Long Beach Workplace Eye Injuries Attorney

The human eye is fascinatingly complex, but it is also highly vulnerable to many types of injuries. For example, if you suffered an eye injury at work, you could fear for your ability to see and face a very long and complex road to recovery. In addition, even seemingly mild eye injuries can have disastrous consequences, potentially resulting in full or partial blindness in one or both eyes, chronic pain, headaches, and a host of mental health problems resulting from a sudden loss of vision.

Representing Long Beach, CA, Workplace Eye Injury Claims

If you recently experienced an eye injury at work, it is essential to know how to navigate the workers’ compensation claim process and to understand the value of reliable legal counsel as you navigate this process. Pratt Williams offers compassionate and client-focused legal representation to victims of workplace eye injuries in Long Beach, CA. We understand the toll these injuries take on victims and the stress and uncertainty that can follow any workplace injury. We can provide the legal guidance and support you need to secure a fair settlement of your workers’ compensation claim. In addition, we may be able to help you take advantage of other avenues of recovery, depending on how your eye injury occurred.

Why Should I Hire a Long Beach Workplace Eye Injury Lawyer?

It is not a strict legal requirement to hire a Long Beach workplace eye injury attorney, but doing so can dramatically improve the quality of your experience with the workers’ compensation claim process and enhance your total recovery. An experienced legal team can handle various aspects of your case on your behalf, streamlining the process of securing the compensation you legally deserve after sustaining a severe eye injury at work.

Many people approach the workers’ compensation claim process with misconceptions about how it works and the types of benefits available to them. Our goal in every case we accept is to minimize uncertainty for our clients and help them approach the claim process confidently. In addition, we can assist you in completing your claim forms and obtaining the medical records you will need to submit to your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

Filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits is similar to filing any other type of insurance claim. You must complete the necessary forms, provide evidence and documentation to support your claim, and submit these materials to the insurance company for evaluation. The insurer will assign a claim adjuster to review your case, ensure it is a legitimate claim, and determine your eligibility for benefits. It’s possible for a claim to proceed relatively smoothly and for the claimant to receive an appropriate benefits determination rather quickly, but it is equally possible for a claimant to face unfair denial of benefits, unnecessary delays in the handling of their claim, and other problems that complicate their ability to recover from their injuries.

Working with an experienced Long Beach workplace eye injury lawyer is the best way to confront these issues and overcome them effectively. When you choose Pratt Williams to represent you in an eye injury claim, we will carefully review every detail of your claim and handle correspondence with the insurance carrier on your behalf. If there are problems with your claim or the insurance company delivers an unacceptable result, we can help you negotiate a better settlement. Additionally, if you have grounds for further legal action aside from your workers’ compensation claim, we can assist you with these efforts, potentially increasing your total recovery.

Common Causes of Eye Injuries at Work

The human eye is vulnerable to physical injury, but it is also possible for eye injuries to occur from exposure to harmful substances or manifest in response to repetitive stress and strenuous work environments. Some of the most commonly reported causes of eye injuries include:

• Traumatic eye injuries. If an object strikes the eye with enough force, the eye can rupture, and the incident could potentially result in catastrophic damage to the eye. In addition, many physically traumatic injuries that affect the eyes will result in partial or total loss of vision in the affected eye, and the victim may face a host of additional complications.
• Ocular nerve injuries. Damage to the ocular nerve can happen in various ways. For example, some people may develop ocular nerve damage over time due to consistent exposure to certain substances or harmful light patterns, even if eye protection is consistently used.
• Chemical injuries. Some chemicals can cause corrosive burns, and when these chemicals enter the eye, the victim can experience excruciating pain and face vision loss from these incidents. Chemical injury to the eye may also occur from exposure to certain gaseous substances.
• Persistent eye strain. Vision is often taken for granted at work, but workers who must rely on their visual acuity to perform their job duties may eventually experience headaches, eye pain, and other persistent symptoms that interfere with their ability to work and perform everyday tasks at home.

This is not an exhaustive list of how eye injuries can happen in the workplace. However your injury occurred, as long as it occurred at work or while performing your job duties, you qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Potential Complications of Eyes Injured at the Workplace

An eye injury can cause many problems for the victim. The primary concern for any victim of an eye injury is vision loss. The human eye cannot repair itself from physical injuries like much of the rest of the body, and any physical or chemical injury to the eye is likely to cause long-term problems. The victim could experience partial or total loss of vision in the affected eye, resulting in a lifetime of blindness.

When an eye injury does not result in vision loss, the victim could still experience a host of adverse symptoms. Chronic pain, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty focusing are just a few of the most often reported symptoms of workplace eye injuries in Long Beach, CA. Therefore, if you intend to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits in response to your eye injury, working with an experienced Long Beach workplace eye injury lawyer is vital to maximize your chances of succeeding with your claim.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Workplace Eye Injury

The workers’ compensation claim process is simple in theory and often tedious in practice. The victim of a workplace eye injury should report the injury immediately to their employer and seek medical care as soon as possible. In an emergency, the victim can see any available doctor for treatment. However, once they stabilize, they must see a physician approved by their employer’s compensation insurance carrier.

This workers’ compensation doctor will review the claimant’s condition and identify their symptoms. Then, they will assign the claimant a disability rating that will strongly influence the outcome of their workers’ compensation claim. If you are in this situation and disagree with the doctor’s determination, your Long Beach workplace eye injury lawyer can assist you in addressing any issues you have with the doctor’s findings.

Once you complete your claim forms and visit an approved workers’ compensation physician for your examination, you will submit all your claim forms and related medical records to the insurance company for evaluation. Like any other insurance claim, the insurer will assign a claim adjuster to review the details of the claim and your employer’s policy. If the claim is found to be legitimate and covered, the insurance carrier will deliver a claim determination that will outline the benefits you will receive.

What Do Workers’ Compensation Benefits Include?

An injured worker who qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits can typically receive two types of compensation from their claim. First, the insurance carrier will cover all the medical treatment costs the claimant incurs for treatment of their injury. Workers’ compensation can cover the cost of immediate emergency care, necessary ongoing treatments, and any other care the victim requires to fully heal from their injury and manage their symptoms.

Second, the insurance carrier will deliver a determination of disability benefits for the claimant. Disability benefits can be awarded on a temporary or permanent basis depending on the severity of the claimant’s injury. Temporary benefits are more suitable when a claimant is expected to make a full recovery and return to work. Permanent benefits are possible when the claimant cannot return to work due to their injury. If a workplace injury results in permanent blindness or other disabilities, the claimant may qualify for permanent disability benefits. In many cases, the insurance company will attempt to settle the claim with a large lump sum rather than an ongoing payment plan.

Can I Work While Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits for an Eye Injury?

Many eye injuries are tremendously damaging, and victims may be unable to work for an extended time after suffering such an injury. However, an eye injury can interrupt the victim’s ability to manage their regular work duties, but they may be able to handle alternative work. Therefore, it is possible to keep working while receiving workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are strict rules you must follow to do so. Your benefits determination hinges on your ability to earn income. If you cannot earn as much as you usually earn due to your injury, you likely qualify for partial disability benefits. In this situation, you must report all earnings to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier, and you can only accept work that you are medically fit to handle.

If you are seen performing work that you claimed to be unable to do because of your eye injury, or if you fail to report earnings while receiving your workers’ compensation benefits, you could be accused of workers’ compensation fraud and face criminal charges. Consult your Long Beach workplace eye injury lawyer to determine how to maximize your earnings while maintaining your eligibility to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim for an Eye Injury at Work?

An injured employee cannot sue their employer for a workplace injury due to California’s workers’ compensation laws. However, there are some situations in which an employer can face civil liability for an employee’s injury. For example, if the employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, or if a supervisor or co-worker intentionally caused the victim’s eye injury, the victim would have grounds for a personal injury claim in these situations.

It is also possible to have grounds for a third-party personal injury claim if someone outside your work caused your eye injury. This could be a customer, client, vendor employee, subcontractor, or even a passerby who happened to cause your eye injury. If a third party is at fault for your injury at work, you would have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim because the injury occurred while you were working, and you would have grounds for a third-party personal injury claim.

An eye injury can be a life-changing experience, and this injury can require extensive immediate emergency care and ongoing treatment. In addition, the victim could experience a host of adverse symptoms, including permanent vision loss. When you are struggling with the effects of an eye injury you suffered at work, it’s natural to have lots of questions about your legal rights and the options for recovery.

An experienced Long Beach workplace eye injury lawyer is an invaluable asset in this situation. When you choose Pratt Williams to represent you, we can help you navigate the complex workers’ compensation claim process before assisting you in exploring your further options for legal recourse. Your eye injury has likely affected the rest of your life, and if any party bears liability for causing it, you have the right to seek accountability for their actions with a civil claim.

Our goal in every case we accept is to minimize uncertainty for our clients and help them understand their case’s legal complexities as clearly as possible. As a result, we can help you maximize your total recovery and ensure the workers’ compensation insurance carrier handles your claim in good faith. If you are ready to discuss your case with a Long Beach workplace eye injury lawyer, contact Pratt Williams today and schedule a consultation with us.