Car Accident Nerve Damage: What You Need to Know

After a car accident, it’s common to feel “off.” You may struggle to concentrate, experience headaches or migraines, or notice new pain that wasn’t there before. These symptoms can last for weeks—or even months—and may be a sign of serious nerve damage.

Nerve injuries are far more than temporary discomfort. They can disrupt your daily life, affect your ability to work, and lead to long-term medical issues if left untreated. If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you should not be left to carry the physical, emotional, and financial burden alone.

How Car Accidents Cause Neurological Issues

Even a mild collision can create enough force to move your head or neck abruptly. That sudden motion—commonly known as whiplash—can stretch, pinch, or compress the nerves. Direct impact to the head, back, arms, or legs can also damage nerves or soft tissue.

Common causes of nerve damage in car crashes include:

• Whiplash: A violent back-and-forth motion of the head and neck

• Blunt-force trauma: Striking the interior of the vehicle

• Lacerations: Deep cuts that sever nerves

• Pressure or compression: From swelling, fractured bones, or damaged discs

These injuries may not always appear immediately. Many people begin to notice symptoms days after the crash, once adrenaline wears off.

Common Signs of Nerve Damage After a Crash

Only a trained medical professional can diagnose a neurological injury, but several warning signs should prompt you to get immediate evaluation:

• Numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, hands, or feet

• Muscle weakness

• Headaches or migraines

• Burning or prickling sensations

• Increased sensitivity to touch or temperature

• Difficulty focusing or processing information

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

• Uncontrolled muscle twitching

• Partial or complete paralysis of fingers, toes, or limbs

These symptoms can indicate problems with the autonomic, sensory, or motor nerves—each responsible for essential functions in your body.

Neuropathy After a Car Accident

Neuropathy refers to nerve damage anywhere in the peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord). After a car accident, neuropathy can result from:

• Severed, crushed, or stretched nerves

• Herniated discs compressing nearby nerves

• Dislocated or fractured bones

• Severe whiplash

• Inflammation or swelling around the spine

Neuropathy can cause pain, balance issues, coordination problems, numbness, and difficulty gripping or lifting. Because peripheral nerves regenerate slowly, recovery often requires ongoing medical treatment, physical therapy, or surgical intervention.

Radiculopathy (Compressed or Pinched Nerves)

Radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve becomes compressed. This often results in:

• Cervical radiculopathy: neck injuries causing arm, shoulder, or fingertip pain and numbness

• Lumbar radiculopathy: lower-back injuries causing leg, hip, or foot symptoms

• Thoracic radiculopathy: mid-back injuries causing chest or rib pain

A pinched nerve can develop from whiplash, disc herniation, bone displacement, swelling, or scarring. Symptoms include:

• Tingling or numbness

• Shooting pain

• Weakness

• Loss of coordination

• Difficulty sleeping

• Sensitivity to touch

Because symptoms can worsen without treatment, medical evaluation is critical.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Nerve damage can accompany or mask a traumatic brain injury. TBIs—from concussions to more serious brain trauma—may involve:

• Memory issues

• Confusion

• Blurred vision

• Dizziness

• Loss of consciousness

• Persistent headaches

Some brain injuries cause delayed bleeding or swelling, making immediate medical assessment essential after any crash—no matter how minor it seemed.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your doctor may perform:

• Imaging (X-rays, MRI, or CT scans)

• Electromyography (EMG)

• Nerve conduction studies

• Physical and neurological exams

Treatment may include:

• Medication

• Physical therapy

• Nerve blocks

• Steroid injections

• Surgery for severe cases

• Mobility aids for long-term impairment

Early diagnosis provides the best chance of recovery and prevents long-lasting complications.

Can You Receive Compensation for Nerve Damage?

Yes. If your nerve injury was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills

• Neurological testing

• Surgery or rehabilitation

• Future medical needs

• Lost wages or reduced earning capacity

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional distress

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Permanent disability

• Lifestyle limitations

Car accident nerve injuries often have long-lasting consequences. An experienced attorney can help you document the full extent of your injuries and fight for the compensation you need to move forward with confidence.

Why Legal Help Matters

Insurance companies often minimize the seriousness of nerve injuries, blaming symptoms on pre-existing conditions or offering low settlements before the full scope of your medical needs is known.

A skilled car accident attorney can:

• Protect your rights

• Work with medical experts to document your injuries

• Calculate long-term damages

• Handle negotiations and legal deadlines

• Fight for the maximum compensation available

You shouldn’t navigate this alone—especially while dealing with pain, appointments, and uncertainty about your recovery.

Get Help From a Car Accident Lawyer

If you’re experiencing nerve pain, numbness, headaches, or any neurological symptoms after a crash, seek medical attention immediately—and then speak with a trusted injury attorney.

Applebaum Accident & Injury Lawyers is here to stand by your side, protect your rights, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Our team understands how devastating nerve damage can be, and we’re committed to guiding you through every step of the process.

Contact us(855-Call-Paul) today for a  consultation. You don’t pay unless we win.