Bulging Disc from Car Accident Settlement
Though they occur every day, no one ever expects to be involved in a car accident. However, the trauma of a car accident in Florida is further complicated if you suffer a debilitating injury.
Though common, bulging disc injuries affect everyone differently. If you suffered a bulging disc injury from a car accident, settlement with the other driver’s insurance may be an option for you.
The severity of your injury affects your bulging disc settlement value. Contact a personal injury attorney to review the facts of your case and possible bulging disc car accident compensation.
What Is a Bulging Disc?
In our back, we have multiple discs positioned between our vertebrae to cushion our movements. Soft cartilage wraps each disc, shaped to fit between the vertebrae it cushions.
As we age, the discs change shape and begin to protrude. Bulging disc is the term applied to these protruding discs.
Bulging discs can exist anywhere from the neck to the lower back. Though relatively common and often painless, bulging discs become uncomfortable when irritated or when a disc rests against the nerves of your spine.
Bulging discs can cause a wide array of symptoms, many not directly associated with the bulging disc’s location.
Typically, these injuries cause headaches, numbness, pain in the neck, face, shoulder, back, and hands. A bulging disc in the lower back may cause numbness, pins-and-needles, and weakness in the legs.
While bulging discs occur due to age and general deterioration, they may also be caused by traumatic events like a car accident. In these situations, you may wonder what your rights are for bulging disc car accident compensation.
Is There An Average Settlement For a Bulging Disc?
Due to the wide range of injuries a bulging disc may cause, there is no average settlement for a bulging disc from a car accident. You can seek a settlement for a bulging disc injury in the neck or spine.
However, you may wonder how much would a settlement be for a bulging disc injury you suffered. Various factors influence a bulging disc settlement value.
Age
As you age, your risk of suffering a bulging disc injury increases.
Additionally, as you age, your ability to recover more quickly from injuries lessens. Therefore, age and your ability to recover will play a factor in your bulging disc settlement.
Medical History
Even if you had a bulging disc or another injury before your accident, this does not prevent you from pursuing a bulging disc from car accident settlement. Insurance companies may attempt to call your bulging disc a pre-existing injury.
You can receive compensation even for a pre-existing injury if the accident made your injury worse. However, you may receive less for your bulging disc car accident compensation than you would with a new injury. The average settlement for pre-existing injuries depends greatly on the unique circumstances of each case.
Salary & Lost Wages
If your bulging disc keeps you from working, you have a right to recover your lost wages in your settlement. The higher your pre-injury wages, the higher your bulging disc settlement may be.
Nature of Injury
A bulging disc settlement value is affected by the prognosis of your injury after your car accident. For example, if your bulging disc injury improves over a few months, your bulging disc car accident compensation may not be substantial.
In contrast, if you suffer lifelong issues such as chronic pain, limited mobility, inability to work, and other symptoms as a result of your bulging disc after a car accident, your settlement amount may be greater.
Pain and Suffering
In many cases, a bulging disc injury can cause pain and suffering, including psychological and emotional symptoms that are not easily quantifiable.
For example, if your bulging disc injury causes chronic pain, this may result in emotional stresses since you cannot return to your everyday life before your injury. These types of injuries, while difficult to quantify, may also increase the settlement value of your case.
Bulging Disc Injuries and Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are not eager to pay out fair bulging disc settlements. Insurance companies may claim your injury was pre-existing in an effort to reduce your compensation.
Additionally, they may attempt to claim you were at fault for the accident. For these reasons, it’s essential to have an experienced personal injury attorney representing your interests.
Many unrepresented and injured parties settle for less compensation than they would have received if they retained a personal injury attorney.
Personal injury attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk carefully compile necessary evidence and documentation to strengthen your claim. We guide clients on their path to recovery through diligent representation and advocacy.
What Should I Do About Treatment For My Bulging Disc?
After suffering a suspected bulging disc injury, it’s best to seek medical attention to receive an assessment from a medical professional.
For purposes of your bulging disc settlement, retain all medical records regarding your injury. Your diagnosis and prognosis are all factors impacting your bulging disc settlement value.
How Long Can the Bulging Disc From a Car Accident Settlement Process Take?
If parties agree to a settlement, an insurance company must pay the claim within 20 days.
If it is a personal injury protection claim, the insurance company must pay the claim within 30 days.
Timelines are dependent, however, on the ability of the parties to reach a satisfactory settlement.
There are many reasons why a settlement may take longer to reach.
Disputed Factual and Legal Issues
In many situations, the parties may not agree on various factual or legal issues relating to a bulging disc injury. For example, there may be a dispute regarding the injury’s severity or who is at fault for the accident.
Settlement Value
If your bulging disc settlement value is likely to be high, your case might take longer.
Insurance companies are not eager to pay out large sums of money in lawsuits, so they are more likely to contest legal or factual issues in high-value cases.
Medical Improvement
If your bulging disc injury is ongoing, with no resolution of your symptoms, it may be difficult to reach an agreement as to the proper valuation of your damages. For this reason, getting a bulging disc settlement may take longer.
Contact Us
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk has represented over 20,000 clients in negligence cases. For over 30 years, our firm has been protecting the rights of injured victims.
Our personal injury attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for personal injury victims and their families. Bulging disc injuries are complex and should not be handled without a personal injury lawyer in Florida.
Contact our firm today for a free case review to discuss the facts of your bulging disc accident.
Bulging Disc Compensation FAQ
What Damages Can I Recover for My Bulging Disc Accident?
You may recover the cost of your medical expenses associated with any medical treatment you receive as a result of your injury. You may also recover lost wages and pain and suffering damages as a result of your injuries.
What Are My Chances of Winning My Bulging Disc Injury Case?
Every bulging disc injury is unique. Some people may recover in a matter of months, and others may face years of chronic pain. However, our team of personal injury attorneys assess the strengths and weaknesses of each case to diligently represent our clients.
Can a Case Be Settled Without My Permission?
No. The personal injury attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk always advise our clients as to the terms of any settlement offer and whether it is in your best interest. You always make the final decision on any settlement offer in connection with your bulging disc injury.