Hearing and Vision Loss

Hearing Damage, Impaired Sight and Blindness Demand the Skills of a NY Work Injury Lawyer

Certain workplace environments expose workers to the risk of specific job injuries that can be devastating. In many construction accidents and industrial and manufacturing accidents, a key factor is whether workers wear protective gear such as goggles, construction helmets, earplugs or headphones. If they don’t, they can end up with severe ear damage and eye injury, including loss of hearing and blindness, both of which are treated as a specific loss or claim by workers compensation insurance companies.

But before filing a workers’ compensation claim, call us. We can help make sure all the complicated paperwork is filled out correctly, and that you are not accused of trying to obtain money for a preexisting condition. The workers’ compensation attorneys at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP know how to fight for better hearing and vision loss settlements for injured New York workers.

Workplace loss of hearing or deafness changes your life

If you suffered workplace hearing damage, or deafness due to work, there could have been any number of causes. However, the main causes of occupational hearing loss broadly fall into three categories:

• Occupational noise exposure: long-term exposure to noise that causes hearing loss over time. Some examples might be machinery, power tools, music at a bar or nightclub, or vehicle noise.
• Traumatic hearing loss: a single incident that causes immediate hearing loss. Some examples include explosions, gunshots, and head injuries that directly damage the ear itself.
• Ototoxins: exposure to poisons that damage the ear. Some common ototoxins are carbon disulfide, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, trichloroethylene, xylene, lead, and mercury.

There are many reasons New York workers may experience occupational hearing loss: loud machinery, ear-splitting power tools, and construction site noises such as loud bangs from scaffolding dropping, lumber falling, gas leak explosions, heavy equipment crashing or jackhammers breaking up concrete. You may have experienced sudden, high-decibel sounds causing a ruptured eardrum so you went deaf in an instant. Or perhaps long-term ambient noises caused you to lose hearing over time. These may include constant sounds such as roaring factory machines, the hum of cars in tunnels, pneumatic nail guns or hammering in the background or loud music. In addition, hearing loss may be due to traumatic head injury at work.

Losing eyesight is a catastrophic job injury that demands legal representation

Workplace vision damage risks are also common, and can mean actual eye injury or an employee gradually losing sight. On-the-job eye accidents, which can cause a worker to become legally blind, include particles in the eye, eyeball laceration from a power tool or complete loss of vision due to chemical burn in the eyes. Often, failure to provide workers with safety goggles or other protective eyewear is the cause.

Long-term worker vision problems can arise because of constant exposure to bright lights, welding sparks, toxic fumes or smoke. Eye strain from looking at a computer screen all day can cause debilitating migraines. Whether your retina, iris, cornea or eyelid is injured, call us.

We fight for full compensation for hearing and vision loss at work

Losing your hearing or vision can dramatically change your life, and you deserve full compensation for those costs. Workers’ compensation should pay for the full cost of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for your injuries. That includes visits to an audiologist or optometrist, medical devices such as glasses and hearing aids, medications, and other medical costs. It also includes compensation for your lost wages if you are unable to work while recovering from an eye or ear injury.

In addition, permanent hearing or vision loss qualifies you for Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) benefits under New York law. An SLU award is a lump sum payment that depends on your loss of function and your pre-injury average weekly wage. We know how to navigate the system and maximize the value of your SLU award.

Ear damage or eye injury at work? Call us today.

Getting hearing and vision loss compensation after a work injury can be a difficult process. The experienced, compassionate, reliable workers’ compensation attorneys at the New York Law Offices of Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today toll-free at (800) 692-3717 or contact us online for a free evaluation. Every conversation is confidential, and we serve the entire New York City area, including Westchester County and Long Island.