Can Whiplash Cause Tinnitus?

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be a sudden annoyance that may not easily go away. If you were in a car accident recently and you suffered whiplash, that could be the cause of tinnitus onset. At John Foy & Associates, our Atlanta car accident lawyer can help you get any compensation owed to you for tinnitus caused by whiplash.

How Tinnitus Stems from Whiplash and Car Accidents

Whiplash is a condition in which the ligaments and other soft tissues located within the neck and upper shoulders are stretched out of proper alignment due to the intense and rapid back-and-forth movement of the head after a car accident. Whiplash is painful and often leads to damage to the intervertebral cartilage, nerves, and ligaments. That rapid movement can also cause tinnitus to occur.

Tinnitus is a type of non-auditory sound that comes from damage to the inner ear. In some people, especially those who have been in a car accident, tinnitus can be severe, causing significant buzzing, ringing, and a high-pitched whistling sound that can interfere with proper hearing. Over time, it can also cause other complications, including depression, confusion, and trouble sleeping.

If you were in a car accident, one that was caused by another person, and you now have whiplash and tinnitus, it is critical to speak to an attorney about your options and how you can make an injury claim for whiplash after an accident in Atlanta. Our car accident attorney will work to link your symptoms to the car accident. This may allow you to pursue compensation for those losses.

What Are the Symptoms of Tinnitus After a Car Accident?

It is not always easy to link tinnitus to car accidents. You may not even realize that the onset of this condition could be related to your whiplash. However, if you have any of the following symptoms, it is wise to speak to your attorney about what the link could be:

• Ringing or whistling that you hear that no one else does
• Trouble sleeping
• Buzzing that does not go away in your ear
• Serious onset of tinnitus suddenly (in other cases, it may develop slowly over time)
• Changes in your ability to hear well
• Tinnitus that develops in a few days or up to several weeks after a car accident

Your priority needs to be to get medical care, but once you do that, your next step is to let your attorney know about what is occurring. In many situations, you may be able to obtain compensation for the condition and any consequences of it. Let our team at John Foy & Associates help you through this process.

How Does Tinnitus Come from Car Accidents?

As noted, it is common for car accidents to lead to tinnitus due to the same force of back-and-forth movement brought on by the force of a vehicle striking another. In addition to this, the airbags deploying in the vehicle can also cause damage to the inner ear. In some people, this creates acoustic trauma that creates damage to the inner ear and brings on tinnitus.

Tinnitus can take some time to develop. When you are in a car accident, the damage to these inner ear structures, along with your neck and shoulders, may not feel painful, and you may not know any damage occurred. However, in the days after a car accident, you may begin to see the onset of pain and discomfort occurring.

When you start to hear ringing in your ear or you develop pain in the area, seek out care from a medical professional right away. Follow all of the instructions for care from that provider as well. Then, let your car accident attorney know what you are facing.

You May Be Owed Compensation for Your Losses

Whiplash and tinnitus can cause numerous losses for those suffering from this condition. When you are suddenly unable to sleep, becoming depressed with your quality of life, and struggling with overall health, you may be able to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. Some types of compensation you may benefit from include:

• Medical bills that you may have from diagnosis or other medical care
• Loss of ability to work, leading to lost wages and benefits
• Financial losses from the car accident
• Ongoing treatment and the use of surgical procedures to correct serious forms of tinnitus and whiplash
• Ongoing losses related to pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma, including the onset of tinnitus that interferes with your quality of life
• Ongoing loss of quality of life
• Additional coverage for whiplash-related and other injury-related losses

Your car accident attorney will determine what your case may be worth based on how these conditions impacted your health, quality of life, and financial well-being. For those with serious conditions and long-lasting symptoms, financial support could be critical to ensuring you get the medical care you may need. Seek help from an experienced attorney who can fight for your right to compensation and explain what you should do for whiplash after a car accident.

Providing Tinnitus from Car Accidents and Whiplash Is Not Always Easy to Do

It helps to work with a highly experienced and trusted car accident attorney to help you in a case like this. It can be hard to show that your injuries were the direct result of the car accident, especially with a condition like whiplash or tinnitus that is hard to “see” in many people. With the help of a knowledgeable attorney, including one from John Foy & Associates, who has helped people in similar cases, you will have every resource possible to help you prove these losses.

Set Up a Free Consultation with a Car Accident Attorney with Whiplash and Tinnitus Experience

Put your trust in your medical care for the improvement of your symptoms, and rely on your car accident attorney to help you pursue compensation for your losses. If a car accident caused whiplash and led to the development of tinnitus, you need to have an experienced and aggressive attorney by your side. Call John Foy & Associates for immediate guidance and exceptional legal representation (and a free consultation to get you started).