Can You Receive Compensation for Chronic Pain After an Accident?
Pain is common after an accident. Even if you do not suffer serious injuries, you may be sore and stiff for several days or weeks after the crash. However, when does pain become chronic? Is there a certain number of days that you must be in pain or a certain pain level you must experience before being diagnosed with chronic pain?
Chronic pain can be difficult to cope with for an accident victim. Accident victims can seek compensation for ongoing pain in an injury claim. However, those claims can be challenging and difficult to win. Seeking counsel from an experienced Erie accident attorney is strongly encouraged if you are experiencing chronic pain after a traffic accident, fall, dog attack, or other personal injury.
How is Chronic Pain Treated?
Many forms of chronic pain are treatable, but they are not curable. Victims of ongoing pain might face a lifetime of coping with a potentially debilitating condition. Doctors use a variety of treatments for chronic pain including:
- Pain medication, including shots and oral medications
- Nerve root blocks that target nerves in the spine that relay pain messages
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
- Muscle relaxants
- Antidepressants
- Anti-seizure medications
- Massage therapy
- Spinal adjustment
- Acupuncture
Treating chronic pain can be difficult. In many cases, a victim needs to seek treatment from a physician who is experienced in pain management treatment, which can be very expensive. Filing an accident claim seeking compensation from the at-fault party can help obtain the funds needed for ongoing pain management treatment.
Can Chronic Pain Cause Other Conditions and Disorders?
Pain management treatments can help ease the suffering from severe pain. However, chronic pain can also cause other conditions and disorders that may also require medical treatment. In addition to the pain a victim may endure after an accident, chronic pain may also result in:
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Weakened immune system
- Mood swings
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
It can be difficult to perform daily tasks when a victim experiences chronic pain. However, when you consider the additional conditions that the victim may suffer because of the pain, simple tasks can be impossible to perform. Some victims are unable to hold a job because of the pain and associated conditions. Therefore, they have a substantial loss of income in addition to the massive amount of medical debt they incur while seeking treatment for chronic pain.
Filing a Lawsuit for Chronic Pain
If you are suffering from chronic pain after an accident, you might be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. If the insurance company for the other party refuses to negotiate a fair settlement for your claim, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation or your injuries, losses, and damages. Proving fault can be difficult, but proving ongoing pain can also be challenging. Working with experts in the area of pain management and an experienced Erie accident attorney can increase your chance of recovering compensation.
Your attorney works closely with your medical providers, financial experts, investigators, and other experts to gather evidence that proves fault and liability. The attorney also gathers medical information to substantiate your claims of chronic pain and other health conditions that impair your ability to work and enjoy life. Building a strong case is crucial for recovering compensation for chronic pain.
Call an Erie Personal Injury Attorney for More Information
For a free consultation with an Erie personal injury lawyer, call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066.