While many people think of hearing loss as being exclusive to aging, workers in certain industries may sustain hearing loss due to excessive noise on the job. Work accidents often involve visible injuries, but hearing loss is considered a catastrophic injury due to the impact on the employee. Not being able to hear could impact your professional and social relationships.
When your hearing loss was caused by an accident at work, you have the right to make a claim for compensation from insurance companies. In California, employers must provide workers’ compensation benefits for on-the-job injuries. While the connection between a worker’s hearing loss and their employment is not always clear, a Glendale hearing loss lawyer could handle negotiations with your company’s insurance.
Hearing loss within the context of a work-related injury could take several forms. Determining what type of hearing loss an employee sustained in is crucial to proving that the injury was connected to a job.
This type of hearing loss refers to the immediate hearing damage from a traumatic event, like a gunshot, explosion, or injury to the ear itself. When this happens at work, it is not difficult to prove the injury was job-related.
When people are exposed to loud noises over a long period of time, it can cause hearing loss, deafness, or tinnitus. People working in certain industries like construction, manufacturing, or entertainment are more susceptible to this type of hearing damage than someone who works in an office.
Employees can sustain job-related hearing loss through exposure to certain substances. Chemicals may cause serious complications for workers, and for those in certain industries, the exposure to ototoxic substances is in conjunction with their exposure to loud noise, which can make matters worse.
When hearing loss occurs within the scope of a person’s job, they can seek workers’ compensation benefits through their employer. A Glendale hearing loss attorney at Glauber Berenson Vego could help an injured worker file a claim.
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, the employee must be able to show they sustained either partial or total hearing loss related to their job. They should report the injury right away to their employer so they can file a claim for benefits. Employers within the state are obligated to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.
Benefits should cover the reasonable cost of medical care and lost income if the employee is unable to work. Other coverage could include transportation expenses, temporary disability for missed time out of work, permanent disability for those who cannot return to their job, and death benefits for dependents.
To obtain workers’ compensation benefits for hearing loss, a doctor or medical professional must diagnose you with partial or total hearing loss. Based on their tests, you will be assigned a percentage of hearing loss.
A Glendale hearing loss lawyer could help prove the injury was work-related. Your employer’s insurance may attempt to blame age, pre-existing conditions, or other factors. Our attorneys at Glauber Berenson Vego have the knowledge and experience needed to advocate for the compensation you need.
Call our firm to discuss options with a well-versed legal professional. We could help you understand your options for pursuing benefits.
