Herniated Disc from Car Accident
Car Accident LawyerGet a Free Consultation
Car Accident Lawyer
Herniated Disc
from Car Accident
Get a Free Consultation
Have you experienced a herniated disc from a car accident?
If your injury involved a herniated disc from a car accident, you might have recourse to compensation. A herniated or bulging disc can cause neck or back injury along with pain that extends through the arms and legs. In fact, the pain can be extreme. You may be incapacitated and miss work along with bearing the expense of medical treatment. If the accident was caused by another driver, a lawyer can help you pursue compensation for damages resulting from the accident.
Ruptured, herniated or bulging discs are one of the most common types of injuries in car crashes. Fortunately, disc herniation is treatable. The sooner you receive help from medical specialists, the better your chances are for receiving compensation to pay for your expenses.
What should you know about herniated discs?
What is a herniated disc?
The disc is a cushion between the vertebrae in your spine. It is circular and full of jelly-like fluid that helps to absorb shock during a spinal injury. The force of impact in a car crash can cause a disc to slip out of place, bulge or even rupture. When this happens, it impinges on the nerves in the spine, causing pain.
What are the symptoms of herniated discs?
The two main areas in the spine where herniated discs occur are in the neck and back area. Herniation in the neck and back often results in the following symptoms:
- Headaches beginning at the base of the skull
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Worsening pain with neck movement
- Pain or tenderness in your shoulder, arms or upper back
- Range of motion loss in your neck
- Numbness or tingling in your arms
- Pain shooting down one side of your rear end into your leg
- Numbness or tingling in your legs or feet
- Weak muscles
What treatments are available?
- Physical therapy. Exercises that increase strength and flexibility can also help relieve pain. Some exercises are also designed to prevent further damage to the disc.
- Medications. Muscle relaxants can help ease spasms. Doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the inflammation and pain.
- Steroid injections. Epidural steroid injections can reduce inflammation and bring relief. Nerve blocks, facet joint injections and radio frequency ablation are also specific types of injections to help ease pain.
What treatment can you do yourself?
Self-care
Various types of self-care include:
- Heat and cold packs. Cold packs help reduce swelling. Heat can alleviate spasms and pain.
- Mobility. Gradually becoming mobile as the pain lessens helps you avoid weakness and stiffness.
Is surgery a viable option?
Surgery
A number of herniated disc surgeries are available, such as surgery to remove a portion of the disc or fusion to join two or more vertebrae after disc removal. Replacing the disc with an artificial disc may be another option.
What is a herniated disc?
The disc is a cushion between the vertebrae in your spine. It is circular and full of jelly-like fluid that helps to absorb shock during a spinal injury. The force of impact in a car crash can cause a disc to slip out of place, bulge or even rupture. When this happens, it impinges on the nerves in the spine, causing pain.
What are the symptoms of herniated discs?
The two main areas in the spine where herniated discs occur are in the neck and back area. Herniation in the neck and back often results in the following symptoms:
- Headaches beginning at the base of the skull
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Worsening pain with neck movement
- Pain or tenderness in your shoulder, arms or upper back
- Range of motion loss in your neck
- Numbness or tingling in your arms
- Pain shooting down one side of your rear end into your leg
- Numbness or tingling in your legs or feet
- Weak muscles
What treatments are available?
- Physical therapy. Exercises that increase strength and flexibility can also help relieve pain. Some exercises are also designed to prevent further damage to the disc.
- Medications. Muscle relaxants can help ease spasms. Doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the inflammation and pain.
- Steroid injections. Epidural steroid injections can reduce inflammation and bring relief. Nerve blocks, facet joint injections and radio frequency ablation are also specific types of injections to help ease pain.
What treatment can you do yourself?
Self-care
Various types of self-care include:
- Heat and cold packs. Cold packs help reduce swelling. Heat can alleviate spasms and pain.
- Mobility. Gradually becoming mobile as the pain lessens helps you avoid weakness and stiffness.
Is Surgery a Viable Option?
Surgery
A number of herniated disc surgeries are available, such as surgery to remove a portion of the disc or fusion to join two or more vertebrae after disc removal. Replacing the disc with an artificial disc may be another option.
Recovering compensation for damages due to the accident
In Texas, Oklahoma and many other states, you can recover compensation for damages based on who caused the accident. Texas liability law for car accidents assigns a percentage of fault for car accidents. Of one party is more than 51% at fault for causing the accident, they must pay for damages. Also note, there is a deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit in Texas. You must file your case within two years of the date of the accident. Typically, insurance companies pay for damages.
Of course, cases differ. However, people typically can recover the following types of compensation for a herniated disc from a car accident:
- Medical, surgery and treatment
- Expenses for future treatment
- Medication costs
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Property damage
- Coverage for pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages
Get Legal Help for
Herniated Discs from Car Accidents
When a car accident causes serious injury, it is wise to seek legal help. The other party’s insurance company will often try to minimize the amount of compensation you receive if their party was at fault. Our decades of experience handling these types of cases can help you overcome these types of challenges. Not to mention, you need time to receive the medical treatment you deserve so you can recover. Meanwhile, we can protect your rights.
To arrange a free consultation, call the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz at (210) 225-HURT (4878) or toll free (800) 645-8553. We can discuss your injury and devise an effective strategy for recovering compensation.
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Michael R. De La Paz
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The Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz has its principal office in San Antonio, Texas, however, we can represent your personal injury case no matter where you live in Texas, the U.S., or Mexico.
