Hearing Loss Injury Attorneys in Louisiana

Hearing loss affects millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 5% of the world’s population—more than 400 million people—suffer “disabling” hearing loss, or loss greater than 35 decibels (dB).

In the U.S., one in eight people has hearing loss in both ears, much of which is caused by another party’s negligence. If you are hard-of-hearing or have a related condition, such as tinnitus, you should know your legal rights. If you’ve been injured by a loud noise at work, or by consistent loud noises in your workplace, contact our hearing loss injury lawyers, as you could be entitled to compensation for your loss of hearing.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

A variety of injuries can lead to hearing loss. In addition, consistent damaging factors, like loud noises, can contribute to a degradation of hearing over time. Once you’ve lost some ability to hear, there’s no way to get it back.

Injuries That Can Lead To a Loss of Hearing

• Traumatic Noise is a leading cause of hearing loss. Any exposure to noise louder than 80 dB can cause permanent hearing impairment, especially with repeated or prolonged exposure. According to the CDC, noises above 100 dB can cause hearing loss in less than 2 minutes, and sounds above 120 dB like sirens and fireworks, can immediately cause injury.
• Head trauma, such as concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can damage the part of the brain that processes auditory signals, as well as the delicate structures of your inner ear. If you experience tinnitus or balance problems after a head injury, something in your inner ear has probably been damaged, and you should immediately see a doctor.
• Whiplash can also cause violent shaking of the skull, the brain, and the inner ear, which can lead to a loss of hearing. Whiplash can also damage the semicircular canal or nerves in the brainstem, which can also impact your hearing ability.

Types of Hearing Loss

There are two main types of hearing loss: sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.

• Sensorineural hearing loss refers to damage to the cochlea, inner ear, auditory nerve, or the hearing pathways of the brain. If you’re suffering from sensorineural hearing loss, you might experience tinnitus, or a persistent ringing in the ears, or you might experience sounds as too loud or too quiet. Hearing issues of this type can be caused by
  • old age
  • noise exposure
  • autoimmune diseases
  • head and neck trauma
  • chemotherapy
• Conductive hearing loss is the most common type of hearing impairment, and is caused by a physical blockage of sound waves in the ear canal between the outer and inner ear. Treatment for conductive hearing loss varies depending on the cause and severity of the issue, so a physician needs to assess your case.

How Hearing Loss Can Impact Your Quality of Life

Hearing loss is classed as a catastrophic injury because loss of hearing in just one ear can dramatically affect the victim’s quality of life. Once you have a hearing impairment, you might not be able to do the same work you were doing before the injury, or you might not be able to enjoy your life in the same way as you had been before.

Thankfully, there are now medical procedures and devices like hearing aids or cochlear implants that can help to restore some of your lost hearing, but they can be prohibitively expensive. If you suffered your hearing impairment due to another party, such as your employer or another negligent individual, you deserve compensation for the costs of those treatments. An experienced hearing loss lawyer can help you pursue your claim and get the money you need to move on with your life.

Pursuing a Hearing Loss Claim

If your hearing problems were caused by long-term exposure to loud noises at work, you could be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim. Industries where hearing loss is fairly common include the petrochemical industry, refining, and manufacturing, as well as music venues, construction, and more. If you’ve worked in one of these industries for years, have been exposed to high levels of noise over that time, and are suffering hearing loss as a result, give Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys a call for a free consultation.

You may also be able to pursue a hearing loss claim if you’ve lost hearing due to a traumatic event like a car crash or truck wreck. If the delicate parts of your inner ear were damaged during the accident, or if you’ve received brain damage to the auditory-signal-handling parts of the brain, your hearing loss could be part of the damages you seek compensation for.

Possible Compensation for a Hearing Loss Injury

Every hearing loss injury case is different, so compensation will vary depending on the particulars of your personal injury case. However, damages can result in sizable amounts of compensation, since hearing loss is classed as a catastrophic injury.

One thing to remember is that loss of hearing is only eligible for restitution if it was caused by another’s negligence. For example, if you’re experiencing hearing loss due to years of going to concerts, and neglected to wear proper hearing protection, you are probably not entitled to reimbursement.

Standards for Recovering Compensation

Whatever type of hearing damage you’ve suffered, in order to receive compensation for your damages you must prove that

• You did not willingly submit to the event that caused the hearing impairment
• The defendant had a duty of care to reasonably protect your hearing and that of others
• The defendant neglected that duty
• That neglect directly led to your loss of hearing
• You incurred damages or other expenses due to that hearing loss

When Should I Call a Hearing Loss Injury Lawyer?

If you’re experiencing a loss of hearing due to a history of exposure to loud sounds, or through a single traumatic event, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are experienced personal injury lawyers who specialize in helping hearing loss injury victims, and we’re confident we can help you in your hearing loss claim. 

Give us a call at 888.501.7888 for a free consultation. A dedicated personal injury lawyer will listen to your side of the story, give you advice on how to move forward, and start on your case right away.

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys has helped our clients recover over $3 Billion in damages for their personal injuries. When you hire us, you can trust that you’re getting quality legal representation and a dedicated legal team. In fact, the G Guarantee means if we don’t win or settle your case, you won’t owe us a dime.