Orange County Nerve Injury Lawyers
Advocating for Victims of Paralysis and Mobility Issues
Following an accident, one of the toughest scenarios to face is the possibility that you will not be able to move your hand, your legs, or even just the side of your face. Sadly, nerve damage is extremely common after intense trauma, especially if you suffered severe burns, a deep cut, or intense pressure. It can also present itself in more than just paralysis or limited mobility, often leading to chronic and intense pain that can be difficult to deal with. What’s worse is that treatment can drain your savings and leave you in debt, even if you have great health insurance, and you may still be left with a debilitating medical condition for the rest of your life.
If you or someone you love has suffered nerve damage due to someone else’s actions, then you may be able to recover compensation in a personal injury claim. With the right legal team, your claim can help you cover your medical bills, lost wages, long-term care, and personal pain and suffering. At Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie, our experienced and dedicated Orange County nerve damage attorneys can provide thorough legal guidance during a claim and handle the legal heavy lifting so you can focus on healing. To learn how we can represent you, contact our office at (949) 752-7474 to schedule a no-cost consultation.
Common Nerve Injuries After an Accident
Your nerves can be split into two distinct categories in your body: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system makes up your brain and spinal cord. These nerves tell your body what to do, including how to move your feet, where to look, and how fast or deeply you should breathe. The peripheral nervous system includes the nerves that make sure those tasks get done and run all throughout your body.
When discussing nerve damage, we are often referring to the peripheral nerves. These nerves can perform special tasks in your body, including:
- Sensing temperatures, textures, pressure, and pain through sensory nerves
- Moving your limbs, eyes, teeth, hips, and the rest of your body through motor nerves
- Automatically pumping blood, breathing in air, blinking, digesting food, and swallowing through autonomic nerves
Because our nerves are often specialized for certain tasks and are so small, any amount of damage can be devastating. Your nerves may be unable to communicate with each other or with your brain, often leading to paralysis. Or the nerves can partially communicate with each other, but the communication is incomplete, meaning you may have limited control of your body or are suffering from chronic pain.
Whether you were burned by a dangerous product or suffered a crush injury in an auto accident, it is possible for your nerves to be severely damaged. Even if you have no outward trauma like cuts, broken bones, or bruises, pain in your shoulder or leg could be the result of a pinched nerve. However, other conditions can be more obvious, especially given that nerve damage in the face or near the eyes can affect a victim’s eyesight. For example, if the optic nerve is damaged, it can lead to vision loss and blindness.
Typically, nerve damage can present as:
- The inability to feel in an affected area but you can still move the area
- The inability to move an affected area but you have some feeling there
- Total paralysis, meaning you cannot feel or move a part of your body
- Limited ability to move and feel a part of your body
- Sharp, intense pain that feels similar to a burn
- Lightheadedness and general weakness
- The inability to control your bladder
- The inability to sweat or excessive sweating
- Numbness, or a pins and needles sensation
It can be difficult to tell if you have nerve damage on your own, especially given how jarring an accident can be. You may have other injuries or pain that mask the symptoms of nerve damage. This is why seeing a doctor after an accident is critical, either at an emergency room or an appointment with your general practitioner. They can review your symptoms, schedule tests, and lookout for signs of nerve damage.
Causes of Nerve Damage
Generally, nerves are well-protected within the body by our muscles, but that does not mean they are invulnerable to damage. With enough pressure or force, a nerve can be partially or fully damaged, resulting in the above conditions.
In an accident, nerves can be damaged in three ways:
- A nerve has suffered intense pressure or compression, but it is still functional
- A nerve has been severed or cut and has limited functionality
- A nerve has been stretched or torn and has varying degrees of functionality
The type of nerve damage you have suffered, and the effects of an injury, are often directly proportional to the amount of trauma you have experienced. For example, crush injuries, including severely broken bones, can cause a nerve to become damaged or torn due to a large amount of pressure. Situations that tend to lead to nerve damage include:
- Auto accidents
- Collisions between pedestrians and cars
- Bike accidents
- Motorcycle crashes, including deglovings and severe road rash injuries
- Dog bites and attacks
- Boat collisions
- Slip and fall accidents
- Swimming pool accidents, such as diving accidents and chemical exposure
- Truck accidents
- Defective products that cause burns, lacerations, and explosions
While each of these scenarios can be devastating and leave you traumatized, if your injuries were caused by another person’s negligence, you may be eligible to pursue a claim under certain insurance policies. For example, if you were injured in an auto accident, then the at-fault driver’s insurance policy should cover your injuries up to the policy limit. In addition, most dog bites are covered under homeowner’s insurance, meaning you can file a claim for damages. But what damages you can pursue may vary depending on your injuries.
Long-term Effects of Paralysis and Chronic Pain
The size of your claim and what you can include in your list of damages will ultimately be determined by how your injury has affected your life. While some nerve injuries can heal with proper treatment, surgery, medication, and therapy, many victims suffer from lifelong injuries. This can include permanent paralysis, limited mobility, or chronic pain. Even these conditions come with a high price tag, as you may require medication or mobility devices for the rest of your life.
On top of the medical costs of a nerve injury, these injuries can severely impact your job. You may need to scale back your role during recovery and take time off work for medical appointments. While sick leave may cover these costs for a while, not every worker in Orange County benefits from an extensive employment policy. If your condition proves to have long-term consequences, then you may see smaller and smaller paychecks over time or even have to change jobs altogether.
Nerve damage can be extremely difficult to move on from on your own, especially in a traumatic accident like the ones listed above. Such injuries can affect every aspect of your life and make it difficult to excel in your career, impacting your livelihood, all-the-while leaving you with costly medical bills. However, if your trauma was caused by someone else’s negligence, then you may be able to include all of these costs in a personal injury claim.
The state of California allows accident victims to pursue all financial and personal costs of an accident in a claim. In a claim for nerve damage, you can include:
- Past and future medical bills related to your injury
- Lost wages
- Lost career opportunities
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
Speak with an Experienced Orange County Attorney Today
Recovering all of these costs after a nerve injury can be difficult. Right now, you likely want to focus on healing and attending all of your medical appointments so that you canget back to your daily routine. That is where an Orange County personal injury attorney can be of service. At Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie, our legal team is dedicated to fighting on behalf of accident victims and getting them the compensation they need to heal.
Our firm understands that most accident victims are scared of negotiating with an insurance company or fighting for compensation in a courtroom. That is why we take on the majority of the legal burdens for our clients. If you choose to work with us, we will keep you up to date in real-time about the status claim so that you never have to worry. To meet with an attorney and discuss your claim further, contact us at (949) 752-7474 to schedule a free initial consultation.
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You were wonderful throughout my case. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain the process so that I could feel comfortable. When I was hurt, I really did not know where to turn and Suzanne was comforting and knowledgable. Thanks again for all you did.
- H.P.
