If you have suffered tinnitus and feel somebody else was at fault, you could be entitled to make a tinnitus compensation claim.
We are a trusted claims management company helping people make personal injury claims for over 15 years.
Tinnitus Claims
Tinnitus can be debilitating and affect your work, sleep and daily life. If the condition was caused by someone else’s negligence, such as excessive noise at work, an untreated ear infection or a car accident, you may be entitled to make a tinnitus compensation claim.
Compensation can cover both the physical and psychological impact of tinnitus, along with any financial losses, including medical expenses, hearing aids and lost income.
To find out if you have a valid claim for tinnitus, call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a trained legal adviser.
Key points about tinnitus claims
- Eligibility: You may be entitled to claim if your tinnitus was caused or worsened by exposure to loud noise at work.
- Employer Responsibilities: Employers must assess noise risks and provide ear protection in noisy environments.
- Time Limit: You typically have 3 years from when your condition was diagnosed and linked to your work or environment.
- Compensation: Will depend on the severity of your tinnitus, its impact on sleep, concentration, mental health and any related financial losses.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will work on a no win, no fee basis — you only pay them a fee if your tinnitus claim is successful.
Table of Contents
Am I eligible to make a tinnitus claim for compensation?
Yes, you may be entitled to compensation for tinnitus if:
- Another person, such as your employer or a healthcare professional, owed you a duty of care.
- They breached their duty by acting negligently.
- You suffered ear damage that led to tinnitus as a result of this negligence.
- You were diagnosed with tinnitus in the last three years, or became aware in that period that your condition may be linked to negligence.
A free consultation with a personal injury lawyer is the quickest and easiest way to determine if you can take legal action.
Can I make a tinnitus claim against my employer?
Yes, you could make a claim for tinnitus at work if your employer failed to protect your health and safety. Prolonged exposure to loud noises in the workplace is one of the main causes of tinnitus, especially in certain industries such as:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Road maintenance
- Farming
- The military
- Aviation
- Heavy industry
- Car manufacturing
You may be able to make a claim against your employer if they breached their duties under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 or the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and failed to:
- Carry out regular risk assessments.
- Inform you about noise risks.
- Provide adequate health and safety training.
- Keep noise levels below the legal limit of 80-85 decibels.
- Use silencers on machinery to reduce noise levels.
- Install sound barriers and sound-absorbing materials.
- Provide free and suitable hearing protection.
- Allow regular breaks away from noisy areas.
You might be able to claim even if you are self-employed or a contractor, as long as it was not your responsibility to control the working environment.
Is there a time limit to make a tinnitus compensation claim?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there is usually a three-year time limit to start your claim for tinnitus. This starts from the date of your accident or from when your condition was diagnosed and linked to negligence. Exceptions include:
- You could make a compensation claim for a child at any time until they turn 18.
- There is generally no time limit to claim on behalf of a person who lacks the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings, unless and until they regain capacity.
- If you developed tinnitus due to a criminal assault, you have two years to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
- There is a 7-year time limit for claiming compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
How do I make a claim for hearing loss and tinnitus?
If you suffer from tinnitus and want to claim personal injury compensation, you should:
- Get a medical assessment to confirm your diagnosis and have your symptoms recorded.
- Report the issue to your employer if the condition was caused by workplace noise levels.
- Speak to a specialist solicitor to understand if you have a valid claim and how much compensation you may be owed.
- Gather other supporting evidence, such as noise level readings and witness statements.
- Your solicitor will send a letter of claim to the defendant and negotiate a settlement.
- If liability is denied or you can’t settle, your solicitor will issue court proceedings and prepare for a trial (less than 3% of all cases).
How much compensation can I claim for tinnitus?
Every tinnitus claim is different, and your unique circumstances will determine how much compensation you deserve if your case is successful. A personal injury claim covers two types of damages:
- Special damages for the financial losses and expenses you incurred due to tinnitus, such as medical costs, loss of earnings, hearing aids and counselling.
- General damages for the physical injury and its impact on your life, taking into account your loss of amenity, pain and suffering.
Below are some examples of compensation awards you could receive for tinnitus according to the 18th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines and your specific circumstances:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Deafness Or Tinnitus | Slight noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) or slight tinnitus | Up to £9,300 |
| Slight or occasional tinnitus with slight noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) | £9,700 - £17,000 | |
| Mild tinnitus or mild noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) | In the region of £15,000 | |
| Mild tinnitus with some noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) | £17,000 - £20,000 | |
| Moderate tinnitus and NIHL, or severe tinnitus or NIHL alone | £20,000 - £39,000 | |
| Severe tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) | £39,000 - £60,000 |
Can I claim for tinnitus on a no win no fee basis?
Yes. If you are eligible to claim compensation, you will be offered a no win no fee service. This is the preferred way of funding a tinnitus claim because:
- You do not have to pay anything to your solicitor upfront.
- You get free advice and support at every step of the claims process.
- If your case fails, you do not have to pay your solicitor at all.
Your solicitor only deducts a success fee from your compensation (capped at 25% of certain parts of your damages) if you make a successful tinnitus claim.
What evidence do I need to make a compensation claim for tinnitus?
Depending on the type of negligence that caused you to develop tinnitus, the evidence you could use to support your claim includes:
- Medical evidence, such as notes from your GP and prescription records.
- Audiology tests and ENT specialist reports.
- A medical diagnosis of any related psychological disorders.
- Accident report forms or police reports.
- Training and safety records from your workplace.
- Witness statements from co-workers regarding the workplace conditions.
- Your notes and statements from family and friends about how tinnitus affected your life.
- Photos, CCTV or dash cam footage if you suffered tinnitus in a road traffic accident.
- Proof of related financial losses and expenses.
Frequently asked questions
The noise can be continuous or intermittent, and it often worsens when the background noise is low, such as when trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. It can have a major impact on daily life, leading to:
-
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory problems
- Irritability
- Headaches
For more information about symptoms and management, see the NHS guidance on tinnitus.
- Prolonged exposure to loud noise, typically in the workplace.
- Noise-induced hearing loss causing damage to the hairs inside your inner ear.
- Ear or sinus infections.
- Head or neck trauma affecting the inner ear, nerves or the brain areas responsible for hearing.
- Certain medications, such as cancer drugs, antibiotics and aspirin.
- Medical conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis or brain tumours.
- Protect your ears from loud noise.
- Take care of your cardiovascular health to prevent tinnitus linked to medical conditions.
- Avoid or reduce alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.
- Seek prompt treatment for ear infections and blockages.
- Avoid taking medicines that are linked to tinnitus.
- Hearing aids to make external sounds louder and the tinnitus harder to notice.
- Sound maskers that provide low-level white noise to help block out the ringing.
- Relaxation techniques such as yoga and deep breathing to reduce stress.
- Acoustic neural stimulation to desensitise you to the tinnitus.
- Counselling, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
- Lifestyle changes, such as reducing nicotine and caffeine.
If you are sacked, disciplined or demoted for seeking compensation, you may have grounds to make a further claim at an employment tribunal for unfair or constructive dismissal.
If your former employer has gone out of business or gone bankrupt, your solicitor will trace their former insurer and will settle your claim through them.
