Eye Injury Lawyer in Seattle

We help Seattle eye injury victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by preventable accidents. Our Seattle personal injury law firm has helped Washington residents secure fair compensation when negligence causes vision loss. Since 2007, attorney Justin Elsner has represented eye injury victims across Seattle, from Capitol Hill to Ballard. A Seattle eye injury lawyer can help you file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington state against the at-fault party. Call for a free consultation today.

When someone else’s carelessness damages your vision, you deserve justice. We understand the fear and uncertainty you face after an eye injury. Your world has changed in an instant, and medical bills are piling up while you wonder if you’ll see clearly again. Eye injuries are painful and can affect every aspect of your life.

What Types of Eye Injuries Do We Handle in Seattle?

We represent Seattle residents with traumatic eye injuries including corneal abrasions, retinal detachment, orbital fractures, chemical burns, and complete vision loss from car crashes.

Common eye injuries we see in our law firm include:

• Penetrating wounds from flying debris at construction sites
• Blunt force trauma from car accidents and sports injuries
• Chemical burns from workplace exposure to hazardous materials
• Corneal abrasions from foreign objects entering the eye
• Retinal detachment from severe head trauma
• Orbital fractures affecting the eye socket bones
• Optic nerve damage causing partial or complete blindness
• Acute hyphema with bleeding between the iris and cornea
• Thermal burns from fires or hot liquids

Brain injury cases often involve secondary eye trauma. When head injuries occur, the delicate structures around your eyes can suffer permanent damage.

How Much Compensation Can Eye Injury Victims Recover?

Eye injury settlements in Washington vary widely depending on the severity of the injury, medical costs, lost wages, and the overall impact on quality of life.

Fair compensation for eye injuries includes:

• Medical expenses for emergency treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation
• Future medical costs for ongoing eye care and vision therapy
• Lost wages during recovery and medical appointments
• Diminished earning capacity if vision loss affects your career
• Pain and suffering for physical discomfort and emotional distress
• Disfigurement compensation for permanent scarring or eye loss
• Home modification costs for vision accessibility improvements
• Assistive device expenses like magnifiers or guide dogs
• Emotional distress as part of intangible damages often included in compensation for eye injuries

An eye injury claim requires thorough documentation of how vision loss affects your daily life. We work with medical experts to calculate the full cost of your injury’s impact on work, family, and personal activities.

Washington state places no caps on personal injury compensation. Your settlement depends on the severity of your injury and the strength of evidence against the responsible party.

Common Causes of Eye Injuries in Seattle

Most Seattle eye injuries result from car crashes. 

Vehicle Accidents

Traffic accidents cause eye injuries through:

• Broken windshield glass cutting delicate eye tissues
• Airbag deployment causing blunt force trauma to the face
• Dashboard impact during sudden stops on I-5 or Highway 99
• Side-impact crashes at busy Seattle intersections

Premises Liability

Property owner negligence leads to:

• Slip and fall accidents causing head and eye trauma
• Defective lighting creating hazardous conditions
• Broken glass from unmaintained windows or doors
• Chemical exposure from improperly stored cleaning supplies

Seattle Eye Injury Statistics and Local Risk Factors

According to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, construction workers suffer eye injuries at twice the state average. Seattle’s rapid development creates daily exposure to:

• Flying debris from demolition and construction
• Chemical splashes from concrete and adhesive work
• Welding flash burns from high-rise building projects
• Power tool accidents causing metal fragments to strike eyes

The Seattle & King County Public Health Department reports that 90% of workplace eye injuries are preventable with proper safety equipment. Yet many employers fail to provide adequate protection or training.

Construction sites in neighborhoods like Ballard, Capitol Hill, and South Lake Union see frequent eye injury accidents. Workers rush to meet deadlines while safety protocols get ignored.

Children also face eye injury risks at Seattle playgrounds and schools. Sports-related eye injuries spike during football and baseball seasons when young athletes don’t wear protective eyewear.

What to Do After an Eye Injury in Seattle

Seek immediate medical attention at Harborview Medical Center or UW Medical Center, document the scene, preserve evidence, and contact an experienced Seattle eye injury attorney within 24 hours. Compensation can provide access to the best medical care for eye injuries.

Immediate Medical Steps

Get emergency care if you experience:

• Sudden vision changes or complete vision loss
• Severe eye pain that doesn’t improve with rest
• Blood in the eye or unusual discharge
• Penetrating objects lodged in the eye area
• Chemical exposure requiring immediate irrigation

Seattle Emergency Eye Care Resources

• Harborview Medical Center Emergency Department – Level 1 trauma center at 325 9th Avenue
• UW Medical Center – Advanced ophthalmology services at 1959 NE Pacific Street
• Seattle Children’s Hospital – Pediatric eye injury specialists at 4800 Sand Point Way NE
• Virginia Mason Medical Center – 24/7 emergency eye care at 1100 9th Avenue

Evidence Preservation

Document your accident by:

• Taking photos of the accident scene and your injuries
• Collecting witness information from anyone who saw what happened
• Requesting accident reports from police, employers, or property owners
• Saving medical records from all treatment providers
• Keeping receipts for medical expenses and lost wages

Legal Action Timeline

Washington’s three-year statute of limitations gives you limited time to file an eye injury claim. Early legal consultation helps preserve evidence while witnesses remember details clearly. Every state places a limit on the amount of time an injury victim has to file a claim for an injury.

Insurance companies often contact injury victims within hours of accidents. Don’t sign any documents or give recorded statements without legal representation.

How Long Do I Have to File an Eye Injury Claim in Washington?

Washington’s three-year statute of limitations gives eye injury victims until three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit, with limited exceptions for delayed discovery or minors.

The clock starts ticking from:

• The accident date for most eye injury cases
• Discovery date if you didn’t immediately realize the injury’s extent
• 18th birthday for minors injured before age 18
• Two years for medical malpractice claims against healthcare providers

Important Exceptions

Some situations extend filing deadlines:

• Delayed symptoms where vision loss develops gradually
• Fraudulent concealment by the responsible party
• Mental incapacity preventing you from understanding your rights
• Government claims requiring 90-day notice periods

Don’t wait to seek legal help. Evidence disappears and witnesses move away as time passes. Insurance companies also pressure injured victims to accept low settlements when cases are fresh.

Early legal intervention protects your rights while focusing on medical recovery. We handle insurance communications so you can concentrate on healing.

Seattle Injury Lawyers Specializing in Eye Injury Cases

Elsner Law Firm combines decades of experience with personal attention to secure maximum compensation for Seattle area eye injury victims.

Why Choose Our Law Firm

Since 2007, we’ve helped Washington residents recover millions in compensation. Our track record includes:

• Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition (2016-2017)
• National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 membership
• Free consultations with no upfront costs
• Contingency fee basis – we only get paid if you win
• Statewide representation from Seattle to Spokane

Attorney Justin Elsner graduated cum laude from Seattle University School of Law in 2007. He’s admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and maintains active memberships in:

• Washington Association for Justice
• King County Bar Association
• Snohomish County Bar Association
• Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Our Team Approach

Paralegal Angela Elsner provides dedicated case support, ensuring no detail gets overlooked. Our experienced staff includes Trisha DeHart, Lenin Torres, Mark Sternik, and Kara Deak, who work together to build strong cases.

We offer both in-person meetings at our Seattle office and virtual consultations for clients throughout Washington state. This flexibility helps injured victims access quality legal representation regardless of location or mobility limitations.

Fair Compensation for Common Eye Injuries

Each eye injury case requires individual evaluation based on medical severity, treatment needs, and impact on your ability to work and enjoy life.

Factors Affecting Settlement Value

Compensation varies based on:

• Injury severity and permanence of vision loss
• Age and life expectancy of the injured person
• Income level and career impact of vision impairment
• Medical costs for treatment and rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering endured during recovery
• Quality of life changes affecting daily activities

Treatment Cost Considerations

Modern eye injury treatment can be expensive:

• Emergency surgery costing $50,000 or more
• Retinal specialist consultations at $500-$1,000 per visit
• Vision therapy sessions running $150-$300 each
• Corrective lenses and adaptive equipment
• Home modifications for vision accessibility

Work Impact Assessment

Vision loss affects different careers uniquely:

• Drivers may lose commercial licenses permanently
• Construction workers face safety restrictions limiting employment
• Healthcare providers need perfect vision for patient care
• Artists and designers depend on color perception and detail vision

We work with vocational experts to calculate how eye injuries affect your earning capacity over a lifetime.

Seattle Area Resources for Eye Injury Victims

Medical Specialists

• UW Medicine Eye Institute – 4311 11th Avenue NE, comprehensive ophthalmology services
• Seattle Eye and Laser Center – Multiple locations offering specialized care
• Virginia Mason Franciscan Health – Retinal and corneal specialists
• Puget Sound Eye Clinic – Low vision rehabilitation services

Government Resources

• Washington State Department of Labor & Industries – Workers’ compensation claims at www.lni.wa.gov
• King County Department of Public Health – Injury prevention programs
• Seattle Department of Transportation – Traffic accident reporting
• Washington State Patrol – Highway accident investigations

Support Organizations

• Washington Council of the Blind – Advocacy and support services
• Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Rehabilitation and employment assistance
• Seattle Public Library – Accessible services and materials
• King County Metro Access – Transportation for disabled residents

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Our Seattle Eye Injury Attorneys Today

Don’t let insurance companies minimize your eye injury claim. We understand the life-changing impact of vision loss and fight for compensation that reflects your true damages. Our car accident lawyer experience helps when eye injuries result from vehicle crashes.

Since 2007, Elsner Law Firm has protected the rights of injured Washington residents. We’ve built our reputation on personal attention, thorough preparation, and aggressive advocacy for maximum compensation.

Your initial consultation costs nothing, and we only get paid when you win. We handle cases throughout Washington state, from Seattle’s bustling downtown to rural communities statewide.

Vision is precious. When negligence threatens your sight, you need experienced legal representation to secure your future. Call for a free consultation or visit our office to discuss your eye injury case.

Find us conveniently located in Seattle at Elsner Law Firm – Seattle Traffic Collision & Injury Lawyers. We serve as your personal injury attorney, insurance attorney, and trial attorney providing comprehensive legal services throughout King County and beyond.