Loss of Vision

Loss of vision is a serious, catastrophic injury. Sometimes it is the result of a car accident in which the skull hits a hard object and the brain is affected. In other cases, it is the result of trauma to the eye, such as if glass, debris, or exploding material hits the eye directly. Loss of vision can also be the result of medical malpractice, which can include errors made during brain surgery. If you’ve suffered a loss of vision due to ordinary negligence or medical malpractice, the knowledgeable Syracuse personal injury attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano may be able to help.

There are serious injuries that can result in vision loss. If the retina, which is tissue in the back of the eye, disconnects from surrounding tissue in retinal detachment, permanent blindness may be the result. When blood vessels are damaged and bleed into the vitreous, the substance in the center of the eyeball, this is called vitreous hemorrhage, and it can cause floaters, impaired sight, and photopsia. Blindness and vision loss can also be caused by optic nerve damage. Often these conditions arise due to head injuries. Sometimes the loss of vision is accompanied by headaches, light sensitivity, and other difficulties.

These injuries can be caused by car crashes, truck accidents, construction accidents, and medical malpractice. Even minor accidents can cause problems with vision. Some brain and eye injuries can worsen if they are left untreated over time, so it’s important to go to the doctor if you’ve been hurt.

In a personal injury lawsuit for loss of vision, you will likely need to establish negligence on the part of the defendant. This means you’ll need to show: (1) you were owed a duty of reasonable care by the defendant, (2) breach of the reasonable duty of care, (3) causation, and (4) damages. For example, if you lost your vision due to a truck driver’s actions, you would likely need to show that the truck driver’s conduct in operating the truck fell below the standard of care such that you were injured. Where an interstate truck driver fails to follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards and this failure causes an accident that results in vision loss, it is likely a jury would find he was negligent. Other parties’ negligence may also contribute to a truck accident that results in vision loss, or other types of vehicle accidents that result in vision loss. A seasoned injury lawyer can help you identify all potentially liable parties.

Sometimes a healthcare provider’s negligence causes loss of vision. Not every medical error counts as medical malpractice. To establish medical malpractice, you will need to show: (1) a professional duty of care was owed, (2) breach of the professional duty of care, (3) causation, and (4) damages. Mistakes that may be considered a breach of the professional duty of care, depending on the circumstances, include medication overdoses, surgical errors, anesthesia errors, improper prescriptions, failure to diagnose cancer, improper treatment of a stroke that damages the occipital lobe, or failures to diagnose other serious medical conditions like glaucoma.

Often, it’s necessary to retain an experienced, credible expert to put forward testimony regarding elements of your malpractice claim, such as what the professional standard of care was, how it was breached by the defendant, and whether it was the cause of a loss of vision.

Experiencing a loss of vision can be extremely stressful and debilitating. It can be scary and difficult to lose your vision as an adult, and to have to learn to move through the world with vision loss. If you were suffered a loss of vision in a Syracuse accident, an experienced and trial lawyer can help you understand your legal rights. DeFrancisco & Falgiatano handles personal injury and medical malpractice lawsuits in Syracuse, as well as Rochester, Lowville, Oswego, Oneida, Watertown, Utica, Wampsville, Herkimer, Elmira, Lyons, Auburn, Cooperstown, Binghamton, Canandaigua, and Ithaca. Please call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us via our online form to learn more.