New Orleans Hearing Loss Lawyer
Exposure to loud noises, day after day, can take a toll on an employee’s hearing. In fact, an employee only has to be exposed to 85 decibels (about as loud as a hair dryer or standing close to heavy traffic) in order to cause permanent hearing loss. If your occupation has caused any degree of hearing loss, a New Orleans hearing loss lawyer at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC is available to help you file a claim for compensation.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Frequent workplace exposure to 85 decibels or more can cause permanent hearing loss. In fact, the EPA and WHO both recommend keeping noise below 70 decibels to prevent hearing loss. It can be difficult to detect hearing loss because it develops so slowly. Signs of hearing loss include:
- Hearing muffled speech
- Tinnitus
- Needing to turn the TV volume up
- Withdrawal from conversations
- Reduced desire for social interactions
- Difficulty hearing consonants
- Having to ask others to repeat themselves
Complications With Hearing Loss Workers’ Compensation Claims
If a worker falls through scaffolding and breaks their leg, proving that the injury occurred on the job is straight forward. Most likely, the incident or the aftermath was witnessed by other employees. The injury would immediately be reported or made known to the employer. There would be evidence of the damaged scaffolding, a 911 call, medical reports of where and when the accident occurred, etc. But with hearing loss it is another matter. Hearing loss almost always occurs over a long period of time during which the employee is exposed to excessive decibels day in and day out on the job. First of all, in order to bring a hearing loss claim it must be established that the workplace or environment in which the employee worked met certain sound levels. If this decibel level is not reached, there is little hope of securing benefits. And even after it is proven that the work environment was loud enough to cause hearing loss, the employee still must establish:
- That they were exposed to a certain decibel level at work over a long period of time
- That they had subjective hearing loss signs, such as tinnitus, after work
- That they do have objective hearing loss as diagnosed by an audiologist
Hearing Loss From a Traumatic Event
In some cases, when prolonged exposure is not the cause of hearing loss, it may not be necessary to establish the decibel level of a work environment. Hearing loss can be caused by explosions, direct trauma to the ear, burn injuries, TBIs (brain injuries), and sudden changes in air pressure. These instances of workplace hearing loss are easier to prove, yet they still come with complications regarding the level of impairment the employee has sustained.
Call a New Orleans Hearing Loss Injury Lawyer
Hearing loss can be a socially crippling injury. But with medical advancements, most forms and degrees of hearing loss can be treated. To ensure that your employer covers these costs, as well as others, you are strongly encouraged to reach out to a New Orleans hearing loss lawyer to handle your workers’ comp claim. Call Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today at 601-488-3975 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced New Orleans hearing loss lawyers today.
