Neurological Injuries After a Car Accident

Did you feel as though you “weren’t the same” after an accident? Did you experience any migraines, or numbness after your accident? Do you still experience any of those problems? Symptoms like these may be indications of a long-term neurological problem and you should seek medical help immediately. You should also seek legal help to get reimbursed for any medical costs incurred. Contact our experienced car accident attorneys at Heidari Law to determine if you have a valid claim.

Neurological problems are not always apparent at first. A car accident may occur, then days or weeks later a patient may experience problems. Common indications of a long-term neurological problem include headaches, or tingling at the joints. Before seeking advice from attorneys, it is advised to seek medical help from a health professional to determine the cause of the problem. If the cause is a neurological problem, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Medical costs include tests, prescription drugs, and rehabilitation.

According to the CDC, each year, 80,000-90,000 people experience problems associated with traumatic brain injuries. Males reported more traumatic brain accidents, making up 78.8 percent, while females made up 21.2 percent. Deaths from head injuries make up about 34 percent of all deaths. The most common neurological injury causes are from falls, car accidents, and abrupt blows the head. The most common types of accidents that lead to death from neurological problems are car accidents and suicides. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.

General

A neurological injury is one that includes damage to the nervous system. The nervous system has two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes the actual nerves. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. The most common types of injuries sustained are at the central nervous system.

A neurological injury can impact one of three sensations:

• Nerves that control the body such as the brain
• Nerves that allow physical movement of body parts
• Nerves that deal with feelings and sensation when objects are touched

Symptoms That Indicate Nerve Damage

Oftentimes, drivers who experience a car accident have symptoms that could be signs of nerve damage. If you experience any of the below symptoms, seek professional help immediately:

• Constantly forgetting the names of people and places
• A constant ringing in the ears, especially at night
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Tingling at the joints
• Unable to quickly read and write as you used to
• Unable to quickly understand things
• Stiff neck
• Uncontrolled twitching

Different Types of Neurological Problems

Many drivers after a car accident may experience symptoms of a neurological problem, but leave it untreated because they may not understand the underlying problem. There are different types of neurological problems, which include, but are not limited to:

• Ataxia: lost muscle control, usually in the legs. Common indication of this is failure to balance
• Spinal cord injury
• Lumbar disk disease, also known as a herniated disk. This can cause the disk to break down, which can lead to weakness in the back
• Muscular dystrophy: when the muscles are weakened and break down over time
• Neuropathy: this is one of the most common neurological problems experienced after an accident. This is nerve damage that sparks from the trauma. The nerves could be damages by the pressure placed by the back disks.
• Concussion: a concussion occurs when the brain experiences trauma, and common indications of a concussion include dizziness.
• Pinched nerve: a pinched nerve is usually felt a day or two after a car accident. It may include symptoms such as unable to control bladder, and constant chest pain.
• Radiculopathy: this occurs when the nerve is compressed between the spinal column. A common symptom for radiculopathy includes a tingling sensation in the spine. This is most commonly felt in the lower back area.

How Does a Neurological Disease Occur?

A head injury is one that causes damage to the skull or brain. During a car accident, a driver may hit their head to the steering wheel when the airbag fails to open. Other head injuries can occur when glass or large objects fly to the driver’s head. Another cause of head injury is whiplash. Whiplash is the sudden pull and push abrupt movement your head experiences from the impact of another car. Your head is pushed towards the direction of the impact, and a sudden move may cause future physical injuries. Physical injuries are accompanied by neurological problems.

Future Impact

A neurological injury can be temporary or having lasting effects throughout one’s lifetime. A doctor will need to accurately determine the cause to help restore the plaintiff back to their usual self. This includes first taking a look at the plaintiff’s overall health, along with any neurological problems any member of their family has experienced. To determine the location of where the pain or numbness is stemming from, doctors may use tests like an MRI or a CT scan. Once the location of the pain or numbness is determined, the severity is determined. This is done by running sensory tests. Once the severity and main point of the injury is discovered, the doctor will be able to treat the pain through medication, physical therapy, or surgery.

Emotional or Mental Disorders

Many drivers experience emotional problems, such as fear or anger after an accident. For example, many who have been physically injured after the accident experience anxiety when wanting to heal faster and return to their normal life. Others may experience fear when getting behind the vehicle. Many may think they might end up being in an accident again, experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many even experience problems sleeping, having nightmares about the crash. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America advise that when you start to experience any emotional or mental disorders, to seek professional help immediately. They also advise to eat well balanced meals, working out, and to stay social.

To better determine if you have a claim against another driver for damages for neurological problems (such as medical bills), contact our experienced attorneys at Heidari Law Group today. We have attorneys in major cities, such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Fresno, and Irvine.

Car accidents may seem a bit complicated when deciding who is liable and what type of personal injury case to pursue. Call our attorneys at Heidari Law Group to assist you in determining if you have a viable car accident case. Despite being careful, car accidents unfortunately still occur. If you believe that you or a loved one have experienced neurological injuries as a result of a car accident, contact Heidari Law today. Contact the Heidari Law Group for a reliable personal injury attorney that is experienced in California’s and Nevada’s car accident damage laws.

Call our office at 1 (833) 224 5454 to schedule a free consultation.

***Disclaimer: This blog is created by Heidari Law Group for educational purposes. This article provides a general understanding of the law. It does not provide specific advice. By using this site and reading through this blog, there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and any member of Heidari Law. Further, due to the constant change of the law, some parts of the information above may no longer be good law.