Why Are My Ears Ringing After a Car Accident?

Key Takeaways

• Tinnitus is a hearing condition that causes sounds in your ears.
• Car accidents, among other things, including being exposed to loud noises, can cause tinnitus.
• Various car accident injuries, including whiplash, can cause tinnitus.
• Tinnitus can be temporary after a car accident, but about 20 percent of those who suffer from it after a wreck can suffer from tinnitus permanently.

Nearly 50 million Americans experience constant ringing or clicking in their ear, known as tinnitus. Tinnitus can happen to anyone after a car accident, even several weeks following a collision, and can be highly disruptive to patients. If you experience long-term hearing loss or tinnitus after a car accident, count on the compassionate car accident attorneys at Matz Injury Law to help you. You can call us at 866-226-6833 to set up a free consultation.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a hearing condition in which you experience recurring sounds filling your ears, often described as ringing, roaring, buzzing, or clicking. These sounds may be low-pitched and subtle or exceedingly high-pitched and bothersome. They do not come from an external source; only you can hear them.

Experiencing tinnitus means an issue with your auditory system somewhere, whether in the ear itself, the nerve connecting your inner ear to your brain, or the region of the brain responsible for processing sound.

How Do Car Accidents Cause Ear Injuries and Tinnitus?

Car wrecks can cause tinnitus because of the loud noise from the accident or the violent impact. Airbags explode at 160 decibels, over the threshold of 120 to 140 decibels—the pain threshold for most people.

The snapping of the head during a whiplash event or hitting your head can also contribute to tinnitus. Finally, if you rupture your eardrum in an accident, you could suffer from tinnitus.

Most Common Causes of Tinnitus in Ear After Car Accident

Various injuries can occur in a car accident, and, as a result, you may develop tinnitus because of one of them. The following accident injuries can cause tinnitus.

Whiplash

In a motor vehicle accident, the sudden, rapid movement of the neck and head back and forth can result in a whiplash injury, and this can cause tinnitus. The phantom sounds you hear can be an indicator that you have whiplash and need to seek a medical opinion.

Jaw Injury

Experiencing face or head trauma during a car accident can result in a jaw injury, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Such an injury to the jaw can cause tinnitus, possibly due to the proximity of the jaw to the inner ear.

If a ringing noise or other sound in your ear is accompanied by jaw pain or difficulty opening and closing your mouth, you may have a personal injury with damage to the TMJ.

Neck Injury

Sustaining neck injuries in an auto accident can cause some of the more severe cases of tinnitus. These injuries may damage cartilage, ligaments, or nerves in the neck.

Car accident victims often experience louder ringing, clicking, or other types of sounds in their ears, along with neck pain and headaches. If you think you have a neck injury, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be a serious injury and commonly occurs in a car crash. It can lead to tinnitus, mainly if the crash involves a blast of some type. Head injuries can damage your ear bones, the inner ear, and the nerve or brain region that helps you hear. Odd buzzing or hissing sounds are often an early sign that you suffer from a TBI.

Airbags

In car crashes, an airbag can instantly inflate, creating a roaring, loud sound that reaches high decibels. This noise, called acoustic trauma, results from a sudden burst of pressure during airbag deployment, and it may rupture or otherwise injure the inner ear.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Tinnitus Following a Car Accident?

Clicking, Ringing, or Buzzing Sounds

New sounds, often called phantom sounds, are the most reported symptom of tinnitus. You may hear clicking, ringing, or buzzing. You can also hear hissing, humming, roaring, or pulsating sounds.

Hearing Loss

You may experience hearing loss due to damage to the inner ear or eardrum when exposed to loud noises. There is also the potential for permanent hearing loss.

Ear Pain

Pain in your ear may indicate that some level of trauma occurred during your auto accident.

Insomnia

Insomnia can occur due to the distracting ringing sounds, keeping you from falling asleep.

Difficulty Concentrating

Tinnitus can interfere with normal brain activities such as concentrating. The distracting sounds may interrupt how your brain processes information daily.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders, such as depression, can be a sign of tinnitus.

If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, even days or weeks after an accident, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Foggy Thinking

Tinnitus can be distracting. It can affect one’s sleep and hearing and cause foggy thinking.

Pulsing Sensations

One type of tinnitus is pulsatile tinnitus—you can hear a whooshing sound or a steady beat that coincides with your heart rate. While this is normal if you overexert yourself, people with pulsatile tinnitus hear it when they are not overexerted.

How Long Does Ringing in the Ear Last After a Car Accident?

Following a car accident, victims often wonder how long they will have to deal with the ringing and other sounds resulting from tinnitus. These sounds can be distracting, inconvenient, and even interfere with your ability to hear.

The good news is that, in most personal injury claims, ringing in the ear goes away within a few days or weeks. Yet tinnitus can be permanent in about 20% of cases, and it can affect a person’s long-term quality of life.

• Temporary Tinnitus: Symptoms resolve after a few days or weeks.
• Permanent Tinnitus: Symptoms can be lifelong with no medical cure.

If you find yourself part of this 20%, it is time to consider whether the insurance company is pretty compensating you or if you can file a lawsuit. For help, seek legal advice and a free case evaluation with an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer.

What to Do After Suffering Tinnitus After a Car Accident

As soon as you notice tinnitus, obtain medical treatment. In many cases, the sooner you receive treatment, the greater your chance of recovering. You will need to see your regular doctor for a referral to an otolaryngologist specializing in evaluating and caring for those with tinnitus.

The otolaryngologist may refer you to an otologist, neurotologist, and audiologist to properly diagnose the cause of tinnitus.

The earlier you can obtain medical documentation of tinnitus after a car accident, the easier it will be to avoid issues with insurance companies, as the easier it will be to connect it to the car crash. Additionally, you should document symptoms as soon as they appear—even before you see a doctor.

Additional steps include:

• Speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney who has represented others with tinnitus caused by a car accident.
• Have your attorney tell your insurance company about the development of tinnitus.

Do not sign a settlement, release, or waiver if your insurance company asks you to sign a settlement. Show it to your attorney, as in most cases, the insurance company will offer the least amount possible—and it’s never the compensation you deserve.

Does Tinnitus From a Car Accident Go Away on Its Own?

In some minor cases, tinnitus can resolve on its own. However, in more severe cases, it will require medical treatment. In the case of a personal injury case, such as tinnitus caused by a car accident, always document your doctors’ visits and treatments.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Tinnitus?

Your doctor or audiologist will rely on the symptoms you report and also know what questions to ask to better understand your symptoms. Each description and answer can provide clues to diagnose tinnitus and other issues you may be experiencing.

Your doctor will also seek to determine the cause of your tinnitus, which may or may not be detectable. To start, you will undergo an examination of your head, neck, and ears, and you will also discuss your past medical history. Different tests may follow from there, including hearing tests in a soundproof room or imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan.

What is the Best Way to Treat Tinnitus?

Once your doctor provides a diagnosis of tinnitus, a few different treatments are available. Below are four of the best ways to treat tinnitus today.

Sound Masking Devices

Sound masking devices provide a preferable external noise to replace those you experience with tinnitus. The device may provide slightly louder sounds, enough to distract you from the tinnitus or full masking effects to drown out those ringing, buzzing, or clicking sounds. Examples of these external sounds include white noise, soft music, or even nature.

Sound Machines

Customized sound machines are also a treatment option for those suffering from tinnitus. This treatment starts with a medical-grade device customized with sounds tailored to your particular tinnitus. You will only wear the device occasionally, yet you may still receive benefits in the long term, such as the lessening of the intensity of the tinnitus.

Progressive Tinnitus Management

Progressive tinnitus management is an audiology program involving five levels of treatment. Each step builds in intensity, leading to using sound generators and possibly cognitive behavioral therapy at some point.

Medication

Depending on your particular needs, your doctor may prescribe medications as part of your medical treatment for tinnitus. Anti-anxiety medications will help make the tinnitus symptoms more tolerable. Antidepressants, on the other hand, may go one step further and help to reduce your tinnitus.

Your doctor may use various to treat your tinnitus or other ones, such conditionsearing aids. Managing your other symptoms will also be a priority.

Can You Sue for Tinnitus or Hearing Loss After a Car Accident?

Yes. Compensation options are available when a car accident causes tinnitus. However, you will need to document the injury, medical expenses related to the injury, and your treatments to receive compensation.

When Should I File a Lawsuit for Tinnitus After a Michigan Car Accident?

Your Michigan no-fault insurance should cover any medical expenses related to your car accident, including therapy. Yet, if insurance tries to deny or limit your coverage, you can file a lawsuit. The purpose of the lawsuit will be to obtain compensation for any unpaid medical bills and other related expenses, such as mileage to and from medical treatments or appointments and any required attendant care. You can also sue for lost wages resulting from your inability to return to work.

Furthermore, you can sue for pain and suffering if you feel your injury resulted in some serious impairment of a body function. Pain and suffering are considered a non-economic damage and address issues such as ongoing physical discomfort and pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and effects on your quality of life.

The damages you may receive for pain and suffering in Michigan will depend mainly on a few important factors, such as the severity of injuries and the length of time they may affect you. During the lawsuit, you must present evidence of injuries and how they impact your well-being. Such evidence often includes your medical records and testimony of medical professionals.

You will also need to show that the other driver is liable for your injuries, often requiring you to establish that negligence did occur. An experienced car accident lawyer can help by reviewing your personal injury case, compiling evidence, negotiating a fair settlement, and, if necessary, representing you in court.

What Damages Can You Collect from a Tinnitus Lawsuit?

In Michigan, you can recover economic and non-economic damages in a tinnitus lawsuit.

Economic Damages

Economic damages include financial losses you experience as a result of your injuries. These can include:

• Medical bills, both current and in the future, for care and treatments
• Rehabilitation expenses relating to the tinnitus
• Lost wages, both past and future

Your personal injury attorney will calculate the value of these economic damages for you and know how to seek the maximum amounts available.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are those effects that cannot easily be attributed to a dollar value. The most common non-economic damage is pain and suffering, including emotional and physical suffering.

The damages you seek in your tinnitus lawsuit will depend on your circumstances and may go beyond the most commonly sought ones mentioned here. Discuss your case with your personal injury attorney to find out what you may be eligible for.

Why Clients Choose Matz Injury Law For Injuries Caused By Car Accidents

When choosing a car accident lawyer to help with claims involving tinnitus or damage to the middle ear, choose a law firm experienced in car accidents and the medical care required to treat tinnitus.

Client Testimonials

“What a great crew at Matz Injury Law! Steve, Jared, Diane, and Kristina are top notch professionals and awesome individuals as well. Highly recommended!!!!”- Mitchell O.

“Wow! What an amazing attorney, Mr. Steven Matz. His guidance & expertise set my family’s mind at ease & we are all forever grateful for such a wonderful person.Thanks again, Mr Steven Matz~I wish could give him 10 🌟’s!”- Natasha S.

“Steve Matz was there when I needed him. Nobody expects to be a victim of a car accident but when I found myself in that situation it was overwhelming. Steve made everything easy. Steve did not accept the insurance Company’s first offer. He held out and got me a better settlement. Steve is very kind and professional. I highly recommend Matz Injury Law.”- Sharon K.

Additional Resources

• How to Prepare for a Car Accident: The last thing anyone wants to do is get into a car accident. However, you cannot control other’s actions. Learn more about being ready for a vehicle accident.
• 2024 Guide to Michigan Car Accident Lawsuits: Michigan is a no-fault state, which means how you handle recovering compensation after an accident may be slightly different.
• Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?: You can use your health insurance to cover car accident injuries, though you may have to reimburse the company once you receive your settlement.
• Do Low-Impact Car Accidents Qualify for Settlements?: Any accident that causes injuries can qualify for a settlement if you prove negligence.

Collect Compensation for Your Tinnitus

While soft ringing in your ears might not seem like a big deal to some, it can be debilitating long term, with many patients developing anxiety, depression, and insomnia as a result. At Matz Injury Law, we can help determine the actual cost of your injuries and get you the compensation you need.

Studies show that those who hire a personal injury attorney receive $77.6K in compensation compared to $17.6K for those who do not. You deserve to collect compensation for your tinnitus, and our law firm can help. Call 866-226-6833 today to schedule your free consultation, or fill out our online contact form.