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Hearing & Vision Loss Lawsuits in North Carolina
Accident victims, in addition to their other injuries, may suffer long-term problems with their vision or hearing. Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of this, particularly when the occupant experiences a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries may also result from falls or falling objects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says roughly 1.4 million Americans endure brain injuries every year.
Common Eye Injuries
Eye injuries can be caused in automobile accidents by broken glass, deployment of an airbag, impact to the head, flying debris, and more. Airbags inflate rapidly and can cause corneal damage, detachment of an eyeball, and retina-related problems. Generally, the injury will be immediately apparent after a collision.
Injuries that take several days to appear are likely complications, such as a detached retina or related to a cataract. After a motor vehicle accident, these are the most common eye injuries that were reported in emergency rooms in the U.S.:
- Bruises/scrapes
- Foreign body in the eye
- Bleeding
- Cuts
- Inflammation
- Swelling of clotted blood
- Chemical burns
- Puncture wound
Most can be treated, but some eye injuries are more severe and may do permanent damage, including:
- Retinal detachment: The retina is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye. It is sensitive to light, and passes visual signals to the brain through the optic nerve. If the retina becomes detached through violent shaking or a puncture wound, it can lead to blindness.
- Vitreous hemorrhage: The vitreous body is a clear and rubbery layer of tissue filling the eyeball, behind the lens and in front of the retina. Trauma to the head may cause bleeding from blood vessels near the eyes that leak into the vitreous, clouding a person’s vision.
- Optic nerve damage: Trauma to the head may create pressure on the optic nerve, which transmits visual data to the brain. When blood flow is restricted, the nerve may not properly function. Vision loss may be mild, moderate, or severe, and lead to blindness.
If you experience vision problems after a blow to the head or eye, seek prompt medical attention.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss describes a weakened ability to hear sounds. Hearing impairment refers to the degree that sound must be amplified for someone to detect it. When deafness is deemed profound, the person has a hearing loss of 81 decibels or more. Of those who experience head trauma in an accident, the likelihood of hearing loss ranges from 7% to 50%.
Another injury that can cause hearing loss is a temporal fractures. Most of these injuries are mild; however, scar tissue may begin to develop that can obstruct a person’s hearing. A temporal fracture may also cause bleeding from an inner cut that travels out of the ear canal.
Dr. G. Richard Price spoke regarding airbag-related ear damage at the National Hearing Conservation Association conference recently. Somewhat surprisingly, his testing shows hearing damage is more severe when the vehicle’s windows are open due to pressure-related factors. Regulations for U.S. vehicle airbags require them to be larger and more powerful, making them more likely to cause hearing damage compared to other countries.
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Statute of Limitations in Personal Injuries Claims
Lawyers for Victims Suffering From Vision or Hearing Loss
Those who suffer a sudden impairment to key senses like vision or hearing are inclined to experience depression and anxiety. You may be faced with the inability to work, drive, or carry conversations the way you used to. If your accident was caused by another party’s negligence, that party should also be responsible for your intangible losses.
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Although our primary office location is in Wilmington, North Carolina we represent clients nationally and across the state of North Carolina. Some of the many areas we serve are listed below.
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