Every year, hundreds of people are injured in car accidents. Car accidents may lead to herniated discs, when a vertebrae is pushed into the spinal canal by the force of the collision. If the spinal cord is irritated or placed under strain, this may cause pain to spread throughout the body. If you or a loved one had a herniated disc as a result of an automobile accident, you should be compensated for your losses. As soon as possible, contact a local herniated disc lawyer to explore if you should pursue a personal injury claim for your herniated disc.
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Herniated Disc: What it is?
The discs in the spinal column operate as shock absorbers and joints, keeping the vertebrae in place while also providing cushioning and flexibility.
If the annulus fibrosus of the spinal disc is torn or burst, a piece of the disc may be forced into the spinal canal, resulting in a herniated disc, also known as a slid, bulged, or ruptured disc. As a consequence of the disc herniation, a shooting pain is felt in sections of the body whose nerves are directly attached to the spine. Chronic pain and weakness are possible outcomes of these severe injuries.
Herniated Disc Personal Injury Claims: What You Need to Know.
Herniated disc injuries to the neck are the most prevalent after an automobile accident because the neck is constantly jerked back and forth by the impact. Nerve root impingement, muscular weakness, numbness, tingling, and radiating pain may occur when the C4-C5 and C5-C6 pairs of vertebrae are damaged. Stiffness and a reduced range of motion are some possible symptoms.
Herniated disc injuries are difficult to detect at the emergency department following a vehicle collision due to the fact that x-rays cannot see spinal discs. A herniated disc would need a CT scan or MRI in order to receive a proper diagnosis and compensation. An MRI should be requested by your primary care physician or an urgent care facility if you begin to experience any symptoms of a herniated disc after an injury.
Insurance companies are well aware that even with an MRI, it may be difficult to demonstrate the severity and kind of pain a patient is suffering as a result of a herniated disc. In order to reject or undervalue claims, they will utilize the difficulties in showing symptoms from this sort of injury against the claimants. Herniated disc claims that are being denied or undervalued should be represented by an experienced herniated disk injury lawyer who can gather evidence of the impact the injury has had on your life, as well as the costs you have incurred as a result of the injury, and fight insurance company tactics.
Can I get a herniated disc settlement if I’ve already had a back or neck injury before the accident?
It is not impossible for automobile accident attorneys to achieve fair settlements for their clients despite the difficulties of pre-existing injuries. Pre-existing health issues like osteoarthritis are often used by insurance adjusters as evidence that the pain a victim of an accident caused by their client cannot be attributed to the ruptured disc. An experienced personal injury attorney will seek to prove that the victim’s injuries and discomfort are not the result of a pre-existing degenerative disease, but rather the trauma they suffered in the accident.
How much is a personal injury claim for a herniated disc worth?
Due to the unique circumstances of each case, there is a wide range of “typical” settlements in personal injury cases. The average compensation for a herniated disc injury is between $70,000 and $90,000, however settlements may be significantly more or lower based on the severity of the injuries, the length and expense of treatment necessary, as well as the lost earnings and the suffering incurred by the plaintiffs’ parties. For example, a back surgery case that necessitates the injured individual missing many months of work to recuperate is worth more than a case in which symptoms may be addressed with physical therapy and pain medication.
Final thoughts
You or a loved one may have a case for compensation if you were hurt in a car accident due of someone else’s carelessness. Make use of the services of a seasoned Bellingham brain injury attorney to get the compensation you are entitled to. If you hire a lawyer, you may expect to get a payout five to 10 times bigger from the insurance company.