Due to precautions related to COVID-19, we have expanded our options for remote consultations. Please contact our office to discuss whether a full phone consultation or video conference is appropriate for your situation. If you need to drop documents off, please make arrangements with the attorney on your file.

A Full-Service Law Firm
Located in Quincy, Massachusetts, Levin and Levin, LLP was established in 1933 as a full-service law firm committed to providing clients throughout the South Shore with the highest level of legal representation available.

Seek emergency care for eye injuries after a crash

On Behalf of | Aug 29, 2022 | Injuries

Getting into a car crash is the last thing anyone wants to do, but they still happen frequently. If you happen to get into a crash, you need to know what to do and how to help yourself.

The first thing you have to do after a crash is figure out if you’re injured and if you or others need medical attention. You should also keep in mind that you may not know that you’re injured right away or may not be aware of how serious the injury is. That’s because your body will take steps to keep you alert and pain-free in the short-term.

Since that’s the case, it’s important to consider a few of the injuries that could be caused by your airbag deploying—eye injuries and injuries to the eye socket.

What kinds of eye injuries are common in crashes?

It’s common to see a few different kinds of eye injuries following collisions, namely:

  • Corneal abrasions
  • Optic nerve damage
  • Lacerations on the eye
  • Chemical burns
  • Foreign objects in the eyes
  • Broken bones around the eyes and eye socket

It’s known that airbags are there to help prevent traumatic brain injuries, but they do often put the eyes at risk in a crash. They contain chemicals that could harm they eyes, may cause harsh impacts against the face and may come into direct contact with the eyes because they’re deployed so quickly.

Are eye injuries in auto accidents dangerous?

They can be. While some may be minor, such as a few broken blood vessels or abrasions that will heal, others could be vision-threatening wounds. Bleeding in the front of the eye or corneal abrasions, for example, may need immediate medical attention. If chemicals from the airbag are released into the air, then they could come into contact with the eye and need to be rinsed away quickly.

Eye injuries are fairly common in car crashes. If your airbag deployed and you think your face or eyes were impacted, then you need to seek emergency medical care to protect your vision. The at-fault driver may be held liable later when you’re ready to make a claim.

FindLaw Network