Chicago Eye Injury Lawyers
Vision loss takes a heavy toll on an individual’s daily life. When vision impairment is acquired due to an injury, accident, or medical condition, it disrupts the victim’s ability to interact with the world. If you or a loved one experienced vision loss due to an accident, defective products, medical negligence, or long-term use of medications like Elmiron, the Chicago eye injury lawyers at Ankin Law can help you financially recover. With a history of successfully handling vision loss cases, we are dedicated to seeking a settlement that accurately compensates you for the true impact of your injury.
If another party is responsible for your acquired blindness, contact an experienced eye injury lawyer at 312-600-0000 to get started with your case.
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Common Causes of Vision Loss
Vision loss injuries can have a profound impact on a person’s ability to work, perform daily activities, and maintain independence. While multiple factors contribute to vision loss injuries each year, several common causes for these injuries exist, ranging from accidents to the use of dangerous medications.
Accidents involving blunt force trauma to the head or eye can cause severe damage to the eye’s structure, causing partial or complete vision loss. Car accidents, falls, workplace accidents, and sports-related injuries frequently lead to traumatic eye injuries. Exposure to harmful chemicals, whether sudden or over time, may also result in vision problems caused by chemical burns or eye irritation. Workers in the manufacturing and construction industries are at a higher risk of sustaining chemical-related eye injuries.
When infections or other conditions of the eye are left undiagnosed or untreated, they can have a permanent impact on a victim’s vision. Infections, like conjunctivitis (pink eye) or keratitis, can damage the delicate tissues of the eye and cause varying levels of blindness. People with diabetes may develop diabetic retinopathy, where high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision loss.Â
Some medications, such as Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium), can cause vision loss in consumers over time. These side effects may be initially known by the manufacturer, or discovered as the rate of diagnoses increase in relation to consumption of the medication.Â
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Levels of Vision Impairments
Similar to levels of hearing loss, blindness exists on a spectrum. As such, a victim’s vision may be impacted in a variety of ways after sustaining a vision loss injury. The degrees of vision loss include:
- Mild Impairment: People with mild visual impairment have difficulty reading small print, recognizing distant objects, or seeing in dim lighting. Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses can help to improve their vision.
- Moderate Impairment: Moderate visual impairment leads to more significant difficulties with daily activities. Those with moderate impairments have a limited field of vision, reduced ability to recognize faces or read standard-sized text, and might need visual aids to perform tasks.
- Severe Impairment: People with severe visual impairment face substantial challenges in daily life. Severe impairments are characterized by a significantly restricted field of vision, struggle to read large print, and the need for specialized devices or assistance for most activities.
- Legal Blindness: Legal blindness is a specific level of visual impairment determined by government regulations. This establishes a marker for eligibility for disability benefits or special services. Legal blindness is typically defined as having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, even with corrective lenses, or having a visual field limited to 20 degrees or less.
- Total Blindness: Total blindness refers to the complete absence of vision. People who are totally blind often rely on other senses, such as touch and hearing, to navigate and perform daily tasks.
Understanding the different levels of blindness can help you and your vision loss attorney define the anticipated impact of your newly acquired visual impairment on your daily life.
Do you know how much your vision loss claim is worth? Call Ankin Law to evaluate your claim today. Free consultation.
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How to Calculate Damages for Vision Injuries
The extent of the harm caused by your vision injury will impact the value of your vision loss claim. When determining a fair settlement value for your case, you and your attorney will need to evaluate several factors, including:Â
- Your Medical Expenses: Add up all medical costs related to the vision injury. These don’t just include costs for initial treatment, but also additional doctor visits, surgeries, medications, assistive devices, long-term medical treatment, and rehabilitation.
- Your Lost Income: If your injury results in a temporary or permanent inability to work, your lost wages, benefits, and potential future earnings will be factored into your settlement.
- The Level of Pain and Suffering You Experienced: Assigning a monetary value to the physical and emotional pain you endured can be more difficult than other damages. This is often calculated using a multiplier of the economic damages.
- The Impact of Your Injuries on Your Life: Assess the impact of the vision impairment on your ability to enjoy activities you previously participated in, as well as the impact on your personal relationships.
- Punitive Damages: In rare cases of gross negligence or intentional harm, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party.
A vision loss attorney with Ankin Law can gather evidence, consult with experts, and negotiate with insurance companies or the responsible party to seek fair compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial losses incurred due to your injury.
Who Is Liable for my Eye Injury?
The person or party who might be liable for an eye injury depends on the way the injury was sustained. The type of case you will file depends on identifying this liable party. Common types of vision loss claims and the liable party associated with them include:
Personal Injury Claims
If you sustained an eye injury due to someone else’s negligence or intentional harm, such as in a car accident, the person or entity at-fault for the accident may be held liable for your damages.
Product Liability Cases
If your eye injury was caused by a defective product, such as faulty safety equipment, hazardous chemicals, or an unsafe medication, the manufacturer or distributor of the product may be held liable.
Premises Liability Claims
If your eye injury occurred on someone else’s property, such as slipping on a wet floor or getting hit by a falling object, the property owner or occupier may be held liable if he or she was negligent in maintaining a safe environment.
Medical Malpractice Cases
If your injury resulted from medical treatment errors, surgical errors, or misdiagnosis, medical professionals or healthcare facilities could be liable if they deviated from the accepted standard of care.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
For vision loss injuries sustained in the workplace, victims can recover damages through the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Vision Loss Claims
How Much Is the Loss of an Eye Worth?
The value of the loss of an eye in a personal injury case depends on the severity of the injury, medical expenses, emotional impact, and other costs the victim sustains. Consulting a personal injury attorney is crucial to assess the unique circumstances of your case and calculate a fair settlement.Â
When Should I Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Victims should talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident or injury occurs. Consulting an attorney early allows him or her to preserve evidence, gather crucial information, and protect your rights. Whether it’s a car accident, slip and fall, or workplace injury, an attorney can assess the case’s value, provide legal guidance, and deal with insurance companies on your behalf. Waiting too long may result in lost evidence or missed deadlines, affecting your chances of a successful claim.
Is Laser Eye Surgery Dangerous?
Laser eye surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, is generally considered safe and has a high success rate. However, like any medical procedure, it carries risks. Potential risks include dry eyes, glare, halos, or double vision. In rare cases, there may be complications leading to vision loss or reduced visual acuity. If eye surgery causes you to sustain vision loss, an attorney can help you hold the negligent healthcare provider accountable for your injuries.
Helpful Resources from Our Chicago Eye Injury Lawyers
What Are the Average Elmiron Lawsuit Settlement Amounts?
In an Elmiron product liability lawsuit, the compensation amount depends on the extent of eye damage or other injuries resulting from the medication’s use. An attorney can assess the damages sustained and estimate potential settlement amounts. Victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, vision loss, pain, and other non-economic damages. A consultation with a product liability attorney can help determine the compensation you can recover.
How Is the Statute of Limitations Affected by Catastrophic Injuries?
The statute of limitations for injury claims begins from the time the injured person discovers or sustains the injury. While the standard statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the time of injury, catastrophic injury cases can have exceptions due to the severity of the injury. Such injuries may cause long-term physical, emotional, and financial repercussions, requiring extended medical treatment and recovery periods, which can affect a victim’s ability to file a lawsuit within the typical timeframe.Â
Who Can File an Elmiron Lawsuit?
Elmiron lawsuits are being filed by thousands of individuals who developed vision problems, including macular degeneration and retinal damage, due to long-term use of the medication for interstitial cystitis. Patients may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by the drug’s side effects. Elmiron’s manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, is accused of failing to warn about the risk of eye damage despite awareness of the risk for over 20 years. An MDL has been established, and eligible individuals who experienced vision issues after using Elmiron may file a lawsuit to hold the manufacturer accountable and seek compensation.
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