Car accidents are a leading cause of serious unintentional injuries in Nevada. One of the many injuries you could suffer in a car crash is nerve damage—an injury with the potential to cause long-term or permanent symptoms. If you suspect nerve damage after a car accident, seeking medical attention is crucial. Additionally, consulting a Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation for your medical treatment and other damages.
What Is Nerve Damage? How Can It Be Caused By a Car Crash?
Nerve damage, also called neuropathy, describes injury to any part of the nervous system. This is the part of the body responsible for transmitting signals between the body and the brain. Nerve damage can lead to gaps in this communication system, producing various symptoms. Blunt-force trauma from a major impact can physically damage the nerves in a car accident. Nerves can also become pinched or compressed due to injuries such as a herniated disk. It is also possible for nerves to sustain injury from extensive stretching, swelling or severe lacerations.
Types of Nerve Damage
The area of the body experiencing symptoms can point to the type of nerve damage. If you experience nerve damage in any of your limbs, for example, it could be a sign of peripheral neuropathy. There is also motor neuropathy (affects muscle control), autonomic neuropathy (affects involuntary functions) and sensory neuropathy (affects sensation).
Common Signs of Nerve Damage After a Car Accident
Identifying the common signs and symptoms of nerve damage after a car accident can help you know when to seek medical care. While every case is unique, there are common signs of nerve damage you should watch for after a car crash in Las Vegas.
Pain
Pain that feels sharp or burning, such as a stabbing pain, can signify nerve damage. Pain that is radiating from one location to another, such as from your neck down your arms, can also signify a nerve injury. Finally, chronic (persistent) or unexplained pain that does not abate with injury recovery could mean that you have damaged nerves.
Changes in Sensation
Sensory nerve damage can come with various changes in how you feel. For example, you may notice tingling, also called a “pins and needles sensation,” in your hands, feet, arms or legs. One or multiple parts of your body may also lose feeling or go numb. Finally, you could experience changes in how your skin feels when touched or an unusual sensitivity to cold or heat.
Muscle-Related Symptoms
Motor neuropathy can affect the movement and control of your muscles. You may struggle with tasks that used to be simple, such as gripping or lifting objects, due to muscle weakness caused by nerve damage. This may impair your ability to move and even cause permanent paralysis. Involuntary muscle spasms or twitches may also occur.
Can You Treat Nerve Damage From a Car Accident?
It is vital to get professional medical care right away if you experience potential symptoms of nerve damage following a car accident. Mild to moderate nerve injuries may heal on their own, but others require medical treatments such as surgery, physical therapy and medications. Severe nerve damage may be permanent. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can improve your prognosis for recovering from nerve damage. If you are diagnosed with a nerve injury as part of a car accident case, speak to Las Vegas personal injury attorney to help you protect your legal rights.