The violent motion of a vehicle accident can lead to serious injuries, especially to your spine and neck. Herniated discs are one of the injuries you or a loved one may sustain in an accident.
After a herniated disc injury diagnosis, you should contact an injury lawyer to help you with the claim process and get the settlement you deserve. A skilled attorney will gather the necessary evidence to help you get the full settlement for your injuries.
Many people get herniated discs from car accidents. The injury can lead to chronic pain or paralysis when the spinal cord gets damaged. It’s vital to get medical attention sooner to get the best recovery.
A herniated disc injury settlement can be worth thousands of dollars, but each car accident case differs widely. Below is a look at the complications of the injury and the factors affecting your settlement. Contacting The JLF Firm in southern California can get your case examined in greater detail.
What is a Herniated Disc, and How Does it Happen in a Car Accident?
The discs of the spine are filled with a jelly-like substance, encased in an outer shell disc and make it easy to twist or bend your body. The spinal disc is herniated when the exterior tears and some gel spills out. It can result in numbness, pain, and weakness in the arm, leg, or back. Some herniated discs may require surgery, while others may be minor and not show any symptoms.
Being slammed between the steering wheel and the seat can cause damage to your delicate spine tissues. The force can rupture the outer shell of the spinal disc.
Herniated discs from car accidents occur when the crash causes your vertebrae to push into your spinal canal and put pressure on the spinal cord. Once the outer protective layer has been damaged in an accident, the inner layer remains unprotected and can easily protrude, resulting in a herniated disc.
Potential Symptoms of Herniated Discs
Common herniated disc symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling in one part of the back
- Pain that gets worse at night
- Pain and numbness on one side
- Pain that gets worse when you sit or stand
Schedule a visit with the doctor if you have been involved in an accident and have the above symptoms. Herniated discs not treated promptly can get worse with time or cause permanent nerve damage.
How are These Injuries Treated?
A spine doctor can perform a combination of tests depending on how severe the herniated disc injury is believed to be. Below is the combination of diagnostic tests that can be used.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- X-ray
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Myelogram
The above examinations can be costly, which adds to your medical bills.
Not all herniated disc injuries require surgery. Anti-inflammatory medications relieve pressure on the spinal nerve, and most victims opt for physical therapy.
Other treatment options include:
- Spinal injections
- Pain medications
- Muscle relaxants
Serious injuries will require you to undergo surgery. Common surgeries used to treat disc herniation from a car accident include:
- Laminectomy: A surgical procedure done to remove a piece of bone covering the spinal cord.
- Discectomy: The removal of the damaged discs to help relieve pressure on the spine.
- Spinal fusion: A surgery usually done after undergoing laminectomy or discectomy.
- Artificial disc surgery: A process used to replace damaged discs with an artificial one made of plastic or metal.
What Factors Affect the Settlement of a Herniated Disc?
Every herniated disc injury is different, and some factors affect how much settlement you’ll receive. Understanding such factors is important to help you know how much compensation you can receive.
Amount of medical expenses
You can recover the money you spend on follow-up appointments, diagnosis, therapy, and treatment. The tests to check for a herniated disc are also included as a medical expense.
Permanent disability
A herniated disc can leave you with a permanent disability. If that happens, you’ll qualify for a higher settlement, since it will affect your activity levels and future employment.
Surgery required
A severely herniated disc will require surgery. You can get compensation for any surgery due to the accident. Once you go through surgery, you’ll have to take some time off work and go for physical therapy. There are also costs involved in getting medical devices that you’ll need. If you need additional treatment, then it will affect the settlement amount.
Lost wages
A severely herniated disc may require you to look for another job. It could also be minor and require you to limit the activities you do at your current job. Any time you spend off work affects the settlement.
Multiple discs involved
The settlement amount will increase if the car accident leads to injuring multiple discs. Treating multiple herniated discs after a car accident is costly and will increase your compensation.
Pain and suffering
It is difficult to calculate pain and suffering, but it is a factor that will affect your settlement amount. It will be determined if the pain deeply impacts your quality of life or makes you unable to perform certain activities going forward.
Contact Our Lawyers for Herniated Disc from a Car Accident
There is no formula to determine how much you can get from a disc herniation from a car accident. Contact The JLF Firm in Los Angeles County today if you need help with your claim. We will give your case the consideration it deserves and help you get the compensation you deserve. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
Disc Herniation Injury FAQs
How do I get compensation for disc herniation after an accident?
If the accident was due to someone else’s negligence, you could file a lawsuit. You’ll need to talk to an attorney to help you get compensation for the injuries.
How much is the herniated disc injury case worth?
Each disc herniation case is unique, and there is no general answer. Your lawyer will analyze the injuries you sustained and the liability.
