A car accident causes serious trauma to all parts of the body due to the combination of crash force, the inward collapsing of the car at the impact points, flying debris, and the explosive outward inflation of airbags. The head is particularly at risk of injury because it isn’t stabilized by the seatbelt, leaving it free to suffer from the violent shaking and jarring of the collision and impact from the airbag and debris. Traumatic brain injuries, facial trauma, and eye damage are not uncommon in car accidents. Suffering eye injuries and loss of vision after a car accident is a terrifying and sometimes life-altering event with adverse consequences on quality of life. For legal help, contact our accident lawyer in St. Louis to explore your rights and recover compensation.
Causes of Vision Loss In Car Accidents
Vision loss from car accidents can stem from several types of injuries, including traumatic brain injury or direct eye trauma from impact. Common causes of vision loss after an accident include the following:
- Vision problems such as blurred or double vision from a concussion
- Lesions (scarring) on the brain from accident injuries, which may impact the optic nerves behind one or both eyes
- Retinal detachment
- Blunt force trauma to the eyes from the forceful impact of the airbag, which can result in cataract development and hazy or blurred vision
- Injuries from flying debris, including glass, which may cause corneal abrasions or lacerations on one or both eyes
- Hyphemia, or bleeding in the eyes in the space separating the iris and cornea, which causes pressure and vision loss
- Burns from chemicals emitted during airbag deployment or from flames and heat if the accident causes a fire
Some vision problems after a car accident are temporary; for instance, double vision from a concussion typically clears up within a few days. However, injuries to the mechanics of the eye, such as the cornea, iris, or optic nerve, may cause permanent vision impairment or blindness. Some car accident eye injuries are treatable with surgery, anti-inflammatory medications, and additional treatment and procedures, but severe eye trauma, damage to the optic nerve, or some types of brain injuries may cause permanent blindness.
Catastrophic Injury Compensation for Vision Loss After a Car Accident
After a car accident caused by another driver’s careless or reckless actions, an injury victim typically files a claim to recover compensation for common damages such as past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for their pain and suffering. Sometimes, car accidents cause injuries so severe and life-altering that the courts consider the injury a “catastrophic” injury. Vision loss after a car accident is a catastrophic injury, whether the loss of sight is partial or the accident caused total blindness. A successful catastrophic injury claim for blindness recovers compensation for damages such as the following:
- Diminished earning capacity
- Costs of adaptive equipment
- Home health aide expenses
- Compensation for emotional anguish and loss of enjoyment of life
After a car accident that causes vision loss, a successful claim relieves financial hardship so the injury victim can focus on healing. Although financial compensation cannot erase a permanent injury, it opens the door to the best medical care and assistance and provides the injury victim with a sense of financial accountability and justice. To get started, schedule a free consultation with a St. Louis personal injury lawyer.