What Causes Nerve Injuries?
Peripheral nerve damage affects nerves in the body that lie outside of the brain and spinal cord. These nerves are responsible for sensation, movement, and function of the glands and organs. Injury to the peripheral nerves can seriously affect the brain’s ability to communicate with muscles and organs, and, therefore, bodily function.
Peripheral nerve injuries may be mild or severe and can be caused by stretching or pressing on the nerve. Leading causes of nerve damage include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian injuries
- Gunshot wounds
- Surgical errors
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Industrial or work-related accidents
- Slip or trip and fall accidents
- Accidents causing trauma to the body
Symptoms of nerve damage can develop after an accident with severe, or even more minor, injuries, such as a motor vehicle crash or a fall. In fact, vehicle collisions and falls are among the most common causes of nerve damage. Slip- or trip-and-fall accidents cause blunt-force trauma from the impact of the body hitting the ground, which can injure the nerves. On the other hand, auto accidents can cause nerve injury in several different ways, including:
- Whiplash: The whip-like motion of the head and neck, for example, in a rear-end collision, can stretch and pinch the nerves in the neck.
- Blunt-force trauma: In a motor vehicle collision, it is not uncommon to hit the head, arms, or legs against a hard surface inside or outside the vehicle. The force of impact can compress the nerves.
- Lacerations: Deep cuts can be caused by shattered glass or sharp fragments in a car crash. These lacerations may sever the nerves, causing serious injuries.
Even a slow-speed accident can lead to severe nerve damage if there was enough force behind the impact of the two vehicles. However, not all nerve injuries are permanent — in fact, some will heal with time. Knowing what type of nerve damage you are suffering from is key when seeking treatment, as well as building your case against the at-fault party.
Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years
At the Tenge Law Firm LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.
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$3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
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$1,500,000 Tire blowout on I-70 causing serious injuries
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$1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
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$1,350,000 Auto accident with orthopedic injuries to foot, ankle, and leg
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$1,250,000 Wrongful Death
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$1,250,000 Lower Leg Orthopedic Injury Resulting in Surgery
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$1,100,000 Construction site accident
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$1,050,000 Trucking accident with low back injuries
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$1,025,000 Motorcycle accident resulting in traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
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$750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
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$533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
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$450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
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$300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
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$200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
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$120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant
Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results
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"Would highly recommend to anyone!!"
Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
- Zack K. -
"Definitely made it a stress-free experience"
Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
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"They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."
Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!
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"They treated me like family"
Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family
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"Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"
I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!
- Betty C.
Levels of Nerve Injury
In the most commonly used classification system, Seddon’s, nerve injury is classified by severity into several different categories:
- Neurapraxia: This is the mildest form of nerve injury, in which the nerve remains intact and the prognosis is good. Neurapraxia can cause temporary loss of motor and sensory function. It may take up to 12 weeks to recover completely from this level of nerve injury.
- Axonotmesis: This level of nerve damage is caused by crush injuries and displaced bone fractures disrupting the nerve cell’s axon (the long, threadlike portion along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells). With axonotmesis, the axon is damaged, while the surrounding connective tissue remains intact. Partial or complete recovery is possible without surgery, but it may take several months.
- Neurotmesis: This type of nerve injury is caused by knife and gunshot wounds and severe ischemic (restricting blood flow) injuries. Both the axon and the surrounding connective tissues are damaged, and recovery will not occur. Neurotmesis usually requires surgery.
In addition to Seddon’s classification of nerve injuries, there is also avulsion. Brachial plexus avulsion ranks among the most serious types of nerve damage. This occurs when the nerve root is torn from the spinal cord and can result in limited feeling, paralysis, or severe pain in the hands, arms, and shoulders. Surgery can be done is some cases, but a majority of the time, an avulsion cannot be fixed and leads to permanent disability.
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Results
In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Nerve damage may not be immediately noticeable, since nerves are located inside the body. This means that nerve damage is an internal injury, and while it can be caused by deep cuts, it can also be caused by sudden jerky motions, leaving no external evidence of an injury at all. Keep an eye out for these symptoms after any accident:
- Muscle weakness
- Painful muscle cramps
- Uncontrollable spasms
- Numbness
- Tingling in the hands and feet
- Loss of balance
- Difficulty sensing temperature changes, textures, and pain
- Excessive sweating
- Sudden drops in blood pressure
Even if you aren’t experiencing all of these symptoms, you should still seek medical help. Keep in mind that different nerves have different jobs, so depending on which one is injured, you may only experience two or three of these symptoms. Allowing nerve damage to go untreated can make it worse, or even lead to it becoming permanent.
What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition, often affecting one arm, leg, hand, or foot. CRPS usually occurs after an injury and is believed to be caused by damage to or malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. CRPS is not yet fully understood, so there are no concrete causes. That being said, it can be a side effect of severe nerve damage.
CRPS-II (causalgia) is diagnosed when there is a confirmed, associated nerve injury. Symptoms of CRPS can vary in severity and duration; however, they most often involve intense pain, swelling in the impacted limb, and muscle spasms. Thus far, no treatments are 100% effective for CRPS. Medications and physical therapy are often used to mitigate symptoms, and CRPS may eventually fade or lessen in severity. However, in more severe cases, it can cause long-term disability.
Why You Need a Lawyer for Nerve Injuries
Severe damage to the nerves suffered in an accident can cause chronic pain and long-term disability. It is important to aggressively pursue the compensation you will need to cover your medical expenses, time away from work, and other losses. Your best course of action is to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
Call the Tenge Law Firm, LLC in Boulder at (303) 219-7377. Our Boulder personal injury attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and resources to provide the dedicated legal representation you need after a nerve injury accident.
