Bodies can heal after a car accident with injuries. Broken bones will mend, and cuts and abrasions will usually heal with time. But some people are left with chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident that can have a long-term negative impact on their quality of life. Auto accident victims who experience chronic pain after a collision may be entitled to recover compensation for their losses.
How Do Auto Accident Victims Experience Chronic Pain After an Accident?
Some types of car accident injuries can cause debilitating pain long after the accident occurred. Chronic widespread pain, lasting more than three months, is a common occurrence after motor vehicle accidents, as found in a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A point of the body that has been weakened by a car accident can be prone to repeated injuries. Chronic pain can result from a number of car accident injuries, including:
Head injuries: When head trauma causes the brain to move inside the skull, it can result in a concussion. Consequences can be severe and long-lasting. Some of the symptoms of concussion include headaches, blurry vision, loss of sleep, and vomiting.
Back injuries: After a car accident, many people experience long-term back pain that appears when bending, standing for longer periods, or transitioning from sitting to standing.
Strained or torn muscles: With the impact of a car accident, the muscles tend to tighten up automatically in an effort to protect the body. This can lead to muscle strains and tears. Pain from muscle injuries can continue for weeks or months.,
Spinal injuries: Vertebrae in the spine can be moved out of their normal, optimal position with the impact of an accident. This can lead to pain or numbness, muscle weakness, or difficulty walking. When the disks between the vertebrae rupture or become bulged, it can pinch the spinal nerves, causing pain.
Whiplash: Symptoms of whiplash can last for six to eight weeks after a car accident, or for several years if left untreated. Whiplash is an injury to the tendons and muscles of the neck caused by the head being jolted back and forth in an accident.
Soft tissue damage: Damage to the soft tissue is common in car accidents. Shifting of the body in different directions with the impact of the collision can cause small tears in the tissue. People with soft tissue damage may overcorrect to avoid putting pressure on a painful area, which can change the patterns of muscle movement and walking, leading to an additional set of problems.
How Can You Recover Compensation for Chronic Pain?
You can pursue compensation for chronic pain by including your losses in a car accident claim for damages. The first step is to classify chronic pain as a long-term or permanent injury. Compensation for chronic pain differs from other types of damages in a personal injury claim, as there are no direct costs calculated on the basis of medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses. Nevertheless, you can claim future damages for chronic pain, including the emotional toll it takes. It is important to your success in recovering from chronic pain to identify the pain as being linked to the accident. Some types of chronic pain may only be manageable, not medically curable.
Why Choose Us for a Claim for Compensation for Chronic Pain?
At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., we only do injury and wrongful death claims. We work on a contingency fee basis and do not charge a fee unless we win. Our car accident attorneys have been awarded membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, named among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and rated 10.0 Superb on Avvo. If you are experiencing chronic pain caused by a car accident that was someone else’s fault, contact us to schedule a free consultation.