Eye injuries from a crash are very common and could cause vision loss and other complications without medical attention. Unfortunately, the victims may not know what medical treatment or legal help could aid their recovery.
Schmidt Kramer explains more about eye injuries that are typical in traffic accidents and what victims can do to protect their vision. Additionally, learn how victims with vision loss and other eye injuries may be able to include these damages as part of their car crash claims.
Did you suffer vision loss and other damages because of a driver’s negligence? Contact our trusted law firm to speak to a qualified attorney today. There is no cost for your initial case review, and we welcome your legal questions.
Remember, you cannot call our Harrisburg vehicle crash attorneys too soon. We have extensive experience helping injured victims, and you can contact our law offices 24/7.
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What Eye Injuries Could Happen in a Car Crash?
Drivers and passengers involved in any collision often get thrown about in their vehicles, even if they are wearing seatbelts. This can cause all kinds of strains, sprains, fractures and other damages to occur.
While less talked about than other damages from a crash, vision loss and other eye injuries could include:
- Bruising and swelling: This may not sound serious, but it is worth getting checked out to make sure there are no scratches, retinal tears or other injuries that could affect your vision.
- Lacerations and abrasions: Cuts and even deeper lacerations can happen around the eyes or under the eyelids. These wounds are often very uncomfortable and may sometimes require stitches. Although less likely to permanently affect your vision, it is still a good idea to get medical care to avoid infections and other complications. Scratches and corneal abrasions can also occur if even small amounts of debris get into the eye.
- Orbital fractures: Fractures around the eye are very painful, and the bone in the area may need resetting. Since it takes a pretty strong impact to cause this injury, there could be other serious damages to the eye that may not be immediately noticeable.
- Traumatic hyphema: Any kind of blunt trauma, such as hitting your face against the dashboard or steering wheel in a crash, could cause a traumatic hyphema. This is a hemorrhage in the anterior chamber of the eye (bleeding between the eye and the cornea), and blood can be visibly seen in the eyeball. Victims with this injury need immediate medical care to avoid vision loss and other serious complications.
- Optic nerve damage: Blunt-force trauma to the face or head area could also cause optic nerve damage. Failure to seek treatment for this injury could result in various eye damages, including blurred vision and blindness.
- Retinal detachment: Blunt trauma or even violent shaking during a car crash can cause retinal detachment to occur. This is an extremely painful injury that could also result in permanent blindness without immediate medical attention. When the retina is torn away from the surrounding tissue, it no longer receives sufficient oxygen or nutrients. Immediate surgery is typically needed to reattach it. This is not an injury that will heal on its own.
How Could a Car Crash Cause Vision Loss or Other Eye Injuries?
There are many ways that victims could suffer vision loss, orbital fractures and other serious eye injuries in a crash. The violent shaking during an impact could cause a retinal tear. Hitting your head against a hard object in the vehicle could cause an orbital fracture. Even getting hit at the wrong angle by a deployed airbag could result in blunt force trauma, chemical burns or corneal abrasion.
Since some crashes may cause vision loss or other eye injuries, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Time is critical with almost any type of eye injury. Getting the treatment you need quickly can be the difference between fully recovering or suffering from permanent vision loss.
Not sure how badly you are hurt? This is very common after a crash. In part, this may be due to shock or the increased adrenalin in your body. This is just one reason why you should seek immediate medical care after a crash. Another reason is that seeking medical attention right away helps provide evidence that your eye injury was a direct result of that crash.
What Symptoms May Indicate Eye Injuries After a Car Crash?
After a collision, there are several key symptoms to watch for that could indicate a serious eye injury. Typically, these do not take days to show up, and timing is very critical. If you hit your face or head at all, getting your eyes examined for injuries is a good idea.
Other symptoms of a serious eye injury may include:
- Sudden flashes of light or floaters in your field of vision
- Blurry or double vision
- Trouble when trying to focus
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Dizziness and/or nausea
- Chronic and severe headaches
- Changes to your sense of smell
- Pronounced bruising around the eyes
- Swelling in the injured area
- Pain and/or facial numbness
- Ringing in the ears
Victims with an eye injury may experience a few or many of these symptoms. This is why it is important to properly discuss your injuries with your doctors. Telling them even the smallest symptoms may help them to pinpoint your injuries faster and more efficiently.
Can I Include Vision Loss and Other Eye Damages in My Injury Claim?
Vision loss and other eye injuries resulting from a car crash can be included in your overall claim to recover damages.
If successful in proving your case, you could be eligible to recover compensation for multiple damages, including:
- Emergency transportation from the crash scene to the hospital
- Treatment in the ER (including diagnostics, surgery or other care needed)
- Ongoing doctor appointments to continue your medical care
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation therapy
- Lost wages if you cannot work while recovering
- Disfigurement or permanent scarring
- Emotional distress
- Post-traumatic distress syndrome (PTSD)
- And many other damages
Eye Injuries From a Car Crash? Call Our Law Firm for Help Today
Suffering any type of vision loss or eye injury can be a terrifying experience. Victims may wonder if their eyesight will return to normal and what medical treatment they need to make that happen. At Schmidt Kramer, we have the resources and staff to fight for full compensation on your behalf. Our firm has a long history of proven results – we have recovered millions in compensation for our clients. It is important to remember that injury claims have strict deadlines. Since there is no cost or obligation to learn about your legal options, we strongly recommend getting started today.
We are here to help. If you choose our firm to represent you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay. We do not collect payment for our fees unless we have recovered compensation for you.
Experienced Lawyers. Proven Results. (717) 727-1403