Chronic pain can be extremely difficult to live with. Chronic pain may not fully manifest until some time after an injury. You might notice that your pain is not subsiding even though your injury is healing. In that case, talk to a doctor and a lawyer about what to do next.
Chronic pain may arise after various injuries, although it tends to be more common when injuries are severe or catastrophic. Back, neck, and head injuries often lead to chronic pain conditions. Nerve damage also often leads to long-term pain. You may be entitled to financial compensation because of your condition, and the duration and severity of your pain may determine how much compensation you are entitled to.
Contact our Dallas personal injury attorneys for a free case review by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.
How Does Chronic Pain Occur After an Injury in Texas?
Chronic pain may result from several factors, including past injuries. If you are injured in an accident in Texas and later experience chronic pain, see your doctor for treatment and your lawyer for help getting fair compensation.
Neck and Back Injuries
Chronic pain may stem from many different injuries, but neck and back injuries are common causes of chronic pain. Many people live with the effects of a serious neck or back injury for years. Back injuries that often lead to chronic pain include nerve compression, muscle strain, herniated discs, and spinal cord injuries.
Neck injuries like whiplash can also lead to chronic pain and may affect your neck, head, shoulders, and back.
Head and Brain Injuries
Head injuries are somewhat common in car accidents. You may have struck your head on the steering wheel or dashboard during the accident. Now, you might experience recurring and severe headaches or migraines. Migraine pain can be especially intense, and many people find themselves completely debilitated until the pain passes. Living with recurring headaches and migraines can be very difficult, and many people also experience psychological distress.
Nerve Damage
Even when bone or tissue injuries do not cause chronic pain, you might still live with serious pain because of nerve injuries. Your nerve endings control various bodily sensations, including pain. Nerve injuries or damage may cause nerves to send incorrect signals to the brain, making you experience severe pain when nothing is actually causing it.
Pain from nerve injuries may feel like burning, electrical shocks, sharp shooting pain, or dull aches. The pain may vary and be unpredictable, and living with nerve damage can be difficult.
How Much Financial Compensation Are Chronic Pain Injuries Worth?
Financial compensation for chronic pain is difficult to determine as pain is inherently subjective. Nobody experiences pain in exactly the same way, so you should talk to your attorney at length about how our chronic pain affects you.
Duration and Magnitude of Pain
The key characteristic of chronic pain is that it lasts a long time. Doctors will often only diagnose someone with chronic pain after the pain persists for at least 3 months or so. Many people live with chronic pain for much longer. The longer it lasts, the more compensation you may be able to claim.
Your Ability to Work
Our Texas personal injury attorneys should also consider your ability to work while living with chronic pain. Pain can make it incredibly difficult to work, especially if your job involves strenuous physical tasks. Your chronic pain may cause you to miss a lot of work or even lose your job, and you can claim your lost income as part of your damages.
How the Pain Affects Your Life
We must also examine how your chronic pain affects other areas of your life. Your career may stall, your personal relationships may suffer, and you might experience serious depression as you can no longer enjoy your life in the ways you used to. The more your pain interferes with your ability to happily live your life, the more compensation you should claim.
FAQs About Financial Compensation for Chronic Pain in Texas
What is a Chronic Pain Injury?
Chronic pain may be diagnoses when pain from an injury persists longer than normal. Many cases involve pain that lasts for several months or persists long after an injury has recovered or should have recovered. Chronic pain may be constant or come and go.
What Should I Do if I Experience Chronic Pain After an Accident in Texas?
If you experience chronic pain after an injury, you should bring it up with your doctor as soon as possible. There may be ways to alleviate or treat the pain, or at least manage the symptoms. You should also talk about your chronic pain with your lawyer, as you may be entitled to greater compensation because of your persistent pain.
How Do Chronic Pain Injuries Occur?
Chronic pain can be somewhat unpredictable. Many people recover from injuries without developing chronic pain, while others are not so lucky. Generally, chronic pain may be more likely if injuries are severe or catastrophic. Chronic pain is also common when victims experience nerve damage.
Can I Sue for Damages Related to Chronic Pain in Texas?
Yes. You may sue for various damages after being injured, including pain. You may sue for damages related to the medical costs of your chronic pain condition, including medication and pain management treatment plans. You may also sue for non-economic damages related to the distress and suffering you endure because of the physical pain.
What Are Legal Claims for Chronic Pain Worth?
While pain is subjective and difficult to quantify, we may base your claims on the duration and severity of your pain. We may also consider how chronic pain interferes with other areas of your life. The longer and more intense the pain is, and the more it inhibits you from living your life, the more money your claims may be worth.
What Are Some Important Factors to Consider When Suing for Chronic Pain in Texas?
Important factors to consider when suing for chronic pain include the nature of the injury that caused your chronic pain condition, how long the pain persists, the severity of the pain, and whether the pain stops you from engaging in normal parts of your life. Each case is unique, and you should discuss the specifics of your case with your lawyer.
Contact Our Texas Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help
Contact our Houston personal injury attorneys for a free case review by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.