Losing your sight can be devastating. If you've suffered an eye injury that was the result of someone else's negligence, you should talk to a specialist eye injury lawyer as soon as possible. Slater and Gordon is one of the UK's leading legal firms for loss of sight claims.
As specialist personal injury solicitors, we understand the enormous challenges people face when they suffer a serious eye injury, especially when it results in significant sight loss or blindness.
We know how serious an eye injury can be, and that it can affect the injured person in every aspect of their life. That's why, in addition to working hard to secure the best possible outcome for our clients, we understand the importance of seeking interim payments at the earliest opportunity, to help you cope with the significant life changes that an eye injury can bring.
What can cause a loss of sight injury?
Loss of sight can be caused by a sudden, traumatic incident or develop gradually due to untreated damage or hazardous exposure. The most common causes include:
Accidents at work: eye injuries often occur in workplaces because employers fail to provide protective eyewear, allow unsafe machinery to be used, or don’t maintain proper health and safety procedures.
Road traffic collisions: accidents on the road where impact injuries, debris, shattered glass, or chemical spills affect the eyes can lead to temporary or even permanent sight loss.
Criminal assaults: assaults can cause serious structural damage to the eye.
Defective products: the use of unsafe products, including cosmetics applied to the face, can lead to loss of sight.
Medical negligence: issues such as delays in diagnosing glaucoma, retinal detachment or infections can result in avoidable sight loss.
Whatever the cause, if someone else’s actions or failures contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to pursue an eye injury compensation claim to help you rebuild your life.
What type of injuries can lead to an eye injury claim?
Any serious injury that's been caused by someone else's negligence can give rise to eye injury and vision loss claims. Eyes are such delicate and essential organs, almost any damage is serious, whether it's caused by an object piercing the eye, scratches to the surface, a severe blow to the head, or exposure to unsafe substances.
The eye injuries that our loss of sight lawyers most commonly seek compensation for include:
Full or partial blindness
Deterioration due to environmental factors
Damage to the cornea
Loss of an eye
Detached retina
What evidence could help in an eye injury claim?
Every case is different, so the evidence that will be required to support your claim will depend upon the circumstances of your injury and its severity.
That being said, there are some types of evidence that are used in most cases. This includes:
Medical records: this allows us to build a clear picture of the injury, its cause and the long-term impact on your vision. This may include records of emergency care, treatment in a hospital eye department or ongoing support from an ophthalmologist.
Photographic or video evidence: this could be images of the accident scene, any CCTV or dashcam footage that captured the accident, or images of your injuries
Workplace accidents logs, where applicable: if your accident happened at work, it should have been recorded within their accident logbook. This can help to establish liability.
Witness details: providing the names and contact information of witnesses can be crucial, as they can provide first-hand accounts of the accident.
Financial records: this could be receipts of financial losses incurred due to your injury, including the cost of any medical treatment, rehabilitation and care you have needed, or records of lost wages due to time out of work.
Your solicitor will help you gather everything required, ensuring the process is as easy as possible at a time when you may already feel overwhelmed.
In most cases, loss of sight compensation covers the full extent of your injuries, and any subsequent consequences. This may include specialist eye care, rehabilitation, counselling, home adaptations, assistive technology, transport costs, care support, and loss of earnings.
For those with permanent or significant visual impairment, the compensation can also fund long-term adjustments such as guide dog support and specialist training to help you regain as much independence as possible. Your solicitor will work closely with medical experts to understand your long-term requirements, ensuring your settlement reflects both your present and future needs.
To start your eye injury claim, call us on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online to speak to a member of the team, who will discuss the details of your case with you.
We’ll assess your case and, if we think you have a claim, we’ll talk you through the claims process and the funding options available to you (the majority of our eye injury claims are handled are on a No Win No Fee basis).
We’ll help you gather all the evidence necessary to support your claim, including police records and obtaining copies of your medical records (with your permission).
Once we’ve collected all the initial information we need, we’ll submit a Letter of Claim to the responsible party. Your solicitor will keep you up to date with your claim’s progress and will handle all negotiations, working hard to secure the best possible result.
We will arrange for you to have a medical examination with an independent expert who specialises in providing medical evidence in cases such as this.
As part of your claim, we will advocate for you to have access to the best quality treatment, rehabilitation and support to maximise the chances of you achieving a full recovery and future independence.
In most cases, negotiations will lead to the successful conclusion of a claim. However, there are occasions when a settlement cannot be reached, and the matter must go to court to so a judge can rule on the case.
Why choose Slater and Gordon’s eye injury solicitors?
However an eye injury has occurred, and whatever the degree of harm that has occurred, if someone else's negligence has been involved, you should talk to a specialist eye injury solicitor as soon as possible.
We’re accredited by The Law Society's Lexcel program, recognising that we adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and ensure our clients benefit from our expertise
We pride ourselves on taking a holistic approach to every case; one that goes far beyond legal support, working with every client towards securing any future care and rehabilitation they may require
Frequently asked questions about eye injury claims
How much might my eye injury compensation claim be worth?
As you might expect, the amount of loss of sight compensation depends on the seriousness of the injury, the impact on your life, and the prognosis for any future improvement. The calculation for financial compensation also considers factors like loss of earnings, loss of amenity, and the cost of ongoing treatment, rehabilitation and support.
As a rule, the more serious the injury, the more your claim will be worth. Compensation to help you adapt to sight loss and live life to the fullest extent can run into millions of pounds, particularly if you or a loved one has lost their sight as a result of someone else's negligence.
What help is available after an eye injury?
Financial compensation for eye injuries and sight loss isn't simply for the pain and suffering you've had to endure.
Eye injury claims can also pay for crucial medical treatment such as laser eye surgery, prosthetics, specialist medical care, assistance dogs, adaptations to property or even the purchase of a new property where required. That's why it is important to talk to a legal firm that understands all the ramifications of an eye injury or loss of sight as soon as possible.
Sadly, accidents happen, and eye injuries can occur where no one is to blame. However, on many occasions they are caused by a lack of safety precautions in the workplace, for example:
A lack of proper training in safe working practices
Inadequate or missing goggles, safety glasses or face shields
Defective machinery
Improper storage or handling of dangerous chemicals
Military accidents
However, eye injuries and sight loss accidents aren’t limited to the workplace. They commonly occur in road traffic accidents and criminal assaults too.
Eye injury claims can also be linked to medical negligence, and can occur due to errors such as misdiagnosis, mistakes during surgery, and delayed treatment. Learn more about claims for eye injuries due to medical negligence.
If you think that your eye injury has been caused by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, either in the workplace or somewhere else, it's worth talking to one of our specialist eye injury claims solicitors to find out whether it's possible to claim compensation.
Can I change my solicitors to Slater and Gordon?
If you or a family member have been involved in an incident which has resulted in a serious eye injury, and you feel that you're not getting the specialist legal advice you need from your current solicitor, we'll be happy to discuss switching your case to Slater and Gordon.
Sight loss can occur in a wide range of circumstances, but the most common causes include accidents at work, road traffic collisions and clinical negligence involving delayed diagnosis or improper treatment.
Many of these injuries could have been prevented. Failures to follow health and safety rules, lack of proper training, missing protective eyewear and avoidable medical errors regularly result in people suffering serious and sometimes permanent damage to their sight. When that happens, those affected may have grounds to bring a loss of sight claim.
How are loss of sight claims calculated?
Every loss of sight compensation case is different, and the amount you receive will depend on how the injury has affected your life. Compensation is generally divided into two parts: a sum awarded for the physical injury itself (known as general damages) and a sum awarded for the financial impact (known as special damages).
‘General damages’ refers to any physical or mental injuries caused by the accident. The amount that you will receive will be determined by the severity of your injury, and by how quickly you are likely to recover from that injury. If you are not expected to make a full recovery, your continuing ongoing difficulties are also considered. Medical expert evidence is used to support this claim.
‘Special damages’ refers to any other expenses or losses that you may incur because of your injuries. For example, it can include the loss of any wages if you have been unable to work, any physiotherapy or other treatments you may need to pay for, any adaptations to your home that may be required, or any travel costs. This part of your compensation will also include any future losses you are likely to suffer, including future loss of earnings and care costs.
To learn more about how much compensation you could be entitled to, speak to our specialist team today on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
Is loss of sight a critical injury?
Loss of sight is recognised as a life‑changing and often critical injury because of its profound effect on independence, emotional wellbeing and day-to-day life. Even partial sight loss can make familiar tasks more difficult, while total blindness requires long-term support and specialist equipment. The law recognises the seriousness of such injuries, and compensation is designed to ensure you have the resources and assistance you need to adapt.
In many cases, loss of sight is considered a severe injury under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, the Equality Act 2010 and various workplace health and safety regulations. If someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing caused your injury, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for eye injury to help you rebuild your life.
To learn more, or to establish your full legal position, speak to our leading eye injury solicitors on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
How long does a loss of sight claim take?
The length of time needed to settle a loss of sight claim varies depending on the complexity of the case and how serious the injury is. Straightforward cases where liability is accepted early and injuries are relatively minor may be resolved relatively quickly, but more complex cases, especially those involving medical negligence or disputes over liability, can take longer.
More severe injuries often require multiple medical assessments to understand the long-term impact, and it is important not to rush this stage. Settling too quickly could result in compensation that doesn’t reflect your future needs.
Your solicitor will always keep you informed, explain the expected timeline and work to make the process as efficient and stress-free as possible.
Can a claim still be made if the injured party is not legally blind?
Yes, you can. You don’t need to be legally blind to make an eye injury claim. Many people experience partial sight loss, blurred vision, double vision, light sensitivity or reduced field of vision that significantly affects their daily lives. These symptoms can be temporary or permanent but, if they were caused by negligence or an avoidable accident, you may still be entitled to compensation.
Partial vision injuries can impact work, mobility, independence and confidence, and the law recognises how serious these consequences can be. If your eyesight has been affected, even if you have not lost your vision completely, you may be able to pursue an eye injury compensation claim.
Our dedicated team of eye injury lawyers can examine the circumstances of your injury and let you know whether you have a claim. Speak to us today on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
Can you make a No Win No Fee sight loss claim?
Yes. Most of the sight loss claims we pursue are funded by No Win No Fee agreements, also known as Conditional Fee Agreement. This means you don’t pay any legal fees upfront, and if your claim doesn’t succeed, you won’t pay a penny in legal fees.
If your claim succeeds, a success fee is usually deducted from your compensation. This fee is capped by law, meaning you will always keep the majority of your compensation.
No Win No Fee Agreements make it easier to access specialist legal support, ensuring you can pursue justice without financial risk. Slater and Gordon’s eye injury solicitors will explain the process in straightforward language, so you understand exactly how your claim is funded.
Are there any time limits for making a compensation claim for loss of sight?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of your injury to bring an eye injury claim. This is known as the limitation period.
However, there are certain circumstances in which this time limit may change; for example, if you’re claiming on behalf of a child, or someone who lacks the mental capacity to do so for themselves.
If you are unsure whether you are still within the time limit, it is important to get legal advice as soon as possible. Our team can help you understand your options and guide you through the next steps. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
Am I able to claim on behalf of a family member?
Yes, there are some circumstances in which you may be able to make a claim on behalf of a loved one.
For instance, where a child under the age of 18 or an adult who lacks mental capacity has been injured, you may be able to act as a litigation friend and pursue a claim on their behalf. This ensures vulnerable people still receive the support and compensation they need.
Can I claim compensation for partial loss of sight?
Yes. Partial loss of sight can be just as life‑changing as total blindness, depending on how it affects your day‑to‑day activities. If your vision has been reduced, blurred, distorted or damaged in a way that impacts your ability to work, drive or carry out everyday tasks, you may be eligible to make a claim for eye injury.
Your solicitor will help you understand whether you are entitled to bring a claim for compensation, arrange medical assessments and make sure your needs are fully represented in your claim. To learn more, or to establish your full legal position, call our specialist eye injury lawyers on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
Can I make an eye injury claim after an assault?
Yes. If you lost your sight or suffered serious eye damage because of an assault, you may be able to claim compensation. This can be pursued against the attacker directly or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), depending on the circumstances. The CICA scheme exists to support innocent victims of violent crime and recognises the seriousness of eye injuries and their long‑term impact.
Our eye injury lawyers can help you understand which route is most appropriate and guide you through the process with sensitivity and support.
Really helpful and always on the other side of the phone if needed. Quick and easy service. Ashley
Everything is moving along quickly and smoothly. Good professional service I'm glad I chose Slater and Gordon. Kenny Jackson