If you’ve suffered an eye injury due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation – but just how much are you likely to receive for an eye injury claim?
Every eye injury claim is different, and the severity of your injury will also play a large role in your compensation payout. As specialist medical negligence solicitors, we work closely with our clients, as we understand that an eye injury can affect far more than your vision; it can impact your independence, your confidence and your overall quality of life.
In this blog, we aim to give you a rough idea of how much compensation you could receive if you choose to go ahead with making a claim. We’ll cover the average compensation amounts for eye injury claims, as well as what factors are likely to affect your own compensation amount and how the claims process works.
Have you suffered an eye injury as a result of medical negligence? Start your compensation claim online today with the Medical Law Partnership.
What is the average payout for eye injury claims?
According to guidelines published by the Judicial College, these are the average compensation ranges for different types of eye injuries:
- £300,000+ for injuries resulting in total blindness
- £60,000 – £129,000 for injuries resulting in the loss of one eye or loss of vision in one eye
- £11,000 – £48,000 for injuries resulting in permanent problems with vision
- £2,000 – £10,000 for minor eye injuries with no permanent impact on vision
It’s important to remember that these are just guidelines and do not reflect the actual amount you may receive if your eye injury claim is successful. You may receive more or less than the average payout depending on your individual circumstances.
What factors affect how much compensation I might receive for an eye injury?
No two eye injury cases are the same. A wide range of factors can contribute to the overall compensation amount you may receive.
These include:
- The severity of your eye injury and the extent of any vision loss
- Whether the injury has caused temporary or permanent damage
- The impact the injury has had on day-to-day life, including your ability to work or carry out routine tasks
- Any pain, suffering, or emotional distress you have experienced as a result of the injury
- The cost of any medical treatment, rehabilitation, or ongoing care
- Any loss of earnings, both current and future, due to time off work or reduced earning capacity
- Whether you require specialist equipment or home adaptations to support your condition
- The level of negligence involved and how it contributed to your injury
Of course, the more severe your eye injury, the more compensation you’re likely to receive.
What can compensation for an eye injury cover?
Compensation for an eye injury is typically split into two categories: general damages and special damages.
General damages relates to the pain, suffering, and loss of vision caused by your injury. This includes the physical impact of the injury itself, as well as any long-term effects on your quality of life.
Special damages covers any financial losses or expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injury. This could include:
- Medical bills or the cost of private treatment
- Travel expenses for appointments or rehabilitation
- Loss of earnings if you’ve been unable to work
- Future loss of income if your ability to work has been affected long-term
- The cost of care or assistance, whether professional or provided by family members
- Specialist equipment, such as visual aids or home adaptations
By taking both types of damages into account, your compensation is designed to put you, as much as possible, back in the position you would have been in had you not experienced the negligence.
How is compensation for eye injuries calculated?
Eye injury compensation is calculated using a combination of medical evidence, financial records, and legal guidelines.
Your medical records and reports play a key role in determining the severity of your injury and your long-term prognosis. These reports are usually provided by independent medical experts and will outline the extent of your vision loss and any ongoing symptoms.
Alongside this, evidence such as payslips, receipts, and invoices will be used to calculate any financial losses you’ve experienced as a direct result of the injury.
Legal professionals will then refer to the Judicial College guidelines, as well as previous similar cases, to help determine an appropriate compensation amount.
Even injuries that appear similar on the surface can result in very different compensation outcomes depending on the wider impact on your life.
How can I start an eye injury compensation claim?
If you’ve suffered an eye injury due to medical negligence and think you may be entitled to compensation, the first step is to get in touch with the Medical Law Partnership.
You’ll speak with one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors, who will assess your case and advise you on your chances of success. If your case is accepted and you choose to proceed, we will carefully build your claim to ensure no aspect of your suffering or financial loss is overlooked. We understand that pursuing a claim can feel overwhelming, particularly when coping with a life-changing injury like an eye injury, which is why we’ll guide you through the entire process, gathering all the necessary evidence and liaising on your behalf to achieve the best outcome possible for your claim.
We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means there are no upfront legal fees and you won’t pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.
Start your compensation claim online today or request a callback to speak with one of our experts.