If you have experienced auditory issues following an accident in Maryland, how can you go about proving your hearing loss to recover the compensatory damages you need?
In order to prove that you have suffered hearing loss because of an accident in Maryland, you will have to first go to the hospital to get your injuries diagnosed. Emergency room medical staff can treat your immediate injuries, though you may have to go to an audiologist for further testing and treatment. Using various screening and speech tests, an audiologist may be able to confirm the severity of your hearing loss. On top of proving that your hearing has been damaged, you must prove that the cause was the defendant’s negligence. We can do this by submitting additional evidence alongside your medical records, such as witness testimony, video footage, and photographs, as well as proof of your economic and non-economic damages.
By calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291, you can schedule a free assessment of your case from our Maryland personal injury lawyers.
Proving Hearing Loss in a Maryland Injury Claim
Proving that you have sustained an injury that caused hearing loss may be vital to your financial recovery following an accident in Maryland. Your medical records pertaining to hearing tests and diagnoses can allow our lawyers to prove hearing loss has occurred.
Acoustic trauma caused by loud and sudden sounds might cause short-term or permanent hearing loss in accident victims. Acoustic trauma might happen because of a powerful explosion, such as one that might happen on a construction site. The sound of impact between two cars might even cause acoustic trauma, depending on the accident. Such noises might also cause a perforated eardrum, which might heal by themselves but could lead to short-term hearing loss for several weeks or months while healing. You can prove such injuries exist by going to the hospital immediately after an accident. Victims might assume that the confusion and shock of the incident are what is causing their delayed response or hearing loss when in reality, such symptoms might be signs of a more serious injury.
There are many tests medical professionals can run to determine the level of your hearing loss. The results of such tests can be used as evidence in your case. For example, your hearing loss might be assessed by an audiologist through a pure-tone test or speech test. Physical exams of the ear might cause doctors to discover an injury that will cause permanent hearing loss, records of which can be introduced as evidence in your lawsuit to prove your injuries.
Hearing loss injuries might change over time. Continue to see your audiologist regularly to monitor your progression and generate ample medical evidence we can use to prove that you sustained hearing loss because of a recent accident in Maryland.
Proving Negligence Caused Hearing Loss in a Maryland Injury Claim
Injuries that cause hearing loss can be difficult to connect to another party’s negligent acts, as a victim’s auditory issues could be due to a pre-existing condition. Eliminating any questions about this will be important for the success of your compensation case in Maryland.
To show that your hearing loss did not exist before the accident involving the defendant, our Baltimore personal injury lawyers may submit medical records proving you had no pre-existing conditions that could have caused auditory problems. Even if you did have trouble hearing before the accident, if your condition worsened following the accident, we can enlist medical experts to provide testimony, explaining how the defendant’s negligence could have caused your hearing loss to become more severe.
On top of proving that you did not have auditory problems before the accident in question, we will also aim show that you did not contribute to your injuries. Because Maryland is a pure contributory fault state, victims who are even slightly to blame for their injuries will be blocked from filing a lawsuit and claiming damages of any kind. When building a case for the defendant’s negligence, we may interview eyewitnesses, obtain surveillance footage, review incident reports, and assess your medical records.
Proving Damages Due to Hearing Loss in a Maryland Injury Claim
Victims might incur a wide range of damages because of hearing loss injuries. Such costs can be compensated when you sue a negligent party in Maryland. To recover damages, you will have to prove you incurred them because of the defendant’s negligent or reckless conduct.
If hearing loss is permanent, victims might require the use of hearing aids and other auditory aids or devices. Depending on your specific injuries, they might be treatable through surgery, the cost of which can be compensated in your case. If you can no longer work at your previous job because of your hearing loss, you can recover compensation for missed wages as well.
Because some forms of hearing loss are untreatable, victims might experience emotional distress and a reduced quality of life as they become accustomed to their new way of living. Furthermore, hearing loss due to traumatic brain injuries might come with additional complications for victims. All of this might cause victims considerable pain and suffering, which is also compensable. The current cap on non-economic damages for most injury victims in Maryland is $935,000. In the event that you were harmed because of gross negligence, you might be awarded punitive damages if your case goes to trial.
To recover any damages at all for injuries that caused hearing loss, you will have to file your case by the deadline. According to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Maryland is three years.
Call Our Maryland Lawyers About Your Hearing Loss Injury Claim Now
The Potomac, MD personal injury lawyers of Rice, Murtha & Psoras can evaluate your case for free when you call (410) 694-7291 today.