Being involved in an accident, including a car accident, can be a stressful and traumatic experience. Not all injuries are immediately apparent right after the accident. A traumatic event can result in internal injuries such as organ damage, concussion, internal bleeding, and tinnitus, among others. Tinnitus, which is characterized by ringing in the ears, is more common than you might think.
Typically, this type of injury occurs as the result of exposure to a loud sound or trauma to the head. For example, car accidents often involve loud noises and violent impacts. During car crashes, victims often suffer tinnitus due to the deployment of the airbag.
When airbags deploy, the sound of deployment can be so loud that it causes damage to a vehicle occupant’s ears. In fact, the sound of airbag deployment can generate a sound pressure of over 170 decibels, which is enough to cause damage to the ears and tinnitus. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with tinnitus after an injury, speak with a knowledgeable and results-driven car accident lawyer at Arash Law.
Our California-based attorneys have several decades of experience handling personal injury cases involving tinnitus after car accidents and other traumatic events. We are committed to helping you receive the compensation to which you are entitled. Call our offices (888) 488-1391 or fill out this contact form to discuss your unique case and determine whether or not you have a case.
Why Is My Ear Ringing After an Accident?
Ringing in the ears is one of the most common and tell-tale symptoms of tinnitus. While tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears, this type of injury may sound like roaring, hissing, clicking, or even buzzing when the injured person is in a silent environment. In extreme cases, tinnitus can cause bleeding from the ears.
Tinnitus is also a common symptom of whiplash or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by trauma to the head in car accidents and other accidents. While ringing in the ears may seem like a temporary inconvenience after an accident, tinnitus could affect your hearing for the rest of your life. That is why you should seek medical attention immediately after the accident or as soon as you notice any symptoms of tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus After a Car Accident?
Car crashes are a common cause of tinnitus. Tinnitus after an automobile accident may occur when you hit your head, or the airbag deploys. Upon impact in a car crash, airbag deployment results in a deafening noise, which is loud enough to injure your eardrums.
Tinnitus is also a common symptom of traumatic brain injuries sustained in a car accident. Trauma to the head can affect a person’s ability to hear. Tinnitus and hearing loss are also related to neck injuries sustained by victims of car crashes. Often, you do not even need to hit your head to sustain tinnitus because this type of injury can result from the rapid movement of the neck backward and then forward (whiplash).
What Are the Common Symptoms of Tinnitus After an Accident?
It is important to understand the symptoms of tinnitus after a car accident, slip and fall, or any traumatic event to ensure that you receive medical treatment as soon as possible. It is advisable to see a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Hearing ringing sounds
- Hearing hissing sounds
- Hearing roaring sounds
- Hearing buzzing sounds
- Hearing clicking sounds
- Rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sounds
- Ear pain
- Bleeding from the ear
- Complete loss of hearing
- Decreased ability to hear
- Earache
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Difficulty concentration
The above-mentioned noises of tinnitus may be heard in silent environments. The noises may vary in pitch, and the victim who has tinnitus may hear them in one or both ears. Many accident victims mistakenly believe that their symptoms are temporary and, as a result, avoid going to a doctor.
However, tinnitus can disrupt your daily living, not to mention that, if left untreated, tinnitus may cause hearing problems for the rest of your life. That is why you should seek medical attention as soon as you notice any of the tinnitus symptoms mentioned above.
Why Does Airbag Deployment Cause Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a common type of injury in car crashes involving airbag deployment upon impact. In order to understand why airbag deployment causes tinnitus, you need to understand how airbags work. Upon impact, airbags in your motor vehicle use a tiny explosive to create a large volume of gas to inflate the bag. An airbag, which can deploy in about 55 milliseconds when an accident occurs, can save lives and prevent life-threatening injuries.
However, the sound of airbag deployment can be extremely loud to cause hearing loss and tinnitus. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, levels of 85 decibels for extended periods of time can cause hearing loss. The sound of airbag deployment can be greater than 170 decibels.
The sound pressure generated by an airbag explosion can be compared to the sound of a powerful rocket launch, which can produce noise of up to 180 decibels, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A decibel level of between 120 and 140 is considered the threshold of pain where hearing problems and ear damage may occur.
The loud noise of airbag deployment can cause persistent ringing in the ears, ear pain, bleeding from the ears, and other symptoms of tinnitus. In extreme cases, the damage to the ear canals can be severe enough to result in permanent hearing loss.
The acoustic trauma associated with airbag deployment can rupture or tear the affected person’s eardrums. The occupants of a motor vehicle in which an airbag is deployed upon impact in a car accident should seek medical attention as soon as possible for a speedy diagnosis and effective treatment.
Tinnitus and the Force of Impact in a Car Accident
While many victims of car accidents experience tinnitus as a result of their exposure to the loud sound of an airbag deployment, others may suffer tinnitus due to trauma to the head or physical damage to the structures in the ear. The ears are comprised of tiny and delicate bones. The violent physical force involved in an automobile crash can be severe enough to cause damage to the bones of the ear.
The bones may become dislocated, fractured, or otherwise damaged, which can result in tinnitus and other hearing problems. The force of impact in a car accident can also result in sensorineural hearing loss when parts of the brain that control hearing function are damaged. When this happens, there is a risk that ringing in the ears or other symptoms of tinnitus will be permanent.
Can Whiplash Cause Tinnitus in a Car Accident?
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered by victims of car accidents. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden jerking backward and forward. This type of injury is common in rear-end accidents.
Studies show that over 80% of people experiencing whiplash fully recover during the first year of the injury. However, many victims develop the so-called “late whiplash syndrome,” which is associated with persistent headaches, neck pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus, among others. Often, victims of car accidents do not notice or develop any symptoms of whiplash for days or even weeks after the crash. That is why it is vital to watch out for delayed symptoms after an accident.
What Are the Different Types of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus sounds are different for everyone, which is why doctors recognize three types of this condition:
- Subjective tinnitus – This one is the most common type of tinnitus in which the sound of tinnitus is only heard by the affected person. In mild cases, subjective tinnitus can last up to 12 months. In severe cases, subjective tinnitus remains for the rest of the affected person’s life.
- Objective tinnitus – This rare type of tinnitus is caused by vascular deformities or involuntary contractions of ear muscles. This form of tinnitus can be heard not only by the person experiencing it but also by others.
- Pulsating tinnitus – This condition is also known as pulsatile tinnitus. As its name implies, this type of tinnitus produces sounds aligned with the affected person’s pulse.
Keep in mind that the victim may experience tinnitus alongside other conditions such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), whiplash, and others. It is essential to begin the treatment as soon a possible to treat tinnitus and other conditions.
Can Tinnitus Damage Your Brain?
A common myth about tinnitus is that the condition indicates that the affected person’s brain is dying. In reality, tinnitus is just a symptom of structural and functional changes in the brain. A 2018 study showed that about 76% of military veterans diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury also experience tinnitus. In other words, it means that while tinnitus itself does not damage your brain, ringing in the ears and other symptoms of tinnitus after an accident could be a sign of other conditions affecting your brain.
Is a Tinnitus-Related Concussion Permanent?
Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries and concussion frequently include tinnitus, which can be a direct consequence of the head trauma causing a TBI or concussion. In most cases, a single concussion will not cause permanent damage. However, studies showed that just one concussion might cause long-term structural damage to the brain.
What to Do If You Experience Ringing in the Ears After an Accident
If you experience ringing in the ears or other symptoms of tinnitus after an accident, it is vital to visit an emergency room or hospital to determine the extent of your tinnitus and accompanying conditions. A timely and accurate diagnosis of your tinnitus will help you understand the short- and long-term prognosis and start the most effective treatment.
If you have noticed any symptoms of tinnitus after a car crash or another accident, the best thing you can do is contact a skilled personal injury attorney in California. At Arash Law, our reputable lawyers have decades of experience handling personal injury claims involving such conditions as tinnitus, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, neck injuries, and others. We offer a free consultation to prospective clients. Call (888) 488-1391 to book a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers at Arash Law.
How to Diagnose Tinnitus After a Car Accident
When you go to a doctor after your car accident, the doctor will ask you about the symptoms you are experiencing, when those symptoms appeared, and other questions before conducting a physical exam. The physical exam to diagnose tinnitus after an accident may include the examination of a patient:
- Ears
- Head
- Neck
- Oral cavity
- Oral pharynx
- Throat
- Nose
- Eyes
- Nervous system
The medical professional may also administer an audiogram, also known as a hearing test, to evaluate the patient’s level of hearing in the ears. If a doctor suspects a traumatic brain injury, they may also order diagnostic imaging tests, including an MRI and CT scan.
What Is the Treatment for Tinnitus After an Accident?
Depending on the severity of tinnitus and underlying conditions, treatment for tinnitus may include:
- Medication
- Sound therapy
- Retraining therapy
- Relief therapy
- Surgery
Tinnitus Medication
Doctors also prescribe medications to help patients relieve the constant ringing in the ears, though drugs cannot fully heal hearing problems associated with tinnitus, not to mention that medications used to treat tinnitus may cause a range of side effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Heart problems
Sound Therapy for Tinnitus
People experiencing tinnitus after an accident have a greater likelihood of recovery when participating in sound therapy combined with retraining therapy. These two therapies can effectively treat tinnitus. Sound therapy uses the “habituation” process to retrain the way the brain interprets sounds to diverts the brain’s attention from the ringing sounds and help amplify other sounds. While sound therapy may not cure the ringing in the ears, the purpose of the therapy is to teach patients to deal with the persistent noise in the ears.
Noise Machines for Tinnitus
Tinnitus-related treatment may also include the use of noise machines to suppress the persistent ringing in the ears. However, noise machines cannot be used all the time, which is why they only provide temporary relief. A doctor may also recommend hearing aids to amplify external environmental noise.
The Cost of Tinnitus Treatment
The treatment for tinnitus after an accident can be quite expensive. The cost of treatment could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention that patients affected by tinnitus may also need treatment for anxiety and depression. Ringing in the ears and other tinnitus symptoms can make you feel anxious and depressed because you are unable to enjoy the silence.
What to Do If You Have Tinnitus After a Car Accident
If you are experiencing ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing, or another noise in the ears or other symptoms of tinnitus following a car crash, follow these steps to improve your chances of success when seeking compensation:
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible. – Do not hesitate to go to an emergency room or visit a hospital after your car accident. The sooner you begin treatment for tinnitus after an accident, the better the chance of full and speedy recovery. Some symptoms of tinnitus may take days or even weeks to appear, which is why it is a good idea to seek medical attention even if you feel fine after the crash.
- Get a referral to a specialist. – If you have persistent noise in the ears following a car accident, do not forget to mention it to your doctor during a physical exam. The doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist, otologist, neurotologist, or audiologist to diagnose your tinnitus.
- Document your tinnitus. – It is important to gather medical records and documentation of tinnitus after your car accident. Besides your medical records, retain copies of all bills, receipts, and records of payment related to the diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus and other conditions after the accident. Your ability to show a link between your car crash and your injuries, including tinnitus, will make it easier for your attorney to obtain fair compensation for your financial losses and other damages.
- Speak with a California personal injury attorney. – It is in your best interests to schedule a consultation with a skilled personal injury attorney if you have been diagnosed with tinnitus after the accident. Your attorney will help you calculate the value of your claim, evaluate your future losses and expenses, negotiate with insurance companies to reach a fair settlement, handle the paperwork on your behalf, and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
- Report your accident to your insurance company. – Under California law, you must notify your insurance company if you have been involved in a car accident. If the accident is not reported in a timely manner, it is possible that your coverage may be denied.
- Do not accept a settlement or sign any documents until you have talked to your attorney. – Your personal injury lawyer is the only person looking out for your interests if you have been injured in a car accident and are experiencing tinnitus or other conditions. If an insurance company made a settlement offer, speak with your attorney to determine whether or not the proposed settlement amount reflects your losses, damages, and future expenses associated with tinnitus.
Get a free case evaluation with our California personal injury attorneys at Arash Law to discuss your particular case. Our lawyers are committed to helping you receive maximum compensation for your injuries and tinnitus after an accident. Call (888) 488-1391 for a case review.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim for Tinnitus in California
The first step in making a claim to obtain compensation for your tinnitus-related damages and losses is to report your accident to your insurance company. In most cases, there is no legitimate excuse to wait more than 24 hours to notify your insurance company of the accident. Once your claim is accepted, the insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your case to conduct an investigation.
The claims adjuster may ask you to provide a recorded statement, but you have no obligation to do so. It is best to contact a lawyer to handle the claims process and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Under California law, an insurance company has 40 days to either approve or deny your personal injury claim after receiving proof of claim (California Code of Regulations § 2695.7).
Can You Receive Compensation for Tinnitus?
Under California law, you are entitled to compensation for any bodily injuries, including tinnitus, if your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, intentional conduct, or carelessness. However, tinnitus can be difficult to prove. The insurance company may argue that your tinnitus was not the result of the car crash.
That is why it is vital to document your medical records following the accident and receive an early diagnosis of tinnitus. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Arash Law to get maximum compensation for tinnitus after an accident. Once our attorneys accept your case, we will refer you to a medical specialist for a complete evaluation to determine the extent of your tinnitus and other conditions.
Once a doctor understands the full nature of your injury, our attorneys will be able to determine how much your personal injury claim is worth. Your recoverable damages will depend on the following factors:
- The severity of tinnitus and other injuries
- The cost of your medical treatment
- The impact of your condition on your life
- Whether your tinnitus affects your ability to work
- Whether or not you are expected to fully recover
After determining the value of your claim, our attorneys at Arash Law will pursue the compensation to which you are entitled. From our own experience, the average settlement for tinnitus-related claims in California ranges from $50,000 to $250,000. However, you may be entitled to a higher amount if your tinnitus or other injuries are permanent.
The California Personal Injury Attorneys at Arash Law Help Tinnitus Victims
The dedicated and skilled attorneys at Arash Law have successfully handled hundreds of personal injury claims and lawsuits involving tinnitus. We have an unmatched record of victories in all types of personal injury cases. Our attorneys have the necessary expertise and resources to help tinnitus victims get the compensation they deserve.
We work with some of the top audiologists, otolaryngologists, otologists, neurotologists, and other medical specialists in California to help clients obtain maximum compensation on their behalf. Schedule a free no-obligation consultation with our California personal injury attorneys at Arash Law by calling (888) 488-1391.
