Damage to the eye can affect your vision and more
Car accidents often result in severe injuries, and an eye injury is one of the most serious and painful injuries you can sustain in a crash. Many eye injuries cause permanent vision problems, including blindness, if not treated promptly. That’s why if you suffered an eye injury in a car accident that wasn't your fault, you need to get checked out right away by a licensed medical professional. Then, you should consult an attorney to go over your legal rights and options.
Eye injuries caused by car accidents
Car accidents and ocular trauma (the medical term for eye injuries) occur far more often than you might realize. According to one study published by the Division of Ophthalmology at Rhode Island Hospital, crash victims sustain nearly 9,400 eye injuries every year. Eye injuries can cover a wide range, including but not limited to:
- Sharp objects penetrating the eye.
- Objects piercing the eyeball’s outer member, an eye injury referred to as a “global rupture.”
- Internal bleeding in the eye, including bleeding between the cornea and the iris, a type of eye injury known as “hyphema.”
- Bone fractures near the eye, including an orbital fracture, a medical term for a bone fracture involving the bones located near the eye socket.
- Burn injuries to the eye caused by fire, heat, or explosions due to a car accident.
How car accidents cause eye injuries
Your eyes can get damaged in a car accident in many ways. During the crash, you could hit your head on the dashboard or another part of the vehicle. A sharp object such as shattered glass or hazardous chemicals could pierce your eye.
Regardless of what type of eye injury you have, it's critical that you seek out prompt medical treatment after a crash. Go to a hospital emergency room or urgent care center, then make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. Depending on the type of eye injury you sustained, you may need to see an ophthalmologist or some other kind of specialist.
Keep in mind that if you suffered an eye injury, there's a chance that you may have also suffered a skull fracture, concussion, or another type of traumatic brain injury. Again, this is why it's so critical to let a licensed medical professional examine you as soon as possible after a crash.
A car accident attorney can fight for the compensation your eye injury deserves
At Glaser & Ebbs, we have more than 100 years of combined legal experience handling accident claims for injury victims in Indiana. We have an in-depth understanding of Indiana’s civil justice system and know what it takes to build strong cases that get real results.
Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation. We have six offices conveniently located throughout Indiana, including offices in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.