CRPS AFTER A BICYCLE ACCIDENT

Did you develop CRPS after being involved in a bicycle accident? Bicycle accidents often result in a number of injuries, some of which could eventually lead to CRPS. If you suffered CRPS after a bicycle accident, you might have grounds to sue for the harm that you suffered and will likely continue to suffer for the rest of your life.

For more information about your right to sue a party or entity for your bicycle accident and the CRPS that you developed, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our lawyers as soon as possible. Based on the details surrounding your accident and the harm that you suffered, you might have the right to pursue a claim and even recover compensation. Do not hesitate to contact our experts immediately.

Downtown L.A. Law Group is a personal injury law firm dedicated to representing all parties harmed by the negligence of other parties or entities. Our lawyers are experienced in handling a variety of claims, including bicycle accident claims and CRPS claims. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to hold the liable party accountable for the harm that you suffered. If you are ready to discuss the possibility of filing a claim for the CRPS that you suffered due to your bicycle accident, do not hesitate to contact our law firm as soon as possible.

What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that causes chronic pain – that is, chronic pain that can be debilitating and disabling for some. There are two types of CRPS: CRPS Type I and CRPS Type II. Although both types of CRPS cause chronic pain, the causes are different. For instance, CRPS Type I occurs after minor nerve injuries as well as soft tissue injuries. Common soft tissue injuries include fractures, burns, sprains, and strains, for instance. On the contrary, CRPS Type II occurs after major nerve injuries. It is important to note that CRPS Type II was once called Causalgia in addition to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Although RSD is an outdated term, it is sometimes still used to refer to CRPS.

CRPS normally affects the limbs, including skin, muscles, bones, and joints. The pain experienced is often described as a burning pain that can be either intermittent or constant. As mentioned, CRPS normally affects the limbs; however, it is possible for CRPS to spread to areas of the body that would not normally be affected. This typically happens as the condition progresses.

Although those with CRPS can try to live their lives as normally as possible, doing so is often impossible. Many people are unable to work and unable to return to the day-to-day routines due to the painful condition. Without a doubt, CRPS can change your life for the worst.

Bicycle Accidents and the Potential Harm Suffered

Bicycle accidents are among the most common types of personal injury accidents. Because of the nature of these accidents, the injuries suffered are often severe if not fatal. Some of the injuries that are typically associated with bicycle accidents include some of the following: head injuries; traumatic brain injuries; cranial fractures; facial fractures; neck injuries; back injuries; spinal cord injuries; broken bones; strains and strains; nerve injuries; ligament damage; lacerations; and many more. Without a doubt, these injuries can cause significant pain; however, after treatment and recovery, the injuries suffered should not cause severe pain. When severe pain continues even long after the injury has been addressed, CRPS is a possibility.

As mentioned above, CRPS is associated with minor nerve injuries, soft tissue injuries, and major nerve injuries – all of which could be experienced in bicycle accidents. If the injuries that you suffered caused you to develop CRPS, you might have grounds to take legal action. But first, you must establish liability for your bicycle accident.

Liability in Bicycle Accidents and CRPS Instances

To be able to sue for CRPS, liability for the original injuries – that is, the ones caused by the bicycle accidents – should be clear. Who is liable for the accident that you suffered? Your bicycle accident could have been caused by a negligent driver, a negligent city agency, and even a negligent manufacturer, for example. To prove liability, all four elements of negligence must be present:

• Duty of care
• Breach of duty
• Cause
• Harm

Any time that a duty of care is breached leading to an incident that resulted in harm, the party or entity that breached their duty of care towards the victim could be held accountable. This means that the liable party could be sued for the harm that the victim suffered.

You Could Sue and Recover Monetary Compensation

As explained above, you might have grounds to sue for the harm that you suffered after a bicycle accident; that is, you might have grounds to sue for the CRPS that you suffered if your bicycle accident was caused by the negligent actions of another party or entity. If you decide to sue, you might have grounds to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you suffered.

The type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to recover will be strictly based on the details of your claim; however, it could include some of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages
• Legal expenses

For more information about the type and amount of compensation that you could be awarded if your claim reaches a positive outcome, do not hesitate to contact our experts as soon as possible. Our lawyers will fight until you are awarded the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim. If you are ready to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive, do not hesitate to contact us today.

What Should You Do?

Without a doubt, there are a number of things that victims of bicycle accidents should do immediately after their accidents. These recommended actions include the following:

• Seeking medical attention immediately
• Photographing the scene of the accident
• Photographing any visible injuries suffered
• Making an incident report with the authorities
• Speaking to involved parties and gathering their insurance/contact information
• Speaking to witnesses present and collecting their contact information
• Gather any surveillance footage that might have captured the accident
• Gather all medical records related to the harm suffered
• Seek legal assistance immediately

However, when chronic pain is involved, additional are required. First and foremost, it is necessary to have a diagnosis. Because pain is subjective, it can be difficult to be diagnosed with CRPS. Affected parties must seek medical attention as soon as they suspect that they are suffering from chronic pain. In many cases, a diagnosis is not reached until after multiple medical evaluations and opinions. After receiving a diagnosis, affected parties must also gather all medical records associated with their diagnosis. If the CRPS has affected the ability to work, records relevant to lost wages should also be collected.

Unfortunately, CRPS claims are among the most difficult to reach successful outcomes. If you and your family take the necessary steps to prepare to pursue your claim, however, the legal process could potentially be smoother (with the assistance of a lawyer, that is). For more information about what you should do after developing CRPS due to a bicycle accident, do not hesitate to contact our law firm as soon as possible.

The Statute of Limitations

Did you develop CRPS after experiencing a bicycle accident? If so, you might have grounds to sue. However, if you are interested in pursuing a claim, you must do so promptly to avoid losing your right to sue. You could lose your right to sue if you fail to take legal action within the time allowed by the statute of limitations that applies to your claim. What is a statute of limitations? A statute of limitations determines the exact length of time that claimants have to file their claims.

What statute of limitations applies to your bicycle accident CRPS claim? Typically, personal injury claims in the state of California are subject to a two-year statute of limitations; this means that claimants only have two years to pursue their claims. If the victim that developed CRPS was a minor at the time of the incident, the applicable statute of limitations will be tolled until the victim turns eighteen-years-old. In cases that involve a government entity (e.g. a local agency was at-fault for the accident), the claim must be filed within a short six-months.

If you would like to learn more about the statute of limitations that applies to your bicycle accident CRPS claim, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to help you file your claim within the appropriate deadline.

Contact Our Firm Today

Are you considering the possibility of pursuing a CRPS claim for the harm that you suffered after your bicycle accident? If so, you should seek legal assistance with the experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group at your earliest convenience. Downtown L.A. Law Group is a personal injury law firm experienced in handling all sorts of claims. Our bicycle accident and CRPS lawyers are ready to provide you with the representation that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. Our knowledgeable attorneys are ready to fight for your rights – do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

At our firm, we are dedicated to providing all affected parties with the legal assistance necessary to reach successful claim outcomes. To remain accessible to all victims of bicycle accidents who unfortunately developed CRPS, our firm offers free legal services. Our free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and essentially provide you with both the information and guidance necessary to start (or continue) your personal injury claim. To benefit from these free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

Downtown L.A. Law Group offers a Zero-Fee guarantee which ensures that our clients will not be charged any upfront legal fees for our legal services. Our firm is also based on a strict contingency structure; this means that our clients will not be responsible for paying any legal expenses until after reaching a successful outcome to their claims. In other words, if you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything.

Are you ready to speak with our experienced lawyers at no charge? If so, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.