If you've suffered an eye injury in the workplace that wasn't your fault, we can help you make an eye injury at work claim on a no win no fee basis.
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Eye Injury at Work Claims
While at work, your employer has a legal duty to protect your health and safety and keep you safe from harm, including eye injuries. A breach of these duties can result in various accidents, including slips, trips and falls, being hit by a falling object, accidents involving chemicals or flying debris and prolonged exposure to UV light. These can cause various eye injuries, ranging from corneal abrasions to eye socket fractures and loss of sight.
If you or someone you love had a workplace accident due to your employer’s negligence, you may be eligible to make an eye injury at work claim. An experienced solicitor could help you secure compensation for your pain and suffering and any financial losses and expenses incurred due to the accident and injury.
For a free case assessment, call 0800 470 0472 today or enter your details here to request a call back. An experienced legal adviser will assess the merits of your case and answer all your questions with no obligation to proceed.
Key points about eye injury at work claims
- Eligibility: You may be entitled to claim if your eye injury was caused by poor safety measures or lack of protective equipment at work.
- Risk Factors: Common causes include chemical splashes, flying debris, or faulty tools in industrial settings.
- Time Limit: You generally have 3 years from the date of the accident or diagnosis to begin your claim, although there are some exceptions.
- Compensation: May cover temporary or permanent vision loss, treatment costs, and impact on your quality of life.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will pursue your claim on a no win, no fee basis, so you have nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.
Friendly legal advisors are available to discuss your personal injury claim today.
- Find out if you have a valid claim
- A risk free, no win no fee service
- We are available 7 days a week
- Experienced personal injury lawyers
Table of Contents
Employer duty of care to prevent eye injuries at work
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and other workplace legislation, your employer has a legal duty to ensure your safety and well-being and take the necessary precautions to prevent you from sustaining an eye injury at work. Some of their responsibilities include:
- Conduct regular risk assessments to identify hazards that could potentially cause eye injuries, such as flying debris, chemical exposure, or bright lights;
- Implement control measures to reduce or eliminate risks, such as installing adequate ventilation systems and protective barriers;
- Supply personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety goggles and face shields, whenever there is a risk of eye injuries;
- Ensure that all equipment and machinery, including the PPE, is regularly inspected and safe to use;
- Train employees on how to carry out tasks that may pose risks to their eyes safely, how to use the PPE correctly and how to handle dangerous substances;
- Have a system in place for reporting incidents and near misses and take corrective measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
If your employer failed in their duty of care and you suffered an eye injury, you may be eligible to make an accident at work claim.
Can I make an eye injury at work claim?
The easiest way to find out if you could make an eye injury claim following an accident at work is through a free consultation with a legal adviser. They will ask you a few questions about the incident and will take on your claim if they can prove that:
- Your employer owed you a duty of care legally;
- They neglected their duties and caused an accident to occur;
- You suffered an eye injury as a result of that accident.
A duty of care is easy to prove from the legislation mentioned above. Based on evidence such as photographs of the accident scene, witness statements and medical records, your solicitor will also be able to show how this duty of care was breached and how it has affected your life.
It is essential to remember that several other parties could be liable for your accident, such as the local council, a product manufacturer, or a property owner. Your lawyer will carefully assess your situation and help you secure compensation from the responsible party.
What are the most common causes of eye injuries in the workplace?
Various types of accidents at work can lead to a claim for an eye injury, including:
- Flying debris from materials like wood, metal or glass while cutting, grinding, drilling or sanding;
- Exposure to chemicals such as acids, alkalis, solvents, or cleaning agents;
- Being struck in the eye by tools, equipment or machinery due to a lack of safety measures or proper training;
- Prolonged exposure to UV light, welding arcs and other hazards without adequate eye protection;
- Exposure to biological hazards like bacteria, viruses or bodily fluids;
- Slips, trips and falls that result in direct trauma to the eye;
- Being hit by objects falling from scaffolding, shelves or other high places.
If you were harmed as a result of an accident due to your employer’s negligence, you may be able to make an injury compensation claim. A personal injury solicitor can assess the merits of your case and guide you through all the steps of the claims process to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to.
What types of eye injuries could you suffer at work?
If proper safety measures are not in place, you could suffer various workplace eye injuries, such as:
- Minor eye injuries like irritation or scratches from getting foreign objects such as dust, debris or wood chips in your eye;
- Chemical burns caused by contact with solvents, fumes, bleach and a wide range of other dangerous substances;
- Corneal abrasions, which are scratches on the surface of the eye that can be caused by foreign bodies or contact with tools or machinery;
- Penetration injuries can be due to glass, metal fragments or other items that can pierce the eye, potentially causing permanent damage or blindness;
- Blunt trauma to the eye from a forceful impact due to falls, machinery accidents or tools, leading to bruising, bleeding or a fractured eye socket;
- Burn injuries to the eyes caused by exposure to UV light, welding arcs, lasers, extreme heat or flames;
- A detached retina as a result of severe trauma, which can cause blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision or permanent blindness;
- Loss of an eye can be due to blunt force trauma, injuries from falling objects, exposure to chemicals and other incidents;
- Eye infections can result from poor hygiene practices and exposure to contaminated materials, especially in healthcare sectors or laboratories.
What evidence do I need to claim compensation for an eye injury at work?
To make a successful personal injury claim, you will need as much evidence as possible to support it and build a strong case. This will ideally include some of the following:
- Photographs of the accident scene and the particular hazard that caused it;
- Photos of your injury and your recovery process;
- CCTV footage of the accident, if available;
- A copy of an accident report that you should file with your employer immediately after the incident;
- Medical records that detail the type and severity of your injury, the treatments you received and your recovery prospects;
- Statements from witnesses who saw what happened and can corroborate your version of events;
- Your testimony about what happened and how the injury impacted your life;
- You should also keep a diary of expenses, related receipts, and other financial documents.
Your solicitor will help you gather everything you need to make a successful claim for compensation and secure the maximum amount of damages you are entitled to claim.
Can I make a compensation claim if my eye injury was caused by a coworker?
Your employer has a legal duty to provide a safe working environment, which includes taking reasonable steps to prevent you from injuries caused by colleagues. Under a rule of law known as vicarious liability, employers can be held liable for the wrongdoings of an employee committed in the course of their employment.
Therefore, if a coworker caused your injury while performing their job, you could still make an eye injury at work compensation claim against your employer. A coworker could injure you in several ways, such as:
- By negligently operating tools or machinery;
- By using faulty or poorly maintained equipment;
- By operating a forklift or machinery without adequate training;
- By spilling hazardous chemicals due to not following safety protocols;
- By failing to warn you that they are using dangerous materials in your proximity.
If you suffered an injury to your eye due to a coworker’s negligence, try to gather as much evidence as possible at the accident scene and promptly contact a solicitor to see if you have grounds to make a compensation claim.
Can I lose my job if I claim eye injury compensation from my employer?
If you want to make a compensation claim for an eye injury at work, you are well within your rights. It would be against the law for your employer to sack you, demote you, or take any other disciplinary measures against you solely because you are making or have made a claim against them.
They would also have little reason to do so, as they must hold employer’s liability (EL) insurance by law, which will cover your compensation if you win the case, meaning they will not be left out of pocket. Furthermore, your claim can encourage them to take the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents and injuries in the future.
If you receive any backlash from your employer, such as reduced work hours or unreasonable changes to your work schedule, and you are forced to leave your job, you are still protected by unfair and constructive dismissal laws. Whether you are dismissed or forced to quit, a specialist lawyer can help you make a further claim at an employment tribunal.
Am I entitled to benefits if I lost an eye or have gone blind?
If you suffered a severe eye injury and you’ve lost your sight, you may be entitled to claim certain state benefits, such as:
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit – You will get a weekly amount that can range from £46.78 to £233.90, based on your level of disability;
- Personal Independence Payment – This is also a weekly payment if you need extra help with daily living or mobility due to your condition;
- Employment and Support Allowance – You will get up to £95.55 a week if you are able to get back to work in the future and up to £145.90 if you are unable to work again;
- Blind Person’s Allowance – This is a tax allowance that is added to the amount of income you can earn before starting to pay taxes.
Even if you qualify for benefits, you can still make a claim for eye injury compensation. If your claim is successful, your solicitor can help you deposit the money in a personal injury trust, so it will not affect your eligibility for any means-tested benefits you may be entitled to.
How long do I have to make an eye injury at work compensation claim?
The time limit to make an eye injury at work compensation claim is set by the Limitation Act 1980. As a general rule, this is three years from the date of your accident or, if your injury developed over time, from the date it was diagnosed by a medical professional. There are a few exceptions to this rule, which include:
- The three years do not begin to run until a person turns 18. If you suffered an injury while working as a minor, a parent could make a child injury claim on your behalf at any time before your 18th birthday.
- There is no time limit for a suitable adult to start a claim as a litigation friend on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity. This could be due to an intellectual disability, a mental health condition, a brain injury or PTSD.
- If you suffered an eye injury due to a criminal assault, you have two years to make a claim through the CICA.
- If you were injured while serving in the military, you have seven years to claim compensation through the AFCS.
How much compensation can I claim for an eye injury at work?
The personal injury compensation you could receive for an eye injury at work will typically depend on its severity. Each case is unique, but all compensation payments are made up of two types of damages:
- General damages cover the subjective impact of the eye injury on your life. This could be physical pain, suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life and inability to engage in activities you used to enjoy.
- Special damages cover the financial losses and expenses caused by the injury, such as prescription medication, loss of earnings, medical aids and care costs.
According to our compensation calculator and the guidelines published by the Judicial College (18th Edition), you could receive the following awards for general damages, depending on your specific circumstances:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Injuries Affecting Sight | A temporary eye injury with full recovery within a few weeks | £2,900 - £5,200 |
| A minor eye injury causing some pain and temporary visual interference | £5,200 - £12,000 | |
| Minor but permanent sight impairment in one or both eyes | £12,000 - £28,000 | |
| Serious partial sight loss in one eye | £31,000 - £52,000 | |
| Complete sight loss in one eye | £65,000 - £72,000 | |
| Total loss of one eye | £72,000 - £87,000 | |
| Sight loss in one eye with reduced vision in the other eye | £84,000 - £238,000 |
Can I make a personal injury claim on a No Win No Fee basis?
If you are eligible to claim compensation for an eye injury at work, your solicitor will work on a 100% no win no fee basis. They will not ask for any upfront fees, and you will not have to pay them a single penny if your claim fails.
Your solicitor will only get a success fee upon the successful completion of your case. This fee will be deducted from your compensation award, and it is capped at 25% of certain parts of your damages.
To start an eye injury at work claim today or learn more about the claims process, call 0800 470 0472 for a free consultation or request a call back.
Friendly legal advisors are available to discuss your personal injury claim today.
- Find out if you have a valid claim
- A risk free, no win no fee service
- We are available 7 days a week
- Experienced personal injury lawyers
