When you shop for groceries and other items, you expect the market’s floor to be dry and free from debris. That, of course, is not always the case. If store employees do not promptly address the hazard, you may slip and fall.
A slip-and-fall accident may leave you with a variety of life-altering injuries, including broken bones and deep lacerations. Regrettably, if you slip and fall, you may also develop accident-associated hearing loss.
Whiplash
Whiplash, which happens when your head moves violently backward and forward, is a common injury in slip-and-fall cases. While whiplash often causes muscular and nerve injuries, it may also contribute to hearing loss and ringing in the ears. Specifically, whiplash may damage the sensitive parts of your inner ear. You may also experience nausea, dizziness and headaches from inner ear damage.
Traumatic brain injury
Your primary auditory cortex is on the outside of the left hemisphere of your brain. If that part of your head hits a hard surface during a slip-and-fall accident, you may develop a traumatic brain injury that interferes with your ability to hear. With a catastrophic auditory cortex injury, you may have temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Ear trauma
It is possible to damage your outer in a slip-and-fall. If you have an amputation to some or all of your outer ear, you may lose your ability to capture sound waves effectively. The same may be true if your outer ear develops scar tissue because of a fall.
Diagnosing and treating hearing loss can be both time-consuming and expensive. Ultimately, though, you may be able to pursue financial compensation from the store owner who did not provide a reasonably safe shopping environment.