Hearing Loss After an Accident. How is it Caused?

You were recently in a motor vehicle accident and besides the typical physical discomfort you would expect, you have noticed an unusual symptom— hearing loss or a ringing in your ear. While you don't know how the accident could have caused a problem with your hearing, you know that the ringing sound or loss of hearing occurred right after your motor vehicle accident.

If you are experiencing this scenario, consult with a physician right away. Normally, we think of hearing loss as an age-related, degenerative condition. However, it is certainly possible that the accident caused your hearing problems.

Some signs that you may have suffered hearing loss or damage to your ears include:

• Ear pain;
• Listening to music or television louder than normal;
• Asking others to speak up when talking to you;
• Difficulty understanding what people are saying; and
• Avoiding social interactions.

Hearing loss or ear injuries can be caused by motor vehicle accidents in a few ways:

Hearing Loss After Whiplash

Scientific studies have revealed that hearing loss can be caused by direct blunt neck trauma, like whiplash. The impact of whiplash might cause an inner-ear concussion, which can cause hearing loss.

Hearing Loss After Impact to the Head

If you hit your head during the accident, the impact may have caused you to break some of the bones inside your ear, which may have caused your hearing loss. Your eardrum might not vibrate the way it should if bones in your ear are broken.

Ear Damage After Airbag Deployment

While airbags can be life-saving during motor vehicle accidents, they can also create a strong impact and loud explosive noise. The loud sound of an airbag deploying could cause pain and a ringing noise in your ears. Also, if an airbag hits your head directly, the impact could damage the bones inside your ears, potentially causing hearing loss.

If you were recently in a motor vehicle accident and began experiencing problems of hearing loss or a ringing noise in your ears soon after, you may have suffered an injury to your ears as a result of the accident. It is very important that you seek medical attention both to treat the damage and document your injuries.

You may be able to receive compensation for injuries to your ear and hearing loss if it was caused by the motor vehicle accident and the accident was caused by the negligence of another person. Medical documentation and possibly the testimony of a medical expert can be submitted as evidence to prove that the other party is responsible for your loss of hearing or the ringing noise in your ears.

If you believe that you have suffered hearing loss or other damages to your ears as a result of a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligence of another person, contact our firm right away and our experienced personal injury lawyers can assess the facts in your case and help you to collect the compensation you are entitled to.