Chicago personal injury lawyer
If your loss of hearing is due to someone else’s negligent or careless behavior, you may be entitled to compensation. Hearing loss may be caused by an accident, medical malpractice, or other type of personal injury.
Hearing loss injuries are often work related. For instance, you may work where machinery or other equipment emits loud noise. If your employer disregards the safety regulations that are pertinent to the operation of loud machinery, typically enforced by OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Administration), your employer may be liable for the damage to your hearing.
Additionally, your employer has a responsibility to warn you about all dangers in the workplace, including high noise levels. If your employer is negligent in this responsibility, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit. However, a worker’s compensation claim may be the exclusive source of compensation in such a situation.
Types of Hearing Loss Injuries
There are three common causes of hearing loss injuries. These are prolonged exposure to abnormally loud noises, exposure to a sudden extremely loud noise, or an injury to the head during a auto accident or other accident.
The two main types of hearing loss are sensorineural and conductive. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to any portion of the neural processing pathway (central nerve, inner ear, and portions of the brain that processes sound). Basically, the nerves or the brain are unable to process sound. Conductive hearing loss occurs when any part of the ear cannot physically transmit sound to the eardrum. Hearing loss can be either or a combination of these two main types.
Hearing Loss Claims
Not every injury resulting in hearing loss qualifies as a personal injury allowing the injured person can seek damages. However, depending on the circumstances, you may be able to seek compensation directly from the responsible party or their insurance company.
Some hearing loss claims result in sizeable payment for compensation—depending on several factors. These factors include whether or not the hearing loss is partial or total, if it is directly the result of another’s actions, and if you can prove your hearing was unaffected prior to those actions.
Consult with a Knowledgeable Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you love has suffered hearing loss due to another person’s careless or negligent behavior, it is important to discuss your options with an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer before agreeing to any settlement.
At Shea Law Group, we have handled many cases involving hearing loss, and we understand what it takes to achieve a positive outcome for our clients. Call and speak with a member of our legal team at (877)-365-0040 today—you will be glad that you did.
