Car accidents can have catastrophic consequences that include life-long injuries and devastating impacts on a person’s health and overall well-being. The sheer force and impact created through a car accident can cause permanent injuries throughout a victim’s body. One of the ways a victim can suffer is through a herniated disc.
If you experienced any kind of spinal cord injuries or a herniated disc caused by a car accident, consider visiting with our legal team to learn how a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help. Call us at (561) 721-0080 for a free consultation.
Understanding Herniated Discs
Every person has a spine composed of smaller bones known as the vertebrae. These smaller vertebrae bones act as protection for the spinal cord. They assist in movement, help provide support, and offer overall protection for the entire spinal cord. The discs between these vertebrae offer a cushion to help protect the vertebrae and help them move. When one of these discs tears, a jelly-like substance leaks out or “bulges” from the disc.
As a result of this bulge or leak, the inflammatory proteins then leak onto nerve roots located within the spine. This entire process of a herniated disc can result in a serious impact on a person’s life, including severe pain, numbness, tingling, and a limited range of motion. Some cases of herniated discs eventually resolve, while others can result in life-long pain, loss of mobility, and serious loss of enjoyment of life due to pain and suffering.
Car Accidents and Herniated Discs
According to
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, there are approximately five million car accidents in the United States every year, with some resulting in serious spinal cord issues. The sheer impact and force of a car crash place a great deal of stress directly onto the spinal column and all of the vertebrae. As a result, one of these discs may move out of place, causing a herniated disc.
Diagnosis of Herniated Discs
Every person that experiences a car accident should seek immediate medical evaluation and treatment. In some cases, car accidents cause a victim to suffer from a rush of adrenaline, or in other cases, they leave the victim in a state of shock. Both instances mask certain serious symptoms of injury. Therefore, if you have not already done so, you should immediately seek out the advice of a medical provider to ensure that you receive the proper evaluation and treatment necessary for your health before reaching out to a West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer.
In order to make a diagnosis of a herniated disc, a doctor will typically perform a physical evaluation looking for pain, muscle weakness, imbalance, loss of feeling, tenderness, reflux challenges, and any other abnormal changes. In many cases, a doctor will order diagnostic testing such as an MRI in order to better determine the extent of the herniated disc and the damage suffered.
Treatments for Herniated Discs Following a Car Accident
Every person that suffers from a herniated disc will have different symptoms, as well as differing degrees of medical challenges. While every victim’s prognosis and treatment will differ, the following are some of the more commonly accepted treatments for victims suffering from herniated discs:
- Rest
- Medications including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, prescription medications for pain, muscle relaxers, and other pain relief medications
- Steroid injection and/or nerve root injection
- Physical therapy
- Surgery (if there is a loss of bladder/bowel function, challenges with walking/standing, or extreme pain or chronic medical issues)
Every victim will have a different treatment plan based on what their actual symptoms and pain levels are and how they respond to treatment. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at (561) 721-0080
Compensation for Herniated Discs Following a Car Accident
If you experienced a herniated disc following your car accident, you may have the right to receive more compensation than you know. The major factors by which an insurance company makes a decision regarding a settlement amount include the following:
- The severity of the car accident and the injuries suffered
- The amount of herniated disc treatments provided, as well as the expectation and necessity for future treatments
- The age and medical history of the victim
- The overall prognosis and potential for a full recovery for the victim
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic losses
- The inability of a victim to return to work either during the treatment or in the future
- The property damage of the vehicle involved in the car accident
The total amount of compensation you will have the legal right to pursue regarding your car accident claim will depend on complex legal calculations. Consider visiting with a West Palm Beach herniated disc caused by a car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to help you better understand the total amount of compensation you may have the legal right to pursue under the law given your unique set of facts and circumstances.
Consider Working with a Car Accident Lawyer
A “statute of limitations” is the deadline by which a victim has to file a claim in a court of law for compensation related to their personal injury case or lose their legal right to do so permanently. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), victims have only four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in the state of Florida. You have the option to work with a West Palm Beach herniated disc caused by a car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine.
Call us at (561) 721-0080 so we can help you understand how you can pursue compensation for your herniated disc from an insurance company settlement. You can also bring your case to court to seek fair compensation for your injuries and losses related to your car accident.
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