Diplopia after a Workplace Accident – What are my Rights?

Going to work is an ordinary event for most people, so the idea of being involved in an accident is not something we normally we think of as we head to a job site. Unfortunately, many people are injured at their workplace or somewhere else while they are performing a work-related task. Possible workplace accidents include slip and falls, hit by falling objects, burns and electric shock injuries, car accidents, trip and falls, and chemical exposure. For those who remain in one place, like an office building, fall accidents are the leading cause of injury. Those who are on the road, like delivery drivers, may become injured in a car crash or another type of auto accident.

Many cases of workplace accidents result in blunt force trauma to the head, and this can cause all sorts of problems with your eyes. Diplopia, or double vision, is very common after an accident, and for many people, the problem goes away in a few days. However, this condition can also be a sign of serious damage to your brain or various parts of your eyes. By waiting even a few days to seek medical treatment, you may be putting yourself at risk of blindness and other permanent health conditions.

If you were diagnosed with double vision, or diplopia, after a trip and fall, collapsed ceiling accident, car crash, or any other incident at your job, contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm. A workplace accident lawyer can talk to your rights and legal options during a free case review.

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Why am I having Double Vision after an Accident?

Double vision, or even blurry vision, is fairly common if you have a blow to the head or some other injury that results in head trauma. That doesn’t mean you should wait to see a doctor, as diplopia is often associated with an underlying injury to the eyes or brain. Common health conditions that can cause diplopia after an accident include:

• Corneal abrasion – your eye is covered by a clear film known as the cornea, which is responsible for light refraction, focus, and other important functions. During an accident, you may sustain injury to the cornea, and this can result in double vision and other issues with your vision.
• Retinal detachment – The retina is located in the back of your eyes, where it captures light and processes images, which are then transmitted to the brain. In the event you are struck in the head or suffer another form of trauma to this area, it’s possible that the retina will pull away from its normal positon. This condition requires immediate treatment in order to prevent blindness or permanent vision loss.
• Optic nerve damage –
  pressure can build up inside your head when it’s injured by blunt force trauma. Your optic nerves may be damaged as a result, which can cause double vision due to problems with the transmission of electrical impulses between your brain and your eyes.
• Traumatic brain injury – being struck with an object, hitting your head on the ground, or having your head jerked back and forth can cause misalignment of the eyes. If you also have an injury to your brain at the same time, your eyes will have trouble combining the images in both eyes into a single image.

What Treatments are Available for Double Vision?

There’s no doubt that any problems with your vision cause serious disruptions to your life, including the ability to perform your job duties. Thankfully, the vast majority of patients with diplopia can find effective treatments to help with their condition. The sooner you see a doctor, the more effective these treatments will be, so don’t hold off on going to a hospital if you are injured at work.

Examples of medical treatments for the treatment of double vision include:

• Rehabilitative exercises that strengthen your eye muscles and improve your eye’s ability to focus
• Using an eye patch over one eye to help those with double vision caused by a lazy or wandering eye (occlusion therapy)
• Using prism glasses that redirect light to the correct portion of your retina, which can help eliminate double vision
• Strabismus surgery to correct eyes that are misaligned
• Corticosteroid therapy for patients with acute or severe cases of diplopia

How to File a Claim for Workers’ Compensation

Diplopia can be an indicator of serious injuries that require immediate treatment, so please go to a hospital right away. If the accident took place at your workplace or within the scope of employment, you must notify your employer that you are injured within 30 days. However, you should report to your supervisor immediately to ensure that the insurance company is notified on time.

However, seeking medical attention first may be the right thing to do, based on the type and severity of injury. You can call your supervisor from the emergency room or when you return home, but make sure to do this as soon as possible. As we mentioned, the insurance company that provides WC coverage for your employer must be notified, as they are in charge of reviewing your claim and processing payments. Your employer should provide you with information, like the paperwork that must be filed and the claims administrator you can talk to if you have questions or concerns.

Please note that you must see the medical provider chosen by your claims administrator for the first 30 days unless you designated a doctor of your choice ahead of time. Thus, it’s even more essential that you report the accident right away, so that you can seek treatment from the right facility.

Suing a Third Party for being Injured at Work

Based on the cause of your accident, workers’ compensation may not be the only form of payment you can receive. For example, maybe you got hurt at the building you work in because of an office chair that collapsed while you were sitting in it. If the chair collapse was due to a defect that occurred during the manufacturing process, you can file a product liability lawsuit in addition to a workers’ comp claim.

Alternatively, a delivery driver may be hurt in a car accident because someone else ran a red light or stop sign. In a situation like this, you would have the right to file an insurance claim for your injuries and property damage with the other driver’s insurance company. At the same time, you can submit a claim for workers’ compensation through your employer.

Injuries to the eyes or brain typically required long-term medical care, and this is an overwhelming prospect for most victims. To ease the financial burden and ensure that you receive proper treatment, make sure to explore all the available legal options with one of our attorneys.

Statute of Limitations to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

From the date of your accident, you have 1 year to submit a WC claim. Most people file a claim with their employer’s insurance company within a few days or weeks of the incident. However, those with severe injuries or ones that require many months of treatment for a proper diagnosis may need additional time to complete their paperwork. That’s why you technically have 12 months to seek benefits under your employer’s WC plan. Of course, you still want to complete the process as fast as possible, since you need coverage for your medical bills and money to cover lost wages until you can return to work.

If there are any questions or concerns you have about filing for workers’ compensation, don’t hesitate to call us. We are happy to provide advice and guidance during a free case evaluation.

How Long Do I have to File a Third Party Lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit in California generally has a deadline of 2 years, starting from when the accident occurred. However, you only have 6 months to file a claim for monetary damages if the negligent party is a government entity, like a county agency or city employee. Again, this window of time starts from the incident date, so you should contact a lawyer right away who can help you sue for diplopia resulting from a workplace accident. By reaching out to us, you can learn more about your rights and ensure that you are taking the proper steps to sue for an accident that was caused by someone else.

Contact a Workplace Injury Lawyer

Diplopia and other unusual symptoms are very difficult to deal with on a physical, emotional, and financial level. Filing a workers’ comp claim can help you cover the costs associated with your recovery, but it can sometimes be difficult to obtain the funds you deserve by law. The workplace accident lawyers of Normandie are here to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can also help you sue an individual or entity other than your employer if they caused or contributed to the accident.

As we fight to secure the settlement you deserve, you never have to worry about the cost of legal fees. We work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost for hiring one of our attorneys. Once your settlement is recovered, we will receive a portion of it to cover our expenses. If we don’t win your lawsuit, you owe us nothing under the terms of the Zero Fee Guarantee.

Please contact out law firm and talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer if you developed diplopia after a workplace accident. We look forward to hearing your story and being a part of your journey to recovery.