A herniated disc is a common injury resulting from an automobile collision. There are numerous factors that go into any settlement value involving a herniated disc, and every case is unique. Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers has over 50 years of experience representing victims of automobile collisions with injuries such as herniated disc. If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact Flora Templeton Stuart as soon as possible at 888-782-9090 to see how we can help.
A herniated disc involves the rubbery cushions (discs) that sit between the individual bones (vertebra) that stack to make up your spine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most herniated discs occur in the lower back, although they can also occur in the neck. A herniated disc can also irritate a nearby nerve, which can result in significant pain and even numbness or weakness in an extremity such as an arm or leg. Signs and symptoms depend on where the disk is situated and whether the disk is pressing on a nerve. Herniated disc commonly affect one side of the body.
Mayo Clinic also reports that Herniated Disc Symptoms can include:
Back, Arm or Leg pain: If the herniated disk is in your lower back, you’ll typically feel the most pain in your mid and lower back, buttocks, thigh and calf. Your pain may be exacerbated by the exertion of standing/walking for long periods. You might have pain in part of the foot, as well. If your herniated disk is in your neck, you’ll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain from disc hernation is often described as sharp, aching, or burning.
Numbness or Tingling: People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves. This is sometimes referred to as the “pins and needles” sensation, particularly in the fingers/toes.
Electronic Shock Pain: Pressure on a nerve can cause abnormal sensations, sometimes experienced as electronic shock-like pains. When the compression occurs in the cervical (neck) area, the shocks go down your arms and when the compression is in the lumbar (low back) then shocks may go down your legs.
Weakness: Muscles by the affected nerves tend to weaken. This may affect your gait, causing you to stumble or lose your balance more easily. This weakness can also affect your ability to lift or hold items.
Any traumatic event to the back can cause a herniated disc, and generally speaking the stress or impact of a car accident can cause a discs to become displaced.
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you get to good medical professionals to evaluate and treat your injuries. Once evaluated, a treating physician may diagnose a herniated disc by physical examination alone, based on several test including testing of sensation, muscle strength and reflexes.
An MRI is commonly used to aid in making the diagnoses of a herniated disc. According to Spine-Health.com, an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) usually provides the most accurate assessment of the lumbar spine area, showing where a herniation has occurred and which nerves are affected. It can show where the herniated disc is and how it is impinging on the nerve root.
Our Kentucky car accident lawyers have decades of experience pursuing damages for our injured clients. If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile collision, as the result of someone else’s negligence, you can pursue the following damages:
“Economic damages” can include all medical expenses stemming from emergency room visits, doctors visits, diagnostics, rehabilitation, etc. Economic damages can also include lost wages, whether past, present or future. These damages are called “economic damages” because they can have a direct dollar amount associated with the loss. There are many considerations to take into account when calculating economic damages such as future lost wages, and Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers will fight to maximize those damage amounts.
“Noneconomic damages” can include pain and suffering, both mental and physical. The reality of injuries such as herniated disc are that they can last a lifetime and cause significant pain and suffering. Our experienced Accident Injury Attorneys at the Law Firm of Flora Templeton Stuart fight to maximize all noneconomic damages as well. The extend of recovery of noneconomic damages depends on the specific facts of your case.
There are many factors that determine the value or settlement of your herniated disc claim. Those include:
If you or someone you love has sustained a herniated disc or any other injury in an automobile collision, contact the experienced injury lawyers at Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers immediately to help you with your claim. When we receive a call from a client who has been injured, we get to work immediately to protect your case and fight for the damages and justice you deserve. Let our experience work for you. Call Flora Templeton Stuart Accident Injury Lawyers now at 888-782-9090.