Car accidents in Nevada generate forces that can severely injure peripheral nerves — the network of nerves that carry signals between the brain and the body’s limbs, muscles, and skin. Unlike bone fractures that appear on X-ray and are easily understood by a jury, peripheral nerve injuries are invisible on standard imaging, often misdiagnosed in emergency settings, and may not reach full symptom expression for days or weeks after the crash. This creates two challenges: getting the right diagnosis and treatment, and proving the extent of your injuries to the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.
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Common Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Car Accidents
The peripheral nerves most frequently injured in Nevada car accidents include the radial nerve (runs along the upper arm and controls extension of the wrist and fingers — injury causes wrist drop), the ulnar nerve (runs along the inner elbow and controls fine hand movements and ring/pinky finger sensation — injury causes clawing of those fingers and grip weakness), the median nerve (runs through the carpal tunnel and controls thumb opposition and index/middle finger sensation — crush injury can cause acute carpal tunnel syndrome), the brachial plexus (network at the neck/shoulder that can be stretched or torn in side-impact and rollover crashes), and the common peroneal nerve (wraps around the outer knee and controls foot dorsiflexion — injury causes foot drop, an inability to lift the front of the foot when walking).
Each of these injuries can be caused or exacerbated by the specific mechanics of a car crash: the radial nerve can be compressed against the humerus during airbag deployment or direct impact; the peroneal nerve can be injured when the knee strikes the dashboard or door; the brachial plexus can be stretched by a violent lateral head-and-neck movement during a T-bone collision. The key is connecting the mechanism of injury to the specific nerve anatomy when building your medical record.
Diagnosis: EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies
Standard emergency room imaging — X-rays and even CT scans — does not detect peripheral nerve injuries. An MRI can reveal nerve compression or structural abnormality in some cases, but the definitive diagnostic tool for peripheral nerve injury is an electromyography and nerve conduction velocity (EMG/NCV) study performed by a neurologist or physiatrist. This study measures the electrical activity of muscles and the speed of nerve signal transmission to identify which nerves are injured, the severity of the injury (neuropraxia, axonotmesis, or neurotmesis), and whether the injury is acute or pre-existing. Getting this study documented promptly after your accident — while the relationship between the crash and the nerve injury is clear — is important to both your treatment and your legal claim.
Treatment and Recovery
Peripheral nerve injuries are treated based on severity. Mild injuries (neuropraxia) often resolve with conservative care: splinting, occupational therapy, pain management, and time — nerve fibers regenerate at approximately one inch per month. More severe injuries (axonotmesis) may require months of therapy and monitoring; complete recovery is possible but not guaranteed. The most severe injuries (neurotmesis), involving complete nerve severance, may require microsurgical nerve repair, nerve grafting, or tendon transfer procedures. When full recovery does not occur, permanent functional deficits — chronic pain, weakness, numbness, inability to perform fine motor tasks — constitute significant compensable damages in a Nevada personal injury case.
Proving Nerve Damage in a Nevada Insurance Claim
Insurance adjusters routinely dispute nerve injury claims because the injuries are not visible on standard imaging, symptoms can overlap with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or prior back problems, and recovery timelines are long and unpredictable. Your medical team’s documentation — including the EMG/NCV study, specialist notes attributing the injury to the accident mechanism, and functional assessments showing impact on daily activities and work capacity — is the foundation of a strong nerve injury claim. In cases involving permanent deficits, a vocational rehabilitation expert can quantify the economic impact on your earning capacity over your lifetime.
Contact Marathon Law Group
Marathon Law Group represents Nevada car accident victims who have suffered nerve damage and other serious injuries that insurance carriers attempt to minimize or deny. Contact us for a free consultation if you believe you have suffered peripheral nerve damage in a Nevada car accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney at Marathon Law Group. We offer free consultations and only get paid when you win.