Whether it stems from chemical exposure, a machinery malfunction, a fire or explosion, or any other source, losing any amount of sight or hearing through a work-related accident can be a singularly devastating experience. On top of affecting your ability to continue performing your duties at work, this kind of injury can also permanently alter the course of your personal life outside of work.
No amount of money can completely compensate for the negative effects of a permanent injury like this, but seeking workers’ compensation benefits with a seasoned attorney’s help can still be key to protecting your best interests in the short and long term. By working with a Las Vegas workplace hearing and vision loss lawyer from Shook & Stone, you will have the best possible chances of getting through the claims process efficiently and obtaining the benefits you deserve.
Seeking Medical Benefits for Hearing and/or Vision Loss
The primary benefit that workers’ comp provides to most people who get hurt or sick on the job is fault-free reimbursement for the costs of all reasonably necessary medical treatment needed to get them back to their pre-accident condition. However, since hearing and vision loss caused by workplace accidents in Las Vegas is typically irreversible, the goal of medical treatment received after such an accident is usually instead to help the injured worker reach maximum medical improvement—in other words, to improve their condition as much as is reasonably possible under the circumstances.
In addition to emergency medical expenses for care received immediately after this sort of injury, a comprehensive workers’ comp claim can also include the costs of things like:
- Assistive equipment
- Rehabilitative care
- Prescription medication
- Transportation to and from doctors’ appointments
Each case is unique, so it is worth discussing what kind of medical benefits you may need with a qualified attorney before formally starting the filing process.
Temporary Versus Permanent Disability Benefits for Sensation Loss
For the first 24 months after you suffer a disabling injury at work, you can receive temporary total disability benefits, which are typically valued at about two-thirds of your average pre-injury weekly wage. If you are still unable to return fully to your old job once those two years have passed, you may be eligible for permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits for several decades after that, depending on whether your injury only partially affects your working capacity or prevents you from performing any gainful work whatsoever.
It is worth noting that total loss of sight in both eyes is automatically considered permanently and totally disabling under current Nevada workers’ comp law. However, partial loss of vision and/or any hearing loss from a workplace injury in Las Vegas may only be rated as a partial disability, as a lawyer can explain in more detail during a private consultation.
Get in Touch With a Las Vegas Workplace Hearing and Vision Loss Attorney Today
No one ever deserves to lose any of their five senses due to a workplace injury, regardless of how the injury happened or who specifically was or wasn’t to blame for it. Unfortunately, injuries of this unique severity happen much more often on worksites in Sin City than many people might expect, and they can also make for uncommonly complex workers’ comp claims as well.
Assistance from a Las Vegas workplace hearing and vision loss lawyer can make a world of difference in how smoothly your claim goes and what kind of benefits you are able to obtain through it. Call Shook & Stone today to learn more.
