Nerve Injury Attorneys in Salt Lake City, Utah

Common Nerve Injuries

Nerve injuries are very common in a variety of accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, work related accidents, slip and falls, and dog bite injuries. The symptoms caused by nerve damage can range from mild to severe, and differ depending on what type of nerve was damaged. Understanding nerve damage and available treatments is key to moving forward with your life after a serious nerve injury. If the accident that resulted in injury was caused by the negligence or carelessness of another person or entity, you may be eligible to recover damages through a personal injury claim.

Types of Nerves & Symptoms of Injuries

There are three main types of nerves in the body, and what symptoms are experienced by the victim are impacted by which nerve(s) were damaged.

Motor Nerves

Motor nerves are the nerves that are responsible for physical movement. If a motor nerve is damaged in an accident, the symptoms may include weakness in the muscles, muscle twitching, muscle cramps, atrophy of the muscles or the shrinking of muscle size, and a marked decrease in reflexes.

Autonomic Nerves

The autonomic nerves of the body are nerves that are responsible for involuntary systems like breathing and heartbeat. When autonomic nerves are damaged, a myriad of symptoms can be experienced by the victim, including sweating problems, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and incontinence, and the loss of control over the bladder.

Sensory Nerves

Sensory nerves are responsible for the senses, like sight, sound, and touch. Damage to these nerves may result in symptoms like decreased sensations, trouble with coordinating complicated movements, trouble feeling changes in temperature, tingling and numbness, and neuropathic pain.

If you suspect that you may have had nerve damage as a result of an accident, it is important to get in front of the right doctors who will not only treat your condition, but take the time to relate the injury back to what occurred during the accident.

Degrees of Nerve Injuries

There are generally five degrees of a nerve injury, as classified by the Sunderland system:

First Degree

A mild nerve injury that is reversible and usually heals on its own in a few weeks.

Second Degree

Includes damage to the electrical wiring in the nerve, but does not typically require surgical treatment.

Third Degree

Includes damage to axons and the nerve's supporting structures. Nerve cleaning or grafting may be done to repair the damage and/or alleviate symptoms.

Fourth Degree

Includes damage to the axons and surrounding tissues, and is significant enough that regeneration of the nerve is prevented. This type of injury requires surgical grafting.

Fifth Degree

This occurs when a nerve is divided in two, and must be treated surgically.

Nerve injuries that are the result of an accident can range from first to fifth degree damage, requiring significant medical treatment.

Bottom Line: Nerve injuries can be severe, and often require complex medical care conducted by specialists in the field. Costs for this care, as well as lost wages, disability, and emotional trauma may be able to be compensated through a personal injury claim. Our compassionate and experienced car accident attorneys understand how difficult dealing with nerve damage can be, and we know the road to recovery is long and challenging.

George Tait Law and its lawyers are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted.  Our information source is cited in the article.  If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm.  Do not act solely upon the information provided herein.  Get a consultation.  The best law firms will provide a free consultation.  We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article.  The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.  George Tait Law and its attorneys are licensed to practice law only in the State of Utah and maintain offices in Salt Lake City, Utah. No attorney client relationship is established by simply visiting this website.