The potential damage to the human body caused by a car accident often extends well beyond the expected bruises and broken bones. Nerves that your brain relies on to transmit critical information may be damaged by the violent motion and sudden pressure of a collision. If your accident and subsequent nerve damage were caused by negligent behavior and could have been avoided, an attorney can help you seek compensation for your financial losses.
Nerve Damage Caused by Virginia Car Accidents
Herniated discs, pinched nerves, and whiplash are all possible when vehicles collide at high speeds. A victim’s nerves in the spinal cord or extremities can easily become compressed, stretched, or entirely cut when someone strikes the vehicle’s airbag or dashboard or is instead ejected from their seat during a crash.
The effects of nerve damage tend to be felt strongly in the hands and feet, but symptoms can also appear in the neck, back, and face. When left untreated, nerve damage leads to neuropathy—a serious interference of critical nerve signals sent between different parts of the body.
Because it takes place internally, nerve damage typically isn’t visible to the naked eye right after the crash. You may not even be aware there is a serious problem until several days after the fact. That’s why your first order of business after law enforcement comes to the scene should be to visit the emergency room. If nerve damage isn’t discovered and dealt with quickly, it can lead to permanent and life-altering repercussions. When caught early, however, many types of nerve damage can be treated.
Symptoms of nerve damage may appear shortly following a car accident or in the days and weeks ahead, such as:
- Dizziness
- Inflammation
- Pain that radiates or shoots from specific nerve endings
- Prickling or buzzing sensations
- Profuse sweating or entire lack of any sweating
- Muscle weakness or atrophy
- Numbness
- Uncontrollable muscle spasms
- Skin sensitivity
- Tingling
- Tightness in the hands and feet
Seeking Compensation for Nerve Damage Injuries
Muscle spasms and pain issues can obviously create mobility problems, or even make it difficult just to hold objects. In severe cases, nerve damage can directly interfere with your ability to keep a job or handle normal daily household chores. Treatment for nerve damage after a car crash may involve surgery or physical therapy and a lengthy recovery time, which can have a drastic impact on your finances.
The good news is that an attorney can help you deal with that financial burden and protect your legal rights after a negligent driver turns your life upside down. A personal injury lawyer with extensive experience in Virginia car crash cases can help you avoid potential problems that often get in the way of receiving the full and fair compensation you deserve.
The actions you take after a crash have a direct impact on your ability to recover damages from the at-fault party, which is why it’s important to follow your doctor’s orders closely and be very careful about social media usage after a crash. Besides assisting in sidestepping those hurdles, an attorney can also negotiate with insurance adjusters and file a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages for your:
- Medical bills
- Property damage to the vehicle involved in the accident
- Non-economic damages like pain and suffering, which will likely be significant in car crashes involving nerve damages
- Wages lost while you are recovering, as well as lost future earning potential if the nerve damage precludes you from returning to your previous job
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