Maryland Accident Lawyer Blog
What is the value of my ear injury lawsuit? That is a tough question to answer in the abstract because there are so many types of injuries. One common ear injury in auto accidents is a burst eardrum caused by a car accident or a slip and fall that causes a direct blow to the side of the head that can burst the eardrum. But the ear is a pretty complicated little tool and a lot of things can go wrong, particularly with the flying debris you get in a serious car accident and the damage that can be done just because of the pressure of the airbag explosion. In medical malpractice cases, there are scores of error that can occur during care and treatment of the ear. Taking all of this together, Jury Verdict Research has concluded that the median jury verdict for ear injuries is $50,000. JVR reported the same exact number in 2003. But in that study, 5% of ear injury cases resulted in verdicts over $5 million. The message: it is impossible to lump together all ear injuries to guess at verdict ranges. The question of value of the ear injury case depends on the scope and extent of the ear injury.
Ear Injury Verdicts and Settlements
YEAR / STATE
CASE / INJURY SUMMARY
RESULT
2020 – New York
A 14-year-old boy suffered a lacerated right upper ear while getting his haircut at Supercuts. His parents alleged that the Supercuts employee’s negligence caused this injury. Supercuts denied liability. This case settled for $5,000.
$5,000 – Settlement
2020 – Texas
A minor houseguest was bit by the homeowner’s dachshund. She sustained ear puncture wounds. Her mother alleged that the homeowner’s failure to restrain his dog caused her injuries. This case settled for $35,000.
$35,000 – Settlement
2019 – New York
A 10-year-old boy fell while walking on a broken curb. He suffered a left ear laceration and a closed skull fracture. His parents alleged that the City of New York’s failure to maintain safe premises caused his injuries. This case settled for $40,000.
$40,000 – Settlement
2019 – Wisconsin
A 13-year-old golf course patron’s right ear lobe was bitten by the golf course owner’s dog. He suffered ear lacerations and scarring. His parents alleged that the golf course owner’s negligence caused his injuries. They claimed he negligently allowed his dog to freely roam around the property. This case settled for $16,000.
$16,000 – Settlement
2019 – Minnesota
An Alaskan Malamute bit off a woman’s right ear lobe. The woman alleged that its owner’s failure to properly restrain it caused her injuries. The dog owner admitted liability but disputed the claimed injuries. A jury awarded the woman a $33,751 verdict.
$33,751 – Verdict
2019 – California
A man was struck by an intoxicated motorist. He suffered an eardrum rupture, an ear laceration, a clavicle fracture, left shoulder and hand numbness, rib fractures, a brachial plexus injury, a pelvis fracture, and a collapsed lung. The man underwent clavicle surgery. He alleged that the at-fault driver acted with malice when operating his vehicle. The jury awarded the man a $78,818 verdict.
$78,818 – Verdict
2018 – Illinois
A dog attacked a minor pedestrian. The boy suffered an ear amputation and unspecified injuries to his head, face, and leg. He underwent an ear reattachment procedure. The boy was left permanently disfigured. His parents alleged that the dog’s owner’s failure to control and restrain it caused his injuries. This case settled for $775,000.
$775,000 – Settlement
2018 – New York
An 11-year-old pedestrian was struck at an intersection. He suffered a right tibia fracture, a right fibula fracture, rib fractures, a collapsed lung, scapula fractures, and a partial left ear avulsion. The boy underwent multiple surgical procedures on his leg and ear. He also required a chest tube. The boy’s parents alleged that the at-fault driver’s failure to yield to a pedestrian caused his injuries. This case settled for $125,000.
$125,000 – Settlement
2018 – New Jersey
A 2-year-old girl was struck by another child while at daycare. She suffered a lacerated left ear. Her parents alleged that the facility staff’s failure to monitor the children caused her injuries. This case settled for $12,958.
$12,958 – Settlement
2018 – California
A detached ceiling fan fell on a restaurant patron. The man sustained a left ear contusion. He alleged that the restaurant’s negligence caused this injury. The man claimed it failed to maintain safe premises and timely repair the defective fan. The restaurant admitted liability but disputed the claimed injuries. A jury awarded a $50,000 verdict.
$50,000 – Verdict
2017 – Washington
A man was rear-ended at a red light. He suffered inner ear trauma, a traumatic brain injury, post-concussive syndrome, spinal nerve damage, rotator cuff tears, a right meniscus tear, and visual deficits. The man underwent several fusion and discectomy procedures. He alleged that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused his injuries. The man claimed she negligently tailgated him, excessively sped, and failed to avoid impact. A jury awarded him an $850,000 verdict.
$850,000 – Verdict
2014 – Tennessee
A woman was T-boned by a bus. She suffered a cervical strain and a temporal bone fracture that caused chronic roaring in her ear. The woman alleged at the bus driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way caused these injuries. The defense denied liability. They argued that the woman’s injury was pre-existing and caused by Meniere’s disease. The court awarded the woman a $105,000 verdict.
$105,000 – Verdict