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Sight loss claims

The prospect of losing your sight is a frightening one, but when it happens suddenly through injury or accident, the physical and psychological effects can be far-reaching.

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According to the NHS (2017) there are 290,475 registered blind people in the UK. Partial or full loss of vision can require lengthy periods of adjustment for you and your family, as you learn to live with it. 

Whether it’s total blindness or going blind in one eye, if it’s the result of an injury or accident that wasn't your fault, we may be able to help you make a compensation claim. 

Full and partial sight loss

Causes of eye injury and sight loss include:

  • Blows to the head or eyes, for example caused by sports activities like boxing
  • Sharp objects penetrating the eye
  • Physical assault
  • Cataract and laser eye surgery
  • Medical negligence such as misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
  • Workplace accidents – such as chemical splashes
  • Repeated exposure to dangerously bright light.

Why should I make a claim for sight loss?

If you, or a loved one, has sustained a loss of sight because of someone else's negligence, you have a right to claim against them.  As well as the psychological impact of your injury, you will have a lot of adjustments to make, like assistive equipment, rehabilitation, learning skills to improve your quality of life. You may need to learn Braille and how to use the assistive technologies that can improve day-to-day living.

A sight loss claim will take into account any changes you need to make in your work life, including loss of income and any costs of retraining and learning new skills.

A compensation settlement may mean you can worry less about how you are going to fund the adjustments you will need as you plan your future.

More about making a claim

How the claim process works

Call

Get in touch

You can contact us 24/7 online or by phone, or use our callback form to request a callback at a time convenient to you

Discuss

Discuss your situation

One of our friendly, legally trained advisors will get in touch with you. They will assess whether you have a claim and match you with the right solicitor for the case

Manage

Manage your claim

Our specialist No Win No Fee* solicitors will then manage the entire claim from start to finish, helping you get the justice and compensation you deserve

How can First4Lawyers help?

You can contact us for yourself, or on behalf of someone else. We are here to listen to the situation, guide you through the options and put you in touch with expert solicitors who will deal with your claim.

Our team are very experienced in this area. They are friendly and understanding – your initial chat is even free, with no obligation to proceed unless you are happy to do so. 

We offer a No Win No Fee* service, so you don't have to pay for anything in advance – and if the claim is not successful, you don't pay a penny.

Only pay a fee if you receive compensation

Where we offer No Win No Fee services typically customers pay 25% of the amount recovered by our solicitors, although this will be subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be less than this but it will never be more. Success fees are common practice and they were introduced when the law changed in April 2013.

First4Lawyers are an award winning claims management company with a track record of delivering service that our clients love.

How much compensation could I receive?

The amount of claim compensation is calculated on the severity of your spinal injury damage to your sight, whether the sight loss is total or partial, and permanent or temporary.

Claims give consideration to:

  • The pain and suffering you have been through
  • Time taken off work
  • Loss of income and future earnings
  • Any long-term effects on your everyday life
  • Care that you receive
  • Alteration and equipment that may be required to improve your quality of life.

Amounts will very much depend on your individual case, but generally the loss of sight in one eye can be awarded £43,200 to £48,080. Total loss of sight can receive compensation in the region of £235,630.

Is there a time limit for making a sight loss claim?

Most personal injury claims should be started within three years of the accident or injury, but there are some exceptions. Claims for sight loss of a child extends the time limit from the date of the accident until the child is aged 18, at which point the three-year time limit begins. Where a person is mentally incapable of making decisions there is no claim time limit.

Our specialist advisers can explain the process to you in more detail, with no legal jargon or pressure.

I think I have a claim, what do I do next?

Just get in touch for a free initial consultation using our online claim form. Or request a callback at the top of the screen. We'll be in touch shortly to ask you about your case and go through your options, as well as our No Win No Fee* services.  

There is no obligation to proceed with us – it is totally up to you.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I call you for free advice?

Yes, our team of friendly experts are more than happy to help, and will answer any questions you have regarding a claim, even if you’re unsure whether you’re eligible.

Contact us for a free and confidential discussion.

How long will a claim take?

The length of time it will take to make your claim depends on your individual circumstances.

Every case is different, so it’s very difficult to say at the early stages how long the process will be from start to finish.

Once your solicitor has completed their initial investigations into your case, they will be in a better position to advise you on how long the process is likely to take.

To give you a very general idea:

  • For a personal injury claim like minor whiplash, for example, the process could be completed in about six months. But in more complex cases, such as claims involving a trip, slip or fall, it could take over a year to be settled. The process could also be longer if the defendant disputes your claim.

  • Claiming for a work accident could be between six and nine months. But if the injury is more severe, or there are legal complexities, it could take longer.

  • Medical negligence cases tend to take longer as they can be complex with multiple factors and evidence.  A rough estimate would be 18-26 months.

You can contact one of our advisors to discuss your situation.

More about making a claim

Can I make a claim online?

Yes, you can start your claim online or by calling us on the number at the top of the screen.

After entering a few details into our simple form, one of our advisors will call you back to discuss your claim.

When completing the form, just give a brief description of your accident, including details on what happened and when, if you were injured in the accident and what your injuries were. This helps us to understand the nature of your accident, so that we will be able to advise you on the most appropriate next steps for you.

We’ll also need a few contact details, including your full name, telephone number and an alternative telephone number (in case we’re unable to reach you). You can also include your email address, if you’d prefer us to email you with further details.

Let us know what time it’s best for us to call you back. We know it’s not always convenient for you to talk, so we'll call at that scheduled time when you'll be expecting us.

Making a claim online will help to save you time and will ensure that you receive a phone call back from us as soon as possible. During the call, we will ask you a few questions about your accident and advise you if you’re eligible to make a claim, and if so, what you can do next.

Start your claim online now

How do I know whether I have a claim?

That's what we're here for! 

If you’ve had an accident and you’re not sure if you’re eligible to claim, then call us through the number at the top of the screen and speak to one of our specialist advisors.

We will give you free advice regarding your case and advise you on the potential of your claim, without obligation.

We believe in working honestly and with integrity – we don’t believe in raising expectations and we don’t encourage false claims.

To be eligible to make a compensation claim, there are three key conditions that your case will need to meet:

  • Your accident must have taken place during the last three years. Please note: different rules apply to industrial disease, medical negligence and criminal injury claims, or if you were under 18 when the accident happened.  We will advise accordingly in each of these cases.
  • There must be a person or organisation who is at fault for your accident.
  • Your injuries will have required medical treatment.

If you have any questions, or are unsure if your case meets these requirements, give us a call or complete our online claim form and we'll be in touch shortly.

Can I claim against a family member?

Yes, you can. Claiming against relatives may seem unthinkable in any circumstance, but if you have suffered an injury that has prevented you from working or affected your life, you’re entitled to claim compensation.

One example that often arises is road accidents, where a family member was driving and could be held responsible for your injuries.

We understand that making a claim through a family member’s insurance is a difficult position to be in, but with the help of our solicitors, we promise to make the whole process as painless as possible.

If you need to claim through a relative’s insurance to help pay for the costs of your injuries, we will be there to help you throughout the negotiation stage with sensitivity and understanding.

Can I be compensated for losses as well as my injury?

Yes, you may be entitled to compensation for losses other than your personal injury.

A personal injury claim is split into two parts: general damages and special damages.

  • General damages are paid for the pain and suffering and emotional distress from your physical injury.
  • Special damages relate to damaged belongings or financial losses resulting from the injury.

 

Will I have to attend a medical?

Yes, you’ll need to have a medical examination to make a personal injury claim.

It's to provide proof that your injury was caused by the accident and to allow your solicitors to value your claim.

Can I claim if I've been injured by a physical assault?

Yes. If you’ve been injured in a violent crime you have every right to make a claim for compensation, even if the attacker is unknown or found not guilty.

This is done through the government-backed Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Incidents resulting in your injury will need to have been reported to the police and meet certain criteria set out by the CICA.

We can guide you through this process and explain the criteria set out by the CICA, so you can feel better prepared before you contact them.

Can I claim if my accident happened while I was abroad?

Yes, you can still claim if you had an accident while abroad.  But it can be more complex due to varying laws in other countries.

Accidents abroad are very common and can happen to anyone. Some of the most common accidents can include things such as suffering food poisoning from the hotel restaurant, slipping on a wet floor in a hotel or tripping over on a poorly-maintained footpath.

Other scenarios you may be able to claim compensation for include: sport-related accidents from using damaged, faulty or poorly-maintained equipment, sustaining an injury during an arranged excursion and road traffic accidents (including accidents when travelling as a passenger in a car, coach or taxi).

Those who booked their trip with a travel agent or as part of a package holiday are more likely to be able to claim against the travel company once returning to the UK, as opposed to the services used abroad (such as a hotel or restaurant).

At First4Lawyers, we work with solicitors who are experienced in making claims for accidents that have happened abroad, for people who were either on holiday or travelling on a business trip. Contact us for a no-obligation chat.

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