Nerve damage is one of those injuries that isn’t always visible, but it can change everything. After a serious accident, you might walk away without broken bones, only to later experience burning pain, numbness, or a loss of movement. These symptoms often point to nerve trauma, which can take weeks or months to understand fully. At Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook, we help injury victims across California pursue compensation for nerve damage and related complications. If you’re dealing with long-term pain or loss of function, we’re here to help you move forward.
Common Causes of Nerve Damage
Nerves are fragile. It doesn’t take much to injure them, and the damage can be hard to reverse. Nerve injuries often happen during traumatic events such as:
- Car or truck crashes, especially when arms or legs are pinned
- Falls that cause fractures or a hard impact to joints or the spine
- Workplace accidents involving crush injuries or sharp machinery
- Surgical errors or improperly administered injections
Even a seemingly minor accident can lead to nerve damage if pressure is applied in just the wrong place. Sometimes the full extent of the injury isn’t obvious right away. That’s why early evaluation and follow-up care are so important.
Types of Nerve Damage
Nerve damage isn’t always the same from one case to another. There are three common types we see in personal injury claims:
- Neuropraxia – the mildest form, where the nerve is compressed or stretched but not permanently damaged
- Axonotmesis – where the internal structure of the nerve is disrupted, often leading to partial recovery over time
- Neurotmesis – a complete severing of the nerve, usually requiring surgery and often resulting in permanent loss of function
You might feel numbness, tingling, or even stabbing pain. Other people lose control over certain muscles or experience spasms. Nerve damage can affect your hands, feet, arms, legs, or even organs, depending on where the injury occurred. Spinal injuries, in particular, can affect multiple areas at once.
Long-Term Effects and Medical Evaluation
Some nerve injuries get better. Others don’t. When nerves are damaged, they may regenerate slowly, or not at all. That’s why a proper diagnosis matters.
Your doctor may recommend:
- Electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction studies
- Imaging like MRIs or CT scans
- Referrals to neurologists or pain management providers
These tests can show how well your nerves are working and help rule out other problems. Nerve damage can lead to long-term complications like chronic pain, muscle atrophy, or loss of mobility. In some cases, people can no longer do their job or need help with everyday tasks.
Documenting the Injury and Building a Claim
If you’re considering a personal injury claim, it’s important to build a strong record of what happened and how it has affected you. That includes:
- Medical evaluations, test results, and treatment notes
- Photos, witness statements, or incident reports from the scene
- A journal describing your daily symptoms, pain levels, and limitations
The more detail we can show about how the injury changed your life, the stronger your case becomes. We’ll work with your doctors to understand your condition and explain it clearly to the insurance company or the court.
Compensation Considerations
When nerve damage affects your ability to work, drive, care for your family, or even sleep through the night, it deserves to be taken seriously. At Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook, we pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills, including surgery, rehab, and pain management
- Lost income or reduced ability to earn
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Long-term loss of mobility or independence
Nerve injuries often require long-term care and follow-up. We fight to make sure you’re not left paying those costs alone.
Contact Our Experienced Walnut Creek Nerve Damage Attorneys
At Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook, we’ve been helping injury victims across California for decades. If you’re struggling with nerve damage after an accident, you don’t have to handle this on your own. Let us review your case and explain your legal options. We offer free consultations and only get paid if we win for you. Call us today to get started.