Hearing loss is often caused by aging, diseases or genetic factors. You could also suffer hearing damage from one traumatic incident, like a car accident. For instance, you could get hit in the head or the noise of the collision could be more than your ears could handle.
Our Lafayette car accident attorneys explain how car crashes can cause hearing impairment, symptoms to watch for, treatment options and your options for filing a legal claim.
If you are experiencing hearing loss after a car accident, our experienced attorneys may be able to help you take legal action. Our firm has secured millions for those injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver. We represent crash victims at no upfront cost and an initial consultation is free.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Hearing Loss After a Car Accident?
Yes, you can pursue compensation for hearing loss resulting from a car accident. You would need to prove your case by providing evidence that the crash was caused by the other driver’s negligence and link your injury directly to the collision.
Galloway Jefcoat’s experienced legal team knows how to collect detailed evidence of a car crash. We can also work with medical experts who can provide a detailed explanation of how the crash damaged your hearing, and how the other driver’s negligence caused the collision to occur.
You may think you can just present your medical records to the liable insurance company and obtain full compensation but, the legal process is often more complicated. Insurance companies routinely deny or undervalue claims, especially those involving long-term injuries. These are just a few reasons why many victims hire experienced attorneys to manage their cases.
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Establishing the Value of Your Damages
In Louisiana, crash victims have the right to seek various damages in an injury claim or lawsuit, including:
- Medical expenses, including the cost of ongoing treatment and/or a hearing aid
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- And more
At Galloway Jefcoat, we understand that these cases are about more than just the cost of going to the doctor for treatment. Hearing loss or impairment can affect every aspect of your life. Insurance companies often downplay these effects, but our attorneys know how to establish an appropriate valuation for these damages.
How Could You Lose Your Hearing After a Lafayette Car Accident?
There are several ways that a car crash could cause hearing loss or impairment:
- Direct head trauma: You could hit your head on the window, dashboard or steering wheel during the crash.
- Airbag deployment: The sound of a deploying airbag can reach upwards of 160 or 170 decibels. Sounds over 140 decibels often cause ringing or pain in the ears.
- Noise from impact: The sound of two motor vehicles hitting each other can be loud enough to damage your hearing. This combined with the sound of the airbag could result in hearing impairment.
- Whiplash: This is a neck injury caused by forceful forward movement. For instance, in a crash your neck gets thrown forward and stopped, often because of the seat belt. This movement could cause damage to your inner ear.
- Stress and anxiety: Although stress and anxiety do not directly cause hearing loss, they can exacerbate existing medical conditions.
You might not suffer hearing loss immediately after the crash, but your symptoms could worsen in the hours or days after the collision. That said, you should still seek medical attention immediately after the crash, regardless of whether you have any symptoms.
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What Types of Injuries Could Cause Hearing Loss After a Car Accident?
Tympanic Membrane Damage/Ruptured Eardrum
Sudden changes in pressure or direct trauma could cause your eardrum to rupture. This can increase the risk of an infection.
The size and location of the tear in your eardrum is a significant factor in the severity of your hearing loss.
Ossicular Chain Disruption
This refers to the misalignment of three small bones in the middle ear that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. This is often caused by a temporal bone fracture.
Inner Ear Damage
Trauma can harm delicate structures in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. One common symptom of this injury is vertigo.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A blow to the head can affect the auditory processing centers in your brain, impairing or even taking away your hearing.
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What Are the Symptoms of Hearing Loss?
Recognizing the signs of hearing loss is crucial for timely treatment. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it may be a sign of hearing loss.
- Difficulty understanding conversations, especially in noisy environments
- Asking people to repeat themselves frequently
- Turning up the volume on devices much higher than usual
- Feeling like sounds are muffled or distant
- Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds
- Experiencing dizziness or balance issues
- Sensitivity to certain sounds
- Struggling to hear in theaters
- Not being able to locate the source of a sound
- Struggling to understand conversations in groups
- Misunderstanding things people say
- Struggling to hear conversations on the phone
- Sharp pain or discomfort in the ear
- Ringing (tinnitus), buzzing or hissing sounds in the ears
Is Hearing Loss From a Car Crash Permanent?
It depends on the severity of your injury, how soon you seek treatment, the effectiveness of treatment and other factors, like your age or genetic predisposition to hearing loss.
You should not assume hearing loss is permanent. If you struggle to hear things after a car crash, seek treatment right away. Doctors may be able to intervene to prevent further damage and restore your hearing.
How Long Could Your Hearing be Impaired After the Crash?
Hearing impairment could last for weeks, months or longer. It all depends on the type of injury suffered and whether doctors can provide effective treatment.
The sound of the collision or the airbag deploying could impair your hearing for hours or days, sort of like how a concert could cause ringing in your ears for a few hours.
If you hit your head during the crash and suffered a traumatic brain injury, hearing damage could affect you for months or even longer.
Do I Need to See a Specialist for Further Evaluation of My Hearing Loss?
While your primary care physician can perform initial assessments, you may need to see an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) to get a more detailed diagnosis of your injury. These specialists help car crash victims with hearing loss by:
- Performing a more detailed diagnostic test
- Assessing the extent and type of hearing loss
- Identifying underlying causes
- Recommending appropriate treatment options
- Providing documentation for your legal case
- Customizing treatment options, especially if injuries are long-term
Suffering From Hearing Loss After a Car Crash? Call Galloway Jefcoat
You do not have to navigate the complex legal process alone. Our attorneys negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of victims, pursuing compensation for the full cost of their medical care, pain and suffering, and other damages.
If we determine that you have a case and you hire our firm to represent you, we are prepared to manage each step of the legal process, allowing you to focus on your medical care. There are no upfront costs, and we offer a free, no-obligation consultation.
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