Recovering from car accident injuries isn’t always a straightforward journey. While some injuries heal with time, others linger, causing ongoing discomfort, functional limitations, and even emotional distress. For many San Bernardino residents, experiencing chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident, especially commercial truck accidents or pedestrian accidents, becomes a daily reality that interferes with work, sleep, and relationships. At the Gold Firm, we’ve helped countless motor vehicle accident victims who have faced this very struggle.
Understanding your legal rights as a victim, recognizing the types of chronic pain that may develop, and knowing how to link your symptoms to the crash are all key to obtaining fair compensation. If you’re suffering from chronic pain after a collision, our experienced legal team can help you fight for the justice and financial support you deserve.
What Is Considered Chronic Pain After a Car Accident?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks after the injuries or accident occurred. Chronic pain is a condition that can persist even after the original injury has healed. In the aftermath of an auto accident in San Bernardino, chronic pain can result from:
- Whiplash
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Fractures that didn’t heal correctly
- Torn ligaments or tendons
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
Unlike acute pain caused by injuries, which has a clear beginning and end, chronic pain can be more elusive. It may come and go after the injury has healed or remain constant regardless of treatments or therapy. Regardless of the pattern of pain a victim is experiencing, it significantly affects their overall quality of life.
Common Types of Chronic Pain After an Auto Accident
Many types of chronic pain can be caused by being injured in a car crash. Some of the most common types of chronic pain that are reported in car accident claims include:
Neck and Back Pain
Neck and back injuries are among the most common complaints after individuals are in a collision. Whiplash, spinal cord damage, and disc injuries can often lead to long-term discomfort that may radiate into the arms or legs.
Joint and Muscle Pain
Injuries to the knees, shoulders, hips, or can cause joint instability and chronic inflammation. Torn rotator cuffs, meniscus tears, and soft tissue trauma may also trigger pain that lingers and can be persistent long after the crash.
Neuropathic Pain
Nerve damage from the accident can cause shooting or burning pain, tingling, or numbness in the limbs. Neuropathic pain can be especially debilitating and difficult to manage, especially when treatments are not working.
Headaches and Migraines
Post-traumatic headaches may result from concussions, whiplash, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), or even jaw injuries. These can become chronic and may be tied to underlying traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Fibromyalgia-Like Symptoms
In some cases, a car accident may trigger widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues in victims, which are often described as symptoms that are similar to fibromyalgia.
Can Neck Trauma Cause Thyroid Problems?
One lesser-known consequence of car accidents involves issues with the thyroid. The thyroid is located in the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is a very sensitive organ that can be affected by physical trauma, including:
- Whiplash
- Direct blunt force to the neck
- Surgical complications after a traumatic injury
- Health conditions
Neck trauma can most certainly cause thyroid problems, particularly if the impact during the car accident leads to inflammation, hemorrhaging, or damage to the gland itself. Post-traumatic thyroiditis is a condition where the thyroid becomes inflamed after trauma such as car accidents. This can lead to symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Weight changes
- Cold sensitivity
- Depression
- Anxiety
These thyroid trauma symptoms can be mistakenly attributed to general post-accident stress, but they may stem from an injured thyroid. If you’re experiencing persistent fatigue or hormonal imbalances after an accident, it’s essential to undergo a medical evaluation.
Can Emotional Trauma Cause Thyroid Problems?
The aftermath of a serious motor vehicle accident, especially if you are a bicyclist or pedestrian, isn’t just physical. Many victims also experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being in a serious car accident in San Bernardino. When additional health issues emerge, it raises a new concern related to how emotional trauma can cause thyroid problems.
Emerging research suggests a strong link between emotional trauma and autoimmune thyroid conditions. These thyroid conditions can include:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Graves’ disease
Stressful events trigger the release of cortisol and other hormones that impact how the immune system functions. For people with a genetic predisposition, this can lead to thyroid inflammation or hormone imbalances, especially when traumatic events such as San Bernardino accidents occur.
If you’re struggling with emotional distress after your crash and also noticing weight gain, mood swings, or fatigue, there may be a deeper hormonal issue at play.
How Chronic Pain Impacts A Victim’s Daily Life
Chronic pain doesn’t just cause physical suffering for extended periods after the accident occurs. It has wide-reaching effects on every area of a victim’s life:
- Work – Many accident victims are forced to reduce their hours or stop working altogether while they are recovering and afterwards.
- Sleep – Pain can make restful sleep nearly impossible, leading to irritability and fatigue.
- Mental Health – Chronic pain is strongly linked to depression and anxiety.
- Relationships – Constant discomfort can put a strain on personal relationships and social engagement.
These consequences of negligence in a San Bernardino accident aren’t just frustrating. They are also compensable under California personal injury law.
How A Personal Injury Attorney for Chronic Pain Can Help With Accident Claims
Chronic pain is often harder to prove in a personal injury claim than visible injuries like broken bones or bruises. Insurance companies are quick to question the severity or legitimacy of any pain-related complaints listed in a claim, especially when:
- Diagnostic imaging doesn’t show obvious damage to nerves, ligaments, or bones
- There are pre-existing conditions involved in the victim’s history
- Pain persists long after the doctor’s “expected” recovery period
At The Gold Firm, we work with medical and car crash experts who can establish the link between your chronic pain and the crash using the evidence our team gathers. Whether through physician testimony, pain management records, or psychological evaluations, we can build a compelling case that illustrates the full impact of your chronic pain and suffering.