14 Oct, 2022

Can You Sue for Chronic Pain Syndrome After an Accident in Bloomington?

Author Todd A. Strong

You may have a right to sue for chronic pain syndrome if you develop this condition as a result of accident-caused injuries. A frustrating scenario might arise when someone sustains injuries from an accident. It could take several weeks or even months to fully recover. You may need to adjust how you go about your daily life and the things you do to accommodate and make peace with your injuries.

Shot of tired young woman with neck and back pain standing in the living room at home
Shot of tired young woman with neck and back pain standing in the living room at home

Can You Sue for Chronic Pain Syndrome After an Accident in Bloomington?

Some people may question why they continue to suffer from excruciating agony years after being involved in a car accident, even if there may not have been any outward signs of physical harm at the time of the event.

The good news in these situations is that you can sue for chronic pain syndrome after an accident in Bloomington. 

In the aftermath of an accident, a Bloomington personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim for compensation against the entity responsible for causing your injuries. Accident victims should not have to live with chronic pain, and you should be reimbursed for your medical treatments and any other suffering you endure. 

There is a possibility that you will continue to experience discomfort from the injuries even after they have healed physically. This persistent chronic pain can do more damage, especially to your mental state, and can cause your life to spiral out of control.

If you have chronic pain syndrome, you may need an attorney's assistance to find out how much to ask for in a personal injury settlement and discover whether your damage caused by chronic pain syndrome may constitute a viable claim for financial compensation.

What Is Chronic Pain Syndrome?

Pain that has persisted for more than half a year is the hallmark symptom of chronic pain syndrome (CPS), which has numerous subtypes. Pain levels can fluctuate in both location and intensity, which is to be expected given that CPS is frequently the result of an injury to the nervous system.

CPS is often linked to injuries to soft tissue, traumatic injuries to the spinal cord, slipped disc herniation, and sprains and strains of the back. Additionally, head injuries and those affecting the arms or legs, such as a leg fracture or dislocated shoulder, commonly cause chronic pain syndrome.

Other than CPS, which has become a broad diagnosis for pain that continues to persist for more than six months, other, more particular types of chronic pain impact individuals in various unique ways. 

These types of chronic pain include:

Fibromyalgia

People with fibromyalgia frequently experience widespread muscle pain and stiffness throughout their bodies. Feelings of exhaustion, cognitive difficulties, nervousness, and depression frequently accompany it.

Persistent Tiredness

Those who suffer from chronic fatigue, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), endure debilitating weariness over a period of six months or longer. Although chronic fatigue is less prevalent following a car accident, those who do suffer from it have it for their whole lives. People suffering from ME are more likely to experience joint and muscular pain.

The Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Pain and How to Treat It

The following are some of the most frequently mentioned signs and symptoms associated with CPS in patients:

  • Joint discomfort
  • Aches in the lower back
  • Headaches with no apparent cause
  • Aches and pains in the muscles
  • Pain that comes on suddenly and is very severe
  • Sensations of tingling and burning that occur in many different parts of the body

As a result of the persistent pain, people who have CPS frequently experience additional symptoms as well. Some of these symptoms include difficulty falling or staying asleep, anxiety, sadness, extreme exhaustion, lack of sexual drive, irritability, and difficulties at work.

People who continue to deal with CPS despite not having medical treatment may struggle with other issues, such as issues maintaining employment, issues with substance or alcohol abuse, difficulties in their relationships, and suicidal thoughts.

Treatment Options Available for CPS

Illustration of pills in a shelf

Even though there is currently no known cure for CPS, a variety of therapy options available to patients can assist them in symptom management. These treatments are frequently combined to obtain a more favorable outcome, which may reduce pain, anxiety, sadness, and stress.

Current therapies include surgical procedures and operations, physical therapy, medications to aid with the management of stress and pain, acupuncture, hypnosis, and meditation and other exercises requiring deep breathing.

The Reasons Why It Is So Hard to Prove

Since CPS typically has no apparent or obvious cause or evidence, people who develop chronic pain syndrome after a car incident will have a tough time establishing proof of this condition without the support of a personal injury lawyer in Bloomington

Because of this, if you were involved in a car accident that was caused by another driver's carelessness, you should seek the advice of a lawyer as soon as possible after the event.

In addition to seeking medical treatment, you should follow up with your doctor. It will also be important that you follow all prescribed care. A successful claim will typically require the testimony of experts who are familiar with and treat these conditions. 

In some cases, a successful claim may also require the testimony of medical experts. Including your treatment records and medical records describing the diagnosis will also be an essential component in constructing a strong claim.

Linking this disease to the accident is almost always the most challenging aspect of any case involving CPS, especially given that it is not always quickly identified after an accident. 

Seeking medical attention as soon as possible after being involved in a car crash is not only a crucial step in the process of protecting your health. It can also be useful in attributing your injuries to the incident.

How Does an Accident Cause Chronic Pain Syndrome?

You run the risk of becoming hurt in a variety of different ways. There are many different causes of chronic pain, but some of the most prevalent ones are as follows:

Car Accidents 

Automobile collisions can result in injuries on a spectrum, from those that are hardly noticeable to those that are fatal. They are among the most common reasons people in this country pass away. If you get hit by a car, the force created by the car's mass and velocity might cause you a lot of harm because cars are quite heavy and move very quickly. 

Even if the appropriate medical procedures were carried out to treat you after the accident, you might still experience persistent pain for many years to come. It's possible that a piece of metal got stuck in your body and is now causing you agony. Alternatively, the effects could result from a traumatic shock to your spine.

Slips and Trips

You could injure yourself if you were to slip and fall or trip anywhere, and the discomfort could continue for a long time. The risks that are on the walkway, slippery flooring, shredded carpets, ice on the pavement, recently waxed or washed corridors, and dangerous or malfunctioning property are common causes of trips and falls. 

You normally cushion the force of falling with your hands, which can cause harm to your wrists. You may also land awkwardly, causing injury to your hip or spine, which can produce excessive pain reactions.

Medical Negligence

Unfortunately, some chronic pain causes can be traced back to errors made by medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses. It is considered medical malpractice when a medical professional causes you to suffer any kind of injury while you are in their care or while you are staying at a healthcare or wellness center. 

Can You Sue for Chronic Pain Syndrome?

If the actions of another party were responsible for causing your chronic pain, you might be eligible to collect several sorts of compensation for the losses you have suffered. You could potentially file a lawsuit for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses.

Medical expenses include the coverage of surgical fees, prescription prices, the cost of physical therapy, and a variety of other medical procedures, as well as coverage for any future medical treatments that may be necessary.

Lost wages include damages for lost earnings you suffer due to not having the ability to work while you recover or as a result of the permanent effects of your injury.

Your chances of winning a personal injury lawsuit and successfully obtaining compensation for an injury are typically improved if you have an experienced personal injury lawyer in Bloomington on your side throughout the legal process of filing a compensation claim. When injured plaintiffs have legal representation, they are often able to receive much larger amounts of compensation than when they do not have representation to help them sue for chronic pain syndrome. 

About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023
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About The Author

author-bio-image
Personal Injury Lawyer Todd A. Strong Illinois workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer Todd A. Strong is the founder of Strong Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois. Todd brings considerable legal knowledge, experience, and skill to the table to ensure injured victims throughout the state are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness.
Years of Experience: More than 20 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Illinois State, 1994
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2022
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2023