Vision Loss
People involved in very serious accidents may end up suffering catastrophic injuries. Loss of vision is a life-changing injury. If you or a loved one has experienced vision loss as a result of an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore catastrophic injury lawyers can examine the facts of your case and provide a thorough assessment of your potential legal options, whether you were involved in a car accident, an incident of medical malpractice, an accident involving a defective product, or another accident. You can rest assured that we understand the nuances of this area of law and can put our knowledge to use in seeking all of the damages that you deserve.
Pursuing Compensation for Vision LossVision loss is a decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by common measures like glasses and contact lenses. Any kind of trauma to the face or brain can cause sudden vision loss. For example, a faulty airbag could damage the eye or fail to protect the eye from injuries. In other cases, the blunt force or trauma of a motor vehicle crash could lead to severe eye injuries. If a traumatic brain injury affects the vision centers of the brain, an accident victim may lose some or all of his or her sight.
In certain circumstances, loss of vision is considered a catastrophic injury. A catastrophic injury is an injury that results in serious and permanent harm to the victim. If your catastrophic vision loss injury has been caused by the negligence of another person, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Negligence is a legal term that simply means that a person's carelessness led to an injury. Put another way, negligence takes place when a person causes an injury or death by failing to use the level of care that an ordinary person would use under the same or similar circumstances. To prevail in a negligence lawsuit, the plaintiff's lawyer must establish the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care;
- The defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff; and
- The defendant's breach was a direct cause of the accident and the plaintiff's vision loss.
In Maryland, if the jury finds that the injured party was at all at fault for the accident that caused the vision loss, even to a very small extent, he or she is barred from recovering any damages. This harsh rule is known as contributory negligence and contrasts with the comparative negligence principles applied in most other states. Defendants often raise a contributory negligence argument, which is one reason why retaining an attorney is critical in preserving your right to damages.
In certain cases, dealing with vision loss can be extremely costly. An injured plaintiff may require cornea replacement, specialized therapy, or even surgery. Once negligence is established, a plaintiff may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, missed wages, rehabilitation costs, noneconomic damages, and the cost of future care. Each case is different, and the precise amount of damages that you will be entitled to receive will depend on the extent and nature of your vision loss.
Get Assistance from a Knowledgeable Lawyer in BaltimorePeople rely on their vision virtually every moment of their lives. While it is generally not life-threatening, vision loss can affect the way that you live and your ability to do basic day-to-day tasks. If you or someone close to you has suffered vision loss due to an accident caused by someone else's negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore attorneys can investigate your case so that we can help you determine your options and advocate for full and fair compensation. We are dedicated to providing high-quality legal guidance and representation to clients throughout Maryland who are suffering from vision loss and other serious injuries, such as paralysis, severe burns, or brain trauma. Contact our office today for a free evaluation of your case by calling 410-889-1850 or contacting us online.