Sight – Injury Claim Worth_.

Based on the following sampling of case law, the range for general damages awarded for suffering from vision impairment as a result of an accident is between $28,669 – $346,002 [adjusted for 2023 inflation rates]. The general damage award amounts for each individual case below have not been adjusted for inflation. For your convenience, the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator can be accessed here.

As described in our General Damages Guide, these awards are only for general damages which compensate you for your pain and suffering. There are other types of damages that you may be entitled to claim, such as lost income and medical care costs, depending on the circumstances of your case. To assess the total value of your injury claim, try our Injury Claim Calculator or book a free consultation.

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The case law

Hummel v. Jantzi, 2019 ONSC 3571

• The plaintiff was a passenger in his friend’s vehicle after a night of drinking. The defendant driver, who was driving above the posted speed limit, failed to observe a stop sign at an intersection and the vehicle left the roadway, hit a tree, and landed on a neighbouring lawn. The plaintiff was not wearing a seatbelt. He suffered serious injuries, including; skull fracture, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and a diffuse axonal injury. He suffered from permanent loss of vision on the left side of both eyes, seizures, and speech difficulties as a result of the trauma to his brain. His general damages were assessed at $300,000, but his award was reduced by 25% since he was not wearing a seat belt.

Watts v. Donovan, 2009 CanLII 26931 (ON SC)

• The 29-year-old plaintiff was injured in a motor vehicle accident and suffered a WAD II soft tissue injury in her neck, back, and shoulder. She also suffered headaches, sleep disturbance, visual blind spots, photophobia, dizziness, perception problems, visual distortions, depression and fibromyalgia. Her headaches, fatigue, sleep, vision, and back problems were ongoing at the time of trial. She received $95,000 in general damages.

Mayburry v. Ontario (Liquor Control Board), 2002 CanLII 53276 (ON CA)

• The 33-year-old plaintiff placed a bottle on a table, and it slipped off and exploded, causing glass fragments to fly into her left eye, causing extensive damage. The eye ruptured and she required several surgeries. The eye collapsed twice due to lack of fluid. Her cornea was extensively lacerated, resulting in little vision, and risk of losing her vision altogether should that eye become infected. She had a severe astigmatism and needed a corneal transplant and intraocular plastic lens. She suffered extreme irritation from the stitches in her eye. Since her eyes became sensitive to glare, she could no longer drive at night. She suffered from PTSD, depression, and embarrassment, as well as a change in personality after the accident. She received $70,000 in general damages.

Morse v. Cott Beverages West Ltd., 2001 SKQB 550

• The teenage plaintiff was injured while opening a bottle of pop manufactured by the defendant. The bottle cap caused a significant blunt injury to her right eye. She feared that blindness or glaucoma would result from the injury. She developed a cataract and was permanently photosensitive and had trouble with depth perception. The plaintiff lost her starting position on her high school basketball team. She received $18,000 in general damages.

LeBlanc v. Marson Canada Ltd., 1995 CanLII 4520 (NS SC)

• The plaintiff suffered serious eye and facial injuries after some fibreglass hardener splashed into his eye. He experienced excruciating pain and temporary blindness, which subsided after about one month. He had continuing facial skin problems lasting 8.5 years. He received $30,000 in general damages.