Nerve Damage from Car Accident
Nerve damage can occur anytime a person sustains a traumatic injury. It is certainly not uncommon for individuals to sustain nerve damage as a result of a vehicle accident. Here, we want to discuss how vehicle accidents can cause nerve damage, whether or not individuals are likely to recover from this type of injury, and whether an individual can recover compensation in these situations.
What is Nerve Damage and How Does it Happen?
When most people think of nerve damage, they think of complications from diabetes. However, nerve damage could also occur in other ways, including after an injury. Nerve damage is technically known as peripheral neuropathy. The nerves most likely to be damaged in individuals tend to be in arms, feet, and hands, though there are other parts of the body that could experience nerve damage.
Anytime an individual sustains an injury or has surgery, the nerves in that area could be damaged. They will no longer be able to send a signal from their brain to transmit sensation to the areas of the body they are located. Often, nerves are only partially damaged and are able to heal themselves.
Some of the most common signs of nerve damage include sensations that may feel uncomfortable or even painful. This happens because nerves are not able to carry the correct signals from the brain to the spinal cord. Other common signs of nerve damage include:
- Numbness and tingling in the hands or feet
- Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
- Regularly dropping objects you are holding
- Sharp pain in the feet, legs, arms, or hands
- A feeling of a mild electrical shock or buzzing sensation
Car Accident Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can certainly occur as a result of a car accident. Depending on the severity of a car accident, a person’s body could undergo significant trauma. If there is any compression, inflammation, or internal injuries that press against the nerves, this can lead to nerve damage. Some of the most common types of mechanisms of nerve damage injury resulting from a car accident include:
- Whiplash. This is the most common type of car accident injury that can affect nerves in the upper area of our body. In a vehicle accident, it is not uncommon for the head and neck to whip backward and forward or sideways very quickly. This can cause the muscles and the neck to stretch and strain beyond their usual range of motion, and this can lead to inflammation that affects the nerves in that area. Nerves in the upper back and neck could become pinched or compressed.
- Herniated disc. The bones in our spine each have little jelly-like discs that act as shock absorbers. The jolting or twisting from a car accident could lead to something called a slipped disc. This happens when the discs between the vertebrae in the spine slip or are forced out of place. A herniated disc could put pressure on nerves nearby and cause damage and pain.
- Pinched nerve. Similar to whiplash and herniated discs, pinched nerves are another type of vehicle accident injury that may not be immediately visible, but could lead to extensive nerve damage if left untreated. Pinched nerves can occur in a wide variety of ways, including whiplash motions and due to herniated discs. However, pinched nerves can also occur when there is inflammation in other areas of the body that occur as a result of car accident trauma.
We strongly suggest that you work with a skilled Atlanta car accident attorney who can ensure that you are evaluated and treated for your car accident nerve damage and that you recover full compensation for your losses.