Can A Car Accident Cause Hearing Loss

What To Do If A Car Accident Causes Hearing Loss

Individuals injured in a car accident can sustain multiple injuries, including whiplash, lacerations, traumatic brain injury, and hearing loss. The types of injuries sustained are determined by several factors, including the cause of the crash and force of impact.

Drivers and passengers exposed to loud noise may be affected by tinnitus or hearing loss. Also, any other type of ear injury can cause tinnitus. People with tinnitus hear phantom ringing or buzzing in their ears. A ruptured eardrum or inner ear injury can also cause hearing loss. If youve been in an auto accident that caused hearing loss, there are some critical steps you should take to protect your health and your legal rights.

What Causes Hearing Loss After A Car Accident

The following injury mechanisms are the most frequent causes of hearing impairments after a crash: a whiplash-related neck injury a traumatic brain injury that damages the auditory pathway skull fractures that damage the ear canal or the decibel level or the impact from the sudden deployment of the vehicles air bags, especially when near to the ear.

What Else Can Happen With A Tbi

Brain injuries are so traumatic because of the many symptoms they can cause. In addition to hearing loss and vision loss, someone with such a serious injury could develop behavioral issues, including aggressive behavior and impulsive behavior, or lose their sense of smell. Some will experience headaches on a constant basis. People with these injuries have a greater risk of suffering from depression, too.

Did an accident cause you to endure a traumatic brain injury? Are you now struggling with frustrating symptoms, such as a loss of hearing, loss of vision, feelings of irritability, or even depression? If you are struggling and want to know more about the rights you have to recover damages for what you have been through in Chicago, Gainsberg Law is waiting to hear from you. Call us today at or complete the contact form on our website.

Neal S. Gainsberg has spent the last 20 years fighting to protect the rights of the injured in Chicago and throughout Illinois. From consumer rights and bankruptcy to catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, Mr. Gainsberg stands up to large corporations, insurance companies, creditors and hospital administrators to ensure that his clients futures are safe and secure. Learn More

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Collision Impact And Tinnitus

While an accident victims hearing may be damaged as a result of exposure to a loud sound, it is also possible that the structures in the ear are physically damaged as a result of impact experienced in a collision.

There are a number of tiny and delicate bones within the ear. When fractured or dislocated, the accident victim may experience a number of symptoms, including tinnitus.

Can You Get Burned By An Airbag

When the airbags deflate, these substances can cause a thermal or alkali burn, complicating the friction burns directly related to contact with the rapidly expanding airbag. Other authors have noted that airbag deployment can cause burns, usually of second degree and located in the upper extremities, trunk, and face.

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Causes Of Hearing Loss

Next, its important to understand the two main types of hearing loss, conductive and sensorineural. First, you have a conductive hearing loss. This type of loss will usually occur if you have an issue with your middle or outer ear.

There are many medical complications that could cause you to experience conductive hearing loss. Causes of conductive hearing loss include but arent limited to:

• Fluid in the middle ear
• Damage to any of the three small middle ear bones
• Unresponsive eardrum

The second type of hearing loss is sensorineural. Problems with your inner ear can cause sensorineural complications. Remember the tiny hair cells found within your inner ear?

The small hairy cells, also known as cilia, are very fragile. If your ears cilia have damage, the sound will have problems reaching your auditory nerve.

Sensorineural hearing loss can be the most detrimental because its a type of nerve damage. The cilia can no longer communicate correctly with your nervous system.

As a result, the individual who suffers from sensorineural problems will have issues hearing high tones.

Hearing Loss From A Whiplash

Whiplash typically occurs when your neck and head are shaken violently back and forth, causing damage to the soft tissues and muscles around your neck. Whiplash is most common in rear-end collisions. Depending on the level, whiplash can destroy the inner structures of the ears and lead to temporomandibular disorder.

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How Can A Car Accident Cause Hearing Loss

While a car accident may entail concussive forces that candisrupt the balance of air pressure inside and outside the middle ear, mosthearing loss that occurs from car accidents actually happens due to head andneck injuries, particularly whiplash.

Whiplash occurs when the neck and head violently snap andtwist back and forth from the forces of a car accident. The victims seatbeltkeeps him or her restrained against the seat, but the head and neck are stillfree to move and will feel the brunt of the force of impact and then the suddenstop. When the neck experiences a sudden momentum shift in this manner, theevent can damage the muscles and other soft tissues of the neck and cause nerveproblems in the back, neck, and back of the head.

The force of impact that can cause whiplash may alsointerfere with the structure and nerves of the ear, resulting in an unpleasantcondition known as tinnitus. While it remains uncertain exactly how whiplashand other car accident-related injuries cause tinnitus, the link is stillclear.

Can A Car Accident Cause Hearing Loss

Although hearing loss is commonly regarded as a degenerative condition caused by aging or prolonged exposure to loud environments, it can also result from a traumatic injury. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, especially one in which the airbag deployed, you may find that your hearing has become impaired.

There are three primary ways that a car accident can cause loss of hearing: whiplash, head trauma, and airbag deployment. Below is an overview of each outcome and how they can result in serious and permanent ear injuries.

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Whats The Bottom Line

Treating patients with accident-related hearing loss is a complex and lengthy process that requires help from audiologists and other medical professionals. You may have to wear a hearing aid and be prevented from doing work that you are trained and otherwise qualified to do. If this happens to you, a Maine personal injury attorney will give you the guidance and representation that results in the settlement or award you need to move forward.

Fales & Fales, P.A. is a personal injury law firm that relentlessly seeks justice for clients. This includes ensuring that you receive fair compensation for any losses you incur due to hearing loss after a car accident. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact us.

How Car Crashes Cause Hearing Loss

You could suffer a hearing-related injury because of a:

• Airbag deployment. An airbag may save your life. However, when airbags deploy, they may sound like an explosion occurred. The high decibel levels of airbag deployment can damage your ears.
• Traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury can interfere with your brains ability to process sound. Additionally, the force that caused the brain injury could also damage the bones in your ear and interfere with hearing.

Your injuries may be apparent at the scene of the crash, or it may take some time for a doctor to diagnose your hearing issues.

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Questions Contact Us Today

If you have suffered hearing loss as a result of a car accident, you may be anxious and worried about your future. We are here to help. At Patrick Malone & Associates, we work hard to get results for our clients.

Our firm is dedicated to helping people like you get justice after an accident. We understand how challenging this time can be, which is why we are committed to advocating for you throughout the process. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with a Washington, D.C. car accident lawyer, call us at or contact us online.

How Does Hearing Loss Happen With Tbi

When you hit your head during an accident, it could damage the delicate bones inside the ear. When the ear bones are damaged because of an injury, it can become difficult for a person to hear well , and it can affect balance, too.

If the hit to the head also causes damage to the temporal lobe, the brain could have a difficult time processing the sounds after the injury. It can make others speech sound distorted, or make it difficult to modulate the volume of the victims voice.

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Disease Infections & Viruses

Many diseases, infections, and viruses can cause hearing loss. Examples include meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, measles, autoimmune diseases, blood vessel diseases, and ear infections. Ménières disease, which affects the inner ear and can also cause vertigo and tinnitus, is a notable example, though its symptoms vary from person to person.

In addition, both the measles and mumps have beenpositively correlated with the onset of hearing issues. According to the Center for Disease Control , children younger than the age of 5, adults older than the age of 20, and pregnant women who develop measles are among the most likely to experience related complications . It is not uncommon for the indirect effects of viral infections to be delayed several years after the majority of symptoms have subsided.

What To Do If You Cant Hear After A Car Accident

Whether it was caused by airbag deployment, head damage or whiplash, loss of hearing or difficulty distinguishing voices in a noisy environment may not happen immediately. If the victim was not seriously injured in the collision, auditory loss symptoms might not show immediately. In most cases, the victim may experience a burning or painful sensation, ringing in the ears, and dizziness.

If you or a loved one suffers from a loss of hearing after a car accident, the first step is to visit an ear expert who will evaluate you and find out exactly where the problem is and find an appropriate auditory aid based on your condition. If you are diagnosed with auditory impairments, you may be eligible for compensation if someone else caused the accident. The compensation should help pay for your treatment and life adjustment.

Not all insurance plans cover the entire cost of auditory devices. If you require surgery, your medical expenses could skyrocket, particularly if you have a higher deductible plan. You also need to find a qualified attorney to help you navigate through the insurance system and ensure that you receive compensation.

While a hearing loss after an accident is usually temporary, it can quickly turn permanent, especially if it is not handled with the urgency it deserves. If it is a permanent condition, surgery may be required, followed by a long-term treatment plan such as auditory devices.

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What Is The Outlook For People With Ear Injuries

The outlook varies depending on the type and severity of the injury. Many ruptured eardrums and minor ear injuries heal without treatment. In severe cases, ear and head trauma can lead to serious problems, including:

• Cerebrospinal fluid leak, which can result from fractures in the head and the base of the skull. This can sometimes lead to meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain.
• Long-term problems with balance and vertigo .
• Paralysis of the face .
• Permanent hearing loss.
• Recurring ear infections, which can happen when bacteria enter the inner ear through a torn eardrum.

Vision And Hearing Loss

While a persons vision and hearing usually decline naturally with age, a sudden traumatic event can cause loss of vision, hearing, or both. For example, a car accident can cause a traumatic head injury that disrupts the optic nerve or breaks bones around the eye. Shattered glass from a broken windshield can cause lacerations of the cornea or eyelids. Meanwhile, someone who slips and falls may suffer a skull fracture or a perforated eardrum. Another situation in which vision loss may occur is when someone uses chemicals at work to which their eyes are exposed. Workplace activities involving explosions or loud noises may cause permanent damage to hearing as well.

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What Causes Ear Injuries

There are several causes of ear injury and trauma, including:

• Accidents and injuries: Trauma from a fall, car accident or contact sports can cause serious ear injuries.
• Changes in pressure: Scuba diving and flying on an airplane can lead to a perforated eardrum.
• Foreign objects: Inserting a pen or another object into your ear canal can damage the bones, cartilage and tissue.
• Loud noises: Eardrums can also tear due to loud noises, such as gunshots, explosions and loud music concerts. Long-term exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss.

Is Total Loss Good Or Bad

A car crash can be emotionally and financially crushing. But when your car is totaled in a crash, the impact can be even more devastating. If your car is totaled, meaning your insurer has declared it a total loss, the vehicle is typically unfixable or would require repairs that exceed the vehicles value.

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Can I File A Claim For Hearing Loss Caused By A Car Crash

Posted on behalf of Goldberg Finnegan, LLC on in Car Accidents

Hearing loss due to a collision happens more often than you might think. It is a valid car crash injury that should not be ignored. Getting treatment as quickly as possible is critical to help avoid permanent hearing loss.

Learn about the types of car crash injuries that can result in hearing damages. If a negligent driver is responsible for the car crash and the subsequent damage to your hearing, we are prepared to help.

The Silver Spring car accident lawyers with Goldberg Finnegan have recovered more than $130 million in compensation for our clients. We have helped injured victims for decades and we are prepared to go to work for you pursuing the maximum possible compensation.

Call 24/7 for a free case review.

How To Protect Your Recovery From Car Accident Hearing Loss Injuries

Hearing loss may be one of your car accident injuries, or it could be your only accident injury. Either way, you have the right to recover damages if someone else caused your crash and hearing-related injury. If you pursue a legal recovery, then you may recover compensation for your past and future:

• Healthcare costs. Medical expenses include but are not limited to surgeries, hospital stays, doctors visits, medications, hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive technology to help you hear, and speech and language rehabilitation services.
• Lost income. If you cant work or if you cant earn the same income that you did before your car accident-related hearing impairment, then you may recover for your lost income. Lost income includes not only wages, but also bonuses, raises, benefits, and income from self-employment.
• Out-of-pocket costs. If you need to hire people to help you or you incur any other costs related to your injuries, then your out-of-pocket expenses should be part of your settlement or court verdict.
• Pain and suffering. You may experience significant physical pain and emotional suffering because of your hearing loss or tinnitus. These damages may be difficult to value, but they are often a considerable part of your recovery.

Our experienced car accident lawyers can help you value your pain, suffering, and other car accident damages and fight for your fair recovery.

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Average Tinnitus And Hearing Loss Settlement Amounts

Tinnitus and hearing loss injuries can be caused by exposure to extreme noise levels and physical trauma.

On this page, our lawyers look at personal injury claims involving hearing loss and tinnitus and how much of a settlement compensation payout you might expect for your injuries.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external auditory stimulus. In other words, you are hearing sounds that are not there. Typically it presents as ringing in the ears. Tinnitus may be anything from a soft whistle to a loud whine.

The ringing or sound may either be intermittent or continual. Tinnitus also causes loss of effective hearing.

Hidden Hearing Loss

Tinnitus is often called a “hidden hearing loss” because it is not always detected by conventional hearing tests. Frustrating, victims are often told their hearing is just fine.

But the suffering is very real. Often, the problem is exposure to loud noises damages the brain’s ability to listen selectively and decode words. Our lawyers get calls every days from veterans and active duty military personnel who were expose to loud noises in combat.

Challenges Tinnitus Brings

While many learn to ignore and compensate for the phantom sounds, tinnitus impacts quality of life. Tinnitus has been shown to be associated with sleeping disorders, depression, and anxiety. It may affect concentration and the ability for attentional focusing and working memory and is a condition difficult to treat.

What Causes Tinnitus?