Staten Island Deafness Injury

Suddenly losing the ability to hear is traumatic. It will have a profound effect on almost every aspect of your life, including your career and your ability to interact with your loved ones. One of the biggest challenges will be related to your finances as you may find yourself with significant medical bills related to the injury that caused you to lose your hearing, coupled with a loss of employment. Oftentimes a sudden loss of the ability to hear is related to an accident such as car accident, a construction accident or a fall. In other cases the hearing loss occurs over time regular exposure to loud sounds. In still other cases a medical error caused the hearing loss. In almost every case the hearing loss could have been avoided but for the negligence. If you are struggling with a serious injury that has affected your ability to hear, it is important that you immediately contact a Staten Island deafness injury lawyer who will review the details of your case and help you receive the compensation and benefits to which you are entitled.

Causes of deafness

While hearing loss can occur due to an illness or genetic issue, it can occurs occur due to trauma to the head, face or ear. Examples of accidents that can lead to hearing loss include:

• Loud working environment. Regular exposure to loud noise can eventually lead to a hearing loss. Certain work environments are so loud that federal and local safety regulations require workers to wear ear protection gear to prevent hearing loss. Examples of these types of jobs include farming, factory work, construction sites, night clubs, concert venues, and airports.
• Car accidents. Hearing loss can occur in a car accident when the airbag deploys. The loud noise that accompanies air bag deployment can cause permanent damage to the ears. A head injury in a car accident front hitting the head on the dash, steering whole or windshield can cause hearing loss.
• Falls. If you fall and hit your head on hard surface the result can be a profound and permanent loss of hearing.
• Acts of violence. During an attack the assailant my hit the victim in the head or ear with such force that the victim suffers a profound hearing loss.
• Medical mistake. A medical mistake such as a misdiagnosed ear infection could lead to permanent hearing loss.

Pursuing damages

Depending on the circumstances of your injury, you may be entitled to benefits from workers' compensation, from a personal injury lawsuit, or from Social Security disability. As a deafness injury attorney in Staten Island can explain, there are even circumstances where the victim is entitled to benefits or compensation from more than one of these sources.

If your injury occurred at work, you are probably entitled to workers' compensation benefits. Workers' compensation benefits include medical care, a percentage of your weekly wages, and vocational counseling, if needed. In order to receive workers' compensation you must file your claim according to the guidelines established, including sticking to filing deadlines.

If your injury was not caused at work and was caused by another person's negligence, you have the right to file a personal lawsuit and demand that the negligent person pay you damages to cover your losses. Compensable damages include past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity and pain and suffering.

If your hearing loss is so profound that you are unable to work at all, you may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits.

Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates

If you or a loved one suffered hearing loss due to a medical mistake or after an accident, you should contact an experienced attorney who understands the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as you may be entitled to personal injury damages or benefits. The deafness injury attorneys serving clients in Staten Island at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates are experienced in handling personal injury cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

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