Are You Eligible For Workers' Compensation For Hearing Loss At Work?

Some workplaces are very loud, and it can be difficult to focus and communicate. Depending on how loud your workplace is, you might also experience hearing loss. Depending on how severe your hearing loss is, you might be entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

Causes of Hearing Loss

You might be subjected to loud and repeated noises. There are ways you can protect yourself from loud noises by wearing ear muffs or ear plugs, but these might not be effective enough. Your employer might also fail to provide you with these protective devices. Regardless of who is at fault, you might be entitled to compensation because workers' comp is a no-fault system. 

How to Know if It's Too Loud at Work

If you are forced to raise your voice for others to hear you, this means that the noise in your current location is so loud that it could damage your hearing. You might begin to hear a ringing in your ears, and you might also experience temporary hearing loss when you leave work.

Make Sure to See a Doctor

When you believe that your hearing is damaged, you will want to discuss this with your doctor and might want to go see an audiologist. The audiologist will be able to diagnose your hearing problem and will then recommend a treatment option. 

In most states, you will be required to use a medically-recognized diagnostic test to prove that you have experienced hearing loss. Once you are able to prove that you have experienced hearing loss, you might be entitled to compensation through your employer's workers' compensation insurance policy.

Your Right to Compensation for Hearing Loss

You will receive compensation through permanent impairment benefits. You might then be entitled to weekly payments, or you might receive a payment in a lump sum. Your payment will be based on how much you earned at your place of work.

How to Know if You're Eligible

If you aren't sure if you're entitled to compensation for your hearing loss, it's important to speak with workers' compensation legal services. An attorney will go over your case and will help you when filing your claim to increase the odds that you will receive full compensation.

While you do not have to prove fault, you will need to prove that your injuries are work-related. For example, if you were exposed to loud noises outside of work, your hearing loss might be blamed for this instead. But by gathering enough evidence, you may be able to defend your claim and receive compensation.

Contact a law firm like Weaver Law firm to learn more. 

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