Catastrophic Injuries That Lead to Hearing Loss

Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer Explains Catastrophic Injuries That Lead to Hearing Loss

The sense of hearing is very important for an individual’s quality of life but often is not taken very seriously. It isn’t until it is too late and the damage has been done that people get concerned about their ability to hear. Much of the damage done to ears is irreversible so it’s important to protect your ears whenever possible. Because the damage can alter your life and the life of loved ones, it’s important you consult with experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer who can evaluate your case and determine whether you deserve compensation.

Injuries That May Result in Loss of Hearing

Unfortunately, our ears are exposed to the world at all times. There’s no way to turn them off, unlike with eyesight. This leaves them vulnerable when exposed to physical danger and loud sounds, especially over time. Individuals may not notice damage creeping up on them when exposed to dangerous conditions on a daily basis. There are several ways ears and hearing may be damaged, such as:

Physical accidents – Trauma to the head may cause a loss of hearing. This can occur during car accidents or other physical events that involve blunt trauma.
Work environments – When working in loud environments, such as concert venues and construction sites, it is quite common for individuals to incur hearing damage.
Medical procedures – Some medications can be ototoxic (damaging to the ears). It also may be possible to lose hearing during surgical procedures, such as tumor removal. Hearing loss also may occur with improper treatment of ear infections or compacted earwax.

Types of Hearing Loss

The ear is relatively complicated, with several parts that can cause a loss of hearing when damaged. Below are the three main types of hearing loss:

Conductive hearing loss – This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the ear canal, eardrum, or the little bones within the middle ear (just on the other side of the eardrum). Injuries that may cause this type of hearing loss include compounded earwax or infections that are not properly treated, damage to the eardrum for example caused by a foreign body, and perforated eardrums caused by trauma.
Sensorineural hearing loss – This type of hearing loss is due to problems in the inner ear and relate to damage to the nerves. Sensorineural hearing loss may be caused by exposure to loud noises, trauma to the head, and various viruses and diseases.
Mixed hearing loss – Sometimes there are both types of damages. It is possible to have damage to the inner ear or nerve as well as the outer and middle parts.

If you have suffered any type of hearing loss from an injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Sacramento personal injury lawyer who has a skill in handling these type of personal injury cases can represent you in court during this difficult time in your life.

Hearing Loss Symptoms

People don’t often realize or want to admit when they are experiencing problems hearing. It may be embarrassing, or they just don’t want it to be true. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you may have hearing loss:

Do you frequently ask people to repeat themselves?
Do you have difficulty hearing in groups?
Do you listen to the TV or radio at volumes that bother others?
Do you often blame other people for mumbling, believing you can hear but not understand what they say?
Do you have trouble hearing when someone is speaking behind you?
Do you have trouble hearing people on the phone?
Do you often miss your alarm clock going off?
Do you have trouble hearing in the movies?

It’s important to get tested to see how severe your hearing loss is and to determine the cause.

The Aftermath

Hearing loss can affect many aspects of an individual’s life. It is difficult to communicate with others on a daily basis, which is important for many parts of life. Often, people who have hearing loss isolate themselves because it can be so frustrating trying to communicate. This can lead to depression, which creates a vicious cycle of isolation. When hearing loss is severe, it can be dangerous to drive or ride bikes, as an individual can’t hear when an emergency vehicle is approaching or the warning honks of other vehicles.

If an individual loses their ability to hear due to someone else’s negligence, for example in a car accident or at the workplace, they may have a case to receive just compensation. Speak to your local injury lawyers who can evaluate your case and determine the best course of action. Employees have the right to be protected from damaging environments but often are not offered the necessary equipment. Treatment for hearing loss and changes to one’s lifestyle can be expensive. The change in the quality of life and frequent depression that accompanies the loss of a sense deserve to be compensated.

Proving negligence can be difficult and complicated, but is the best chance for an individual to receive the compensation they deserve. It is important to seek legal advice from skilled personal injury attorneys in these situations, even when the negligence isn’t obvious or certain. An experienced law firm will be able to investigate the situation and determine whether you have a case.

Contact Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been injured do not hesitate and contact a Sacramento personal injury attorney at The Weinberger Law Firm to discuss your legal options. We have offices in Sacramento & Folsom for your convenience and have the resources and expertise to aggressively litigate your case in court, fighting to get you just compensation for your injury.

Call (916) 357-6767 today for a free consultation with our Sacramento personal injury lawyer regarding your personal injury case.