When an injury is accompanied by other side effects, it can be a long road to recovery, filled with additional pain and suffering that you should not have to endure. These side effects happen, though, and sometimes there is not much that can be done in the way of curing them. If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligent behavior, you may be entitled to various forms of financial compensation, especially if you have been left with a lingering injury like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS (also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or RSD). CRPS can develop after an injury, and when it affects the foot, it can be extremely debilitating and painful to endure. Our experienced lawyers at the top-rated Normandie Law Firm feel that our clients all deserve the fairest compensation and proper medical treatment to reduce their pain levels and keep them comfortable. Our clients contact us with questions about CRPS because it is still a condition that not too many doctors are familiar with, and as a result, neither are insurance agencies. They want to know about the injury, the lasting effects, and what they can earn if they pursue legal action. Examples of these questions include:
- I got Complex Regional Pain Syndrome from a foot injury in a car accident. Can I sue the driver?
- I need skilled attorneys with experience in CRPS cases. Who can I call?
- Who are lawyers in Los Angeles experienced with CRPS lawsuits?
CRPS Facts and Details
CRPS is a condition that flares up in the wake of an injury. If you had your foot injured due to a car accident or your foot was run over by a car, you may experience a burning pain that extends to the far ends of your limbs. Often, CRPS happens away from the site of the injury; it is generally not an affliction on the groups of nerves and ganglions at the location of the impact. It appears to be a residual injury that flares up after the fact.
CRPS symptoms in feet include stiffness, redness, swelling, muscle spasms, burning sensations, discoloration of the skin, change in texture of the skin, and a greatly increased sensitivity to touch and temperature (especially cold). Essentially, it is an inflammation of the nerves with symptoms similar to nerve damage. It is theorized that the conditions comes about when the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system suffer a disconnect in some way.
If left untreated for a period of time, CRPS can cause severe deterioration of the afflicted area. You may experience muscular atrophy (wherein the muscle degenerates), chronic nerve pain, a loss in dexterity and motion, and disability in the affected region.
If your foot were run over by a car tire and injured, you run the risk of developing CRPS (RSD) from a foot injury. Though numerous other factors can cause the condition, blunt trauma and crush injuries are common causes as well. These are most commonly seen in automobile accidents. For example, you may have been near a car that was turning the corner only for the driver to run over your foot, or a vehicle that was parked next to you in a parking lot may suddenly leave, damaging your foot that was caught beneath it.
You may also develop CRPS after a motorcycle accident if your foot were caught under another vehicle or your own bike, or develop CRPS after a truck accident if your foot were pinned against the interior of the cab after a car struck you.
Regardless of the cause, it is wise to consult with an accomplished attorney who has experience in CRPS injury cases.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, there is no cure for CRPS. Once it degenerates to a point of no return, there is nothing doctors can do. However, if caught early enough, many of its effects can be reduced or eliminated.
One of the more common treatments is to supply the patient with medication that blocks the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. Drugs include over the counter pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen), corticosteroids (prednisone), anticonvulsants, and more. Pain management is one of the key aspects of treating CRPS, but after some deterioration has occurred, you may be recommended to pursue other treatments. Dexterity and range of motion can be increased with the help of physical therapy, for instance, while biofeedback, or awareness of your body, can help you identify pain and relax through it.
You may have to receive treatment on all the affected areas, including your legs, knees, and ankles. It is important to keep all potentially damaged parts of your body healthy so as to prevent disability.
Because of how elusive CRPS can be, it may take the efforts of multiple doctors to correctly diagnose the condition. There is no telling how long this can take, and if you are witnessing your health deteriorate, you should contact one of our Los Angeles attorneys to seek legal action. The failure to diagnose may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Of course, this entire medical process takes time and money, and any ensuing treatments or procedures are not cheap. One of our expert attorneys with experience handling CRPS claims at our Los Angeles law firm can help you receive fair compensation if you developed CRPS after a car accident.
What You Can Earn
If you have been injured in a car accident and you developed CRPS as a result, you may be entitled to recovering monetary damages. Our attorneys can help you earn a sizeable settlement for your injury, and we will not stop until we bring you a payout you are satisfied with.
The types of compensation you can earn vary. You have the ability to receive restitution for:
- Medical Bills: This includes hospitalization, medical treatments and procedures, surgery, medication, and physical therapy. Because CRPS usually requires multiple doctor’s visits and future treatments, the ensuing medical bills may be very high. You can earn compensation for both medical expenses from the past and for future treatments.
- Lost Income: These medical treatments take time out of your schedule and the injury may sideline you for weeks. You may be entirely unable to go to work in that time, and as a result, you will miss out on your normal wages. The responsible party can reimburse you for this lost income from both the past and the future.
- Pain and Suffering: If your injury caused you lasting emotional damage, you can be compensated. Emotional damages are sometimes worse than the physical injuries; they include psychological suffering, mental scarring, emotional pain, fear, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Punitive Damages: Not every case is eligible for punitive damages. In order for you to claim punitive damages, you must be able to show that the defendant acted with gross negligence or was intentionally trying to cause harm. These damages consist of additional monetary compensation that is given out to replace the punishment of jail time and to dissuade the individual from committing the action again. However, many juries see these damages as unnecessary or excessive; therefore, only a qualified attorney with expertise in CRPS injury lawsuits will be able to argue for and win them.
Do not let your injury prevent you from earning fair compensation. CRPS can put a delay in your life, and you should not have to worry about finances if your suffering were caused by another party.
Choosing Normandie Law Firm
Normandie Law Firm has ample experience in dealing with clients who have been afflicted with CRPS. We know car accidents can cause debilitating injuries that spring up when it seems like recovery is imminent, and these damages can be extremely severe. We will aggressively fight for your rights as a victim of a car accident in order to bring you fair compensation. If the responsible individual’s insurance company won’t give you a proper settlement, we are more than willing to take the case to court and let the judge decide. We are confident in our negotiation abilities and our knowledge of the law, and we promise that you are in the best hands when you choose Normandie Law Firm to represent you.
Call us today to receive a free legal consultation. You can speak to a top lawyer experienced in CRPS cases and find out what you can expect in a lawsuit. We will tell you what we believe you can earn and what kind of medical treatment you may be able to pursue. Our team of attorneys believes that all clients should be given as much information as possible to make an educated decision on taking legal action.
When you hire us for our legal services, you are given a zero fee guarantee on your claim. This means you pay no out of pocket expenses throughout the case. We front the costs, allowing you to sit back and recover; the stress of a lawsuit can delay your healing time and worsen your injuries. If we win your case, our fees come from the settlement we’ve earned for you, ensuring that you do not use any of your own money. In the event we lose your case, you do not owe us a cent. Your financial security is important to us, and we believe legal representation should be given to anyone who requires it.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to talk to an experienced attorney about your CRPS injury and what kind of lawsuit you can file to receive compensation.
