Types of Nerve Damage Caused By Car Accidents

The four main types of nerve damage caused by car accidents are cervical nerve damage, lumbar nerve damage, thoracic nerve damage, and peripheral nerve damage. In short, most nerves in the body can sustain damage in a wreck.

Car accident victims who experience nerve damage may seek compensation to cover their medical bills, physical pain, emotional suffering, and other losses. A Phoenix car accident lawyer can provide more information about these injuries and how to build a claim after a crash.

Kinds of Nerve Damage Caused by Car Accidents

A motor vehicle accident can result in permanent nerve damage through any part of the human body.

Nerve damage occurs when the delicate fibers transmitting signals between the brain, spinal cord, and body rest are damaged or severed. This injury can result in pain, numbness, weakness, and other debilitating symptoms that can significantly impact your quality of life.

The at-fault party may owe you substantial compensation if you’ve suffered nerve damage after a car accident. 

For a free legal consultation, call 866-499-8989

Car Accidents Cause Cervical Nerve Damage

Motorists may experience damage to the cervical nerves due to whiplash. Whiplash is one of the most frequent injuries sustained in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. It occurs when the head and neck are suddenly and forcefully stretched.

This movement can tear the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in the cervical spine. The cervical spine contains eight pairs of cervical nerves that branch off the spinal cord and innervate the head, neck, shoulders, and arms.

Whiplash can cause damage to these cervical nerves, leading to nerve damage symptoms such as:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches, especially at the base of the skull
• Burning or prickling sensations in the neck, shoulders, or arms
• Weakness or numbness in the arms and hands
• Dizziness and difficulty concentrating

In severe cases, cervical nerve damage from whiplash can lead to chronic pain, limited range of motion, and reduced arm and hand function. A Phoenix personal injury lawyer can help you secure compensation for the medical treatment required to handle these injuries.

You can reach out to professionals for help with this type of nerve damage caused by a car accident.

Crashes Cause Lumbar and Sacral Nerve Damage

The lower back is another common site of nerve injury in car accidents. The lumbar spine contains five pairs of lumbar nerves, while the sacral spine contains five pairs of sacral nerves. These nerves control sensation and movement in the legs, feet, and pelvic region.

Damage to the lumbar and sacral nerves can cause symptoms such as:

• Lower back pain that may radiate into the buttocks, legs, or feet
• Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the legs and feet
• Muscle weakness or cramping in the legs
• Difficulty walking or standing
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Common causes of lumbar and sacral nerve damage in car accidents include herniated discs, spinal fractures, and soft tissue injuries. You can turn to a Phoenix nerve damage lawyer for help if you sustained any of these injuries.

An attorney can help with this kind of nerve damage caused by car accidents.

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Thoracic Nerve Damage

The thoracic spine is in the mid-back region and contains twelve pairs of thoracic nerves. These nerves control sensation and movement in the chest and abdominal wall. While less common than cervical or lumbar injuries, damage to the thoracic nerves can still occur in high-impact car accidents.

For example, individuals may experience this kind of damage if the force of the collision caused them to impact their steering wheel.

Signs of nerve damage after a car accident may include:

• Mid-back pain that may wrap around the chest or ribs
• Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the chest or abdomen
• Weakness or paralysis of the abdominal muscles
• Difficulty breathing or coughing
• Changes in heart rate or blood pressure

You must get fast medical care if you suspect you sustained damage to your nerves. Many types of nerve damage could happen in a car accident, and they can all result in permanent consequences for your health and well-being.

Find out more about the types of nerve damage caused by car crashes with a professional legal team.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

Peripheral Nerve Damage

Peripheral nerves are found throughout the body and carry signals between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the limbs and organs. Car accidents can cause damage to peripheral nerves from direct trauma, stretching, or compression.

You may notice muscle spasms and pain if you sustained this type of damage to your nerves. 

Common sites of peripheral nerve damage in car accidents include:

Brachial Plexus

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that controls the shoulder, arm, and hand. Damage to it can cause weakness, numbness, and loss of function in the upper limb.

Sciatic Nerve

The large sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down the leg. Compression or damage can cause sciatica – radiating pain, numbness, and weakness in the leg and foot.

Peroneal Nerve

The peroneal nerve runs along the outer part of the lower leg and controls foot and toe movement. Damage can cause foot drop – difficulty lifting the front part of the foot.

Crash victims should work with a medical professional to set up a medical treatment plan after sustaining damage to any of these nerves. Collisions often result in permanent nerve injury. 

Treatment for Nerve Damage Caused by Car Accidents

With proper care and rehabilitation, many people with these types of nerve damage caused by car accidents can recover function and return to their normal activities. However, in severe cases, nerve injuries may result in chronic pain, disability, and reduced quality of life.

In some cases, rest and painkillers are all you need to heal. Other victims will require physical therapy, specialist treatment, or surgery. Nerves take a long time to heal, and some forms of nerve damage are permanent.

If you’ve been in a car accident and are experiencing symptoms of nerve damage, it’s essential to seek medical attention right away. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications and improve outcomes.

Can You Get Compensation for Your Medical Bills?

You may receive compensation to cover your healthcare expenses if a car accident attorney can show that someone else caused your crash through an act of negligence. A lawyer needs to establish that:

• Someone else owed you a duty of care
• The other party failed to uphold their duty
• Their actions directly caused your crash, injuries, and financial losses

Generally, lawyers need to investigate the causes of a crash so they can gather evidence to establish liability. Contacting a lawyer immediately after a collision can strengthen your claim and make it easier for you to get fair damages.

Depending on your situation, a lawyer may need to:

• Speak to all eyewitnesses
• Get pictures and videos that show the crash
• Collect a copy of the police accident report
• Work with car accident experts 
• Visit the scene of the collision 

Your lawyer will also collect medical forms and other documentation to establish the full extent of your losses. You may receive payment for all of your current and long-term healthcare expenses by hiring a lawyer to take on your claim.

Can You Get Other Forms of Compensation?

You may qualify for additional compensation after a major car accident in Arizona. Your attorney may help you secure damages to pay for your:

Lost Pay and Diminished Earning Potential

You may need a lot of time off work to recover after a collision. Your lawyer can track your lost wages and push the at-fault party to provide the compensation you need to cover these losses.

Nerve damage can also prevent you from returning to your career. Some forms of this damage result in paralysis, for example. In this situation, your attorney may help you get compensation for your lost earning potential.

Pain and Suffering

An attorney will understand the non-economic impacts of your injuries and include them in your claim for compensation. Depending on your circumstances, you may receive compensation for your:

• Emotional pain
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship

Your attorney will know how to calculate a fair value for all the mental and emotional strain you experience. You can speak with a law firm today to learn how much pain and suffering is worth in a car accident claim. 

Property Damage

Finally, your attorney may help you get the money you need to cover property repairs after a collision. Major accidents may total your vehicle, leaving you with additional expenses and more financial pressure. 

How Much Compensation Do You Get for Nerve Damage?

The total funds available to you after a car crash will vary based on the extent of your injuries and other factors. You can work with a lawyer to fight for maximum compensation to cover all of your expenses so you can move forward with your life.

You Can Talk to a Lawyer After Sustaining Nerve Damage

The types of nerve damage caused by car accidents are serious and often overlooked consequences. From whiplash that affects the cervical nerves to lumbar and sacral nerve damage that impacts the legs and feet to peripheral nerve injuries that can occur anywhere in the body – the effects of nerve damage can be painful, debilitating, and long-lasting.

If you’re suffering from nerve damage caused by a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. A Phoenix car accident lawyer from our team at Zanes Law can help.

We can manage your legal situation and help with an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Call or complete our online contact form to learn more. 

Call or text 866-499-8989 or complete a
Free Case Evaluation form

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