What Types of Accidents and Injuries Can Cause Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?
- Fractures: CRPS can occur due to bone fractures, such as a broken arm, leg, wrist, or ankle. It’s a relatively common trigger for CRPS.
- Burn Injuries: Severe burns, particularly those affecting the hands or feet, are known to cause CRPS.
- Crush Injuries: Any injury that involves a crushing force, such as being trapped under heavy machinery or objects, can trigger CRPS.
- Nerve Injuries: Damage to nerves, whether due to a laceration, a penetrating injury, or another cause, can lead to CRPS.
- Amputations: Amputations of limbs, fingers, or toes, especially due to traumatic accidents, can lead to CRPS in the residual limb.
- Auto Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents, such as car, motorcycle, or truck accidents, can lead to various injuries that may trigger CRPS.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Soft tissue injuries, sprains and strains, or nerve damage resulting from a slip and fall can sometimes cause CRPS.
- Construction Accidents: Electric shocks or electrical burns at construction sites can lead to CRPS, particularly if they involve the limbs.
- Workplace Injuries: Injuries sustained in the workplace, including construction accidents, industrial accidents, or falls, can be CRPS triggers.
- Sports Injuries: Athletes can develop CRPS after suffering injuries in contact sports or accidents during training.
Types of Medical Evidence Our Personal Injury Attorneys will Collect to Prove Your Accident-Related CRPS Injury
When pursuing compensation for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) as a result of an accident, our personal injury attorneys at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys can collect various types of medical evidence to support your claim. This may include:
- Medical Records: Detailed medical records, including those from the time of the accident and all subsequent treatment, are essential. These records should document your diagnosis of CRPS, the treatment you have received, and the progression of your condition.
- Diagnostic Imaging: X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or other diagnostic imaging tests can help confirm the presence of CRPS and may provide insights into its severity.
- Nerve Conduction Studies: Nerve conduction studies can help assess nerve damage or dysfunction, which is a common feature of CRPS.
- EMG (Electromyography) Tests: EMG tests can evaluate the electrical activity in muscles and nerves.
- Clinical Evaluations: Expert medical evaluations from specialists, such as neurologists, pain management physicians, or orthopedic surgeons, can provide opinions on the presence of CRPS and its connection to the accident.
- Photographs and Documentation: Photographs or detailed medical documentation can show physical signs associated with CRPS, such as changes in skin color or temperature, swelling, or joint stiffness.
- Pain Journals: Keeping a pain journal can be helpful. Documenting the severity and nature of your pain, as well as how it affects your daily life and activities, provides evidence of your suffering.
- Treatment Records: Records of medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, or other treatments received for CRPS can demonstrate the extent of your condition and the efforts made to address it.
- Expert Medical Opinions: Expert witnesses in the field of pain management or CRPS can provide testimony regarding your diagnosis, treatment, and the causal relationship between the accident and your CRPS.
- Medical Bills: Copies of all medical bills and expenses related to the treatment of your CRPS, including past and future medical costs, are important for calculating damages.
- Disability Assessments: Assessments by medical professionals regarding your disability and how it affects your ability to work or perform daily activities.
- Prescription and Medication Records: Documentation of prescribed medications for managing CRPS and their associated costs.
- Psychological Assessments: In some cases, psychological evaluations may be relevant, as CRPS can have a significant impact on mental health.
Role of Medical Expert Testimony to Prove and Calculate Long-Term Damages for CPRS
Proving Causation
Medical experts hired by our personal injury attorneys at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys can establish causation between the injury sustained in the accident and the subsequent development of CRPS. They can provide testimony explaining how the injury directly led to the condition.
Diagnosis and Medical Records
Medical experts can confirm the diagnosis of CRPS based on the clinical symptoms, physical findings, and medical records. They can explain to the court the criteria used to diagnose CRPS and how the injured party meets these criteria.
Treatment and Prognosis
Medical experts can establish the various treatment options for CRPS and the prognosis for the condition. They can explain what treatments have been attempted, what is recommended for the future, and the likely progression of the condition. This is vital for calculating long-term damages.
Pain and Suffering
Medical specialists can describe the pain and suffering associated with CRPS, including the physical and emotional aspects of the condition. They can provide insight into how the pain and suffering will affect the injured party’s life in the long term.
Long-Term Impact
Medical specialists that our law firm may hire will establish the long-term impact of CRPS on the individual’s ability to work, engage in daily activities, and enjoy life. They can assess how the condition will affect the quality of life, physical limitations, and disability.
Testimony on Pain Management
Top medical experts can provide insight into pain management strategies and the effectiveness of various treatments, which can be valuable when determining the cost of long-term pain management.
Rehabilitation and Therapy
Medical specialists hired by our personal injury lawyers in San Jose can show the potential for rehabilitation and physical therapy to help manage CRPS and improve the injured victim’s functionality.
Get Legal Representation from Proven Personal Injury Lawyers in Northern California
If you have suffered an injury, such as CRPS, due to someone else’s negligence, the experienced legal team at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys can help you hold the at-fault parties liable for maximum damages. We have decades of experience in personal injury litigation and a formidable record of recovering over $100 million in compensation for injured victims. Give us a call at 886-545-2793 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with us today.
