Auto Accident Nerve Damage
Auto accidents are often associated with injuries like broken bones, lacerations, traumatic brain injuries, and whiplash. However, auto accidents can cause many other types of accidents. Unfortunately, even those injuries that are often overlooked can adversely affect victims’ lives. Among the many overlooked types of injuries you can sustain in a car accident are nerve injuries.
The nerve system is quite sensitive and fragile. While it is essential for you to seek medical attention right after an auto accident, it is especially crucial for you to seek medical attention if you suspect you sustained a nerve injury in a car accident. Failure to seek medical attention promptly could lead to you suffering for a long time, if not for the rest of your life.
Understanding How Nerve Damage Occurs
Simply put, nerves help your brain and body communicate. Nerves send messages throughout the body, and, as a result, your body is able to function correctly.
Human beings have three types of nerves.
- Motor nerves: These nerves are responsible for communicating with your brain and sending instructions to your muscles. Generally, these nerves help you to move.
- Sensory nerves: These nerves send messages from your skin and other tissue to your spinal cord and then to your brain. They are responsible for allowing you to feel things such as pain and temperature.
- Autonomic nerves: These nerves control crucial body functions such as blood pressure and digestion.
When involved in a car accident, a victim can sustain a nerve injury in several ways. For instance, nerve damage can occur because of a deep laceration. A deep cut suffered in a car accident can sever the nerves in the lacerated area.
You can also sustain a nerve injury because of a blunt-force-trauma. For example, if you hit your head on a hard surface, your nerves might end up being compressed. When nerves experience prolonged compressions, nerve injuries can occur.
Additionally, you can sustain a nerve injury as a result of whiplash. The forceful, quick back-and-forth motion associated with whiplash can stretch or pinch your nerves and cause nerve damage.
Symptoms of Nerve Damage
Identifying nerve damage can at times be hard because nerve injuries are often not associated with visible symptoms. Also, it can take time for symptoms to start showing. However, common symptoms of nerve damage include;
- Severe headaches
- Chest pain
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Paralysis
- Difficulty controlling bodily functions
- Radiating pain
Obtaining Compensation for Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can leave you unable to work and earn a living. A nerve injury can leave you spending a lot of money on medical bills. Additionally, nerve injuries can cause long-lasting pain or feebleness.
Fortunately, you can file a personal injury lawsuit and obtain compensation if another party’s negligence caused the accident that led to you sustaining a nerve injury.
The two types of damages you might be eligible for are economic and non-economic damages. Dome economic damages may include medical bills and lost wages. On the other hand, non-economic damages may include pain and suffering.
Contact Us Today for Legal Help
To determine the approximate amount of compensation you could obtain for your nerve damage, you must work with a qualified attorney. Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys at the Pendas Law Firm can assess your case and help you approximate how much compensation the court might award you. We can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Daytona Beach, Tampa, Bradenton, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale areas.
