Symptoms of Nerve Damage After a Car Accident: What to Watch For

Nerve pain after a car accident is a common injury, and it can result in long-term health complications. Unlike other injuries, such as bruises and broken bones, nerve damage is not visible after a crash. Even worse, symptoms of nerve damage after a car accident are not always apparent right away. This can result in delayed medical treatment, and the injuries can become worse. Delaying medical treatment can also hurt any future claim you may file.

Seeking medical attention is one of the most important steps after any car accident. Even if you did not receive medical attention immediately after a crash, you may still be able to file a claim for damages if your injury is now impacting your daily life. Below, one of our Virginia car accident lawyers explains the symptoms to watch for and how nerve damage may impact your injury claim.

What causes nerve damage after a car accident?

The sudden, violent forces of a car accident can tear, stretch, or compress nerves, significantly damaging them and causing injury. Common causes include lacerations from broken glass, direct blunt force trauma from airbags, whiplash, and broken bones that damage nearby nerves. Nerve damage can result in long-term issues such as numbness, chronic pain, and even paralysis.

The body can move rapidly during a crash, stretching nerves past their limits. Whiplash is a common example of this type of nerve damage injury. Pressure from herniated discs and dislocated joints can also place additional pressure on nerves.

Types of nerve damage caused by car accidents

Nerve damage can range from minor to catastrophic, depending on the type of injury sustained. The three common types of nerve damage include:

• Neurapraxia: The mildest type of nerve injury, this damage results from compression or bruising during an accident, such as from the pressure of the seat belt. The nerve is not severed or torn, but the nerve pathway is blocked, which interrupts the signals temporarily.
• Axonotmesis: An axonotmesis injury damages the internal fibers of a nerve and its insulating sheath. The surrounding tissue, however, remains intact.
• Neurotmesis: The most severe type of nerve damage, this injury completely severs or cuts the nerve, destroying the internal fibers and the connective tissue.

Radiculopathy is also a type of nerve damage that occurs when a nerve root close to the spine is inflamed, compressed, or torn. This type of injury is commonly referred to as a ‘pinched nerve’ in the neck or back.

What are the first signs of nerve damage?

The first symptoms of nerve damage after a car accident often include burning or sharp pain, persistent numbness, and a feeling of ‘pins and needles’ in the legs, arms, feet, and hands. After a car accident, nerve damage is often a delayed injury, meaning signs of nerve damage after a crash may not appear until days or weeks later. The initial adrenaline after a crash can mask the signs of injury and pain. As the adrenaline wears off, more symptoms of nerve damage can appear. These may include:

• Shooting or burning pain: Intense pain similar to an electric shock can sometimes travel from the neck or spine into the arms or legs.
• Muscle twitching or weakness: Involuntary muscle spasms, inability to hold objects, and limited grip strength can be caused by nerve damage.
• Problems with reflexes: Stumbling, dropping objects, or losing balance are all signs of nerve damage after a car accident.
• Loss of sensation: Particularly when nerves have been completely severed, accident victims may not feel cold, heat, or pain in the affected area.
• Incontinence: Loss of bowel or bladder control can indicate serious nerve damage in the lower back.

How can medical records prove nerve damage after a car accident?

It is of the utmost importance that you seek medical treatment after any accident. A doctor will know the symptoms of nerve damage to look for, so your injuries do not become worse. Seeking treatment will also create a record of the injury. A physician will likely start assessing nerve damage by evaluating the site of the injury and listening to your symptoms. In addition to the physical exam, a doctor will also use a number of diagnostic tools to diagnose nerve damage. These may include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests
• Computerized tomography (CT scans)
• Nerve conduction studies with electromyography (EMG)

Can you seek compensation for nerve damage?

The value of your nerve damage car accident settlement will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries and the circumstances surrounding the accident. In most cases under Virginia law, you may be barred from recovery if you contributed to the accident in any way. Under Virginia’s contributory negligence law, you cannot file a claim if you are found to be even one percent at fault for the crash.

If you did not cause or contribute to the accident in any way, you can file a claim against the at-fault party for the following damages:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Loss of future earning capacity, if your injuries prevent you from returning to the same line of work
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life

It is critical to speak to a car accident lawyer who can advise on the total damages available in your case and the other legal aspects of your claim.

Our car accident lawyers in Virginia can help you pursue compensation for nerve damage

If you or someone you love has suffered nerve damage in a car accident, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Obtaining a full settlement is never easy, however. At Phelan Petty Injury Lawyers, our Virginia car accident lawyers can review the facts of your case, advise on the evidence needed to prove your case, and ensure your best interests are protected at all times. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal help you need.