Nerve Injury & CRPS Lawyer in Culpeper, Virginia

Nerve damage can cause pain and disability that lasts long after a broken bone has healed or a wound has closed. Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC has represented people throughout Culpeper and the Piedmont region who suffered nerve injuries because of someone else’s negligence for over 50 years.

Understanding Nerve Injuries

Whether due to an amputation, a fracture, or some other trauma, an injured person may suffer severe, painful, and permanent nerve damage, including a condition known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS. CRPS is a chronic pain condition that most often affects a single limb after an injury, and it’s believed to be caused by damage to the peripheral and/or central nervous system.

According to resources published by Cleveland Clinic, CRPS is characterized by severe and prolonged pain as well as changes in skin color, temperature, and/or swelling in the affected area, and these symptoms often lead to a significant, sometimes permanent, loss of use of the limb.

The Two Types of CRPS

CRPS has two recognized categories. Patients without a confirmed nerve injury are classified as having CRPS Type I, which was previously known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or RSD. Those with CRPS Type II, previously known as causalgia, have been diagnosed with an associated, confirmed nerve injury. CRPS symptoms vary in severity and duration; some cases are mild and eventually resolve, while in more severe cases, individuals may not recover and may have long-term disability.

Common Causes of Nerve Injuries

Nerve injuries in Culpeper and the surrounding Piedmont region often arise from:

• Auto accidents — crush injuries, fractures, or lacerations that damage nearby nerves during a collision
• Trucking accidents — the greater forces involved often cause more extensive nerve damage alongside other trauma
• Motorcycle accidents — road rash, fractures, and direct trauma to limbs commonly damage underlying nerves
• Medical malpractice — surgical errors, improper injections, or negligent post-operative care can all result in nerve damage
• Fractures and dislocations that place pressure on or sever nearby nerves

Diagnosing Nerve Injuries and CRPS

Diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical examination, nerve conduction studies, and, in cases of suspected CRPS, specific diagnostic criteria that look at pain levels, temperature and color changes, swelling, and motor function over time. Because CRPS symptoms can fluctuate and don’t always present the same way in every patient, an accurate diagnosis often requires evaluation by a specialist experienced with this specific condition, rather than a general practitioner encountering it for the first time.

Why Nerve Injuries Are Often Misunderstood

Because nerve injuries and conditions like CRPS don’t always show up clearly on standard imaging, and because the pain reported can seem disproportionate to the visible injury, these conditions are sometimes met with skepticism by insurance companies. That skepticism doesn’t reflect the medical reality. CRPS and other chronic nerve pain conditions are recognized, diagnosable conditions with specific clinical criteria, and a thorough evaluation by a specialist familiar with these conditions is often key to both proper treatment and a properly valued legal claim.

What Compensation Can Cover

A nerve injury claim can pursue compensation for medical treatment, including specialist evaluation, pain management, and physical therapy, lost wages if the injury affects your ability to work, and pain and suffering for the often severe and prolonged nature of nerve pain. For cases involving CRPS or other chronic conditions, compensation should reflect the real, extended impact of the condition rather than treating it as a temporary injury.

What to Do If You Suspect a Nerve Injury

Seek evaluation from a specialist if you’re experiencing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that persists or worsens after an injury, since early diagnosis and treatment can make a real difference in outcomes for conditions like CRPS. Our page on what to do after an accident covers additional steps to help protect your health and your legal rights.

Why Choose Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC

Our firm has represented nerve injury victims throughout Culpeper, Warrenton, Orange County, Fauquier County, Spotsylvania, and the wider Piedmont region for over 50 years. We take chronic pain conditions like CRPS seriously, even when insurance companies try to dismiss them, and we work with the medical specialists needed to properly document these injuries.

We’re rated AV Preeminent, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards, and we bring that same rigor to nerve injury cases that are too often misunderstood or undervalued by insurance companies.

Nerve Injury Representation in Culpeper, Virginia

Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC represents nerve injury victims throughout Culpeper and the surrounding Piedmont region. If you or a loved one suffered a nerve injury because of someone else’s negligence, contact our office today for a free case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that most often affects a single limb after an injury, causing severe and prolonged pain along with changes in skin color, temperature, or swelling in the affected area. It’s believed to result from damage to the nervous system.

What’s the difference between CRPS Type I and Type II?

CRPS Type I applies to patients without a confirmed nerve injury, previously called reflex sympathetic dystrophy. CRPS Type II applies to patients with an associated, confirmed nerve injury, previously called causalgia.

Why is the insurance company skeptical of my nerve pain diagnosis?

Nerve injuries and conditions like CRPS don’t always show up on standard imaging, which can lead insurance companies to question a diagnosis. These are still recognized, diagnosable medical conditions, and a specialist evaluation helps establish the legitimacy and severity of the condition.

Can a nerve injury improve over time?

It varies. Some CRPS cases are mild and eventually resolve with treatment, while more severe cases can result in long-term or permanent disability. Early diagnosis and treatment can meaningfully affect the outcome.

Can nerve damage result from a medical procedure?

Yes. Surgical errors, improper injections, and negligent post-operative care can all result in nerve damage, which may support a medical malpractice claim.

How much does it cost to hire a nerve injury attorney?

Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC handles nerve injury cases on a contingency basis, so there’s no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you, and your first consultation is free.