Hearing loss is very common in many professions, but it is often overlooked as a workplace injury. While it is not necessarily a visible injury, it is still very frustrating and can hurt your quality of life. Workplace noise or chemical exposure can cause substantial hearing loss in the line of duty, and it can be an overwhelming process trying to get the compensation you deserve for this life-altering problem. An experienced attorney at Ponce Law can help.
Hearing loss can happen suddenly or over time. In either case, a Nashville hearing loss injury lawyer can help you find the cause and hold the responsible people accountable. Whether you are a Tennessee Highway Patrol Officer, a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Officer, or involved in another occupation with exposure to excessive noise, having strong representation from a local workers’ compensation attorney could mean the difference between receiving compensation or not.
Overexposure to certain types of workplace noises can cause the deterioration and destruction of inner ear cells that cannot be replaced. This means that serious hearing loss often cannot be repaired by surgical improvements or hearing aids. In most cases, hearing loss from excessive levels of noise in the workplace makes it more difficult to hear high-pitched noises and results in a distortion of certain words or sounds. The secondary mental effects of living with hearing loss can be strong and persistent, affecting a worker’s quality of life.
Workers who experience high levels of excessive noise exposure have also reported suffering from anxiety, fatigue, and irritability. While many workers are told that noise is “just part of the job,” this is not the case. Workers in Tennessee do not have to put up with over-the-top levels of noise in their workplace. In fact, there are regulations in the state that require the implementation of hearing conservation programs in work environments with excessive noise. Our Nashville lawyers are experienced in hearing deterioration cases and can hold companies and agencies accountable for not having these types of programs in place.
Federal and state laws require limits on workers’ exposure to excessive noise at their jobs. The higher the noise level, the shorter the amount of time the noise is permitted. The state’s OSHA Program requires employers to have workplace hearing conservation programs in place when workers are exposed to noise levels that exceed certain decibels over certain periods of time.
Employers, whether they are a company, agency, or sole proprietor, have a legal duty to protect workers from hazardous noise levels by using noise controls on machinery. They must also provide adequate ear protection to their employees. If an employer fails to monitor noise levels properly and allows workers to be exposed to excessive noise, they can be held liable for causing a worker’s hearing loss injury. If an employer fails to meet their duty, they could be held liable by a Nashville hearing loss injury attorney.
As a local, homegrown Tennessee law firm, we understand the problems that our fellow Tennesseans and clients face. Hearing loss is one such issue that many individuals experience, but may not realize could entitle them to compensation. The gift of hearing is a precious one, and if yours has been disrupted or permanently damaged, we are here to help.
Voted Nashville’s Best Law Firm by the Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards, we have won millions for our clients each year. Do not suffer in silence with hearing loss or permanently damaged hearing. Contact Ponce Law, your premier Nashville hearing loss injury lawyer.
