Of all the types of injuries you can suffer in a vehicle crash, most people don’t consider hearing loss. However, various types of auditory issues, including hearing loss, can occur.
Let’s look at some of the most common types of injuries that can lead to hearing loss.
Head injuries and whiplash
If you’re driving an older vehicle without a steering wheel airbag or you’re a passenger in a vehicle that doesn’t have additional airbags, you could strike your head on the steering wheel, window or another hard surface. The head injury you suffer could cause the delicate bones in the ear to fracture.
Head injuries in car crashes can also damage membranes and tissues in the ear or even rupture an eardrum. Sometimes, a lack of blood to the cochlea can cause a loss of hearing.
Even if you don’t strike your head, if you suffer whiplash because your head violently jerks back and forth, you can suffer inner ear damage.
Airbags and injuries
Having airbags in your vehicle is certainly safer than not having them. Generally, the more you have, the more protection you get in a collision. However, there are some instances where the noise of the airbag deploying – especially multiple airbags at once – can cause hearing damage.
If an airbag strikes someone’s ear – as side airbags can sometimes do, it can damage the bones in the ear. Even an airbag in front of a person can cause this damage if their head is turned when the airbag deploys.
Our hearing and our processing of speech are complicated processes. You may not realize that damage has been done immediately – especially if you’re dealing with other, more obvious injuries.
That’s why it’s important not to agree to any settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company until you’ve been fully checked out by your doctor and know the full extent of your injuries and damages. Having experienced legal guidance can help you work to ensure that you get the maximum compensation to which you’re entitled.