If you are suffering from a form of industrial deafness, then it may be possible to make a claim for financial compensation. The compensation you may be awarded could pay for any specialist medical treatment you would like to try, or it could help you to plan for your retirement. The fact is, you are legally entitled to compensation if your industrial deafness was caused by somebody else, and it is possible to bring those responsible to account.
To have a strong industrial deafness claim, you must be able to hold a past or present employer to account. Deafness claims in industrial environments are also almost exclusively processed by insurers. What this means, is that most claims of this nature are processed by a company’s employers’ liability insurance provider. Employers’ liability insurance providers usually cover businesses for several years even after they stop trading, so it may be possible to make a claim for your industrial deafness, even if it happened some time ago.
How strong is my claim?
Since many industrial deafness claims are for hearing loss that was triggered some time ago, a significant amount of investigation is usually required to bring those responsible to account. That is why it is essential that you hire an experienced lawyer to work your claim.
You will have a strong claim, if a past or present employer’s responsibility for your industrial deafness can be proven. To do this, your lawyer will access historic health and safety policy, to build your case. Sometimes, however, all that is needed for a successful claim is confirmation that you worked for the company at the time. Often, an insurer will payout the compensation on this basis, if medical evidence is also provided to support your claim.
How can I ensure my case has the best chances of success?
Firstly, you should instruct a highly-experienced solicitor to process your claim – and that solicitor should also have relevant case experience. Solicitors who specialise in industrial deafness and hearing loss claims know how insurers operate, so they will be able to build a case on your behalf that satisfies the criteria of the other side.
Secondly, you should provide as much relevant information to your solicitor as possible. It may be difficult to do this, if you were employed several years ago, but anything that details the working practices of your employer will be useful. For example: Did your employer provide any ear protection to you? Were there any warnings about loud or repetitive noises in the workplace? This information could really help your solicitor with your claim, so it may be worth keeping a journal, so that you can write down anything that comes to mind.