The human body contains trillions of nerves that connect every part of the body to the central nervous system. These nerves allow you to move, feel sensations, and control automatic functions like breathing and digestion. When nerves are damaged by trauma, illness, or other factors, the results can be devastating — impacting mobility, sensation, and overall quality of life.
If you’ve suffered nerve damage in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, you may face high medical costs, time away from work, and lasting physical pain. You could be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation for these losses.
Understanding Nerve Damage
Nerve damage occurs when the fibers that carry signals between your brain, spinal cord, and body are injured or destroyed.
These injuries can affect:
- Peripheral nerves: Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
- Central nerves: Nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
Damage can disrupt movement, cause chronic pain, and interfere with automatic bodily functions.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the nerves that lie outside your brain and spinal cord. These nerves control movement, sensation, and automatic body functions like sweating and digestion. When they’re damaged, communication between your brain and the rest of your body is disrupted, leading to pain, weakness, or loss of coordination.
Types of peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:
- Motor symptoms: Muscle weakness, twitching, or loss of coordination that affects your ability to move normally.
- Sensory symptoms: Numbness, tingling, burning, or sharp pain, often starting in the hands and feet.
- Autonomic symptoms: Problems with involuntary functions, such as excessive or reduced sweating, changes in blood pressure, or bladder and bowel issues.
Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by many factors, including trauma from accidents, infections, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or exposure to toxins like heavy metals. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent the condition from worsening and improve quality of life.
Central Nervous System Nerve Damage
When nerves in the brain or spinal cord are damaged, the results can be life-altering. These injuries may lead to permanent impairment since central nerve fibers cannot regenerate.
Examples of central nerve injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Strokes
- Multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease
Complications may include:
- Partial or total paralysis
- Loss of coordination and sensation
- Central pain syndrome — a chronic condition that causes burning, stabbing, or electric shock–like pain
Because these nerves do not heal easily, early medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitation are essential to preserving as much function as possible.
Most Frequent Causes of Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can occur in many ways, but accidents and medical errors are among the leading causes.
The most common causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, or trucks can stretch, crush, or sever nerves, particularly in the spine or neck.
- Falls: Falling from a height or tripping on uneven surfaces can compress or injure nerves in the back, arms, or legs.
- Medical malpractice: Surgical errors, improper injections, or failure to diagnose conditions like diabetes can result in nerve damage.
- Repetitive motion injuries: Work that requires constant repetitive movements can cause pinched nerves or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Toxic exposure: Contact with heavy metals such as lead, mercury, or arsenic can damage nerve tissue and lead to chronic symptoms.
In every case, identifying the cause of the nerve damage is essential for determining who may be legally responsible.
Signs and Symptoms of Nerve Damage
Nerve injuries can vary widely in severity, but they often share similar signs.
Common symptoms include:
- Numbness or loss of sensation
- Sharp, burning, or shooting pain
- Muscle weakness or twitching
- Tingling or “pins and needles” sensations
- Difficulty walking or balancing
- Sensitivity to touch or temperature
If you notice these symptoms after an accident or medical procedure, seek medical care immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further complications.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim After Nerve Damage?
If another person’s negligent actions caused your nerve damage, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim.
To succeed, you generally must prove:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty by acting negligently.
- Their actions directly caused your injuries.
- You suffered measurable damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Examples of negligence leading to nerve damage include:
- A distracted driver causing a crash that injures your spinal cord.
- A surgeon cutting a nerve during an operation.
- A property owner failing to fix unsafe conditions that cause a fall.
If a doctor or hospital is involved, you may need to file a medical malpractice claim, which requires expert testimony to show that another medical professional would have acted differently.
Contact the Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyers at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you sustained nerve damage because of another party’s misconduct, filing a claim gives you the chance to receive economic and non-economic damages. These damages address medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
At Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of Birmingham personal injury attorneys offers the support you deserve during your claim. We can help you understand what options to pursue, and we will fight to win you the settlement or jury award you need. Contact our team at 205-973-6417 for a free consultation.