What Can You Get For Your Herniated Disc After A Car Accident?
dsmith December 14, 2021Were you hit by another vehicle? Did it cause a ruptured or herniated disc in your back? Then you know this injury can be painful and stressful; you cannot do things you usually do, including go to work and exercise.
But how can you recover? If the accident was caused by someone else, you may be able to hire the best auto accident lawyer to obtain compensation for your injuries.
Herniated Disc Injury After Car Accident: The spine is comprised of vertebrae that provide structure for the body. Between the vertebrae are discs that cushion things so there is less impact on the bones as you move.
The discs function as small shock absorbers that cushion the spine as we lift, run, twist, and stretch.
During a car accident, the violent collision can cause trauma to the spine and rupture or herniate one of those discs. If this happens, you may have a lot of pain as the disc presses on nerves in the back. For example, you could have a shooting pain down your leg that makes it difficult to walk.
But when you go to the ER, the doctor may not diagnose you with a herniated disc correctly after the car accident. This injury can be difficult to diagnose without an MRI or CT scan; the X-ray can show bone fractures, but not a disc injury.
The MRI or CT scan can see the injury, which helps your case. But the scan cannot show how much pain you have. There are many factors involved in the level of pain you have from this injury.
Depending on your health and the severity of the injury, you could have mild or severe pain. How much you get in your settlement or verdict may come down to how well the best auto accident lawyer proves your level of pain and suffering. Proving this can be done with expert testimony from a doctor or other medical professional.
Pre-Existing Back Injury: Another factor in your herniated disc settlement will be if you had a pre-existing injury to your back.
The insurance company may argue you had a previous injury to your back and that is what is causing your pain and other symptoms. Without an attorney representing you, it can be difficult to get the insurance company to accept liability for the injury.
If you have a pre-existing injury, your attorney can argue that your injury is causing your symptoms, not your previous injury. Your attorney may show there are worse symptoms after the car accident. He or she can rely on the testimony of your doctor to show that the car accident is causing your symptoms.
It’s especially important with back injuries to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident. If you wait, you give ammunition to the insurance company to deny your claim. The last thing you need after a car accident back injury is a denial of claim from the insurance company!
How A Herniated Disc Case Is Valued: There are many variables in herniated disc cases that can lead to all levels of settlements and verdict amounts.
But we can say that if you have surgery, your settlement may be higher. Many surgeries to fix a herniated disc cost $40,000 and more. Some surgeries that repair the problem can require ongoing care, such as fusion surgery. You may need months of additional care that is very expensive.
There are nonsurgical methods to repair a herniated disc, but you may need months of bed rest and lots of work to get better. This will leave you unable to earn an income, and you are entitled to compensation for your lost work time.
Many people have a limited range of motion and stiffness to repair their herniated discs. How long it takes you to recover varies, but you will almost certainly not be able to enjoy your regular activities for months.
Now you understand more about what to expect from a herniated disc lawsuit. Talk to the best auto accident lawyers in your community to find out if you can get compensation for your injuries.
