Minor (Temporary Irritation/Bruising)
Moderate (Blurry Vision, Minor Surgery)
Severe (Partial Vision Loss/Cataracts)
Total Loss of Sight (One Eye)
Total Blindness (Both Eyes)
*Disclaimer: This calculator provides a rough estimate based on historical data and standard legal formulas. Actual settlement amounts depend on jurisdiction, specific evidence, insurance limits, and legal representation. Consult a qualified attorney for legal advice.
Understanding Eye Injury Claims and Compensation
Eye injuries are among the most traumatic and costly personal injuries a person can suffer. Whether the injury occurred at work, in a car accident, or due to a defective product, the compensation (or "damages") is generally split into two categories: General Damages and Special Damages.
1. General Damages: Pain and Suffering
General damages compensate for the non-monetary aspects of the injury, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In the context of eye injuries, these values can vary significantly based on the permanency of the damage.
Injury Severity
Typical Impact
Estimated Base Value Range
Minor
Temporary irritation, corneal abrasion, black eye. Full recovery expected within weeks.
Significant permanent vision loss, traumatic cataracts, sensitivity to light, disfigurement.
$50,000 – $150,000
Total Loss (One Eye)
Complete blindness in one eye or surgical removal (enucleation).
$150,000 – $400,000
Blindness (Total)
Complete loss of sight in both eyes, requiring lifelong care and lifestyle adaptation.
$500,000 – $2,000,000+
2. Special Damages: Calculating Financial Losses
Special damages are easier to calculate mathematically because they represent actual out-of-pocket costs. Our calculator sums these inputs directly:
Medical Expenses: Emergency room bills, surgeries, medication, and ophthalmologist visits.
Future Care: Costs for prosthetic eyes, long-term therapy, or home modifications.
Lost Wages: Income lost while recovering from the injury.
Loss of Earning Capacity: If the eye injury prevents you from returning to your previous career (e.g., a pilot or surgeon losing depth perception), this figure can be substantial.
Factors That Influence Your Settlement
While the calculator provides a baseline, several external factors determine the final check amount:
Liability (Fault): If you were partially responsible for the accident (e.g., not wearing safety goggles in a required zone), your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. This is known as comparative negligence.
Insurance Policy Limits: Even if your case is worth $1 million, if the defendant only has a $50,000 insurance policy and no assets, collecting the full amount may be impossible.
Jurisdiction: Jury verdicts vary by state and county. Some venues are known to be more "plaintiff-friendly" than others.
When to Hire an Attorney
Eye injury cases are complex. Insurance adjusters often undervalue the long-term impact of vision loss. If your injury involves permanent damage, surgery, or significant time off work, it is highly recommended to consult with a personal injury lawyer who specializes in catastrophic injuries.
function calculateEyeClaim() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var severity = document.getElementById('injurySeverity').value;
var medicalExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('medicalExpenses').value);
var futureMedical = parseFloat(document.getElementById('futureMedical').value);
var lostWages = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lostWages').value);
var futureIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('futureIncome').value);
var liability = parseFloat(document.getElementById('liabilityPercent').value);
// 2. Validate Inputs (Handle NaN)
if (isNaN(medicalExpenses)) medicalExpenses = 0;
if (isNaN(futureMedical)) futureMedical = 0;
if (isNaN(lostWages)) lostWages = 0;
if (isNaN(futureIncome)) futureIncome = 0;
// 3. Determine Base General Damages (Pain & Suffering) Range
var minGeneral = 0;
var maxGeneral = 0;
switch (severity) {
case 'minor':
minGeneral = 3000;
maxGeneral = 15000;
break;
case 'moderate':
minGeneral = 15000;
maxGeneral = 50000;
break;
case 'severe':
minGeneral = 50000;
maxGeneral = 150000;
break;
case 'one_eye':
minGeneral = 150000;
maxGeneral = 400000;
break;
case 'blindness':
minGeneral = 500000;
maxGeneral = 2000000;
break;
default:
minGeneral = 0;
maxGeneral = 0;
}
// 4. Calculate Special Damages
var totalSpecial = medicalExpenses + futureMedical + lostWages + futureIncome;
// 5. Calculate Totals (Low and High Estimates)
// Low estimate: Low General + Special
// High estimate: High General + Special + (Multiplier buffer on special damages for pain multiplier effect)
// In many injury calculators, special damages are multiplied by 1.5x to 5x to estimate total.
// Here we use the hybrid method: Distinct General Range + Exact Specials.
var totalLow = (minGeneral + totalSpecial) * liability;
var totalHigh = (maxGeneral + totalSpecial) * liability;
// 6. Formatting Money
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 0,
maximumFractionDigits: 0,
});
// 7. Display Results
document.getElementById('resultBox').style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('totalEstimate').innerHTML =
formatter.format(totalLow) + " – " + formatter.format(totalHigh);
document.getElementById('generalDamagesDisplay').innerHTML =
formatter.format(minGeneral * liability) + " – " + formatter.format(maxGeneral * liability);
document.getElementById('specialDamagesDisplay').innerHTML =
formatter.format(totalSpecial * liability);
document.getElementById('liabilityDisplay').innerHTML =
(liability * 100).toFixed(0) + "%";
// Scroll to result
document.getElementById('resultBox').scrollIntoView({behavior: 'smooth'});
}