Minneapolis Hearing Loss Attorney
Have you sustained hearing loss as a result of a car accident that was not your fault? If so, contact Terry, Slane & Ruohonen at 612-362-0000. We will help you obtain deserved compensation.
About Hearing Loss
In a car accident, hearing loss can be caused from a direct hit to the head or from an air bag explosion. There are two types of hearing loss basically:
- Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a mechanical problem in the external or middle ear. Conductive hearing loss can be restored.
- Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a dysfunction of the inner ear or when hair cells of the cochlea are damaged. The hair cells can be damaged through various means, including a severe blow to the head or loud noises. Frequently, sensorineural hearing loss is from a traumatic injury. This type of hearing loss cannot be restored.
Seven to ten million people in American industry have noise-induced hearing loss, mostly preventable. Another area of concern is air bags. We tend to consider only the benefits of safety technology, rather than the potential negative side effects. There have been many studies conducted to determine the extent of damage air bag deployment is having on hearing. Most of the studies support the statistic that 1 in 5 people exposed to deployed air bags will suffer hearing loss.
Another surprising statistic is that it is more dangerous for the ears if a car window is down when the air bag deploys. Richard Price, a consultant at Auditory Hazard Analysis in Charlestown, Md., has done extensive research on air bag deployment and hearing loss.
“The research concludes, counterintuitively, that having car windows rolled up when airbags are deployed is actually less hazardous to the ear than rolled-down windows. This is because the higher pressure generated in the closed cabin actually prevents greater damage to the ear. The pressure causes a displacement in the middle ear that stiffens the stapes, a small bone outside the inner ear. This stiffening limits the transmission of energy to the inner ear, where hearing damage takes place. In airbag experiments where the cabin is completely sealed and pressure is even higher, hearing damage is reduced even further.”
Minneapolis Hearing Loss Attorney
Contact a Minneapolis Hearing Loss Attorney, at 612-362-0000, if you have sustained hearing loss due to negligence on the part of another. You may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, disability, and pain and suffering. We have years of experience handling ear injuries and excel at proving liability in complex medical cases. Our partners are been named Minnesota Super Lawyers many times by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine.
