A hearing loss lawyer can help people who have suffered from hearing loss due to an accident, malpractice, or a defective product. Helen Keller once said, “blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people.” This sentiment is closely echoed by the 28 million Americans suffering from hearing loss. Hearing loss can occur for a variety of reasons. It can stem from an accident such as a motor vehicle accident or explosion. Other times, medical malpractice or a defective product may be to blame. When hearing loss is caused by someone else’s negligence, you can seek the guidance of a hearing loss lawyer.
Car accidents are known cause of an acute hearing loss. A 2003 study published in Otology & Neurotology showed that neck trauma, such as whiplash from a car accident, can cause damage to the inner ear that results hearing loss.
Airbag deployment during a collision can also result in hearing loss. According to findings presented by Dr. G. Richard Price, who received the Outstanding Hearing Conservationist Award in 2007, approximately 17% of people exposed to a deployed airbag will suffer permanent hearing loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noise about 120dB can cause immediate harm to your ears. Airbags have been shown to generate sound pressure levels over 160dB and greater.
Another cause of hearing loss from car accidents is head trauma. If your head strikes the windshield, steering wheel, or another surface during a crash, it could cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI can damage the nerve pathway between your brain and your ear. A concussion or other head injury can result in a ruptured eardrum, damage to the inner ear, damage to the middle ear, or a disruption of blood to the cochlea.
Each year many people suffer from injuries from explosions. Construction site or workplace accidents, motor vehicle accidents, gas appliance accidents, and house fires can all cause explosions that result in hearing loss. Military veterans are also at risk of hearing loss from blast explosions. Auditory injuries are among the most common primary injuries from an explosion according to an April 2009 study.
After a blast injury, a person may feel as if their ear is clogged. They may also experience ringing in the ear, hypersensitivity to sounds, vertigo, and balance loss. Initial treatments for hearing loss from explosions include
* Hemorhelogic infusion therapy with HAES and Procaine
* Cortisone administration
* Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
In many cases, hearing improvements are noted within 6 weeks of an explosion and a full recovery is often possible. Unfortunately, problems that persist longer often have no additional treatment options.
A doctor who fails to diagnosis a medical condition that results in hearing loss may be subject to a malpractice claim. A hearing loss lawyer is familiar with medical malpractice claims stemming from a doctor’s failure to diagnose conditions such as meningitis, Meniere’s disease, ear infections, tumors, or autoimmune conditions. Other malpractice claims may be the result of surgical errors.
Safety equipment intended to protect ears from hearing loss can later be found to be ineffective. This is the case with 3M dual-ended combat arms earplugs. Thousands of veterans and current military service members may be entitled to compensation due to a defective design in the earplug that allowed them to slowly loosen and expose the wearer to dangerous combat noise.
If you or a loved one suffered hearing loss due to someone else’s negligence, you can seek the advice of a hearing loss lawyer to understand your rights in filing a claim. Our personal injury attorneys at the Wieand Law Firm, LLC are familiar with these types of cases and are aggressive in fighting for their clients. We offer a free consultation to understand your situation and determine if you may be able to file a claim for damages. Contact us today at 215-666-7777 or send us a message to speak directly with an attorney.
