Skip to content 
Last Updated 27th October 2025. Tinnitus is characterised by hearing ringing, buzzing, whooshing, humming, hissing, and throbbing sounds, or music and singing that is not from an outside source. It can occur in one or both ears. Sometimes, it may not be clear why you developed it. However, in some cases, it can be caused by an accident involving head trauma or acoustic shock (exposure to a sudden loud noise). In these cases, you could be entitled to compensation for tinnitus.
Tinnitus compensation can be awarded for an accident at work, a public liability accident or a road traffic accident. Settlements will include compensation for the physical pain and mental suffering caused. They may also compensate for any financial losses you experienced due to tinnitus, such as your lost wages.
Key Questions: Answered
- How much compensation for tinnitus? This varies from case to case depending on how severe the injury is, how it impacts your life, and whether you suffered any financial losses due to the injury.
- What types of accidents can cause tinnitus? Any accident that involves a blow to the head or exposure to very loud and sudden noise, such as an explosion.
- I’ve suffered multiple injuries. How does this affect my claim? Settlements can award compensation for more than one injury. A solicitor can help ensure that all of your injuries are calculated when assigning value to your personal injury claim.
- What types of workplace accidents can cause tinnitus? Anything where acoustic shock is a risk, such as demolition work.
- How can a public liability accident cause tinnitus? You could suffer a slip, trip and fall, which causes a minor head injury leading to tinnitus.
As with all claims for personal injury compensation, you will need to present a clear case that proves a third party was responsible for your injuries. That’s where Advice comes in. If you contact one of our advisors today, they will assess your tinnitus personal injury claim. From there, they can estimate how much compensation you could be awarded as well as advise on what items you could collect to strengthen your claim. Additionally, if you wish to pursue your compensation claim with Advice, they can connect you to one of our solicitors. They offer their services under a type of No Win No Fee contract, which means you won’t have to pay any solicitor’s fees upfront.
Contact our advisors today by:
- Calling 0161 509 2856
- Contacting us online
- Using our live chat
Chat With Us Today
Select A Section
- What Is The Average Payout For Hearing Loss?
- Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Tinnitus?
- How To Claim Compensation For Tinnitus?
- Time Limits When Claiming For Tinnitus
- Common Causes Of Tinnitus
- Evidence To Support Your Tinnitus Claim
- Will My Job Be At Risk If I Seek Compensation For Tinnitus?
- Claim Compensation For Tinnitus On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Advice For People With Tinnitus
What Is The Average Payout For Hearing Loss?
To get the average payout for hearing loss, you would need to know how many successful claimants there were in a given time span and how much compensation each one was awarded. From there, add the total figures for the settlements and divide the result by the number of successful claimants.
Factors that affect the average tinnitus payout include:
- General damages – compensation awarded for the physical pain, emotional damage and any loss of amenity (loss of enjoyment of activities that were previously brought enjoyment, such as no longer being able to make music or go to concerts).
- Special damages – compensation awarded for the financial hardships caused by tinnitus. This can cover anything from medical treatments, a personal assistant to help manage vital phone calls and lost wages. We go into more detail shortly.
These amounts will vary between successful claims because every case is unique. The best way to find out how much compensation for tinnitus you could be awarded is to chat with an advisor. They can provide an estimate based on the unique circumstances of your personal injury claim.
Compensation For Tinnitus – How Are General Damages Calculated?
To assign value to your pain and suffering, those responsible for calculating your general damages part of your compensation for tinnitus may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document lists guideline compensation brackets for different types of injuries and harms.
Our table below utilises this document, except for the figure in the first row, which is included to demonstrate how you could be compensated for multiple injuries plus any financial losses caused by tinnitus and hearing loss. Please only use it as a guide.
| Injury | Severity | Details | Guideline Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages | Very Serious | Very severe injuries with expenses, including loss of earnings, hearing aids and a personal assistant. | Up to or over £500,000 |
| Brain Damage | Moderate (i) | Effects on senses, moderate to severe intellectual deficit, personality change and significant epilepsy risk. | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Moderate (ii) | Ability to work is reduced if not removed due to moderate to modest intellectual deficit, and some risk of epilepsy. | £110,720 to £183,190 | |
| Moderate (iii) | Vestibular symptoms with an effect on the senses, possible fatigue, memory and concentration are affected and a small epilepsy risk. | £52,550 to £110,720 | |
| Deafness and Tinnitus | Loss of Speech and Total Deafness | Deafness occurred at an early age, preventing or seriously affecting normal speech development. | £133,810 to £171,680 |
| Total Deafness | At the higher end of the bracket, there is a speech deficit and/or tinnitus. | £110,750 to £133,810 | |
| Total Loss of Hearing in One Ear | The higher end of the bracket applies to associated problems, including tinnitus, dizziness or headaches. | £38,210 to £55,570 | |
| Partial Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus (i) | Severe tinnitus with hearing loss. | £36,260 to £55,570 | |
| Partial Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus (ii) | This bracket applies to either moderate tinnitus with hearing loss or severe tinnitus or hearing loss alone. | £18,180 to £36,260 | |
| Partial Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus (iii) | Mild tinnitus with some hearing loss. | £15,370 to £18,180 | |
| Partial Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus (v) | Slight/occasional tinnitus with slight hearing loss. | £8,890 to £15,370 | |
| Partial Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus (iv) | Mild tinnitus or mild hearing loss. | Around £14,300 | |
| Hearing Aids - The Acceleration of Needing, or Time-Limited Use Of | Hearing aids have been needed, such as until surgical cure. | £6,100 to £11,840 | |
| Partial Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus (vi) | Either slight tinnitus without hearing loss or slight hearing loss without tinnitus. | Up to £8,560 |
Tinnitus Compensation – What Are Special Damages?
Special damages, as stated above, are part of your settlement that compensates for the financial losses you suffered due to tinnitus. You will need documentation to recover these losses, such as bank statements, wage slips, invoices and receipts.
Items that you could be compensated for include:
- Lost wages.
- Costs associated with hiring a personal assistant to manage phone calls and verbal communication.
- Sign language learning costs.
- Hearing aid costs.
- Medical costs, including prescriptions.
- Therapy costs.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy.
One of the advisors can discuss what items you specifically require and what evidence you would need to recover the costs of these.
Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Tinnitus?
In different scenarios of your life, you are owed a duty of care by certain parties. Examples include:
- In public areas – In public places, such as a park or shop, the controller of that space owes you a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Under their duty, they should take steps to ensure your reasonable safety while you’re in the public space.
- At work – Each employee is owed a duty of care by their employer, as established under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Employers should take reasonable steps to protect their staff from harm while in the workplace and performing their work-related duties.
- Using the roads– Every road user should navigate the roads in a manner that avoids causing harm to themselves and others. They should also adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 plus the rules and regulations set out in the Highway Code.
If the duty of care owed to you is breached in any of these example scenarios, then an accident that injures you could potentially occur as a result. The accident could cause injuries to your hearing, such as tinnitus, which may be related to a head or neck injury.
You may be eligible to claim compensation for tinnitus if your case can establish the following:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- The party that owed this duty breached it.
- You suffered your injuries as a result of this breach.
For more advice on how you could start a personal injury claim, please contact our advisors for free today either online or by calling us.
Chat With Us Today
How To Claim Compensation For Tinnitus?
You will need to take a series of steps to claim compensation for tinnitus, including gathering medical evidence and proof of what caused the acoustic shock or head injury.
Following an accident or exposure to sudden loud noise, you could:
- Step one – Seek out medical attention. Records of this could be presented as evidence.
- Step two – Gather proof of what caused your head injury or sudden noise exposure, such as CCTV footage and accident reports.
- Step three – Seek legal advice. If you are connected to one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, they can handle the personal injury claims process and ensure that you have appropriate support for your injury.
You can use our live chat to speak to one of our advisors. There’s no obligation to proceed with a claim. As part of the services, one of the advisors can discuss what steps you could take following your accident.
Time Limits When Claiming For Tinnitus
Generally, you have 3 years from the date of the accident or acoustic shock when claiming for tinnitus. The personal injury claim time limit is set out by the Limitation Act 1980. The 1980 Act allows for exceptions where the injured party is unable to manage their own claim. These parties include:
- Children under the age of 18 who will have a pause applied to the limitation period that will last until their 18th birthday.
- Those without the mental capacity to manage their own claim. These parties will have an indefinite pause on the time limit. Should they ever regain their mental capacity, then the time limit will apply from that date.
However, in either of these scenarios, a litigation friend can be appointed to manage the claim instead. A friend, family member or other responsible adult can apply to the courts to represent the claimant’s best interests during the claims process. This allows for a personal injury claim to be made while the time limit is suspended.
An advisor can assess whether you are still within the time limit to claim compensation for tinnitus. Get in touch today. If your claim is valid, an advisor can connect you to a solicitor to ensure it is started before it becomes statue-barred.
Common Causes Of Tinnitus
Common causes of tinnitus include:
- Your employer fails to keep a walkway in your office clear of debris and clutter. As a result, you trip and fall on a loose wire, hitting your head on the floor. This causes tinnitus and partial hearing loss. In more serious cases, it could lead to deafness.
- A drunk driver speeds through a red light, smashing into your car and causing it to roll. A combination of head trauma and the noise of the crash causes you to suffer from severe tinnitus.
- While shopping in a supermarket, a faulty shelving unit collapses, and you are hit by a heavy box when it falls. This trauma to your head causes both tinnitus and severe cuts and lacerations.
These are only a few examples of how a breached duty of care could result in tinnitus. To find out if you could be eligible to claim compensation for tinnitus, get in touch with our team of friendly advisors today. Or, read on to learn more.
Evidence To Support Your Tinnitus Claim
As part of your tinnitus claim, you’ll be required to gather evidence that can demonstrate your injuries were a direct result of a relevant third party breaching their duty of care.
Evidence that could be used to support claims for tinnitus include:
- Medical records stating that you have been diagnosed with tinnitus and the treatment you are receiving for it.
- The contact details of anyone who witnessed your accident so that they may provide a statement at a later date.
- Any video footage or photographs of the accident, such as CCTV footage.
- Proof of monetary losses – bank statements, receipts or invoices are just some examples of evidence that could be used as proof of these losses.
Contact our advisors today to discuss your potential personal injury claim and receive free advice. If you have a valid case, they may connect you with one of our solicitors.
Will My Job Be At Risk If I Seek Compensation For Tinnitus?
Many people worry their job will be at risk if they seek compensation for tinnitus or any other injury they sustain in the workplace. While we understand those concerns, we want to reassure you that it is illegal to dismiss someone because they made a claim.
Employers are required to keep their workers safe, and if that doesn’t happen, action should be taken. The Employment Rights Act 1966 sets out the reasons for dismissal that are permissible, and whatever reason is used, a fair and reasonable procedure must be followed.
The reasons are:
- Gross misconduct: Where an employee has broken the law or engaged in some other inappropriate behaviour.
- Capability: If the employee is unable or not qualified to do their job.
- Redundancy: The job role is no longer required.
- Legal reasons: There are laws that prevent the employee from carrying out their job.
- Other substantial reasons: This can cover various circumstances that don’t fit neatly into the above categories.
As you can see, making a compensation claim is not a valid reason to dismiss somebody. However, if you contributed to your injuries due to reckless behaviour, your employer may have a valid reason for dismissing you.
Nevertheless, after an accident at work, professional advice should always be sought. To get further guidance and ask our team, “Can I claim for tinnitus after an accident at work?” use the contact information provided below.
Claim Compensation For Tinnitus On A No Win No Fee Basis
If you are eligible to make a tinnitus compensation claim, a solicitor from Advice may be able to help. Our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that they offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a kind of No Win No Fee contract.
When you work with a solicitor under a CFA, they won’t ask for a fee to start working on your claim or to keep working on your claim. Similarly, if your claim doesn’t succeed, you won’t pay a fee for their services.
However, successful tinnitus claims will have to pay a success fee to their solicitor. Your solicitor will take this fee directly from your compensation as a small percentage. However, the percentage they can take is limited by a legislative cap. This helps to ensure that you keep the majority of what you win.
To find out if you could be eligible to work with one of our solicitors, or to learn more about claims for tinnitus, contact our advisors today. Through a free consultation, they can evaluate your claim, answer any questions you may have, and may be able to connect you with a solicitor from Advice. Contact our team today by:
- Calling us on 0161 509 2856
- Using the live chat feature.
- Contact us online.
Advice For People With Tinnitus
Below we have a resource which can help you with your claim.
- NHS Guide To Tinnitus: This guide from the NHS looks at what tinnitus is, its causes and what you can do if you have tinnitus.
Please feel free to get in touch at any time if you have further queries about claiming compensation for tinnitus.
