Unfortunately, accidents happen. They can occur at home, at your local restaurant, or, for the sake of this article, at your workplace. Work accidents can range from a wide variety of events from slip and fall accidents to car accidents. The injuries from these work accidents can vary as well, and one injury, which is the focus of this article, is hearing loss. If you are experiencing ringing in the ears after a work accident, or have completely lost hearing in one of your ears completely, chances are your damages were caused by a work accident that somehow resulted in an injury to the ears. In this article, we will cover what causes the ringing in the ears after a work-related accident, how best to treat hearing loss after getting injured on the job, and what you can do to earn compensation for the damages that you have experienced. If you have further questions after reading this article, consult with an expert attorney who has experience in hearing loss injury cases. Our experienced lawyers at the top-rated Normandie Law Firm are here to help you.
Work-Related Accidents
Work accidents can occur in any profession at any time. Whether you work in an office space or in a construction yard, a work accident can result in some form of hearing loss. These accidents can either be caused by some form of managerial negligence, a malfunction in work equipment, or a simple mistake made by yourself or another co-worker. Under federal law, employers are expected to provide workers compensation insurance. This insurance is intended to cover things like medical expenses, a loss of wages, and even a potential loss of future wages. The amount you receive for a workers compensation claim can vary depending on the severity of your injuries, and the required treatment for your loss of hearing. For this reason, it is important to understand what causes hearing loss, and the different forms of hearing loss that exist. If you need more details, call an accomplished lawyer experienced in hearing loss injury cases.
What Causes The Ringing in the Ears After A Work Accident
Hearing loss or it’s lesser, yet similar injury, tinnitus can be caused by a tremendous amount of force, or a sound focused and loud enough to damage the internal components of the ear. The ear is an incredibly sensitive organ which in some ways can become damaged beyond repair. The ear is made up of a combination of parts, that all could suffer damage after a work accident. The components of the ear organ are listed as follows:
- External (Outer Ear): This portion of the ear consists of the pinna or auricle, which forms the outside of the ear. There is also the external auditory canal which connects the outer ear to the inside and middle parts of the ear. Set between the outer and middle ear is the tympanic membrane, which is often regarded as the eardrum.
- Middle Ear (Tympanic Cavity): The middle ear consists of the Ossicles and the Eustachian tube. The Ossicles are the three small bones that connect and transmit external sound waves to the inner ear. These three bones are the malleus, incus, and stapes. The Eustachian tube is the canal that links the middle ear with the back of the nose and helps equalize pressure in the middle ear. This equalized pressure helps transfer sound waves throughout the ear organ.
- Inner Ear: The inner ear is the most sensitive part of the ear organ and is made up of three parts: the Cochlea (nerves used for hearing), the vestibule (contains receptors used for balance) and the semicircular canals (another place for balance receptors.
Any of these components of the ear can be damaged after a work accident and can result in either hearing loss or tinnitus. There are varying degrees of hearing loss, wherein an individual can completely lose hearing on a specific side or area or can be left with a constant ringing, also known as Tinnitus. According to numerous studies, tinnitus affects roughly 50 million Americans, and while it is known to occur naturally, can also be caused by a traumatic event or blow to the ear. Tinnitus is often characterized as a faint and constant ringing, whistling, chirping, clicking, screeching, roaring, buzzing, pulsing, or whooshing. The volume of these sounds can vary depending on other external sounds.
Beyond Tinnitus there are two different degrees of hearing loss, which require varying forms of treatment. If you or a loved one have experienced hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of a work accident, it is vital that you seek out medical attention as soon as possible. While some forms of hearing loss are untreatable, leaps in modern science have made it so victims of hearing loss can recover some of their previously lost hearing ability. Additionally, a skilled attorney with expertise in hearing loss injury lawsuits can help you recover lost damages.
Treatment Loss of Hearing After Getting Injured On The Job
Finding treatment for hearing loss, tinnitus, or a constant ringing after a workplace injury can be somewhat tricky. As mentioned prior there are two forms of hearing loss that can occur, and distinguishing which of the two you can determine how best your damages can be treated.
The first form of hearing loss is conductive hearing loss. This form is usually described as a build-up of fluid in the middle ear or a perforated eardrum. Fortunately, conductive hearing loss is temporary. There are medical treatments for conductive hearing loss wherein a medical professional will suggest an intervention procedure that addresses the specific cause of the hearing loss. If this treatment fails to correct the issue other methods can be applied, such as cochlear implants.
The second, more severe form of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. Unlike conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. The sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear hair cells. Unfortunately, these hair cells don’t repair themselves, so when they suffer damage, they cannot be restored to previous health conditions, and as such there are no medical treatments currently that help this issue. Fortunately, hearing aids can assist in amplifying the surrounding sounds of a patient to compensate for the lost range of hearing.
Treating tinnitus is also a troubling issue as there remains to be any cure for the problem. In most cases, a doctor will prescribe anti-anxiety drugs like Valium. These drugs can allow the patient to feel as though the ringing is more like background noise rather than an irritating day-to-day problem.
Whether you have had permanent hearing loss or temporary hearing loss, the treatment of these damages can be incredibly expensive. Between hospital visits, doctor visits, and the cost of implants, the medical expenses can quickly build to be insurmountable. As mentioned prior, employers are expected to provide workers compensation insurance benefits for their employees. After a work accident, that employee can make a claim for their worker’s insurance benefits to cover the damages they have endured. Unfortunately, not all employers provide adequate workers compensation insurance, and when this is the case, workers can be left facing the mountain of medical debt alone. On the other hand, victims of hearing loss who don’t have proper workers compensation insurance can pursue other forms of compensation through the pursuit of a lawsuit. While every individual can represent themselves in court, it is always recommended that you seek legal representation from an experienced lawyer. A qualified attorney with experience handling the claims of workers can guide you through the often arduous process of building a case, filing a claim, and collecting adequate compensation for your damages.
Average Value of Workplace Hearing Loss / Ear Damage Claim
The average value of workplace hearing loss or ear damage claims is $100,000 to several millions of dollars, depending on the extent of the hearing loss. Hearing loss can be a serious disability. If you have experienced hearing loss as a result of a workplace accident, or from continued loud noises from workplace exposure to noise hazards, you my initiate a lawsuit. Hearing loss is very serious, can detrimentally affect your quality of life going forward. Studies show that most hearing loss that is related to work is permanent, meaning you will never get that hearing back in your ears.
How Much Do These Cases Settle For, And What Is the Usual Payout?
Depending on the actual extent of your hearing loss, you can expect to receive a settlement for upwards of $100,000 and up. In the event that your hearing loss is permanent, then you can expect to settle for more than this amount, as it may be a permanent disability for you.
What Should I Expect as a Settlement for Hearing Damage?
You can expect that you will need to show the exact extent of your hearing loss, any follow up surgeries or therapies, and if it is a permanent disability or not. Studies show that if a person experiences hearing loss associated with a work-related injury, that it can be linked to other comorbidities such as:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Ringing in the ears
- Whooshing sounds in ears
- Tinnitus
- Sleep disruption
- Concentration disruption
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Impacts safety at home
- Impacts safety on the job
- Lowered income for hearing impaired workers
- Isolation socially
- Profound decrease in quality of life
- Cognitive decline
- Heart problems
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Mental declines
How Much for a Loss of Hearing Claim Due to Workplace Noise, Injury, Explosion or for Accident Claims?
Generally, loss of hearing claims can be settled for upwards of $100,000 to over several millions of dollars. It will depend on the nature of the hearing loss and the circumstances around what happened. For example, was the workplace not following safety protocols which led to an explosion and accident that caused the hearing loss? Or was there a noise issue on the job that was never properly addressed, and hearing loss was the result of this situation?
If you have had a hearing loss due to a workplace accident, you need to call our law firm immediately. There will be an opportunity for you to initiate a lawsuit on the merits of your case. We are here to help you with the next steps. If you currently work in a loud and hazardously dangerous work environment, that may have detrimentally contributed to your hearing loss. We are here to help you understand the seriousness of this type of claim and case. You can easily start the process, by picking up your smartphone and giving us a call this afternoon. We know how to handle dealing with the big insurance companies. For that reason we are ready to help you, and will get you the settlement that you need for your recovery compensation package for your hearing loss claim.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
Hearing loss and tinnitus caused by work accidents can be incredibly traumatic for anyone who has to experience it. While this loss of hearing can be treated through implants and aids, the cost of this treatment can be difficult to afford on your own. Fortunately, if you or a loved one have experienced hearing loss s as a result of a work accident, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation for your damages. At Normandie Law Firm, one of the top law groups in the city, our Los Angeles attorneys are experienced in handling work accident cases. Clients who file a claim with our Los Angeles law firm could find some if not all of the following damages compensable to them:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Loss of Wages
- Potential Loss of Future Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc…)
- Punitive Damages
Victims of hearing loss from work accidents or any accident can contact our law offices to receive more information on how to receive adequate compensation for their damages. While our law firm is based in Los Angeles, our attorneys also practice in San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, and throughout the state of California.
Free Second Opinions
Other attorneys will sign you up to their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge. One of our attorneys with experience in hearing loss cases will gladly take your call.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and an experienced attorney can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
