Nerve Damage
At Ellis Law, our Los Angeles accident lawyers represent clients who have suffered serious injuries, including nerve damage caused by trauma. Because nerves carry messages from the brain to the rest of the body, any type of injury to these delicate bundles of fibers can result in a break in the “relay wiring system.”
More than 100 billion nerve cells, called neurons, react to physical stimuli such as touch, sound, and light, and transmit signals to activate glands and muscles. If nerves are stretched, severed, or compressed in any way, they can be irreversibly damaged.
Nerve damage causes a host of unpleasant side effects and complications, ranging from acute burning sensations and severe pain to numbness and a total loss of movement. Needless to say, such an injury can significantly diminish a person’s quality of life, making the simplest of tasks virtually impossible.
Fortunately, victims of negligence have legal remedies for pursuing the compensation they deserve. Whether you were injured in a car crash, a construction accident or some other incident resulting from another’s misconduct, Ellis Law attorneys have the experience to fight for your rights.
Mechanisms of traumatic nerve damage
Nerve injury that is not caused by disease, diabetes or drug side effects is usually the result of trauma:
- Mechanical trauma – often seen in motor vehicle accidents, sport injuries or falls
- Crush injuries – heavy machinery accidents, vehicle rollovers, struck-by accidents
- Penetrating trauma where the peripheral nerves are partially or completely cut – this can happen in botched surgeries or medical procedures
- Stretch injuries that lead to structural damage (brachial plexus trauma) that happen during childbirth
Nerve injuries: signs and symptoms
Damage to autonomic nerves that control involuntary activities like digestion and heart rate can produce the following symptoms:
- Too little or excessive sweating
- Inability to sense certain parts of your body
- Lightheadedness
- Bladder control issues
- Sexual dysfunction
- Constipation
Injury to sensory or motor nerves can result in:
- Tingling sensations
- Pain
- Weakness
- Burning
- Muscle atrophy
- Lack of positional awareness
- Numbness
- Paralysis
Treatment for nerve damage
Nerve pain can be unbearable to live with. It is usually characterized as a sharp burning sensation, and despite advances in medicine, it is relatively difficult to treat. Some patients may never fully recover from their injuries despite various treatment modalities, including:
- Analgesics
- Antidepressants
- Physical therapy
- Electrical nerve stimulation
- Acupuncture
- Surgery
Prognosis will depend on the cause and extent of nerve damage. While some nerve injuries don’t hinder daily life, others can leave victims completely immobile and dependent on others.
With a capable accident lawyer in your corner, you can pursue what you deserve. We prepare every case as if it were going to trial. If the defendant will not negotiate a favorable settlement, our attorneys will take your case before a jury.
Discuss your options with Ellis Law
If you or someone you love were injured in an accident that resulted in nerve damage, it’s crucial to act quickly before time limits bar your rights to filing a claim.
Learn more about your options and remedies by speaking to a Los Angeles catastrophic injury attorney with Ellis Law. The consultation is free and there are never any upfront fees. You only pay if we win money damages on your behalf!