Any time you are injured at work—even a minor injury—you will face challenges, both physical and financial. You may need some time off to recover and heal, and during that time you will need medical and wage loss benefits to help bridge the financial gap while you are unable to earn a living. In the best possible scenario, you heal fully and return to your old position.
Some injuries, however, have a much larger impact on your quality of life and ability to work. Accidents that end in disfigurement or amputation can leave you permanently disabled, greatly affecting your daily life. These injuries require an entirely different level of compensation and care, known as specific loss benefits.
When a worker loses an eye, or vision is impaired fully, the effects are serious. Many jobs rely on good vision to be performed safely, and vision loss can serious influence an individual’s ability to work and live independently. If you have lost an eye or vision in your eye(s) in a work-related accident, you are entitled to several rights—keep reading to learn more.
Pennsylvania Specific Loss Benefits for Eye or Vision Loss
On top of standard workers’ compensation or disability payments, eye loss and vision loss demand specific loss benefits. These benefits, based on a percentage of your average weekly wage, are paid out regardless of your time away from work—that means that even if you are able to return to work fairly quickly, you will still receive specific loss benefits for the amount of time specified.
For eye loss or total vision loss, Pennsylvania’s specific loss benefits are paid out for a 10-week healing period, and an additional 275 weeks. With matters of specific loss claims, benefits are considered an all-or-nothing award—there are no adjustments or compromises with your claim. You can elect to receive the payments in one lump sum, or paid out over time. There are pros and cons to each method, which you can discuss with your attorney to best suit your needs and interests.
Because of the absolute nature of specific loss claims, it is important to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. The right attorney can make sure that your case is presented as strongly as possible in order to maximize your odds of receiving specific loss benefits in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.
Eye Loss and Vision Loss Are Common, Devastating Injuries in Pennsylvania
While most workers who are exposed to eye damage risk take extra measures to protect their eyes, eye damage and vision loss are very common workplace injuries in several industries. Chemical and light exposure, head injuries, and direct trauma to the eye are all major contributors to workplace vision loss, and each day, thousands of people seek treatment for work-related eye injuries.
If you have suffered the loss of an eye or your vision in a workplace accident, you deserve compensation for your injuries, as well as the long term effects of your loss. To schedule a consultation with our firm today, contact our office by phone, or fill out our short online contact form. We have helped injured Pennsylvanians get the benefits that they need, and we look forward to doing the same for you.