Signs of Nerve Damage After an Auto Accident
After a car accident, even if you don’t believe you sustained significant harm, you must seek medical care to identify any injuries that might not be apparent initially. For example, if you’ve begun experiencing potential signs of nerve damage, such as tingling sensations in your extremities, see your health provider as soon as possible for diagnosis. You can also contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for help pursuing compensation for your past and future losses.
What Is Nerve Damage?
Sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves transmit signals between various parts of the body and the brain. The three types are sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves. When nerve damage (neuropathy) occurs, signals that allow for sensation and movement lose function. If a nerve sustains mild damage, it may recover in time. However, torn or crushed nerves often require medical care, and their functions may only be partially restored or unrepairable.
How Do Motor Vehicle Accidents Cause Nerve Damage?
A sudden impact, such as a collision or an abrupt stop, can cause the spinal discs to compress or herniate, which can lead to pain and discomfort. In addition, sharp objects, sometimes in motion, can inflict deep lacerations that sever nerves. While the initial injury may be experienced immediately, neuropathy can take longer to develop.
What Are the Signs of Nerve Damage After a Car Accident?
Although nerve damage can occur anywhere in the body, the most common injury locations are in the spine and arm. Signs of nerve damage differ depending on where the injury was sustained and commonly include the following:
- Numbness and weakness along the spine, neck, arms, hands, and other body parts
- Tingling or burning, typically occurring in the hand or fingers
- Shooting pain radiating through the affected arm, leg, or head, commonly associated with pinched nerves at the spine’s base
- Difficulty lifting the front part of the foot or gait changes due to muscle weakness and motor dysfunction caused by lower back nerve damage
- Severe headaches resulting from nerve damage in the neck or upper back
- Loss of bladder and bowel control due to nerve damage in the lower back and coccyx
- Sexual dysfunction caused by nerve damage in the lower back and sacrum
- Diminished grip strength, making doing simple tasks, such as eating utensils or writing with a pen, challenging or impossible
Why Should You Consult a Car Accident Lawyer?
Once you’ve received medical help, you can contact a personal injury attorney, as legal representation may be essential to your financial recovery. If another party’s negligence caused the accident, you shouldn’t be responsible for your medical bills or lost income or live with financial uncertainty while in recovery.
A personal injury lawyer can help you request compensation for all your economic and non-economic losses, including outstanding medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
What Damages Can You Pursue in a Personal Injury Case?
Depending on the severity of the nerve damage you sustained and how it impacted your life, there are several types of damages you can seek to cover your financial and personal losses, including the following:
- Medical care costs, including testing, procedures, and physical therapy
- Medical devices, including walkers and wheelchairs, and other equipment
- Past and future lost income
- Diminished earning capacity, or a reduction in an individual’s ability to earn wages due to an injury or disability.
- Emotional trauma, such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment and impaired quality of life
The Louisiana statute of limitations sets a two-year time limit to file a claim for damages due to a car accident or other personal injury. It is critical to meet this deadline, as outlined in CC Art. 3492, to ensure you protect your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
Why Work With a Personal Injury Attorney on a Nerve Damage Case?
If you hire a personal injury attorney, they will handle the legal tasks that come with seeking compensation on your behalf. These include the following:
- Gathering documentation and evidence to support your case, including accident reports, witness statements, and medical records
- Collecting and preserving evidence that might affect your case
- Identifying all potentially liable parties
- Identifying and evaluating your damages, including medical bills and lost wages
- Consulting with experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists, to help determine the circumstances and factors surrounding your accident
- Handling communications and negotiations with insurance companies in pursuit of a fair settlement
- Filing a lawsuit and providing legal representation at trial
If you’re ready to get the support and legal advice that can help you navigate the legal process, you can contact a personal injury attorney at our firm.
We Can Help You Secure Compensation for Nerve Damage Sustained in an Auto Accident
Nerve damage can make everyday tasks challenging and dramatically affect your life. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we will fight to recover the damages you’ve suffered for your medical treatment and other losses. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review and learn more about our commitment to ensuring our clients receive the fair compensation they deserve.
