Solicitors for Hearing Loss Claims

This is where hearing loss claims differ from most others. For most personal injury claims the limit is three years from the accident, but where the injury developed gradually, the three years runs from the date you knew or ought to have known that you had suffered a significant injury and that it was attributable to the exposure. That means a claim can sometimes be brought many years after the noise exposure ended.

Yes. The claim is against the employer who exposed you to the noise, and it can be brought whether or not you still work there. Where the employer no longer trades, or where the company has been dissolved, we will look into what records survive and what insurance arrangements were in place.

There is no fixed threshold in law, but claims generally need a measurable hearing loss that is attributable to the noise exposure. Minor losses may not justify a claim once the cost of the medical evidence is taken into account. The audiogram is used to assess this, and we can advise whether the loss is likely to be significant enough before incurring the cost of medical evidence.

Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears that has no external source. It very commonly accompanies noise induced hearing loss and can be as distressing as the loss itself, disturbing sleep and concentration. It can be claimed for, and its severity and effect are addressed in the medical evidence.

Using protection does not necessarily prevent a claim, because the employer may still have failed to reduce noise at source, failed to monitor levels, or failed to ensure the protection was suitable and properly worn. What matters is whether the employer did what the law required to protect your hearing, and that is something we will look at in detail.

Most hearing loss claims settle within twelve to eighteen months. They are generally simpler than injury claims because the damage is progressive and the medical evidence is largely documentary, resting on the audiogram rather than on a physical examination in the way an injury claim would.

Yes, where one is needed. The cost of hearing aids and of their upkeep and replacement over time forms part of the claim. Where the loss is likely to progress, the claim should also account for the fact that more advanced or more powerful aids may be required later.

That is common, and it does not prevent a claim. Where there has been exposure with more than one employer, claims can potentially be brought against more than one of them, each responsible for the part of the loss attributable to their period of exposure. We will look at the whole history and advise on how best to proceed.