Kentucky Vision and Hearing Loss Attorneys

Legal help when you have lost your sight or hearing due to negligence

Loss of vision or loss of hearing are life-changing events that completely alter the way you interact with family, friends, and the world. Most people who lose their sight or hearing need assistance in order to cope with their injury, including rehabilitative care to learn to function with their losses. They may be unable to work and support themselves, or participate fully in their lives they once led.

At Wilt & Associates, PLLC, we understand the trauma of losing your vision or hearing due to an explosion, a fire, a forceful impact, or other accident. Our Kentucky personal injury lawyers have 28 years of experience working to show why your injuries happened and who is responsible. We’ll work with your doctors and our network of vision and hearing specialists to understand the full scope of your injuries and their effects. Contact us on Louisville or Lexington today to learn more about how we can help.

How can we help today?

• What are the different types of vision loss?
• What are the different types of hearing loss injuries?
• What types of accidents cause vision or hearing loss?
• What are the challenges of living with hearing and vision loss in Kentucky?
• What is the value of my Kentucky vision or hearing loss claim?
• Do you have a vision or hearing loss lawyer near me?

What are the different types of vision loss?

Vision loss is a complex issue. A person can sustain varying degrees of loss. At the highest level, vision loss is categorized in four ways:

• Central vision loss. This affects the central field of vision, and specifically the macula. It can vary in severity, meaning you may be unable to read, write, or drive. In some cases, it can be so severe that you are unable to identify people or objects.
• Peripheral vision loss. This type of vision loss affects your ability to see on your side and your upper and lower fields of vison. Peripheral vision loss can make it difficult to cross roads, navigate crowds, and climb steps. Victims may not be able to see well at night and may be sensitive to glare.
• Patchy or blurred vision. This type of vision loss includes a loss of clarity and “varying degrees of blind spots.”
• Neurological vision loss. This type of vision loss may be due to a traumatic brain injury or a stroke. The loss is usually due to damage to the occipital lobe in the back of the head. Vision difficulties can include double vision, peripheral vision loss, difficulty focusing, involuntary movement of the eyes, and other problems.

Vision loss can also include difficulty seeing colors, adjusting to different light levels, contrast sensitivity, and total vision loss.

What are the different types of hearing loss injuries?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies four types of hearing loss include:

• Conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss involves something that prevents sounds “from getting through the outer or middle ear.” Surgery or medicine can use usually treat this type of hearing loss.

• Sensorineural hearing loss. Here, there is a “problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.”

• Mixed hearing loss. This “includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss.”
• Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. This type of hearing loss “occurs when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve, sound isn’t organized in a way that the brain can understand.”

Hearing loss is graded as mild, moderate, severe, or profound.

What types of accidents cause vision or hearing loss?

At Wilt & Associates, our Kentucky personal injury lawyers represent folks who have sustained vision and/or hearing loss because od:

• Car, truck, motorcycle, and other types of vehicle accidents. Passengers and drivers who suffer a concussion or a traumatic brain injury can suffer vision or hearing loss. A loose piece of windshield glass or any debris can damage the eye or puncture an eardrum. An exploding airbag can cause temporary or permanent blindness.
• Medical malpractice. Doctors, nurses, and hospitals may be liable for vision or hearing loss if they fail to follow the standard of care that qualified doctors would have been provided. Loss of sight or hearing may be due to an improper diagnosis, birth injuries, or failure to provide proper treatment.
• Defective products. The tools, equipment, and consumer products businesses and consumers buy should work for their intended purpose. Some products such as eye solutions and ear plugs intended to help those who already have sensory problems may worsen your condition.
• Construction work and industrial work. Workers who construct buildings, widen roads, or manufacture products can suffer vision or hearing loss for many reasons. Loud bulldozers and jackhammers can cause harm if the owners fail to follow OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) safety laws. For example, many workers are required to wear helmets and goggles so their eyes and face are protected. Repetitive exposures to high decibels or toxic substances can lead to permanent loss; so, too, can the effects of explosions, electrical shocks, or other incidents.

What are the challenges of living with hearing and vision loss in Kentucky?

Both vision and hearing loss affect victims in many ways. In addition to any physical pain, many people have anxiety, depression, and other emotional difficulties.

A key issue with both types of sensory losses is helping the victim gain as much independence and confidence as possible. Even simple tasks can present challenges. For example, damage to the inner ear can lead to dizziness and loss of balance, making mobility difficult. Vision loss can affect a person’s ability to use a computer, drive, or work. If a traumatic injury or act of medical negligence leads to loss of vision or hearing, you can seek damages for those losses.

At Wilt & Associates, we work to understand all your challenges. We work with your doctors and our network of healthcare providers to help you live your life to the fullest if you have vision or hearing loss after any type of Kentucky accident.

What is the value of my Kentucky vision or hearing loss claim?

A loss of vision or hearing is life-changing, especially if the loss is total. With medical help, psychological help, and support from family and employers, many people with vision or hearing loss do lead productive and happy lives. But the financial burdens of these injuries can be substantial, and may last a lifetime.

We believe you should not be responsible for these expenses when your injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence. Wilt & Associates can help you seek damages for:

• Loss of functionality
• Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, rehabilitative care, assistive devices, and medication
• Past and future loss of income, wages, and benefits
• Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Do you have a vision or hearing loss lawyer near me?

Wilt & Associates meets clients at our offices in Louisville and Lexington: