The different injuries and conditions that you can suffer as a result of crashes and accidents can make medical treatment and legal compensation difficult to acquire. There are times when a whole team of doctors cannot agree on a diagnosis, which negatively impacts your case. For example, CRPS is a condition that affects the nerves and creates a disproportionate amount of pain when compared to the initial injury; diagnosis can take months because it is not a widely studied condition. Similarly, thoracic outlet syndrome can take a long time to be diagnoses – many doctors will see different root causes and symptoms of other conditions but be unable to identify the condition, or merely believe it to be something else. If you were hurt in an accident and you contracted thoracic outlet syndrome, you could take legal action with the help of our law firm, Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles.
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Thoracic outlet syndrome is characterized as a compression placed on the nerves, tendons, and other parts in the upper clavicle/shoulder region. The collarbone connects the arm to the thorax, and through the channel, the brachial plexus, subclavian artery, and subclavian nerve all run. In the event of a traumatic incident or some kind of injury, the nerve, artery, or vein can get compressed or have something press down on it. This can cause extreme pain and discomfort from the arm all the way up to the shoulder.
What are symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome?
- Muscular atrophy nor muscle death and weakness, generally near the thumb and thumb base
- Off-color, discoloration, or bluishness in the hand
- Weakened grip and strength in the affected hand or arm
- Lack of appropriate blood flow to the extremities, leading to cold fingers
- Throbbing lump present near clavicle
- Presence of blood clots in the arm and nearby locations
- Loss of feeling in the fingers, or prevailing feels of tingling or numbness
- Arm swelling, clavicle inflammation, and more
- Pain and parathesia in the upper arm, lower neck, clavicle, and more
- Weak pulse present in the arm or hand
Many of these symptoms point to other conditions, such as simple impinged nerves, nerve damage in the elbow, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, ligament and tendon damage in the shoulder, herniated or slipped discs in the spine, and more.
It is crucial that you identify all the symptoms you feel and present them to a medical expert to appropriately receive a diagnosis, or find a doctor who is a specialist in such conditions and treatments.
Read Also
— Attorney to File a Lawsuit for Quadriplegia Injury
— Average Case Value of Spinal Cord Injury After a Truck Accident
— Slip and Fall Back Injury Lawsuit Attorney
— Average Settlement Value of a Back Injury Case
— Assault Battery Injury Attorney Los Angeles
— Attorney to File a Lawsuit for Paraplegia Injury
How does thoracic outlet syndrome occur?
Thoracic outlet syndrome can occur on its own because of poor lifestyle choices or it can be directly caused by trauma. For example, poor posture and care for the body and spine can lead to nerve compression over time. Repetitive motions like typing, swinging, climbing, building, and other small actions can also increase the likelihood of thoracic outlet syndrome. Some internal stiffness maybe present, which can be labeled genetic and can be fixed surgically.
However, trauma is one of the most common causes of the condition. It most often occurs with car accidents and other automobile crashes. During these crashes, the body may be suddenly thrown against the window or door, and the prolonged crushing sensation or pinning of the shoulder can lead to the condition.
What are the troubles of identifying thoracic outlet syndrome?
One of the biggest troubles with identifying thoracic outlet syndrome is how few doctors readily have it as a possible condition. It seems that a lot of medical professionals will treat for other conditions that could be related but will not outright treat thoracic outlet syndrome. This is because the other symptoms generally present in the aforementioned conditions, like CRPS and nerve compression in other areas.
It is crucial that doctors examine every part of a patient’s medical history and also ask about potential lifestyle choices. For example, a lot of window washing, garage painting, and similar work as a contractor can prime the body for thoracic outlet syndrome in the event of a trauma.
Recognizing and Understanding Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in Personal Injury Cases
If medical professionals have difficulty identifying the condition, then insurance agents responsible for handing out compensation and settlements to those who were hurt in accidents will also have difficulty. The most common tactic is to simply deny that there is an issue or a physical trauma, because if the doctors cannot identify it, there is no proof that it is actively afflicting the individual.
What should I do to sue for thoracic outlet syndrome from an accident?
It is important that you be able to secure an accurate and succinct diagnosis of the condition from a capable and trusted medical professional, especially If other professionals can also agree on the diagnosis. Once you have this diagnosis, your claim will go much smoother than it otherwise would.
To sue, you will need to do the following:
- Hold on to medical reports, doctor’s notes, receipts, nurse statements, and anything showing the treatment you received
- Acquire picture proof of your injuries, the scene of the accident, the damage done to any vehicles, the hazards present, and more
- Write down eyewitness or third-party statements explaining what happened in the accident or what kind of suffering you have displayed over the course of time since the incident
- Write down the contact information and insurance details of the responsible party so that you have a solid target to sue when you choose to do so
- Hire an expert lawyer who can handle your case for you, as the legal process may be something you are totally unfamiliar with and you will not be able to fairly negotiate or defend yourself and your evidence against the insurance agency
Be sure to reach out to an attorney at our firm, and we will compile your evidence for you, hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf, submit the package and demand letter to the insurance company, and negotiate a fair settlement for you.
What can I win from a thoracic outlet syndrome lawsuit?
With the help of our lawyers, you can be totally covered injuries suffered in the incident. Thoracic outlet syndrome that came about as a result of a trauma, or that was caused because another party was negligent (slip and fall or physical assault and battery, for example) can allow you to recover damages for the following:
- Medical compensation from the past and future for your losses, including hospitalization, treatments, physical therapy, and more
- Lost properly if your personal items were replaced or lost in the incident
- Missed income for time you could not go to work, as well as future tie you would spend recovering
- Pain and suffering damages to help with anxiety, fear, PTSD, emotional aguish, and more
The value of your case will essentially be determined by the insurance agent representing the party who was negligent in the incident. The agent will look at the extent of the damages you suffered and how impactful they were, including the effect they had on your life and career. If you were left with daily pain and an inability to complete your job duties, for example, the case may be worth a lot of money. However, insurance agents do not usually wish to pay out such large settlements, and will do anything they can to prevent it from happening. They wish to protect their profits, so they will simply deny claims, delay them, and refuse to admit that you were hurt, even going so far as to say that you were responsible for the incident.
It is crucial that you have an attorney on your side who can handle your case while you recover or get treat
What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim concerning thoracic outlet syndrome?
The statute of limitations on personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of the injury. This deadline must be adhered to or you will not be able to collect any compensation for your losses. Too often, individuals miss out on potential payments because they wind up forgetting there is a deadline.
There is the chance for your statute of limitations to be extended, though. Most commonly, this happens when plaintiffs are underage; once the plaintiff turns 18 years old, he can legally sue and adhere to the statute. The responsible party must also be in the state if you wish to sue; any time that he is gone will cause the statute to be suspended.
Let Us Help
Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles can help you get the settlement you need if you were afflicted with thoracic outlet syndrome and you do not have any legal experience. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we know the best methods to winning such claims. If necessary, our aggressive lawyers will take your case to court to prove your rights in front of a judge and jury.
Call our offices today to set up a free legal consultation to discuss your case. We will tell you what we think your case is worth and we will get you the medical help necessary if your current doctor is not up to snuff. You can ask us whatever you wish and we will give you the answers you need. If you want us to work on your claim, we will promise that you pay no money at all throughout the case because of our zero fee guarantee. This says that we will only get paid if we win, but the money will come from the settlement we bring you, and not from your expenses. If we lose, we don’t get paid, and you walk away with nothing owed to our firm.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to sue for thoracic outlet syndrome from an accident.
