Life is full of risks, some of which are relatively minor while others are more substantial. Simply walking around Chicago may turn tragic if you are involved in an accident or if you are otherwise hurt, something that occurs daily in the city and often happens to the innocent who do nothing wrong. Yet while a simple tumble or a stumble on the job may seem unlikely to cause damage, new data suggests that it should be treated seriously as falls are the primary cause of eye injuries in the United States.
The new information was presented at the 119th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology on Wednesday and followed data from 2002 through 2011. During that time, a sample of approximately 47,000 patients with orbital trauma was studied with a patient age range from 0 to 80. The leading cause of injuries to eye accident victims was falls, and among those who fell, the majority were aged 60 or older.
Not all falls were created equal when it came to causing trauma that resulted in the need for medical treatment. Of 8,425 falls that were recorded, the largest portion of them – 3,000 – were due to slipping. Next, falling down stairs was blamed for approximately 900 eye injuries.
The new data also tracked the cost of eye injury treatment during the period of 2002 through 2011 and noticed an overall increase in costs of approximately 62 percent per injury. As of 2011, the median cost to treat an eye injury was $20,116.00. Cost of treatment increased with the age of the victim and with increased size of a hospital providing services.
This new data shows how significant an eye injury can be. Not only can anyone suffer an injury but today, the costs associated with the treatment of one can place a huge burden on a victim and may leave them wondering how they will pay their bills. While $20,000 is the average cost of treatment, some incidents produce harm that is much pricier and may not be affordable to those who are in need.
While anyone can suffer an eye injury, workers are at a particularly high risk, especially if they are employed in a field that deals with construction, assembly work, metalworking, healthcare, physical labor, refuse, and other industries where falls and/or eye injuries are prevalent. Under Illinois laws, these workers are protected with certain rights in the event they sustain an on-the-job injury and they may be entitled to obtain payment for their damages. In addition, a typical injured worker may receive payment for the time they missed from work as well as all the paid medical treatment they need to get well following their accident.
If a fall or other accident left you with an eye injury, call the legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation case consultation about your potential case and your legal options. We keep a licensed lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that you can get the answers you deserve whenever you need them. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we work around the schedules of our clients and we fight for the best possible outcome in every case we handle. If you were injured or if someone you love suffered harm to their eye, call our workers’ compensation attorneys toll free at 9855) 529-2442, locally at (312) 924-7575, or contact us online and let us get to work for you today.
Prior Blog Entry:
GM May Face Punitive Damages in Ignition Lawsuits, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published November 18, 2015.
Resource:
Falls and Brawls Cause Most Eye Injuries in U.S., Claims Journal, published November 18, 2015.