Eye Injury Compensation Claims

An eye injury can change every part of your life, from your ability to work and drive to the smallest everyday tasks. If your sight has been damaged or lost because of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

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Expert Legal Guidance in Bringing an Eye Injury Claim

With more than 30 years of experience in bringing personal injury claims, the team here at McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP supports our clients through the legal process with care, expertise, and discretion. The common factor in a successful claim is that the eye injury was caused, in whole or in part, by another party’s failure to take reasonable care. Common examples include:

Workplace accidents – where an employer failed to provide eye protection, maintain machinery, train staff, or safely handle chemicals, contrary to its duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. These claims are common in construction, engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, and welding.
Road traffic accidents – from impact with the windscreen or steering wheel, airbag deployment, or flying debris, affecting drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Accidents in public places – where the occupier of a premises failed in its duty under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995, for example falling objects, protruding fixtures, or a slip leading to head impact.
Defective products – where a faulty product, chemical, or cosmetic caused the injury, giving rise to a claim under the Liability for Defective Products Act 1991 against the manufacturer, importer, or supplier.

Whatever the cause, obtain medical attention as soon as possible, keep a record of any time off work, expenses, and the details of any witnesses, and take legal advice early. Arrange a time to speak with a solicitor by completing our quick and confidential online form.

How the claims process works

Most personal injury claims in Ireland, including eye injury claims, must first be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board. Medical negligence claims, which can also involve eye injuries, are handled separately and proceed directly to court. We will advise you at the outset which route applies. For a typical eye injury claim, the main stages are:

Notifying the other party – you must notify the person or organisation you intend to claim against, in writing, within one month of the accident, under Section 8 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004. Missing this does not bar a claim, but it can have costs consequences.
Application to the Injuries Resolution Board – we prepare the application, supported by a medical report. The Board notifies the respondent, gathers evidence, arranges an independent medical assessment, and issues an assessment of compensation. If both sides accept, it becomes binding, and if either does not, the Board issues an authorisation to proceed to court.
Mediation – since December 2024, the Board offers a free mediation service for road traffic, workplace, and public liability claims, which is voluntary, confidential, and often considerably faster.
Court proceedings – if the claim cannot be resolved through the Board, proceedings may issue in the District, Circuit, or High Court, depending on the value of the claim. Most claims settle before trial.

Contact us using the form on this page if you have any further questions about the claims process.

“It was a pleasure to work with this firm, namely with Liam Crowley. He made a difficult and lengthy process very easy and any questions were answered in a very timely manner. I was included throughout and every step of the process was explained to me without overwhelming me with information. “

Sarah Fahy

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Eye injury compensation

The Judicial Council’s Personal Injuries Guidelines outline the maximum general damages payouts for eye injuries.

Very serious eye injuries

The most severe injuries may result in general damages awards of up to €500,000.

Category	Description	Compensation Range
Total blindness and deafness	The complete and permanent loss of both sight and hearing, leaving the claimant deprived of the two senses on which daily life most depends. This ranks among the most serious sensory injuries recognised by the Guidelines.	€400,000 – €500,000
Total blindness	The complete and permanent loss of vision in both eyes. The award takes account of the claimant's age and the far-reaching effect the loss has on independence, work, quality of life and personal relationships.	€270,000 – €400,000
Loss of one eye with reduced vision in the other	Loss of one eye, or of the sight in one eye, where the remaining eye is also left with reduced vision. The lasting effect on overall sight places this well above injuries confined to a single eye.	€120,000 – €300,000
Loss of one eye or the sight in one eye	The loss of one eye, or of the sight in one eye, where the other eye is unaffected. The award reflects any pain at the time of the injury, the cosmetic impact and the effect on daily life.	€80,000 – €120,000

Serious and minor eye injuries

Incomplete loss of vision may result in general damages of up to €70,000.

Category	Description	Compensation Range
Serious but incomplete loss of vision in one eye	Significant but partial loss of sight in one eye. Relevant factors include how far the loss might be corrected by treatment and whether there is blurred or double vision or sensitivity to light.	€45,000 – €70,000
Minor but permanent impairment of vision in one eye	A lasting but minor impairment of sight in one eye, including cases of intermittent double vision or a degree of light sensitivity that does not require dark glasses to be worn constantly.	€15,000 – €45,000
Minor eye injuries	Minor injuries to the eye, including those caused by direct trauma, that have recovered by the time of trial. Where the injury was only transient, an award at the lower end of the range applies.	€500 – €15,000

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Meet Liam Crowley

Liam Crowley is a partner at McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP and leads our personal injury department. He has worked in litigation for almost 20 years, and in recent years he has acted almost exclusively for personal injury plaintiffs before the Circuit and High Courts, attending court venues throughout Ireland. He has handled many complex High Court actions involving multiple defendants and high-value loss of earnings claims, and he has managed investigations and claims in many wrongful death cases for families who have lost loved ones in road traffic and workplace accidents.

If you have suffered a serious eye injury due to another party’s negligence, and you would like trusted, attentive advice, you can contact Liam directly at liam@mccarthy.ie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the questions we are often asked in relation to eye injuries.

How long do I have to bring an eye injury claim?

For most personal injury claims, the limit is two years less one day from the date of the accident, or, if later, the date on which you first knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that you had suffered a significant injury caused by another party’s negligence. For children, the two-year period generally does not begin until the child’s eighteenth birthday, and different rules apply where the injured person lacks capacity. Because building a claim takes time, including gathering medical evidence and expert reports, you should not wait until close to the deadline before contacting a solicitor.

What do I need to prove to succeed in a claim?

You will need to establish, on the balance of probabilities, that the other party owed you a duty of care, that they breached it, that the breach caused or materially contributed to your eye injury, and that you have suffered loss as a result. The evidence required depends on the circumstances, but typically includes medical records, witness statements, photographs of the scene and of any defective equipment, CCTV footage where available, accident reports, and, in workplace cases, the employer’s risk assessments and safety records.

What if I was partly at fault for the accident?

You can still bring a claim even if you were partly responsible. Under the Civil Liability Act 1961, your damages will be reduced to reflect your share of the responsibility, so if a court finds you were 25 per cent at fault, your compensation is reduced by 25 per cent. Recovery is only barred entirely where you are found to be wholly responsible for the injury.

Can I claim if my eye injury was caused by a medical procedure?

Yes, but the route is different. If your eye injury was caused by negligent medical or surgical treatment, including in ophthalmology, the claim is a medical negligence claim rather than an ordinary personal injury claim. These claims are exempt from the Injuries Resolution Board process and are issued directly in court, and they usually require a supportive report from an independent medical expert before proceedings can begin.

Will I have to go to court?

Usually not. The majority of personal injury claims in Ireland are resolved without a contested hearing, through the Injuries Resolution Board, through mediation, or through negotiation after proceedings have issued. Only a small proportion go to a full hearing. We keep you informed at each stage and recommend going to court only where it is necessary to achieve a fair outcome.