North Carolina and South Carolina Hearing & Eyesight Injuries
Let our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Help
The workplace can expose many employees to various types of hazards. These hazards could immediately or gradually affect hearing and eyesight, depending on the circumstances. While many employers are obligated to offer protective gear to employees, accidents can still happen. In other cases, companies could fail to provide accurate training in their use and importance, which could cause an employee to forgo protective eyewear or headphones while doing their jobs.
Industries that could expose you to dangerous sight or hearing hazards include the following:
- Logging
- Construction
- Gas-line maintenance
- Manufacturing
What Causes Hearing Damage?
Different accidents could cause deafness, both temporary and long-term. For example, a gas leak explosion could lead to ruptured eardrums (when the tympanic membrane is perforated). Ruptured eardrums could require surgery to repair the damage, but it could also result in middle ear infections and hearing loss in extreme cases. Other things, such as loud machinery, could cause damage to your hearing. Even long-term ambient noise can cause you to lose hearing over time, as it constant vibrations can cause damage to the tiny cilia in your ear, which helps you hear.
What Causes Eye Damage?
The same explosion that could cause your deafness could also create a light bright enough to burn your retinas. Workplace vision damage risks are extremely common. Tiny particles that get into the eye could cause partial or permanent blindness. Other incidents, such as an eyeball laceration from a power tool or complete blindness resulting from a chemical splash, are also possible. Over the long-term, workers exposed to constant exposure to bright lights, toxic fumes, smoke, or welding sparks can cause eye problems. Looking at a computer screen for extended periods of time can also cause eye strain and potentially debilitating migraines.
File Your Claim as Soon as Possible
If you’ve sustained a vision or hearing injury as a result of your job, seek compensation as soon as possible. Workers’ compensation claims should be filed as soon as you become aware of them. These claims have a statute of limitations on them, meaning you’re on a timer as soon as you become aware of your illness or injury. In North Carolina, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of your injury or discovery of your injury. South Carolina law, on the other hand, states employees must report any damage to their employer within 90 days. They have another 2 years after that to file a workers’ compensation claim with the State Workers’ Compensation Commission. If you miss the deadline, the insurance company will likely deny your claim.
You Deserve Compensation
If you’re not sure where to begin, we can help. The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is experienced in providing the people of North and South Carolina with the legal guidance they need. We take a personal interest in the health and wellness of our clients, and our attorneys have a genuine interest in helping them seek justice for the injuries they sustained. If your employer is responsible for your injury, you deserve time to heal and recover without worrying about where your next paycheck is coming from. Let our experienced North Carolina work injuries attorneys aggressively pursue your full compensation on your behalf.
Get your case started today by calling us at (800) 351-3008 or filling out our online form to schedule your free case consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.
