This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by Ruben Davidoff following our comprehensive editorial guidelines Ruben Davidoff ,the Founding Partner, has 30+ years of legal experience as a New York personal injury attorney.
Hearing loss can change the way you live. After a car crash, you may struggle to hear clearly, follow conversations, or return to work. These problems can make life harder and add stress to your recovery. If the crash happened because of someone else's actions, you may have the right to seek help through the legal system.
Davidoff Law helps accident victims in Queens who suffer hearing loss after motor vehicle accidents. Our legal team understands how serious these injuries can be. We know how to handle personal injury cases and work to recover fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
A trusted Queens car accident hearing loss lawyer from our firm can guide you through each step. We’re here to make sure you don’t face this process alone. You deserve a legal team that puts your needs first. Let us fight for your rights.
Table of Contents
Understanding Hearing Loss After a Car Accident
Car accidents can cause many types of injuries, including those that affect your ability to hear. Even if you don’t notice it right away, the damage can be serious. Loud sounds, sharp head movements, or trauma to the head or ears may lead to lasting hearing problems. Knowing how this happens and what signs to look for can help you take action early.
How Car Accidents Can Cause Hearing Damage
Many people don’t realize how common hearing injuries are after a crash. A sudden blow to the head can damage the inner ear. Airbag explosions, loud crashes, or even pressure changes in the vehicle can also affect hearing. In some cases, traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries may affect how your body processes sound.
Types of Hearing Loss Linked to Car Accidents
- Conductive Hearing Loss: This happens when something blocks sound from reaching the inner ear. It can be caused by fluid buildup, ruptured eardrums, or broken bones in the ear.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss: This type results from damage to the inner ear or nerve pathways. It’s often permanent and can follow a traumatic injury to the head.
- Mixed Hearing Loss: This is a mix of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Car accidents may lead to this if there are multiple types of ear damage.
- Tinnitus: A constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears. It may follow trauma and affect focus, sleep, and emotional well-being.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
If you were in a crash, pay attention to these signs:
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Trouble hearing speech
- Feeling pressure or fullness in your ears
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Pain or fluid coming from the ears
If you notice any of these, you may have suffered hearing loss. Quick action can make a big difference.
Medical Diagnosis and Treatment for Accident-Related Hearing Loss
Getting the right medical care after a car accident is very important, especially if you think your hearing has been affected. Even small changes in hearing can point to bigger problems. Fast action and early treatment may stop things from getting worse.
A proper diagnosis also helps support your personal injury claim and makes it easier to recover compensation.
Importance of Seeing a Specialist Early
Seeing a hearing specialist as soon as you notice problems is a smart step. Audiologists can run detailed tests to find the exact type and cause of your hearing loss. Early treatment may improve your condition or help you adjust to permanent changes. Medical records from these visits are also important for personal injury cases, especially when working with a Queens car accident lawyer.
Common Treatments and Long-Term Care
- Hearing Aids: Small devices worn in or behind the ear that make sounds louder. They are often used for long-term hearing support after accident-related damage.
- Cochlear Implants: Surgically placed devices that help people with severe hearing loss when hearing aids don’t work. They send signals directly to the hearing nerve.
- Medication: Doctors may prescribe drugs to reduce swelling, treat infections, or ease pain in the ears. These can support healing, especially in the early stages.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be needed to fix damaged parts of the ear or repair a ruptured eardrum caused by trauma.
- Therapy and Rehabilitation: Speech therapy or hearing rehabilitation helps patients adjust to changes in hearing. It can also reduce stress caused by communication problems.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Regular follow-ups with specialists help track progress and adjust treatment as needed. Long-term care may involve changing hearing devices or updating prescriptions.
Your Legal Rights After Suffering Hearing Loss in Queens
If you suffer hearing loss in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. In many personal injury cases, hearing loss can meet New York’s legal standard for a “serious injury,” allowing you to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages beyond no-fault coverage.
When Hearing Loss Qualifies as a “Serious Injury”
Under New York personal injury law, hearing loss may be considered a “serious injury” if it causes a permanent loss of function, affects your ability to work, or leads to long-term hardship. If your injury limits daily activities or requires ongoing treatment, it may qualify.
This status can allow accident victims to take legal action against the at-fault party and recover fair compensation. A Queens personal injury lawyer can review your case and explain your legal options.
Proving the Link Between the Accident and Your Injury
To succeed in a personal injury claim, you must prove that your hearing loss directly resulted from the car accident. This usually requires strong medical evidence, such as records showing when your symptoms began and how they progressed.
Expert opinions from audiologists can help confirm that the injury was caused by trauma, not a pre-existing condition. Your Queens car accident lawyer may also gather evidence from the accident scene, witness statements, and crash reports to show how the impact led to your hearing loss.
Who May Be Held Liable
- Negligent Drivers: A driver who caused the crash through speeding, texting, or reckless driving may be legally responsible for your injuries.
- Vehicle Owners: If the car was borrowed or rented, the owner may share liability, especially if the vehicle was unsafe or poorly maintained.
- Employers: When a crash involves a commercial driver, the company may be held liable if the driver was working at the time of the accident.
- Manufacturers: If a defective airbag or car part contributed to your injury, the vehicle or parts manufacturer could be held accountable.
- Government Entities: If poor road conditions or a lack of signage played a role, a city or state agency may be liable for unsafe road design or maintenance.
How Long Do You Have to File a Hearing Loss Injury Claim in New York?
Time limits apply to all personal injury matters in New York. If you wait too long to file your claim, you may lose your chance to recover compensation. Knowing the deadline is important, especially if you're dealing with medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care from accident-related hearing loss.
New York’s Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Injuries
In most car accident claims, New York gives accident victims three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your hearing loss was caused by a government vehicle, you may have only 90 days to file a notice of claim.
Missing these deadlines can end your case. A Queens personal injury lawyer can help you file on time and protect your right to fair compensation.
Does PIP Insurance Cover Hearing Aids or Implants in New York?
New York’s no-fault insurance system provides coverage for basic medical care after motor vehicle accidents. This includes payments through Personal Injury Protection (PIP). However, PIP may not cover everything, especially when it comes to hearing aids, implants, or long-term therapy.
Knowing what’s included can help you decide whether to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury claim.
What PIP Covers Under New York No-Fault Law
Covered by PIP | Not Always Covered by PIP |
|---|---|
Emergency room visits | Hearing aids |
Diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs) | Cochlear implants |
Basic medical treatment | Long-term hearing rehabilitation |
Hospital stays | Specialized therapy for hearing loss |
Partial lost wages (up to a limit) | Full lost wages beyond PIP limit |
Transportation for medical care | Non economic damages (like emotional distress) |
When You Can Seek Additional Compensation Outside PIP
If your hearing loss qualifies as a serious injury under New York law, you may step outside the no-fault system and file a personal injury lawsuit. This allows you to recover compensation for things PIP does not cover, like non economic damages, full lost wages, future medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you build a strong car accident case and hold the insurance company accountable.
How a Queens Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you suffered hearing loss in a personal injury accident, the legal process can feel overwhelming. That’s where New York personal injury lawyers come in.
An experienced car accident attorney can guide you through Queens personal injury cases, deal with the insurance company, and make sure you get strong legal representation from start to finish.
Investigating the Accident and Building a Strong Case
To succeed in Queens personal injury cases, your lawyer will thoroughly investigate the crash. This includes reviewing police reports, gathering medical records, and visiting the accident scene. A trusted legal team will also speak with witnesses and consult medical experts.
By building a clear connection between the car accident and your hearing loss, your legal representation strengthens your personal injury claim and protects you from unfair tactics used by the insurance company. An experienced car accident attorney helps ensure your voice is heard.
Working With Medical Experts to Prove Damages
To succeed in an auto accident claim involving hearing loss, Queens car accident attorneys often rely on expert medical support. These professionals help explain the full extent of your injuries and the care you’ll need going forward.
Experienced car accident lawyers work closely with audiologists and specialists to prove how the crash caused lasting damage. This expert input strengthens your case and helps your law firm fight for full compensation.
Handling Settlement Negotiations or Litigation
If the insurance company does not offer a fair amount, experienced car accident lawyers are ready to negotiate or take your case to court. Queens car accident attorneys understand how to value hearing loss and the long-term impact it has on your life.
Davidoff Law offers a free case evaluation and no obligation consultation so you can learn about your options without any pressure. Our law firm will stand by your side through every step.
FAQs
Can hearing loss be considered a serious injury under New York law?
Yes. Hearing loss can fall under severe injuries, especially when it limits your ability to work or live normally. If your hearing problems result from a car crash in New York City, you may be able to seek financial compensation through a personal injury claim.
What if I have other physical injuries along with hearing loss?
Many accident victims suffer injuries like neck injuries, back pain, or other physical injuries along with hearing damage. A personal injury attorney can include all injuries sustained in your claim to help you recover full compensation.
Can I still file a claim if the insurance company refuses to pay?
Yes. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer can file a lawsuit. Negligent parties can still be held responsible, and you may be able to take your case to court for justice.
What if my hearing loss was caused by poor medical care after the accident?
If your hearing loss was made worse by medical negligence or medical malpractice, you may be able to file a separate claim. An attorney can help you understand your options and whether both personal injury and medical malpractice claims apply.
Can I sue if a loved one died from related injuries?
Yes. In cases involving wrongful death claims, surviving family members may be able to sue if a loved one died due to a person’s negligence in a crash. This includes situations where hearing loss was part of a larger pattern of life-threatening injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Queens Car Accident Hearing Loss Lawyer
If you’re suffering from hearing loss after a crash, don’t wait to get legal help. At Davidoff Law, our Queens car accident hearing loss lawyer is here to support you. We handle many types of cases, including construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, and drunk driving accidents. We know how to fight for victims of catastrophic injuries and serious traumatic injury cases.
Our legal team offers comprehensive legal representation and will work hard to help you recover full compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and medical costs. Hearing loss may not always be visible, but it can change your life and we take that seriously.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. There’s no cost to speak with us and no pressure to move forward. Let our experienced team review your case and explain how we can help. You deserve justice, and we’re ready to help you get it.
Ruben Davidoff, founder of Davidoff Law, established his practice in 2012 after moving to Queens in 1988 and beginning his legal career in 1997. Admitted in NY State and the US District Court for the Eastern District of NY, he has extensive experience in personal injury, handling various cases like airline crashes, auto accidents, and slip/trip and fall cases. Mr. Davidoff provides personalized attention, recovering millions for clients through settlements or verdicts, leveraging decades of experience.
