Nerve damage after a car accident can be incredibly debilitating, leading to pain, numbness, and even paralysis. If you’re seeking a nerve damage attorney in St. Louis, The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. is here to provide experienced legal support. We understand the devastating impact that nerve injuries can have on your life and are dedicated to helping you secure the compensation you deserve. Whether it’s due to blunt force trauma, whiplash, or lacerations, our experienced legal team will fight to prove that your nerve damage was directly caused by the accident and hold the negligent driver responsible. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Understanding Nerve Damage After a Car Accident
Nerve trauma occurs when the surrounding area becomes fractured, crushing the nerve. This often results in a pinched or severed nerve, producing pain, numbness, or a complete loss of feeling and movement. If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, it’s crucial to understand the types of nerve damage that can occur and how to seek proper compensation.
Types Nerve Damage That Can Occur After a Car Accident
Car accidents can lead to several types of nerve damage, each affecting the body in different ways:
Peripheral Nerve Damage:
Peripheral nerves are located outside the brain and spinal cord. These nerves connect the central nervous system to limbs and organs, facilitating movement and sensation.
Common causes: Direct trauma from impact, compression injuries from swelling or fractures, and stretching or tearing during sudden movements.
Symptoms: Sharp pain, burning sensations, numbness, and weakness in the affected limb.
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves encased in the vertebral column. Damage to these nerves can result from fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae during a car accident.
Types: Complete (total loss of function below the injury) and incomplete (partial loss of function).
Symptoms: Loss of movement and sensation below the injury site, impaired bladder and bowel control, and difficulty breathing if the injury is high in the spinal cord.
Whiplash-Associated Disorder:
Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly jolted forward and backward, causing strain and damage to the neck muscles and nerves.
Common causes: Rear-end collisions.
Symptoms: Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and radiating pain or numbness in the shoulders and arms.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that runs from the spine through the neck, shoulder, and arm. Injuries to this network can occur during car accidents due to stretching or compressing the nerves.
Symptoms: Severe shoulder pain, arm weakness, and loss of sensation in the arm and hand.
Cranial Nerve Damage:
These nerves emerge directly from the brain and control functions such as vision, hearing, smell, and facial movement.
Common causes: Trauma to the head during a car accident.
Symptoms: Facial paralysis, double vision, hearing loss, and difficulties with balance and coordination.
Understanding the various types of nerve damage that can result from a car accident is crucial for recognizing symptoms early and seeking appropriate medical treatment. Prompt diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve the chances of recovery and minimize long-term complications.
This is perhaps the most common sign of nerve damage following a car accident. When nerves are damaged, they can no longer send signals properly to the brain. As a result, people may experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area.
A Buzzing Sensation That Feels Like a Mild Electrical Shock
Another sign that you may have suffered nerve damage in a car accident is a buzzing sensation that feels like a mild electrical shock. This can happen when the nerves are stretched or compressed due to the impact. The sensation may be temporary or may last for an extended period of time.
Muscle Weakness
Nerve damage can also cause muscle weakness. This generally occurs because the nerves are not able to send signals properly to the muscles, causing them to work less efficiently.
Balance Issues
Nerve damage can also cause problems with balance and coordination. This is likely because the damaged nerves cannot send signals properly to the brain, resulting in problems with movement and balance.
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention. Early treatment is often the key to a full recovery.
Treatment and Recovery for Nerve Damage
Rest and Pain Management
Swelling around the nerve usually subsides with proper rest and medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers can often help reduce inflammation and alleviate mild discomfort. In some cases, prescription medications may be necessary to manage severe pain. Corticosteroid injections may also be recommended to minimize inflammation and provide relief. Proper rest is crucial during this phase, as it allows the nerve tissue to begin healing and prevents further damage.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy plays a vital role in restoring movement, strength, and function in the affected area. A licensed physical therapist will create a customized exercise program to:
Improve muscle strength and flexibility.
Re-establish nerve pathways through repetitive motion.
Reduce stiffness and enhance mobility.
Minimize scar tissue formation around the injury site.
Treatment may include stretching exercises, strengthening routines, balance training, and functional movements to help patients regain normal functioning. The therapist may also employ techniques like massage therapy, heat and cold therapy, or electrical stimulation to stimulate nerve regeneration and manage pain.
Surgery
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged nerves. The type of surgery depends on the nature and extent of the injury:
Nerve Decompression: Relieves pressure on pinched or compressed nerves.
Nerve Grafting: Involves transplanting a healthy nerve segment to replace a damaged one.
Neurolysis: Removes scar tissue that might be compressing the nerve.
Tendon Transfer: Re-routes tendons to bypass damaged nerves and restore function.
Rehabilitation and Ongoing Care
Recovery from nerve damage often requires ongoing rehabilitation and care. The extent of the damage and recovery depends on the location of the nerve injury and its severity. Patients may need several months of rehabilitation to achieve significant improvement, and in some cases, full recovery may not be possible. During rehabilitation:
Pain Management: Continues through medications or other techniques as needed.
Occupational Therapy: Assists patients in relearning daily tasks and adapting to their environment.
Mental Health Support: Helps patients cope with the emotional and psychological effects of nerve damage.
Consultation with Specialists
A multi-disciplinary approach is often necessary for comprehensive treatment. Patients may benefit from consulting:
Neurologists or neurosurgeons for detailed assessments.
Pain specialists for advanced pain management techniques.
Psychologists or psychiatrists for mental health support.
It’s essential to consult with your physician and a nerve damage attorney to ensure that you receive the appropriate treatment and compensation for your injury. Our team at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. is here to help you navigate your legal options and secure the compensation you deserve.
Proving Nerve Damage from a Car Accident
Crush injuries or significant trauma can cause serious nerve damage. The damage most often occurs in the neck, face, back, and shoulders. It is important to seek immediate medical treatment for nerve damage as it can have long-term implications. It is common for people who have suffered nerve damage to feel chronic pain and sensations such as burning and tingling in the affected area.
After seeking medical attention, your medical report should include details of the car crash, which body parts sustained an injury, and the kind of symptoms you are experiencing.
How Much is Nerve Damage Worth in a Car Accident Claim?
You may receive compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. In some cases, you may also be able to recover pain and suffering and other forms of compensation. The value of compensation for nerve damage depends on several factors.
Type of damage
Temporary or permanent damage
Type of symptoms
How the symptoms interfere with daily activities and work
Location of the injury (isolated to one area or widespread)
Because of the variety of factors that affect the value of the claim, it is important not to settle the claim prematurely. The permanency of the nerve damage and expected duration of symptoms must be determined before a settlement agreement can be reached.
FAQs About Nerve Damage Claims
How to Heal Nerve Damage After a Car Accident?
Healing nerve damage depends on the severity and type of injury.
Rest & Pain Management: Swelling often subsides with rest and medication.
Physical Therapy: Restores movement and strength.
Surgery: Repairs severely damaged nerves.
Consultation: Speak with your physician or a nerve damage attorney to ensure proper treatment and compensation.
What Causes Nerve Damage After a Car Accident?
Nerve damage can result from multiple causes, including:
Blunt Force Trauma: Impact with a hard surface.
Whiplash: Rapid neck movement during a rear-end collision.
Lacerations: Deep cuts that sever or harm nerves.
Fractures: Broken bones pinching or crushing nerves.
What Does Nerve Damage Feel Like After a Car Accident?
Symptoms vary depending on the type and location of nerve injury but often include:
Pain or tingling (burning sensation).
Numbness or loss of sensation.
Muscle weakness or paralysis.
Extreme sensitivity to touch.
How to Fix Nerve Damage?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of nerve damage:
Rest & Pain Management: Over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Physical Therapy: Customized exercises to improve strength and mobility.
Surgery: Corrective surgery may be required for severe cases.
Can Nerve Damage Be Permanent?
In some cases, nerve damage can result in permanent loss of sensation or movement. Early medical intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
What Are the First Signs of Nerve Damage?
The initial signs of nerve damage may include:
Pain, tingling, or burning sensation.
Numbness or loss of sensation.
Muscle weakness or paralysis.
How Long Does It Take for Nerve Damage to Heal?
Recovery time varies:
Mild injuries: Weeks to a few months.
Severe injuries: Several months or longer, sometimes leading to permanent damage.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Receive for Nerve Damage?
Compensation may include:
Medical expenses (past and future).
Lost wages.
Pain and suffering.
Rehabilitation costs.
Can You Sue for Nerve Damage After a Car Accident?
Yes, if the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence:
Seek immediate medical attention, consult a nerve damage attorney, and file a claim against the responsible party.
Why Do You Need a Nerve Damage Attorney After a Car Accident?
A nerve damage attorney will:
Gather medical evidence to support your injury claims.
Help prove the injury was directly caused by the car accident.
Secure full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
St. Louis Nerve Damage Attorney
Regardless of the type of nerve damage and treatment you receive, the negligent driver should be held responsible for the payment of your medical treatments and, in certain cases, compensation for pain and suffering.
The St. Louis car accident attorneys at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. can assist you by proving that the injury was a direct result of the car accident. This will help to prove medical damages, an important component of a car accident claim or any other claim of personal injury. Call our offices today at (314) 361-4242 and set up an appointment to discuss the details of your case.
"Of all the lawyers I have met, this one is a true professional. This attorney goes against the biggest law firms and wins!"
Response from the owner:The compliment is much appreciated. Like every profession, it all starts with training our lawyers to be the best at every aspect of car accident cases. But the foundation of a great case is a great client. Thanks!
I'd say this lawyer is in the top three of the best you'll ever see. Add this attorney to the interview list if you ever get in an automobile accident. This Law Firm is on another level.
Response from the owner:Much appreciated. Techniques that an attorney or any professional uses are paramount for success. This is part of our lawyers training and preparation. It leads to success. Thank you!
People say this is the best car accident lawyer in St.Louis. Yep! Seeing this attorney in action is incredible.
Response from the owner:Great compliment. We work hard to be the best. Our lawyers also work very hard to help other lawyers in our profession. Not matter what, a cases is only as good as the client is. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thanks! Referrals and recommendations from prior car accident clients is our #1 source of cases. People who grew to trust us send family and friends.
The Hoffman law firm is truly professional. After hiring them I was truly relieved and knew I was in good hands. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Being in good hands is important. Many lawyers take cases with little experience and little resources. Our firm specialized decades ago. We are focused exclusively on accident cases.
The lawyers on tv just dont compare for auto accident injury cases. Mr.Hoffmann is as good as they get.
Response from the owner:Thank you. The TV attorneys are just settlement mills. People are hiring a paralegal, not a lawyer. Our law firm is different. You are represented by an attorney and we do not have settlement quotas.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner:TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner:Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner:This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner:Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner:Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner:Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner:Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner:This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner:Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner:We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer.
At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner:Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner:Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner:Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner:Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner:Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner:Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner:Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner:Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
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