A bulging disk has an outer layer that sticks out between vertebrae, while a herniated disk has a rupture that allows its inner layer to stick out. These back injuries can lead to life-changing pain and disability, and in severe instances require surgery to avoid paralysis.
People who experience disk injuries in an accident that was someone else’s fault deserve compensation for their short- and long-term pain, medical care, and lost wages. An experienced car accident lawyer from Shamieh Law can explain herniated or bulging disk average settlements with you, and calculate how the specific circumstances of your claim affect the amount you’re entitled to.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Herniated or Bulging Disk?
There is no set average settlement for a herniated or bulging disk because every case depends on its unique facts and damages. The best way to understand the potential value of your claim is to consult an experienced attorney who regularly handles disk injury cases.
Your attorney will examine the details of your accident and medical records to assess both the immediate and long-term effects of your injuries. They will also guide you on whether a settlement offer truly reflects the full impact of your condition.
Factors That Affect Settlement Amounts
Settlement amounts in personal injury cases reflect specific damages you can prove. Several factors affect disk injury settlements, including:
- Severity of the injury
- Pain levels
- Need for long-term care and pain management
- Whether you had or continue to need surgery or injections
- Impact on your ability to work and engage in daily activities
- Accident type, for example, car crash, slip and fall, or work injury, and the amount of available insurance
- Comparative fault of the involved parties, including yourself
- Insurance company tactics
A skilled, committed attorney won’t rely on average settlement amounts for herniated or bulging disks to determine the value of your claim. They will calculate every aspect of your specific short and long-term harm so you know when an offer is fair.
How Long Do Disk Injury Cases Take To Settle?
As with the value of your claim, the timeline of your bulging or herniated disk case also depends on several factors specific to your claim. It may take some time to feel the full effects of your injury if it happened on impact, or you may develop a bulging or herniated disk later as a result of another injury.
Your attorney can explain in more detail how your circumstances affect how long it may take your case to settle. Choose an accomplished lawyer with experience in handling disk injury cases and a proven record of successfully navigating clients through claims.
How Do Personal Injury Lawyers Calculate Disk Injury Settlements?
Skilled attorneys do more than put numbers in a spreadsheet when calculating personal injury settlements. They work to understand the complex interplay between the law and other factors that affect insurance claims and lawsuits, and take steps including:
- Talking to your doctors to fully understand your injury
- Consulting experts such as back specialists, accident reconstructionists, and financial professionals
- Discussing the impact of your injury with family members and your employer
- Asking you detailed questions about your accident and its impact
- Determining how many parties are liable for your injuries, and to what extent
Learn more about average settlements in slip and fall accidents, average settlements for truck accidents, and how our experienced attorneys can assist you.
Shamieh Law Can Help You After You've Injured a Disk in an Accident
Average settlements for herniated or bulging disks don’t provide an accurate potential value for your specific back injury claim. Our award-winning personal injury lawyers use their significant experience calculating damages in car crashes, slip and falls, and other incidents that lead to disk injuries to determine what is fair for you.
We will champion your interests from the minute you contact us. You can count on clear communication, personalized support, and getting the full benefit of our experience, work ethic, and track record. We’ve recovered over $200 million for our deserving clients, and insurance companies know our reputation.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash or another accident that resulted in a herniated or bulging disk, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys for a free case evaluation at 469-813-7332 or complete our contact form. We’re here to help and are always ready when you need us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our knowledgeable spinal cord injury lawyers know how confusing the insurance and legal processes can be, and are ready to answer questions to give you clarity.
Can I Sue if My Accident Caused a Herniated Disk?
You can sue for compensation related to a herniated or bulging disk if someone else caused your injury and you can prove that you have damages as a result. Under the Texas comparative negligence law, you must be 50 percent or less responsible for your injuries to collect damages. For example, if you have $100,000 in damages and are 30 percent liable, you can collect $70,000.
What's the Difference Between a Herniated and a Bulging Disk?
People sometimes use the terms interchangeably, but there is a difference between herniated and bulging disks. A bulging disk happens when its tougher outer layer of cartilage expands, but the softer inner layer remains enclosed. A herniated disk involves a rupture in the outer layer that allows the inner layer to stick out. You may feel either type of disk damage immediately after an accident, or they may present as delayed onset injuries.
What Are the Common Signs of a Herniated Disk?
Herniated disk symptoms depend on the location of the disk and the severity of the rupture. You may only experience back pain. If it creates pressure on a nerve, you may have more severe pain, weakness, and numbness, or pain that radiates down your leg. A herniated disk near your neck may result in pain between your shoulders, sometimes radiating down your arm to your hand and fingers.
Learn when to worry about pain after an accident so you can get the treatment you need and start documenting your damages.