The mere act of falling down may not seem like a big deal, but these incidents can cause severe injury and lifelong health issues. In some cases, an unexpected fall can even cause death, especially among the elderly. Fortunately, quick medical intervention can save most people and put them on the road to recovery after a slip and fall accident.
When we are involved in an accident, most of the injuries are immediately noticeable. But there are health conditions that develop over a long period of time, even after the initial injury has healed. Some of these, like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), involve damage that’s related to the trauma of a serious accident. To put it simply, CRPS is a disorder based on chronic pain that’s disproportionate to the injury. It usually affects the arms, legs, hands and feet, and may be triggered by fractures, dislocations, and other injuries that can happen from a slip and fall. Chronic pain can also be triggered by surgery for a slip and fall injury.
No matter how CRPS develops, it is undoubtedly a frustrating condition to live with. Usually, it takes 4 to 6 weeks after an accident or surgical procedure before you begin to notice the signs of complex regional pain syndrome. As the condition progresses, it can cause all sort of disruptions in your body aside from chronic pain, like changes in skin texture, excessive sweating, and unexplained muscle spasms.
If you have been diagnosed with CRPS that’s linked to a slip and fall or trip and fall incident, it’s important to determine the exact cause of the accident. If there was a dangerous condition on someone else’s property that caused you to fall down, you may be entitled to monetary damages from a premises liability lawsuit. For more information on your right to sue for injuries from a slip and fall, call us to schedule a free case evaluation.
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What Causes Chronic Pain after a Fall Accident?
Complex regional pain syndrome can happen from a slip and fall or another traumatic event that caused injury to the nerves. Though CRPS is sometimes referred to as chronic pain, it’s important to understand that chronic pain is one of the symptoms of this confusing and often misunderstood disorder. It’s believed that CRPS is caused by inflammation that’s triggered by an immune response, or from damage to the central and peripheral nervous system.
Those who develop CRPS in the weeks after a trip and fall or slip and fall accident may have the following symptoms:
- Severe and persistent pain
- Shooting pain at the injury site
- Burning sensation in and around the area of injury
- Swelling
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle spasms
- Unusual hair or nail growth
Early intervention is the key to treating chronic pain and other symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome, so please don’t wait to see a doctor if you are having persistent pain and discomfort after an accident. Your doctor may prescribe one or more treatments, such as prescription pain relievers, cold and hot compresses, nerve block injections, physical therapy, and techniques to stimulate the nerve.
Settlement Values for a Slip and Fall Resulting in CRPS Lawsuit
A slip and fall or trip and fall lawsuit can have a wide range of settlement values, ranging from $15,000 to $3,000,000. Of course, these are just estimates, and there’s no way to say for sure what your lawsuit is worth until we speak with you in person. With these cases, it’s important to remember that you are likely to have multiple injuries from slipping on something and falling down. So, the amount of compensation is based on the impact of all these injuries on your health and finances. That’s why we look at much more than the value of a chronic pain injury claim, which is probably worth $10,000 to $30,000 on its own. Combined with other health issues following a slip and fall, it’s likely that the total sum of compensation is between 6 and 7 figures.
How Long Does It Take to Get Paid on these Cases?
It can take anywhere from just a few months to over 3 years to receive payment for injuries caused by a slip and fall. Generally, claims against negligent homeowners are settled in 6 months or less, while claims for accidents on commercial premises take 10 months or longer. However, any lawsuit involving severe injuries, especially ones that result in disability or a lifelong health complication will probably take 1 to 2 years from start to finish. There are many other issues that can play a role in the settlement process, which we are happy to discuss with you during a free case review.
Suing for a Slip and Fall Accident – What is the Deadline?
Slip and fall claims and other premises liability lawsuits generally have a time limit of 2 years. So, you are required to file a claim no less than 2 years from the date of injury if you are seeking damages from a negligent property owner. There are very few exceptions to the statute of limitations for a lawsuit, so if you don’t file your claim on time, you will most likely lose the right to sue, no matter how much evidence you have against the other party.
Please be aware that the 2-year rule applies to lawsuits against private entities. If a public entity is liable for the accident, like a city government, government employee, or school district, you must file a damages claim within 6 months. This is a tight deadline even under the best of circumstances, and we strongly advise that you contact a personal injury lawyer to help you through the process.
Contact a California Slip and Fall Lawyer
Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that you may have to live with on a permanent basis. As a result, it’s important to fight for the compensation you deserve if you ended up with CRPS after a slip and fall accident. Our law firm is here to guide you through the legal process from start to finish, without charging you a dime for any of our services.
If you decide to hire us, we will ask the defendant cover the cost of legal services, meaning you pay $0 out of pocket. Under the Zero Fee Guarantee, winning your case is the only way we get paid, so you owe us $0 if you don’t receive compensation from a fall accident injury claim.
To discuss your rights and legal options with a slip and fall lawyer, contact our office to schedule a free consultation.
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