What is a Fair Settlement for a Back Injury from a Car Accident?
Back injuries are common in car accidents. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for 38% of all cases in the United States. Damage to the spinal cord is the most serious type of back injury as it can result in loss of function, mobility, and feeling. Other back injuries, including spinal stenosis, pinched nerves, and ruptured or herniated disks, strains, and damage to intervertebral discs are not as debilitating but can still result in tremendous issues. Considering the pain and suffering, medical expenses, disability, and lost wages that can be caused by back injuries, those who are injured may wonder: what is a fair settlement for a back injury from a car accident?
What is a Fair Settlement for a Back Injury from a Car Accident?
When you are suffering with a life-changing injury, it is often difficult to work and lost wages combined with mounting medical bills can create major financial stress. A car accident settlement is typically the best way to recover damages for your losses, but it’s very important that it covers all your losses and compensates for pain and suffering.
Car accident settlements vary widely based on the severity of the injuries and the skill of the injury lawyer. An experienced car accident attorney is best qualified to assess your case and calculate its true value. With that said, the median value for a back injury settlement is $212,500 to $285,000. However, accidents involving minor back injuries may settle for $10,000 – $50,000, while severe, permanent injuries may exceed $1 million.
- Spinal Cord Injuries (Most Severe)
Spinal cord injuries are the most severe type of back injury. They often involve fractured or dislocated vertebrae and can lead to permanent impairment or paralysis, with settlements typically reaching into the millions when insurance coverage is sufficient.
- Herniated Disc Requiring Surgery
A herniated disc that requires surgery is considered a very serious injury. Because surgery is invasive and carries risk, these cases are often valued significantly higher than non-surgical disc injuries.
- Herniated Disc Treated Without Surgery
Herniated discs confirmed by MRI or CT scans can still be substantial injuries even without surgery. The value depends on prior back issues, the severity of symptoms, and how much the injury affects daily life.
- Disc Injuries Treated with Epidural Steroid Injections
When injections are required to manage radiating pain, the injury is generally viewed as more serious than a simple strain. Although injections may only provide temporary relief, they often indicate significant ongoing pain.
- Bulging or Ruptured Discs (Less Severe Cases)
Bulging or less severe ruptured discs are typically valued lower than herniations. Many improve with conservative treatment and do not require surgical intervention.
- Soft Tissue and Whiplash Injuries (Least Severe)
Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash, are at the bottom of the severity scale. Because they often do not show up on diagnostic imaging, they usually result in lower settlement values.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
A car accident lawyer helps injured people recover a fair settlement for a back injury by gathering medical evidence, working with doctors to clearly explain the diagnosis and treatment, and demonstrating how the injury is affecting daily life, work, and future health. They also handle negotiations with insurance companies that often attempt to minimize back injuries – especially those that do not involve surgery.
Preexisting conditions can complicate matters, as insurers frequently claim the pain was already there or unrelated to the crash. An experienced attorney knows how to tell the difference between an old condition and a new or worsened injury, and fight to make sure their clients are paid fairly for all the harm caused by the accident.
Seek the Help of a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
