A car accident is a stressful and frightening event for anyone, and even a minor fender-bender can cause serious injuries to the driver, passenger, and innocent bystanders. That’s why immediate medical attention is necessary to treat the initial injury and look for signs of further damage that can happen later down the road.
One medical condition that can develop after a car accident is complex regional pain syndrome. Sometimes referred to as chronic pain syndrome, this is a disorder of the nervous system that’s caused by an injury or a surgical procedure to heal / correct the injury. Of course, some degree of pain is to be expected for days or even weeks if you have been in a car accident. But the pain you experience from CRPS doesn’t happen right away. In fact, it can take 4 or more weeks after the accident before you notice unusual and chronic pain that’s disproportionate to the actual injury.
Regardless of how you developed CRPS, it’s undeniably a frustrating condition to deal with, especially if you have to live with the symptoms on a permanent basis. While treatments are available, it can take many hospital visits and a whole lot of trial and error before you find a solution. This is why it’s essential to speak with a car accident lawyer if your accident was caused by someone else.
Whether it was an act of carelessness or reckless driving that put many people’s lives at risk, negligence is unacceptable when it comes to operating a motor vehicle. While there are laws to help you obtain compensation, it can be difficult to make a solid case for chronic pain, as it’s often related to an injury that’s relatively minor compared to the level of pain you are experiencing.
This is why it’s helpful to seek advice from a lawyer with experience in chronic pain and other signs of complex regional pain syndrome following a car accident. Our legal experts are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation.
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What is the Cause of Chronic Pain Following a Car Accident?
Chronic pain following a car or motorcycle accident is the main indicator of CRPS, or complex regional pain syndrome, especially if the pain is in your hands, feet, arms, or legs. CRPS and chronic pain are used interchangeably, but technically, chronic pain is a symptom of complex regional pain syndrome. Other indicators or CPRS include:
- Shooting pain or a radiating, burning sensation in the area of injury
- Severe, persistent pain
- Muscle spasms
- Swelling
- Excessive sweating
- Unusual nail or hair growth
Traumatic events like car crashes are commonly associated with complex regional pain syndrome. CRPS may be caused by immune responses that are triggered by inflammation. Or, it can be the result of damage to the peripheral and central nervous system. No matter the cause, CRPS becomes harder to treat once it’s at an advanced stage, so talk to your doctor right away if you experience any of the symptoms listed above. Based on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may advise the following treatments: OTC or prescription pain relievers, hot / cold compresses, physical therapy, nerve stimulation techniques or nerve block injections.
Average Settlement for Chronic Pain Caused by an Auto Accident
Depending on the degree of injury and how it will affect your life in the long run, a lawsuit for chronic pain following an auto accident may be worth $10,000 to over $1,000,000. If we are just talking about complex regional pain syndrome, the amount of compensation will probably be around $10,000 to $30,000. But car accidents often cause multiple injuries, like broken bones, joint dislocation, and head trauma. When you combine the total impact of all these injuries, it’s easy to see why some of these cases are worth 6 to 7 figures.
How Long will It Take to Settle my Case?
The amount of time to settle a negligent driver accident case may be anywhere from a few months to 3 or more years. The majority of claims at our law firm take between 6 and 18 months, and this is due to various factors that are specific to each claimant. The severity of injuries is the most important issue, but this is just one of many circumstances that can impact how long it takes to settle a car accident lawsuit. For complex, lifelong conditions like CRPS, it will probably take 12 months or longer to obtain a fair amount of compensation. However, there is no way to say for sure how long it will take to recover a settlement on behalf of a car accident injury victim.
Deadline to Sue for CRPS Resulting from a Motorcycle or Car Accident
Beginning from whenever the accident occurred, you have 2 years to file a lawsuit against the person or entity that failed in their duty of care to you. The statute of limitations can only be waived under extreme circumstances that will not apply to most victims of a car accident. Thus, it’s important to file an injury claim right away with help from a motor vehicle accident attorney.
If it turns out that the party responsible for the collision, rollover, hit and run, etc. is an entity of the government, you only have 6 months to file a compensation claim. If, for example, you got hit by a fire truck or police car, you must contact the appropriate agency, obtain the necessary paperwork, and submit a claim with extensive evidence no later than 6 months from the accident date.
We are with you every step of the way, no matter what type of lawsuit you are filing. Please contact Normandie Law Firm and talk to a member of our legal team if you were injured in a car accident.
Free Legal Services from a Car Accident Attorney
Those who end up with chronic pain and other lifelong injuries need representation from a personal injury law firm. However, you should not have to bear the burden of paying for legal services when someone else is responsible for your accident. The Zero Fee Guarantee provides you with free legal services for the entire duration of your case. The only way we are paid is by winning your case and receiving a percentage of your settlement. That’s why we can promise that you will never pay out of pocket when you become one of our clients.
Please take a moment to contact us and schedule a free case review if you developed complex regional pain syndrome due to the physical trauma of a car accident.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
What Causes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after a Slip and Fall Accident?
What Causes Shoulder Pain after a Slip and Fall – Trip and Fall Accident?
What Causes Shoulder Pain after a Car Accident?
