Blindness injury compensation payouts can be substantial due to the profound impact a total loss of sight can have on every area of an individual’s life. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a publication often used by legal professionals to help determine compensation amounts, stipulates that up to £327,940 may be awarded for a complete loss of sight. You or a loved one may be able to seek compensation if the negligent actions of a third party caused the blindness injury suffered. While no amount of compensation will make up for losing this most important of senses, such payouts help support recovery, long-term care needs, and any adjustment to the loss of vision.
Legal Expert’s highly capable solicitors have decades of experience across a range of claim types. You or your loved one can count on us to handle a claim with the utmost care, sensitivity, and professionalism. While we provide as much support and assistance to our clients as we can, we recognise that in the aftermath of a blindness-related injury, there may be additional needs that must be accommodated during the claims process. Whether that involves help getting text-to-speech software on personal devices, someone to collect evidence, or a referral to an occupational therapist, Legal Expert is here to provide support.
Speak to our friendly advisors to find out more about making a personal injury claim today.
4.8 (466 reviews)
We're No Win No Fee Solicitors Trusted by thousands to win compensation.
In the event of a successful claim, you or your loved one might be awarded up to £327,940 for total blindness. This figure is from the JCG and does not account for any financial losses that might be related to it. The guideline compensation brackets provided by the JCG are often used alongside relevant medical evidence to help solicitors calculate compensation amounts for claims. It is worth noting that the JCG includes brackets for both physical and psychological injuries.
Any pain and suffering related to the blindness itself is compensated under general damages. You can find several brackets for loss of sight provided below. Compensation for monetary losses is paid out under special damages, but more on this in the next section.
Compensation Amounts
Please be aware that this information has been provided to act as guidance only. We should also point out that the top bullet point is not a JCG figure.
Multiple very serious injuries with financial losses such as a loss of income, medical bills and transport expenses. – Up to £1,000,000 +.
Total Blindness – Around £327,940.
Loss of sight in one eye with reduced vision in the other where there is serious risk of further deterioration (i). – £117,150 to £219,400.
Loss of sight in one eye with reduced vision in the other, where there is a serious risk of further deterioration (ii). – Reduced vision or other problems such as double vision.
Minor, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes. – £11,120 to £25,600.
You can get a more personalised idea of blindness injury compensation by speaking to our advisory team today.
4.8 (466 reviews)
We're No Win No Fee Solicitors Trusted by thousands to win compensation.
Can Compensation For Blindness Cover Other Losses?
Yes, compensation for blindness can cover other losses related to the injury, such as medical bills, a loss of pay, and the cost of braille lessons. These are paid out under special damages, and the amounts can be quite significant due to the fact that this head of claim covers both past and future losses.
In cases of ophthalmic injury, common examples include:
Loss of earnings, including overtime and bonuses. This also applies if you or your loved one is no longer able to work due to blindness, as we explore below.
Medical costs covering medication and private ophthalmic treatment.
Rehabilitation and mental health services to support independent living and help adapt to the loss of sight.
The cost of having a guide dog and purchasing assistive technology, such as screen-reading software and voice-controlled smart devices.
Domestic care tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and DIY, that can no longer be done safely without support from others.
Installations like handrails, tactile flooring, and accessible showers to maintain independence in the home.
Remember, supporting documentation must be provided for any costs sought in a blindness injury compensation claim. That means keeping hold of all relevant documentation, including payslips, purchase receipts, care invoices, and other bills as proof of these losses.
What If I Can No Longer Work Due To Vision Loss?
If you or a loved one can no longer work due to vision loss, any consequent loss of future earnings can form a substantial part of any settlement awarded. While voice controls, braille keyboards, and screen readers can help mitigate the impact on office and customer service work, career progression may still be adversely affected.
In manual jobs, this is often not possible due to strictly enforced health and safety requirements. Warehousing, logistics, construction, and workshop operations all require employees to have suitable vision to avoid accidents. If you or your loved one works in one of these areas and can no longer do so due to blindness, a compensation payout may reflect this.
You can find out more about making an eye injury claim following blindness, as well as ask any questions about how compensation is determined, by talking to our advisors.
Are There Different Severities Of Blindness?
Yes, there are different severities of blindness, ranging from partial sight to a complete inability to perceive light. In the UK, ophthalmologists use 2 measures to determine whether or not someone can be issued a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). These are:
Visual acuity: This is what you can see in detail.
Visual field: What can be seen at the edges of your vision while looking straight ahead. This is known as peripheral vision.
Visual acuity is measured via the Snellen test, which is the one we’re all familiar with: a chart with rows of letters that get progressively smaller. Normal vision is recorded as 6/6, whereas if you have severely impaired vision and can only read the top line, that is recorded as 6/60. This means you can see at 6 metres what a person with normal vision would be able to see at 60 metres.
It’s worth noting that, for CVI and legal purposes, being severely sight-impaired and blind mean the same thing. However, most severely sight-impaired people are not “totally blind,” as they may still have some light sensitivity, be able to detect movement, or have a very reduced field of vision that allows them to see directly in front of them (commonly referred to as “tunnel vision”).
While our advisors can provide more information on how to start a blindness injury compensation claim using the contact details below, any clinical assessment of loss of sight and its severity should always be addressed by relevant medical professionals.
How Becoming Blind Can Impact Your Life
Becoming blind or suffering severe impairment of sight has profound impacts that can affect every area of life. It may leave you unable to do many of the things you took for granted, such as driving, working, or engaging in hobbies. While long-term rehabilitation through occupational therapy, aids such as text-to-speech software, and guide dogs enable visually impaired persons to live full lives, the initial weeks and months are often very challenging.
At Legal Expert, our approach to client care goes beyond practical legal support. That means not only helping you seek justice for the accident, but connecting you with rehabilitation services to prioritise your long-term recovery and help you adapt to your injuries as soon as possible. We understand that no compensation settlement will ever make up for the loss of your eyesight, but our mission is to help you get the financial security and care you deserve to move forward. Talk to our advisors for more information about claiming with Legal Expert today.
A wide range of accidents could lead to blindness, including those involving high-voltage electric shocks, chemical burns, and penetrating trauma to the head due to falling objects or road collisions. Essentially, any incident involving hazardous substances or injuries to the head and eyes can result in severe vision impairment.
Examples may include:
At work: An employer does not provide you with personal protective equipment (PPE) essential for work involving hazardous chemicals. You subsequently sustain severe damage to your unprotected eyes when you are splashed by a corrosive substance, leading to a complete loss of vision and extensive facial scarring.
In public spaces: A failure by management to complete necessary maintenance inspections results in a railing on a restaurant balcony coming dangerously loose. When you lean on the railing, the mountings give way, causing you to fall. Due to brain damage sustained in the fall, your optic nerves are seriously disrupted, dramatically reducing your eyesight.
On the road: A drink driver runs through a red light and crashes into your car head-on, shattering the windscreen. Shards of glass leave you with deep lacerations and extensive damage to both eyes, resulting in permanent blindness.
Other incidents can, of course, lead to blindness or visual impairment, so make sure you talk to our advisors about claiming in your specific circumstances or on behalf of a loved one today.
How To Prove Someone Is Liable For A Blindness Claim?
You can prove someone is liable for a blindness claim by providing strong evidence and reporting the incident as soon as possible. We recognise that a sudden loss of vision may make these tasks more challenging. This is why Legal Expert’s dedicated solicitors use their extensive experience to support clients in handling the core tasks, including collecting evidence.
The steps to follow are summarised below:
Get ophthalmic care: Injuries affecting sight require prompt medical intervention to minimise the long-term impacts. If there is a sudden loss of vision, you or your loved one should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Collect the required evidence: CCTV footage, workplace records, and witness contact details can all be used to prove fault. Legal Expert acts quickly to obtain such evidence on behalf of clients.
Report the accident: You or someone else acting for you should inform the responsible party, such as a supervisor or a building manager, that an accident has occurred. This ensures a formal record is made, which can help support a claim.
Keep ongoing records: A voice-recorded diary is an effective way to show how sight loss affects daily life. It is also a good idea to retain financial documents as proof of losses incurred.
Speak to a personal injury solicitor: Beginning the legal process early is beneficial, as it makes it more likely that documentation concerning the incident that led to the blindness remains accurate and complete.
Start the claim within the time limit: In most cases, this will be 3 years from the accident date, but exceptions apply. You can get more information on time limits by consulting with Legal Expert.
Get in touch with our advisors today for additional guidance on the steps you need to take after experiencing a loss of vision in an accident.
Why Claim For Blindness Injury Compensation With Legal Expert?
By choosing to claim blindness injury compensation with Legal Expert, you or your loved one will be working with solicitors who have won over £100 million on behalf of more than 12,000 clients. With decades of collective experience (some careers span decades) and a proven record of success across a variety of serious injury claims, you know that the case will be in expert hands.
At Legal Expert, we believe in fitting our services around your specific needs, not expecting you to work around us. Our top-to-tail approach enables clients to focus on their rehabilitation while we do the heavy lifting of managing the legal intricacies. Here are just some of the ways we support claimants with vision loss throughout the legal process:
Connecting you or your loved one with the right ophthalmic specialists to not only get the required treatment, but also help with adapting to living with blindness.
Expertly assisting with gathering supporting evidence, including medical records detailing the extent of vision loss and long-term prognosis.
Using that evidence to determine a fair and accurate compensation figure, taking into account past and future financial losses.
Ensuring all documentation is filed and that legal deadlines are met.
Keeping you (or your loved one) informed of how the claim is progressing, reading documents when required, providing braille correspondence, and using text-reader-accessible formats if necessary.
Negotiating a settlement with the defendant’s solicitors to secure a fair payout.
Instructing a suitable barrister to present the case in court if a hearing is required.
We should mention that most personal injury matters are resolved without the need for a trial. However, if the claim proceeds to court, we will be by our client’s side until it is resolved.
Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you or a loved one can claim on a No Win No Fee basis, as our dedicated solicitors work under a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). By instructing your legal representative under these terms, claimants are protected from having to pay a service fee both at the start of, as well as during the claim. And since the CFA is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement, our clients will also not owe a service fee if the claim is lost.
When claims are won, our solicitors take a success fee from the compensation. The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 imposes a cap of 25% on the percentage solicitors may charge for their success fee. By claiming with Legal Expert, our clients get compassionate, experienced legal representation that always puts their interests first.
Contact Our Solicitors To Begin A Blindness Claim
Contact Legal Expert today to find out if you or a loved one is eligible to begin a blindness claim with our support. You can:
Skip to content 
