Numbness and Tingling After a Car Accident

Navigate your medical and legal journey with a San Antonio car accident lawyer

After a Texas car accident, your health and safety should always come first. It’s not unusual for crash victims to feel numbness or tingling in their body after an accident. This sensation might seem like something small, but it’s important not to ignore it. These symptoms could mean a bigger problem, like a severe injury, that may need immediate medical attention.

Many people who are in car accidents think numbness and tingling will disappear if they wait long enough. But if you don’t get it checked out, you could end up with serious long-term issues. Seeing a doctor right away can help you diagnose hidden injuries and get the right treatment.

The role of a car accident attorney

An experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer from The Herrera Law Firm can ensure you get the care and compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one are experiencing numbness and tingling after a car accident, it's crucial to understand both your medical and legal options.

While prompt medical attention is vital for your health, navigating your potential injury claim is equally important for securing your future well-being and financial stability.

Common injuries associated with numbness and tingling

Pinched nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when surrounding tissues — such as bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons — apply excessive pressure to a nerve. This pressure disrupts the nerve's function, leading to symptoms like numbness and tingling, which can be felt in various parts of the body, including the hands, often resulting in hand tremors. In a car accident, the body can be jolted or twisted in unnatural ways, causing the nerves to become compressed or pinched.

For example, if your neck or back is whipped around during the collision, it can lead to a pinched nerve in your spine. This compression causes the numbness and tingling you may feel after the accident. Along with numbness and tingling, you may also experience sharp or burning pain and weakness or reduced range of motion in the affected area.

Nerve damage

Numbness and tingling after a car accident are common signs of nerve damage. Nerve damage, or peripheral neuropathy, occurs when the peripheral nerves — those outside the brain and spinal cord — are damaged. This damage disrupts the communication between your brain and the rest of your body, leading to various uncomfortable symptoms, including:

Numbness and tingling: One of the primary signs is numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, often described as a “pins and needles” sensation.
Sharp pain: You might experience sharp, jabbing, or burning pain.
Weakness: Muscle weakness or a feeling of heaviness in your limbs can also occur.
Sensitivity: An increased sensitivity to touch, where even the lightest touch feels painful, is common.

Car accidents can cause nerve damage in several ways. The impact of a collision can result in direct trauma to the nerves or lead to injuries like fractures, herniated discs, or severe lacerations that affect the nerves. Your body may hit parts of the car or be aggressively jolted, potentially causing the nerves in the spine or other areas to be damaged.

Sciatica

Numbness and tingling can indicate sciatica. This is a medical condition in which the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hips and down each leg, becomes irritated or compressed. The force of impact from a collision can lead to injuries such as herniated discs, bone spurs, or even direct trauma to the lower back. When a disc in the spine herniates or bulges out of place, it can press against the sciatic nerve, leading to inflammation, pain, numbness, and tingling.

Whiplash, commonly associated with rear-end car accidents, can also lead to sciatica if the lower back is affected. In general, if you are thrown or jolted violently during the accident, it can cause misalignment or damage to the spine, contributing to sciatic nerve irritation.

Bulging and herniated discs

Car wrecks often cause spinal disc problems, such as bulges and herniations, which affect the cushioning discs between the spine bones.

A disc bulge happens when the outer layer weakens and sticks out. While not always painful, the bulge can press on nerves nearby, causing discomfort and odd sensations.

A herniated disc, also called a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the soft inner part pushes through a tear in the outer layer. This often puts more pressure on nerves, leading to pain and nerve symptoms like numbness and tingling.

Both injuries involve the discs moving out of place. Bulges are milder, with the disc staying mostly intact. Herniations are more severe, with the inner disc material escaping. Depending on their location and severity, both can cause pain and nerve issues. Common symptoms associated with bulging and herniated discs include:

Numbness and tingling: Loss of feeling and a prickling sensation.
Pain: Sharp, burning, or radiating pain that can be felt in the back, neck, or extremities, depending on the location of the affected disc.
Weakness: Muscle weakness in the affected area, leading to difficulty performing certain
movements or activities.
Reduced mobility: Stiffness and a limited range of motion in the spine or affected limbs.

During a car accident, the forceful impact can cause your body to jerk violently. This sudden movement can put excessive pressure on the spinal discs, leading to bulging or herniation. If your body is thrown forward or sideways during the collision, the discs in your spine can be compressed and damaged. The impact may also cause small tears in the outer layer of the discs, allowing the inner material to spill out and irritate nearby nerves.

Spinal cord compression

If you feel numbness or tingling in your limbs after a car accident, your spinal cord may be compressed. Spinal cord compression occurs when something puts pressure on the spinal cord, disrupting its function. This can result from the force of a car accident during which the spinal cord is compressed by moving vertebrae out of place, causing herniated discs or creating bone fragments that press on the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a critical part of the nervous system, and this pressure can disrupt nerve signals and can cause immediate and severe symptoms, including:

Numbness and tingling: Often felt in the arms or legs.
Pain: Sharp, severe pain in the neck or back.
Weakness: Muscle weakness in the affected areas, impacting mobility and strength.
Loss of coordination: Difficulty walking or performing tasks requiring motor skills.
Loss of bladder or bowel control: In severe cases, compression can lead to incontinence.

Dislocated bone

Numbness and tingling after a car accident can indicate a dislocated bone. A dislocated bone occurs when the ends of your bones are forced out of their normal positions, typically at a joint. This can happen during a car accident due to the sudden impact and force exerted on the body.

A bone dislocated can compress or damage nearby nerves, leading to numbness and tingling in the affected area. For instance, if the shoulder is dislocated, you might experience these sensations in your arm or hand. Other symptoms of a dislocated bone can include intense pain, swelling, visible deformity, and inability to move the joint.

Immediate medical attention is crucial to properly realign the bone and prevent further complications, including potential permanent nerve damage.

Why getting medical help is so important

Early diagnosis is crucial: Getting medical help immediately after feeling numbness or tingling after a car accident ensures early diagnosis and treatment. A healthcare professional can conduct necessary tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, to identify the exact cause of the numbness and tingling. Early treatment can prevent the condition from worsening and reduce the risk of permanent damage.
Proper and timely treatment and recovery: Prompt medical attention allows for a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs. This can include medications, physical therapy, or even surgery if necessary. Early intervention helps manage pain and other symptoms and improves your overall recovery.
Protecting your legal rights: Seeking medical help right away also strengthens your legal case if you decide to pursue compensation for your injuries. Medical records documenting your condition immediately after the accident are critical evidence in proving the extent of your injuries and the impact the injury has had on your life.

Seeking legal help for an injury claim

If you’re experiencing tingling and numbness after a car accident, it’s crucial to seek legal support to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

At The Herrera Law Firm in San Antonio, TX, our dedicated car accident lawyers are experienced in handling cases involving these symptoms. We will fight to secure the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other crash-related expenses.

We can negotiate with insurance companies and maximize the value of your claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation, and let us help you through the legal process so you can focus on what matters most – healing from your painful injury.

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