Feeling sore for days – even weeks – after a serious car accident it’s not uncommon: after all, the sheer force of a car crash will take some time to heal. But if that common pain turns chronic and there’s no visible injury, it could be something far harder to diagnose: nerve damage. Nerve damage can happen in a number of ways during a car accident, including:
- Whiplash – when your head and neck jerk suddenly, the whiplash that follows can often be the result of pinched or stretched nerves in your neck area.
- Blunt force – when your body is crushed against a hard surface, it can cause internal bruising and nerve damage to the areas that were crushed.
- Lacerations – Cuts from the glass or pavement can sever nerves in your arms and legs.
The human nervous system is a powerhouse. It relays information throughout our bodies and even controls automatic functions such as our breathing. Given its important role, it’s not surprising that nervous system damage can completely change a person’s life. Damage to the nervous system can cause our bodies to not function properly and can cause great pain.
There are three types of nerves in our bodies, each with different functions:
- Autonomic Nerves – Our autonomic nerves are our automatic pilots. They control our internal organs and functions, such as our breathing, our digestion, and our heart rate. When the autonomic nerves are damaged, symptoms generally relate to the functions controlled by that system. For example, a person with autonomic nerve damage may suffer from an “inability to sense chest pain,” constipation, and improperly regulated sweating (sweating too much or too little).
- Motor Nerves – Human motor nerves allow us to move. They send signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, which cause the muscles to move. When motor nerves are damaged, movement suffers. Symptoms of motor nerve damage include muscle weakness and twitching. Motor nerve damage can even cause paralysis.
- Sensory Nerves – Our sensory nerves allow us to sense the environment around us. They send information collected by our skin and muscles to our brain. When sensory nerves are damaged or malfunction, our senses are affected. Sensory nerve damage can cause extreme pain and sensitivity, burning, and numbness.
Nerve damage can be hard to prove because nerves are on the inside of the body and because everyone experiences pain differently. But that doesn’t mean that the damage isn’t there or that the pain is any less real. Personal injury lawyers work on cases that involve nerve damage all the time. They are experienced in working with injured people and their doctors to prove how nerve damage affects everyday life.
If you or a loved one suffer from nerve damage as the result of an accident, you may be entitled to money damages. For a free case evaluation, contact the experienced lawyers at Wright Gray.