Gilroy, CA Work-Related Vision and Hearing Loss Lawyers

Workers' Comp Attorneys For Employees With Impaired Hearing and Sight in Santa Clara County and Surrounding Areas

Many employees rely on their hearing and vision to perform their regular job responsibilities, but unfortunately, those very job responsibilities can sometimes lead to hearing and vision loss. Adapting to the impairment of your senses can be challenging, and it may take time before you are able to return to work in a full or partial capacity. Thankfully, if your vision or hearing loss is work-related, your employer's legally required workers' compensation coverage can provide much-needed benefits to aid in your recovery.

Workers' compensation claims involving hearing and vision loss can be complicated, especially when it comes to demonstrating that your condition is work-related and determining your eligibility for disability benefits. As such, you may benefit from the services of an experienced attorney who can guide you through the process. At Cramer & Martinez, LLP, we have served injured employees for more than 20 years, and we are committed to helping you achieve a positive outcome.

Causes of Work-Related Hearing and Vision Loss

In some cases, an employee's hearing or vision can be impaired by what you may typically think of as an injury, but in many cases, vision or hearing loss is a degenerative condition caused by long-term, repetitive exposure to environmental conditions. Fortunately, workers' compensation benefits are often available in both of these kinds of cases.

Some common causes of vision and hearing loss at work include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Severe concussions and other TBIs may occur because of a fall at work or a car accident while on the job, and these injuries can affect parts of the brain that control sensory processing. In some cases, this means a partial or total loss of sight or hearing abilities.
• Eye trauma: Sharp objects and blunt force trauma can also damage the eyes directly, resulting in vision impairment or total loss of one or both eyes.
• Eye strain: Office employees who spend long hours looking at a computer screen may experience vision loss over time, and the same can be true for welders, firefighters, and other occupations in which employees are often exposed to bright light. In some cases, vision can be permanently damaged due to one-time exposure to a high-intensity light.
• Exposure to hazardous substances: Employees who work with or near hazardous chemicals are at risk of vision loss if an accident results in direct contact with their eyes. Sometimes, fumes or particles in the air are also enough to cause damage to the eyes and other sensory organs.
• Noise-induced hearing loss: Construction workers and manufacturing employees are often at risk of hearing loss over time due to the loud noises from machinery and equipment in their work environment. One-time events with extreme noise levels, such as explosions or gunshots, can also cause hearing damage.

Challenges in the Workers' Compensation Claims Process

It is a good idea to hire an attorney early in the process if you are experiencing work-related hearing or vision loss. Workers' compensation claims of this nature are often questioned or denied on the basis that there is insufficient evidence that the impairment was caused by your work, rather than some other factor in your life. Your attorney can help you gather evidence and keep records of the impact of your work on your condition to support your initial claim, or to prepare for an appeal if your claim is denied.

Another complicated aspect of workers' compensation claims involving hearing and vision loss is the determination of disability benefits. If your condition is related to an injury that prevents you from working for several days or more, you will likely be eligible for temporary total disability benefits until you are able to return. However, hearing and vision loss are often irreversible, meaning that they could permanently impact your working abilities. If your employer can arrange for alternative work or reasonable accommodations and will continue paying you at your previous wages, then permanent disability benefits are likely unnecessary. However, if your impairment does result in a loss of wages, your attorney can help you secure long-term benefits, and possibly a Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit if you need education or skills training in order to go back to work.

Contact a Morgan Hill Workers' Compensation Lawyer

We are committed to pursuing all possible options to demonstrate that your condition is work-related and help you get the benefits to which you are entitled. Contact us at 408-848-1113 for a free consultation regarding your case in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Jose, Hollister, Salinas, Los Banos, Watsonville, Santa Clara County, San Benito County, Monterey County, Merced County, Santa Cruz County, and the surrounding areas.