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Our vision is indispensable for basic safety and day-to-day tasks. So, if someone’s negligence has cost you partial or total eyesight, it is life-altering, both physically and emotionally.
At Good & Murray Smith LLP, we bring seasoned legal experience coupled with heartfelt empathy to champion your rights. Whether you suffered an eye injury in a workplace incident or on the road, our solicitors are determined to secure the support and compensation you are entitled to.
Eye injuries arise in a variety of circumstances:
No matter the cause, an injury to the eye can cause anything from temporary scratches or corneal abrasions to total blindness. Even a seemingly minor mishap may later develop into severe complications like an infection or post-traumatic vision loss, requiring long-term medical intervention and major changes to your daily routine.
Any one of these situations can be catastrophic, impairing your ability to work, drive, read, or care for loved ones.
Liability in eye injury claims generally depends on proving that the other party breached a duty of care. Some typical scenarios include:
If machinery lacks guards, chemicals are improperly stored, or protective goggles are not supplied, responsibility likely lies with the employer.
Owners/occupiers of property must maintain safe conditions. If inadequate lighting, spills, falling objects, or other hazards lead to an eye injury, they may be accountable.
A reckless driver whose actions caused shattered glass, airbag deployment trauma, or other damage to your eye may be the basis for a compensation claim.
In each scenario, it is crucial to document the event, gather witness accounts if available, and seek immediate medical attention to confirm and assess your injury. The more thoroughly you can show negligence and connect it to your eyesight harm, the greater your chances of achieving a just settlement.
Gather photographs, witness details, CCTV footage, accident reports, or medical records. Written notes explaining how the accident occurred can prove invaluable.
Eye injuries often raise complex medical and legal questions, especially if an ophthalmologist or other specialist is involved. A knowledgeable solicitor helps you handle these complexities from the outset.
In most personal injury scenarios, you lodge a claim with the Personal Injuries Resolution Board (formerly known as PIAB). The exception: medical negligence suits, which the Injuries Resolution Board does not assess.
We help you gather the evidence that a duty of care existed, it was breached, and this breach caused your injury. Expert testimony is often essential for clarifying the link between conduct and injury.
Either the Injuries Resolution Board or the Court will calculate what you are entitled to for pain and suffering, by reference to the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines and the specifics of your case. Loss of sight or substantial eye damage may attract particularly high awards, reflecting the severity and permanent nature of the damage. Special damages, for proven expenses and financial losses, is added on top of that.
Keep in mind the statute of limitations: typically, you have two years from the date of your accident (or from when you discovered the injury’s seriousness) to start proceedings. If you are uncertain of your timeframe, prompt legal advice is recommended.
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced enjoyment of life. An eye injury is profound and may restrict you from engaging in reading, driving, or simply appreciating your surroundings.
Covers tangible financial losses, such as medical expenses, therapy bills, home or vehicle adaptations, travel to medical appointments, and salary loss if you had to take time off or leave your job. If personal property (e.g., glasses, vehicle) was damaged during the incident, you may reclaim repair or replacement costs.
Irish law emphasises awarding compensation that acknowledges both current and future hardships, especially if the eye injury permanently changes your professional prospects and autonomy.
Yes. A pre-existing condition does not absolve a negligent party of liability. However, damages might focus on any deterioration or additional harm their negligence caused.
Swift medical documentation helps. Delays can complicate proving that your injury stems from the accident or negligence rather than another factor.
You can still claim if negligence is proven, but your award may be reduced under contributory negligence rules.
Yes. Occupiers have a duty to maintain safe premises. An unmarked wet floor or poor lighting could demonstrate they failed in their obligations.
Not necessarily. Both require proving negligence and connecting it to your impairment. However, quantifying partial sight loss can involve specialised medical exams.
Certainly. Future surgeries, long-term medication, and specialised equipment (like visual aids) may be included in special damages.
Schools must provide safe premises and adequate supervision. If they fall short and a preventable injury results, liability may follow.
Psychological harm counts as part of general damages. A specialist can attest to the link between your emotional distress and the injury.
For road accidents, you might pursue compensation via the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). Other contexts might be trickier, but consult a solicitor about feasible routes.
Normally, claims must be issued within two years from the date of the accident. However, f you only recently realised the extent of the injury, time might run from the “date of knowledge”. Speak with a solicitor to determine if you are still within the time limit.
Potentially yes, if they did not protect patrons from foreseeable dangers or if staff negligence allowed a hazardous situation to escalate.
Employers generally hold vicarious liability for employees’ negligent actions committed in the course of their duties, so long as certain conditions are met.
You can accept an early settlement, but it may be undervalued. A solicitor can assess if the offer adequately covers current and long-term needs.
From our decades of experience, we know that eye injuries affect far more than physical sight. They can compromise your sense of security, your capacity to earn, and the confidence to enjoy everyday life. Our solicitors pledge to:
If you have suffered an eye injury and suspect negligence from an employer, a driver, or another party, contact us now for a confidential discussion about your rights and your options.
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If you’ve been injured and believe you may have a claim, don’t wait. Good & Murray Smith LLP is here to help. Contact us to arrange a consultation to review your case and guide you through the next steps.
