After a car accident, you may experience ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. Tinnitus is when you experience a ringing, whooshing, hissing, or clicking sound in one or both of your ears. An external sound doesn’t cause these noises, and other people usually don’t hear them.
If you or a loved one are experiencing ringing in the ears after an auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today for what steps to take next and whether or not you have the right to file a personal injury claim.
Common Tinnitus Symptoms
Tinnitus is a common symptom of many different types of injuries. If you are experiencing ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears after a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention to find the cause and get treatment.
If left untreated, tinnitus can lead to other health problems like permanent hearing loss, anxiety, depression, and stress. Therefore, it is important to get help to manage these symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What Causes Tinnitus in Car Accidents?
Tinnitus is often caused by head trauma that damages the ear or brain. Car accidents can cause Tinnitus when the head hits something hard or when the impact of the accident causes your brain to bounce around in your skull. This includes hitting your head on a steering wheel, dashboard, seat, window, or when there is a significant force exerted on the brain. Other factors that can cause Tinnitus after a car accident include:
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common car accident injury. It is caused when your head and neck are suddenly jerked backward and then forwards. This sudden movement can cause damage to the inner ear or brainstem, which leads to ringing in one or both ears after an impact.
It is important to seek medical treatment if experiencing ringing in the ears after a car accident involving a whiplash injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries/Concussions
Traumatic Brain Injuries are another type of injury that can occur in car accidents. Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused when a significant force is exerted on the brain and can lead to ringing in the ears, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, headaches, fatigue, and irritability.
Common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and cognitive problems, such as memory problems and difficulty concentrating and focusing. It can also cause changes in mood or behavior.
Chronic Neck Pain
Chronic neck pain is a condition that causes long-lasting discomfort and pain in the back of your head, shoulders, arms, or hands. This type of injury may lead to ringing in one or both ears after an accident due to damage from whiplash.
Damage To the Eardrum or Middle Ear
The eardrum is a thin membrane covering the inner ear. If damaged during an accident, it can lead to ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, headaches, fatigue, or irritability due to fluid buildup inside the middle ear, which causes pressure changes.
Airbag Deployment
When airbags deploy, they make a loud pop-like noise, damaging one’s ears. The explosion of the airbag causes tiny ear bones to fracture. Your eardrum could also rupture, along with a sudden loss in your sense of balance. All passengers present in the car when the airbag deploys could become a victim of acoustic trauma.
Can Tinnitus Be Permanent?
Tinnitus may be temporary or permanent, depending on its cause. For example, if the ringing in your ears doesn’t go away after a few days or weeks, then there is a possibility that it is a more serious condition, and may be permanent.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be a chronic condition with long-term effects on quality of life, productivity, and relationships. It can cause anxiety, depression, and insomnia and reduce your ability to concentrate at work or school.
How Can I Tell If the Car Crash Caused My Tinnitus?
Suppose you have ringing in your ears after a car accident and are experiencing other symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritability. In that case, it is likely that your tinnitus is related to the accident. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor for an evaluation to determine the cause of these symptoms.
How is Tinnitus Treated?
There is no one cure for tinnitus, and treatment may depend on its cause. For example, some people find that using hearing aids helps them cope with ringing in their ears. In contrast, others benefit from medication or lifestyle changes such as avoiding coffee and alcohol consumption.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Tinnitus After a Car Accident?
To determine whether you have a case, it is important to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who can review the facts of your situation and advise you on your best course of action.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. lawyers have successfully handled various personal injury claims and lawsuits. If you decide to file a lawsuit, we will help you gather evidence to support your claim and negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company for fair compensation.
What Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Can Do For You
The Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyers with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated we have the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources needed to conduct thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence to establish liability and negligence.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has achieved more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, one of the most respected attorney-ranking service organizations in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – there is no type of case that is too complex for us to litigate.
Compensation For Tinnitus After a Car Accident
Car accident victims with tinnitus can be fully compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The settlement amount you can collect for an ear injury depends on the diagnosis and prognosis. Your medical records and doctor’s notes will be fundamental in proving the extent of your injuries so you can be fairly compensated.
We Get You Results
Our attorneys have experience evaluating cases just like yours to determine what they may be worth and will work hard to get you fair compensation for your injuries. Here are a few of our case results:
- $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
- $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
- $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
- $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
- $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
- $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.
Contact an Accident Lawyer Today
If you are looking for the highest level representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.