Can You Get Nerve Damage From Car Accidents?
Many people think of fractures and cuts as common injuries from car accidents. When you have suffered other serious injuries, there is also a chance that your nerves may be damaged as well. Damage to your nervous system can cause both pain and difficulty with moving and sensation. If you have suffered nerve damage in a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation when you are able to prove that the other driver was to blame for what happened.
What Functions Do Nerves Perform in Your Body?
The nerves are a network that carries messages throughout your body. They enable parts of your body to communicate with each other and to react to certain changes. Nerves do things such as facilitate movement and help you perceive sensations. Your nervous system consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of your brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves and ganglia, which are located away from your brain and spinal cord and in other parts of your body.
How Can My Nerves Be Damaged in a Car Accident?
Some things that can happen during a car accident that can cause injury to nerves include:
- Broken bones damaging nerves in the surrounding area
- Glass or other sharp objects puncturing the skin and severing or damaging nerves
- Parts of your body making contact with hard surfaces in the car
- Injuries from a seatbelt or airbag
What Are Symptoms of Car Accident Nerve Damage?
Car accidents can damage your nervous system in several ways. A common and serious nerve injury from car accidents is peripheral neuropathy. Here, the trauma of the car accident has caused damage to the nerves. Peripheral neuropathy could result in permanent injury. You may experience shooting or stabbing pain in various parts of your body. You could also feel the following symptoms:
- Numbness and tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Inability to move
- Lack of coordination
- Sensitivity to touch
Can I Get Other Nerve Injuries From a Car Accident?
Another serious car accident nerve injury is neurotmesis. This injury is when a nerve is severed or cut. This injury will result in complete sensory and motor deficits to the skin and muscles innervated by the injured nerve. There is no way to recover from this condition without surgical intervention. Even surgery may not be completely able to repair the damage.
Car accidents can also result in carpal tunnel syndrome. This injury occurs when the carpal tunnel in your wrist is compressed. In a car accident, this could occur when there is direct trauma to your hand or wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a debilitating injury that can linger over time.
What Are Some Legal Challenges When You Have Suffered Car Accident Nerve Damage?
If you have suffered a nerve injury in a car accident, you may be dealing with substantial effects. The responsible party would need to pay for your medical expenses, and they would also need to compensate you for the pain and suffering that you have endured. An experienced car accident attorney can help you quantify your damages so you know how much to seek compensation for.
The insurance company may challenge what you claim as your damages because nerve injuries do not always show up on an objective medical test. Nerve injuries can result in unexplained pain that often relies on your own subjective reporting. It would be up to your lawyer to tell your story and help prove your damages so you can receive full compensation for them.
Contact a Tolland County Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC
A Tolland County car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC can fight for your legal right to compensation if you have been injured in a crash. Call us today at 860-872-7741 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Our offices are in Vernon, New Haven, and Waterbury, Connecticut, and we serve clients in Tolland County, New Haven County, and Hartford County.