back to work but at a lower pay or if you can return to work but have some work restrictions that hamper you from working full-time.
This means you may be earning less than what you were earning before the eye injury, or you may be making less per hour as you would be working fewer hours.
Weekly checks for your TPD benefits will include ⅔ of your average weekly wage (up to a maximum of $533).
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits
If you are living with a disability, you are entitled to PPD benefits. Whether it is loss of vision in one eye settlement, eye injury compensation, or other work-related injuries, PPD claims are the most common.
PPD benefits are paid only if you are not awarded TTD or TPD benefits. In simple words, you cannot claim TTD or TPD benefits when you are receiving PPD benefits.
PPD benefits will equal ⅔ of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $800. The insurance company will either pay you weekly or a lump sum.
Read more about ppd and its benefits in worker compensation here
These benefits are calculated by multiplying the percentage of your impairment rating by the number of weeks allowed under the law. Your impairment rating is awarded by your authorized doctor, and the weeks allowed depend on the type of injury you have.
Can I File a Claim for an Eye Injury?
If you have suffered an eye injury at work, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. You may seek loss of vision in one eye settlement or benefits for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and other related damages.
While you can file a claim for eye injury compensation, you should consult an experienced lawyer who can navigate the legal process and represent you in court.
A well-versed workers’ compensation lawyer will fight the legal battle on your behalf and get you the benefits you deserve.
Note: According to Georgia law, you only have one year from the accident date to file for an eye injury claim.
How Can an Eye Injury at Work Qualify for Catastrophic Designation?
A catastrophic designation is a term given to a classification under workers’ compensation laws. It recognizes specific severe injuries as particularly crucial.
In Georgia, if an injury is designated as catastrophic, it can have important implications for the benefits and support the injured worker may receive.
In Georgia, injured workers can only get medical treatment or wage loss benefits for up to 400 weeks, about eight years. After this time, you cannot get benefits unless your injury is severe, which is considered catastrophic.
This may include total blindness or you can also get benefits in case of loss of vision in one eye settlement.
Georgia’s law specifies six types of injuries that are considered catastrophic, and one of them is “total or industrial” blindness (O.C.G.A. 34-9-200.1(g)(5)). If your vision is severely impaired, you might meet the criteria for qualification.
Getting a catastrophic designation is crucial because eye injuries often need lifelong treatment. Some people cannot work again, so workers’ compensation benefits are their only support.
What Steps Should I Take to Get Compensation?
Eye injury at work is undoubtedly distressing. You may not be able to function or work normally for some time after it.
It may also be difficult for you to see or move. However, to seek compensation, early medical intervention, and timely reporting are crucial.
You should take three steps right after an eye injury to get compensation.
1-Get Medical Attention
Immediately go to the hospital. If your medical treatment is delayed, the chances of your recovery will become scarce. Even if fully recovering is impossible, early medical intervention can save you from permanent eye damage.
2-Notify Your Employer
Report to your employer as soon as possible. It is important to notify your employer so you can get workers’ compensation benefits to cover your reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Not notifying your employer on time may result in you being declined the benefits you deserve.
3-Document the Injury
Document what caused the eye injury. This can also prove helpful if you plan to sue a third party for workers’ compensation. For example, you can sue the manufacturer if a product explodes in your face, causing an eye injury. Similarly, you can sue the supplier if a toxic chemical blinds you.
To document an eye injury accident, remember the following:
- Note down what you remember about the accident. Where did it happen, and what were you doing?
- If anyone sees what happened, make a note with their name. The witnesses might need to tell their side later.
- Keep any items you think caused your injury. Don’t throw away stuff like chemicals or tools. Store them safely so your Georgia workers’ compensation lawyer can check them out later.
4-File a Claim with WCAB
Get the help of an Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney and submit a claim application for adjudication to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).
A lawyer who can navigate legal processes can help you win the eye injury compensation you deserve.
What Type of Workplace Accidents Can Result in Blindness?
Thousands of individuals in the US suffer eye injury at work, and in the worst cases, they end up losing their vision. Workplace accidents that can result in blindness are often due to the same reasons winch include:
Head Injuries
Vision loss can occur after a head injury, especially if the ocular nerves are damaged. Poor working conditions leading to slips, trips, and falls can result in blurry or partial to complete blindness.
Bright lights
Explosions and electrical sparks are examples of bright lights that can cause workers to become blind. Proper safety equipment could prevent some of these injuries.
Eyestrain
Staring at a computer for too long can cause eyestrain, eventually leading to partial or complete blindness.
Burns
Chemicals, extreme heat, fire, or hot liquids can lead to blindness if they come into contact with your eyes. Even with safety glasses, these objects can cause severe damage.
Foreign objects
Because eyes have minimal protection, foreign objects like sand, grit, glass, and other sharp debris can cause significant damage if they enter the eye.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for an Eye Injury?
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the average amount of eye injury compensation that is claimed nationally is more than $26,000+ in medical costs and lost wages.
In many cases, workers’ compensation covers the ongoing treatment, medical care, physical therapy, and loss of income. This depends on the nature and severity of the injury.
The amount of compensation you can claim for an eye injury at work depends on different factors, including:
1-Injury severity
The worse your eye injury is, the more compensation you might get. For instance, if you lose your vision completely, you could receive a lot more compensation than if you had a small injury that healed quickly.
2-Liability
If someone else is responsible for your eye injury at work other than your employer, you might be able to sue them or file a personal injury lawsuit.
But you have to prove that your injury resulted because of their negligence.
3-Insurance coverage
How much money you can claim depends on the other person’s insurance. For example, if they have a $100,000 policy, you might get the most.
4-Your damages
If your eye injury caused you severe damage or trauma, you might be able to seek more monetary compensation.
This could include compensation for pain and suffering, not just medical bills and lost wages.
Talking to a good lawyer can help you understand what you can claim for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can you claim for an eye injury?
The amount you can claim for an eye injury depends on its nature and severity. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the average number of eye injury workers’ compensation claims is around $26,568 in the US.
What is an eye injury worth?
According to Georgia law on PPD ratings, losing vision in one eye is valued at 150 weeks of permanent partial disability benefits.
What is the rate of eye injuries?
The settlement amount for mild eye injuries is about $1000 to $23,350. For moderate to severe injuries, the amount can go up to $48 296. However, extremely severe eye injuries can cost much more.
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