Industrial Deafness Claims

If you are experiencing hearing problems or tinnitus, and have previously worked in noisy environment, you may currently be living with industrial deafness. If this is the case, you could be entitled to claim industrial deafness compensation.

Many people think that their hearing problem is just a symptom of getting older. However, in many cases, hearing loss can be contributed to by causes other than age, such as exposure to excessive noise at work. For example, this could be from the tools or machinery they were using or, that were being used around them.

If you were exposed to excessive noise at work, you may be entitled to make a claim for industrial deafness compensation. This is something our specialist solicitors at Wolferstans will be able to help you with.

Book a free consultation with our industrial deafness solicitors in Plymouth

If you believe that you are in a position to make a claim for industrial deafness compensation, we are happy to hold a free initial conversation about how we can help. Please get in touch by calling us on 01752 292212 or use our contact form.

Navigating this page:

How our industrial deafness solicitors can help
Our expertise with industrial deafness claims
How to claim for industrial deafness
Common questions about industrial deafness claims

How our industrial deafness solicitors can help

When instructed, our expert solicitors will work to build a comprehensive case that supports your industrial deafness claim. This will typically include compiling all evidence that demonstrates you are suffering from permanent hearing loss or tinnitus and that your employer’s negligence was a contributing factor.

Our team will use their considerable expertise to recover the maximum possible compensation for your case, which can help to provide you and your family with financial security.

We offer a free initial consultation for industrial deafness claimants, so please get in touch to find out more about how we can help you with your claim.

Our expertise with industrial deafness claims

Our industrial deafness solicitors have substantial expertise in handling claims arising from high noise levels in the workplace, including those that relate to permanent hearing loss or tinnitus.

At Wolferstans, we act as a local firm, providing a local touch. Even so, we have experience in working with clients across the country, and have contact with experts in all regions.

Exposure to noise at work may have occurred many years ago or employers may no longer be trading. This is not necessarily a problem as we have the skills and resources to trace and restore companies to enable these claims to proceed.

We have acted successfully against many companies and organisations including the Ministry of Defence, National Coal Board, British Steel (Corus and Tata), and British Rail. We have acted for people employed in a wide range of industries including the dockyards, shipbuilding, light and heavy engineering, car manufacturing and weavers and spinners in the textile industry.

Our expertise is reflected by our team being on the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) Panel.

Our expertise with industrial deafness claims

Our industrial deafness solicitors have substantial expertise in handling claims arising from high noise levels in the workplace, including those that relate to permanent hearing loss or tinnitus.

At Wolferstans, we act as a local firm, providing a local touch. Even so, we have experience in working with clients across the country, and have contact with experts in all regions.

Our expertise is reflected by our team being on the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) Panel.

How to claim for industrial deafness

Establishing whether you can make an industrial deafness claim

Before you are able to pursue a claim for industrial deafness, you must first be able demonstrate that you are owed compensation due to an employer’s negligence.

Our team’s many years of experience in handling personal injury claims ensures that we understand what is required to build an effective industrial deafness claim, including the type of evidence that will be required.

Making sure that you get the maximum available compensation

We understand that accessing the maximum possible compensation for your industrial deafness claim. As such, we will always to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case, taking your needs and those of your family into consideration.

We can assist with making an industrial deafness claim that accounts for:

The financial impact – e.g. Lost income, medical fees, privately funding equipment such as hearing aids.

The personal impact – e.g. Your pain and suffering, loss of amenity (not being able to carry out the activities you once could), the time it takes it takes for your family to take care of you.

Taking over an industrial deafness claim where you are unhappy with the outcome

We often hear from clients who have started a claim with another firm, only to be left unhappy with the service they are receiving. Industrial deafness claims may be handled by solicitors who lack expertise in this area, which can have a negative impact when it comes to a final settlement.

If you are not happy with how your industrial deafness claim is being handled, our team will be happy to provide you with a second opinion and take over the case if required.

Common questions about industrial deafness claims

Industrial deafness is a hearing condition that can occur after being repeatedly exposed to excessive noise in a work environment.

Symptoms of industrial deafness can vary, but often include:

Lack of hearing in one or both ears
Tinnitus – Can present as ringing, buzzing or hissing noises
Background noise affecting hearing
Having to turn the volume up on devices such as the television
Having to ask people to repeat themselves

It may be possible to claim compensation for industrial deafness if it can be shown that you have suffered a hearing condition or tinnitus, and this was due to your employer failing to protect you from excessive noise as per government regulations.

Each individual claim is different and will vary in length depending on the individual circumstances.

If the other party admits they were at fault, you could receive compensation within as little as 12 months. On the other hand, if liability is in dispute, or you are suffering from ongoing problems, your claim may take longer to resolve.

In claims for deafness caused by noise at work court proceedings must generally be issued within three years of the date of knowledge. This is the date that you first became aware you had a significant problem with your hearing and knew, or should have known, that it was likely to be caused by workplace noise.

Often in deafness cases the exposure to the noise happened decades ago but the damage only becomes apparent at a later date.

We can advise you specifically on the facts of your case.

The amount of compensation you may be entitled to for your industrial hearing loss claim will depend on a number of factors. These can include:

Your age
Level of noise induced hearing loss
The severity of any tinnitus you may be suffering from
Whether there will be any claims for losses of salary
Whether there will be any claims for future losses – such as future costs of hearing aids
The overall strength of your claim

Every client is unique and so no two cases are ever the same. When instructed, our solicitors will be able to give you an accurate estimation of how much industrial deafness compensation you may be entitled to.

This is not necessarily an issue. We have means of tracing former employers and directors. We deal with the employer’s insurance company even if the employer is not trading.

Yes, we will obtain details of your employment history to establish which employers may have exposed you to noise. In cases where more than one employer may be liable claims can be made against each of them. Usually a contribution will be established for each employer based upon the length of service.

When you first contact us about your personal injury claim, we will take a few initial details, such as:

Your employment history
Your symptoms
Diagnosis and treatment

When we have this information, we will be able to consider whether we believe you have good prospects of winning your case. This advice will be part of your free initial consultation.