If you have been in a car accident or some other traumatic event, you probably won’t realize how seriously you’ve been injured until the shock wears off. Once it does, you may notice a strange ringing in your ears and other phantom noises. These auditory sensations are indications of tinnitus, which accident victims can experience at different times throughout the day, at various volumes and pitches.
For some people, the ringing is in both ears, while others only have it in one ear. The sound may not always be the same, but whatever it is, it’s incredibly disruptive and frightening to hear a constant sound in your ears from an invisible source. Around 10% of people who have been injured in a car accident develop tinnitus, and approximately 90% of these people eventually have some degree of hearing loss.
This article will go over the symptoms and causes of tinnitus and other injuries you may have from being in an accident involving a truck, motorcycle, or any other vehicle. People can even develop tinnitus from a slip and fall or trip and fall accident if they experience a blow to the head. Since hearing loss after an accident usually indicates a serious injury, it’s essential to see a doctor as soon as possible. If your accident was caused by someone else acting in a careless or reckless manner, you should also contact a lawyer who can help you file a claim and fight for compensation from the responsible party.
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What Causes Tinnitus and Other Hearing Issues after an Accident?
Tinnitus, or a random and unexplained ringing in the ears can happen in one or both ears after you have been in an accident. Cases of tinnitus are most commonly associated with injuries caused by motor vehicles, like truck, motorcycle, and bike accidents. You can also develop tinnitus from a pedestrian accident, meaning you were hit by someone that was operating a bike or motor vehicle.
Physical head injuries are the leading cause of hearing issues caused by an accident, and this can happen right from the moment of injury or days after the actual event. Tinnitus can also develop from physical trauma to the ear from loud noises that injure various parts of the ear. In the next section, we will explore some of the most common causes of ringing in the ears and other hearing problems that are linked to a traumatic accident.
Injuries that Cause Ringing in the Ears after an Accident
1) Extreme Loud Noises
Screeching tires, crunching metal, and other loud noises that accompany a car accident can sometimes trigger ringing sounds in the ear if there is damage to the bones inside the middle ear. Even the sound and force of an airbag deploying, along with emergency alarms can harm the tiny and sensitive bones deep within the ear canal. Referred to as acoustic trauma, this condition may result in hearing loss in one or both ears.
2) Traumatic Brain Injury – TBI
Head trauma caused by an accident is commonly associated with tinnitus and hearing loss, as it can destroy the pathways in your brain that are vital to the ears functioning normally. Injuries to the skull may also impact the bones and other structures in your ear, which will have an effect on your hearing. Some cases of TBI resulting in tinnitus are mild and go away after a while, but it’s essential to get yourself checked out at a hospital to confirm that you don’t have a serious brain injury.
3) Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries
Any injury to the neck or spinal cord can cause nerve damage, which may be why you are suffering from ringing in the ears. Whiplash is the most common neck injury from an accident, and for many people, there is a delayed onset of symptoms like tinnitus and other problems with your hearing. Whiplash is particularly common in head-on and rear-end collisions, where your head is violently jostled back and forth.
4) Restricted Blood Flow
Restriction in the flow of blood during an accident causes oxygen depletion, and this may be the source of ringing or strange sensations in your ears. Please note that you may be suffering from an injury to a vein or artery in the head or neck area, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate care.
5) Stress
Accidents always come with a certain amount of stress that can elevate your blood pressure and result in a ringing sensation in the ears. Tinnitus from stress can happen from work-related stress, migraines, diabetes, and other natural causes. However, persistent ear ringing can also be a reaction to stress from a traumatic accident, which is indicative of mental health issues and not just physical injuries. Many of these patients benefit from therapy that can help them work through their emotional trauma.
6) Ear Infections
Ear infections are not normally associated with an accident, but they are surprisingly common among those who have recently been in a car accident. That’s because ear infections can be caused by any sort of damage or intrusion by a foreign object in the ear. This can cause harm to the ear canal and develop into an ear infection that causes various symptoms, including tinnitus.
How Much can I Receive if I File a Lawsuit?
The value of an injury claim for a car crash or any other accident that causes hearing problems can start at around $15,000 to $50,000 on the lower end. If you sustained serious to severe injuries with permanent complications, you may be entitled to a settlement between $250,000 and $3,000,000. These are estimates based on the majority of verdicts and settlements we have recovered over the last few decades. Thus, it’s important to note that your own settlement may fall outside of these ranges based on your injuries, how they affect your life, and many other issues.
What is the Average Amount of Time to Settle these Cases?
If the injuries you suffered are relatively minor and you are likely to experience full recovery, it’s possible to reach a settlement in less than 6 months. However, if you have a brain injury, spinal cord damage, or another serious health condition, settling your case will probably take between 1 and 2 years. Longer timelines are expected if the other side in unwilling to negotiate in good faith, and we are forced to take your case to trial. Please note, however, that around 95% of cases are settled out of court, even if you have a scheduled trial date.
However long it will actually take to obtain your settlement is not something we can predict, but our legal team is devoted to your case and getting you results in a timely manner. For a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
How Long Do I have to File a Lawsuit?
In general, the deadline to file a personal injury claim in California is 2 years from when you had the accident. The only exception applies to claim against a government entity, like a city police department or a public school district. These cases have a
6 month deadline according to the California Tort Claims Act. There are many other rules and procedures that you must be aware of when it comes to government liability claims. Considering how complicated these lawsuits can be, it’s in your best interest to hire an experienced accident injury lawyer.
If you are past the statute of limitations for an accident claim, you will need to apply for an extension with the appropriate court system. However, most people are denied additional time to file a lawsuit if they are beyond the normal window of time, which is 6 months or 2 years depending on the party you are suing. To ensure that you can go ahead with a compensation claim and obtain the funds you deserve, contact us as soon as possible.
Are You Interested in Free Legal Services?
If so, please contact our office and ask about the Zero Fee Guarantee, a policy where accident victims are charged $0 if they are eligible for an accident claim. That’s right; you pay absolutely nothing to hire a personal injury lawyer who can represent you in a lawsuit for negligence or misconduct. As a part of your settlement award, we ask the negligent entity or individual to cover attorney’s fees. That way, you pay nothing out of pocket, nor will you be responsible for any legal fees if we don’t win your case.
All you have to do is schedule a free case review with one of our legal experts. We look forward to providing you with advice and helping you determine the best way to move forward.
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