My Insurer Won’t Pay Out For My New Tinnitus

I’ve had a recent patient, who has agreed to his anonymised case study being shared.

He was in a road accident 1-2 years ago, and he was not at fault. The other driver’s insurer offered a payout for car and general damages, but not for the tinnitus he acquired.

He was badly injured, and suffered a head strike during the accident. When he recovered in hospital, he found he had tinnitus. Tinnitus is a known effect of head injuries. In the immediate aftermath it was not his greatest concern, but after things settled it was distressing him greatly. Physical injuries improved slowly, but the psychological effect of tinnitus being thrust upon him only got worse with time.

By the time I met him, he was having trouble sleeping and concentrating, and was taking medications to help with mood and anxiety. This is a massive impact on a person’s life, but the solicitor dealing with the case was pushing him to accept a low offer. It became clear to my patient that the solicitor only wanted to close the case.

He pushed back, and instructed the solicitor to seek professional help with tinnitus treatment and rehabilitation. Finally they agreed to do so, and an intermediary rehab-sourcing company found me

I’m very pleased to report that he is doing much better now. He’s had an initial examination and his 2-hour “crash course” (Active Habituation) this month, alongside some devices to improve his ability to perceive the ambient sounds in his environment. Early days, sure, but he’s happy and he’s moving in the right direction.

Just because an insurer says no, just because a solicitor advises acceptance, does NOT mean you should accept their position. Tinnitus is a debilitating condition, until someone sets you on the right path. Months and years can be lost to tinnitus. The effects of it, when it impacts on someone’s mental health, are huge.

It doesn’t need to cost thousands to put it right, but it does have a cost attached to it, and if you have been injured it should not be your cost to bear.

Please seek professional advice before giving in to pressure from a solicitor, and remember that they are supposed to be working for you. They are billing for their hours, and you are not a nuisance for instructing them to seek damages for this condition.

If you are in the United Kingdom, I’m happy to advise you directly, and report in writing to support your case. If rehab has already been agreed in principle, your rehabilitation sourcing team can also contact me to book Active Habituation (and/or any other treatment I can supply or prescribe). All can be billed to the third party company.

It is not a matter of trying to wring as much money out of an insurer as possible. Quite often, the whole bill for assessment and treatment is just £400. The point is, that it should not be you who pays it!