A car accident in Las Vegas can inflict many different types of injuries, some with long-term symptoms and effects. One possibility is nerve damage, which can arise due to the force of impact in an auto accident. While symptoms can vary from person to person, knowing what to look for can help you seek appropriate medical care if you suffer nerve damage in a car accident.
What Is Nerve Damage?
The nerves are responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body through the spinal cord. Thirty-one pairs of nerves extend from the spine throughout the body, sending and receiving electrical signals that allow the individual to feel sensations, move and function.
In a motor vehicle collision, the forces exerted upon a victim’s body could be enough to crush, compress, stretch, sever or otherwise damage one or more nerves. This nerve damage can interfere with the victim’s ability to control muscle movement and experience sensations.
What Are Common Symptoms of Nerve Damage After a Car Accident?
The signs of nerve damage can manifest themselves through a range of different feelings and symptoms. While every patient and case is unique, potential symptoms of nerve damage following a car accident can include:
- Numbness or a loss of sensation
- Abnormal tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation (paresthesia)
- Weakness or difficulty moving a body part
- Loss of mobility or trouble with balance
- Muscle atrophy, or the wasting away of muscle tissue
- Acute, sharp or burning pain
- Increased sensitivity to heat, cold or touch
- Changes in skin color or temperature
- Partial or complete paralysis in the affected area
If you experience any of these sensations after a car accident, it is important to see a doctor right away. Prompt medical attention can check for, diagnose and treat a nerve injury in a timely manner for the best possible recovery prognosis.
Types of Nerve Damage From a Car Accident
The effects of nerve damage on a car accident victim will depend on the type of nerve injured. For example, there are motor and sensory nerves. Motor nerves initiate movement and other responses within the body. Sensory nerves carry information from receptors to the central nervous system, controlling touch, temperature and other sensations.
There are also:
- Autonomic nerves
- Somatic nerves
- Peripheral nerves
- Spinal nerves
- Cranial nerves
- Mixed nerves
The three main types of nerve damage are neuropraxia, axonotmesis and neurotmesis. The first is the mildest form, where the nerve is damaged but not severed. Neuropraxia typically recovers in a few days to weeks. Axonotmesis is a moderate nerve injury that can take several months to fully heal. The third type, neurotmesis, is a severe nerve injury that may require surgical intervention and may never fully heal.
When to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas
If you get diagnosed with nerve damage or a nerve injury after a car accident in Las Vegas, you could benefit from hiring a Las Vegas car accident attorney to represent you during the car insurance claims process. Your personal injury attorney will prevent a car insurance company from taking advantage of you and ensure your fair treatment throughout the legal process.
Your car accident lawyer can gather medical documentation and hire nerve damage experts to help prove your injury. Your lawyer will fight for fair financial compensation for your related losses with proven legal strategies. It can be especially important to hire an attorney if you suffered permanent nerve damage from the force of a collision.
Find out how a car accident attorney in Las Vegas can help you with your nerve damage claim. Contact Koch & Brim to schedule a free case consultation.