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Workers’ Compensation for Eye Injuries in Florida

Ensuring Coverage and Care for Eye Injury Victims

You can seek workers’ compensation for eye injuries in Florida if you were hurt on the job. The Florida workers’ compensation lawyers with Rosenberg & Rosenberg can help you apply for benefits and fight for the money you need to protect your finances and future.

Our law firm has sought justice for the injured for over 50 years. Our compassionate legal team is here to listen, understand, and give your claim the attention it deserves. Our goal is to secure maximum compensation no matter how complex your case. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.

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    How Do On-the-Job Eye Injuries Occur?

    Workplace eye injuries can occur due to:

    • Striking or scraping. Metal shavings, wood chips, concrete particles, and other projectiles can fall into the eyes, get ejected from tools, or become windblown, causing scrapes. Striking injuries occur when large objects cause blunt-force injuries to the eyes or eye sockets.
    • Penetration. Penetrating injuries happen when objects, such as nails or staples, puncture or go through the eyeballs.
    • Chemical or thermal burns. Splashes or fumes from cleaning products or industrial chemicals can cause chemical burns. Thermal burns happen due to heat exposure. Radiation exposure can also burn the eyes.
    • Bloodborne pathogens. Pathogens can enter the eye and infect the body via blood or bodily fluids.
    Occupations Most At Risk for Eye Injuries in Florida

    The American Optometric Association (AOA) states that occupations with a high risk for eye injuries include:

    • Carpentry
    • Construction
    • Electrical work
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Plumbing
    • Welding

    If you sustained an eye injury in the workplace, you may qualify for workers’ compensation for eye injuries in Florida. The workers’ compensation lawyers at Rosenberg & Rosenberg can pursue benefits to pay for medical expenses and more.

    How Common Are Eye Injuries in Florida?

    According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), severe eye injuries sent five Florida workers to the hospital in 2023, six workers to the hospital in 2022, and eleven workers to the hospital in 2021.

    In addition to these severe cases, many workers sustained injuries that were not severe but still impacted their health and careers. Our workers’ comp attorneys assist workers with injuries of all kinds.

    Types of Workplace Eye Injuries

    Eye injuries can range in severity. Some result in a full recovery, while others lead to partial vision loss or blindness. According to the Cleveland Clinic, common types of eye injuries include:

    • Eye scratches. Eye scratches, called corneal abrasions, can be serious if the scratch is deep enough.
    • Foreign body injuries. These injuries occur when a foreign body, such as a grain of sand or a lawn clipping, enters the eye, causing irritation, scratches, and infections.
    • Blunt eye trauma. Blunt force injuries can cause orbital fractures that damage the eyeball itself or the muscles that keep it in place and allow it to focus in different directions.
    • Black eyes. Black eyes happen when a blunt force impacts the eye socket and tissue around the eye rather than the eyeball or the bone.
    • Eye burns. Chemicals, extreme heat, and radiation can burn the eye. Eye burns can also occur due to UV exposure from the sun.
    • Penetrating injuries. Penetrating injuries happen when an object pierces the eyeball. These injuries often result in permanent vision loss or blindness or the loss of the eyeball itself.

    If you sustained an eye injury at work, seek medical treatment immediately. Do not rub or scratch if the injury involves a particle in the eye. If you suffered a penetrating injury, do not remove the object. If chemicals contact your eye, flush it with clean water.

    How to Get Workers’ Compensation for Eye Injuries in Florida

    According to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), most employers in the state must provide employees with workers’ compensation insurance. You can seek benefits for injuries that happen while performing your job.

    You do not have to prove that your injury resulted from negligence to obtain benefits. You will need to establish that your eye injury happened while working, required medical treatment, and caused you to miss work (if applicable).

    The first step in securing workers’ compensation for eye injuries in Florida is to report the injury to your employer, who will file an insurance claim. You must then:

    • Seek medical treatment from a provider authorized by your workers’ comp insurance plan and ensure they submit bills to the insurer for payment
    • File for wage replacement benefits if your injury prevents you from working
    • Follow the claims process, including filling out forms and communicating with involved parties
    • Wait for a decision regarding your claim

    Our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you navigate the workers’ comp process and handle case details so you can focus on your health. If insurance denies your claim or does not offer fair payment, we can appeal. Contact us online or call today for a free consultation and learn more about working with Rosenberg & Rosenberg.

    Can You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Work-Related Eye Injury?

    If your employer provides workers’ compensation, you usually cannot sue them for damages. However, if your work-related eye injury resulted from the actions of a negligent third party, such as a general contractor or property owner, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.

    To win your case, you must show that the liable party’s careless, reckless, or wrongful behavior caused you to get hurt. Our Florida personal injury lawyers can investigate your workplace accident, identify at-fault parties, collect evidence to support your case, and take legal action if necessary.

    Our Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can Fight to Maximize Your Financial Recovery

    Sometimes, workers’ compensation refuses to pay medical bills or disputes claims for wage loss benefits. Other times, the insurance company or your employer may allege you were not hurt or that your injury did not happen at work. When these complications arise, the legal team at Rosenberg & Rosenberg can step in to fight for the full and fair benefits you deserve.

    Financial compensation for a workplace eye injury may include:

    Injury-Related Medical Expenses

    Workers’ compensation for eye injuries in Florida should cover necessary medical treatment from authorized providers. Medical coverage may include:

    • Doctor’s visits
    • Hospital stays
    • Surgeries
    • Physical therapy
    • Medical equipment and mobility aids
    • Prescription medications
    • Nursing services
    • Attendant care
    • Medical travel expenses
    Wage Loss Caused by the Eye Injury

    If you cannot work due to an eye injury for seven days or more, you recover wage loss benefits through workers’ compensation. Wage replacement varies based on the severity of your injury and whether or not you can perform any type of work while you heal.

    In general, if you cannot work at all, you can receive lost wages equal to 66 2/3 percent of your average pre-injury wage for up to 104 weeks. However, according to Florida Statutes § 440.15, if your eye injury resulted in loss of sight in both eyes, you can receive 80 percent of your wages for the first six months after your injury.

    In addition, if your eye injury causes total blindness, you may qualify for wage benefits up to age 75.

    Death Benefits for Fatal Eye Injuries

    If your loved one died because of a work-related eye injury, workers’ compensation offers death benefits. Eligible survivors can receive up to $7,500 in funeral expenses and wage replacement benefits for dependents. Spouses may receive money for education.

    Vocational Benefits to Help Florida Workers With Eye Injuries

    If you suffered a severe eye injury, vision loss, or blindness and cannot do the same type of work as before, workers’ compensation provides vocational counseling, job training, job placement, and other reemployment services. 

    Personal Injury Damages for Workplace Injuries

    If you have a negligence-based personal injury case, you can pursue damages not covered by workers’ comp, including:

    • The total value of your lost wages, lost employment benefits, and lost future earnings
    • Physical pain, scarring, and disfigurement
    • Mental anguish and emotional distress
    • Lost quality of life
    • Wrongful death, including tangible and intangible losses

    How Long Do You Have to Seek Workers’ Compensation Benefits? 

    According to Florida Statutes § 440.185, you must notify your employer about your eye injury within 30 days of when it occurred, or you may not be able to pursue a workers’ compensation claim. 

    If you can sue a liable third party for personal injury or wrongful death, Florida Statutes § 95.11 allows two years to file your case in civil court. If you do not file before the statute of limitations expires, you likely cannot take legal action.

    Let the workplace injury lawyers at Rosenberg & Rosenberg assess your case and find out how best to pursue the money you need while there is still time.

    Contact Rosenberg & Rosenberg About Your Florida Workplace Eye Injury 

    Rosenberg & Rosenberg was founded on the principles of hard work, a love for the community, and a desire to help people. We have grown into one of the larger firms in our area and have earned a reputation for service and success.

    Our workers’ compensation attorneys can pursue workers’ compensation for eye injuries in Florida. We fight to get the most for your claim so you can focus on getting your life back on track. We take cases on contingency, meaning you do not owe us a fee until we win. Contact us online or call now for a free consultation.