A lawsuit has been filed against Apple after a boy from San Antonio, Texas lost his hearing when an ear-shattering AMBER Alert blared on his AirPods at maximum volume.
Need a Texas Apple AirPods Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with hearing loss after using Apple AirPods, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
AirPods Lawsuit Filed After Texas Boy Loses Hearing
In May 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Apple by the parents of a teenage boy from Texas who lost his hearing after an ear-shattering AMBER Alert blared on his Apple AirPods.
The Apple AirPods Lawsuit was filed on May 16, 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California — Case Number 3:22-cv-02900.
Lawsuit Claims AirPods Can Cause Hearing Loss
The lawsuit claims that a 12-year-old boy from Texas, identified only as “B.G.,” suffered permanent hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and must use a hearing aid as a result of using Apple AirPods.
What Happened?
In May 2020, the boy was using an Apple AirPod in his right ear to watch Netflix on his iPhone with the volume set low. Suddenly and without warning, AMBER Alert blared at maximum volume.
The lawsuit claims that it “tore apart B.G.’s ear drum, damaged his cochlea, and caused significant injuries to B.G.’s hearing.” He also suffers from bouts of dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and pain.
What’s the Problem?
The lawsuit claims that Apple AirPods are dangerously defective because they do not automatically limit, reduce, or control the volume of AMBER Alerts and routine Notifications to a safe level — even when the user has set the volume to “low.”
Lawsuit Claims Apple Has Been Ignoring Complaints for Years
Apple is also accused of ignoring complaints from users who were shocked by extremely loud, ear-shattering alerts on their AirPods when they thought the volume had been set low.
The lawsuit cites examples on Apple’s own Community Support website, such as this one: “AirPods Notifications are EXTREMELY LOUD, while other sounds are not.”
Her is another complaint from October 2020: “Yes, please fix this! I literally threw my AirPod across the room when I got a shrill text alert while listening to peaceful music. Not cool.”
Another angry user posted this complaint on Reddit in 2020:
“Is Apple trying to blow out my eardrums? Why are all the airpods pro notifications so loud? Hearing damage is irreversible and increasingly common. All it takes is one loud noise pumped directly down your ear canal.”
What are Apple AirPods?
Apple AirPods are a type of wireless Bluetooth earbuds. The 1st-generation AirPods were introduced in September 2016 along with the iPhone 7. The 3rd generation (AirPods Pro) was introduced in 2021.
Hearing Loss from Loud Noises
Sounds are measured in decibels (dB), with a whisper being around 30 dB and a motorcycle engine running at about 95 db. In general, sounds above 85 decibels (dB) are harmful, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Hearing just one loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate, permanent hearing loss. Young people are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of loud noises, especially from cumulative exposure to repeated loud noises.
Signs & Symptoms of Hearing Loss
- Unable to hear noises
- Ringing in the ears or other noises (tinnitus)
- Sensitivity to noise
- Trouble understanding conversations
- Problems tuning out background noises in a crowded room
- Needing to turn up the volume on TV, etc.
- Asking people to talk more slowly, clearly or louder
Need a Apple AirPods Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
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