Accident Lawyer for Herniated Discs and Spine Injuries Sustained in an Auto Accident

Whenever two or more vehicle collide there is always a potential for those involved to suffer injuries and sometimes even life altering injuries. The auto accident attorney of The Rybak Firm, PLLC a personal injury law firm know just how debilitating and painful herniated disc injuries as a result of a car accident can be. These injuries may take a toll on their victims for the rest of their lives. Insurance companies may attempt to place an immediate value on a person’s injuries without considering the financial, physical and emotional impact that the car accident may have on a person’s life for years to come. This is why we always try to ensure our clients that our clients receive the maximum amount of compensation available under law.

The Anatomy of the Spine and How A Car Accidents May Cause a Spine Injury

To better understand how a herniated disc occurs during a car accident, it’s very important to understand how the spine is structured and the mechanics involved in an accident. The human spinal column is comprised of 24 articulating vertebrae and nine fused vertebrae. Intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers and protect the spinal cord from an injury. These discs are filled with a gel-like substance that provide the flexibility and shock absorption to perform its function under normal circumstances.

Even in the most minor auto accident, it’s possible for the spine to be thrown forward and back in a whip-like motion, whiplash or to be twisted or compressed when experiencing sudden and rapid deceleration. A herniated disc is the rupture of one of these discs and the subsequent loss of the fluid inside. Without this fluid, the spinal cord is exposed and vulnerable, resulting in intense pain and increased risk of a permanent injury to the spine.

An injury lawyer always takes into account the long-term impact of the client’s injuries when determining the value of the case. Treating and caring for a herniated disc may take a lifetime due to the inability of the body to recover naturally. Surgical intervention is possible, but the methods that are available today are expensive and may come with the risk of complication.

Types of Injuries Linked to Herniated Discs Sustained in a Car Accident

There are 3 regions of the upper spine that contain intervertebral discs. The lumbar is comprised of 5 vertebrae and is located in the lower back. Above the lumbar are 12 thoracic vertebrae and 7 cervical vertebrae make up the upper back. The complications that accompany a herniated disc normally correlate to the location of the injury and its severity. In many cases, the herniation of a disc saves the victim from a much more serious injury to the spine, but still results in intense pain.

The location of the pain helps doctors determine which part of the spine is affected. Often clients are very surprised when they don’t feel any pain at the actual site of the injury and it is manifested instead in the form of shooting pains in other areas. Using this quick guide, we can tell you which part of your spine has been injured based on the location of the pain.

• Shooting pains in the legs usually result from injuries to the discs in the lumbar and can include the aggravation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the spine through the leg.
• Pain that shoots through the arms is likely to originate from the cervical vertebrae, revealing an injury to the upper part of the spine.
• Injuries to the thoracic vertebrae may be more difficult to identify without a comprehensive evaluation using a CT scan or an MRI.

Diagnosing and Treating Car Accident Victims With Herniated Disc Injuries

Injuries to the spine are not always symptomatic in the hours or even days following a car accident. This is because the herniated disc has done its job through the course of the auto accident and protected the spine. However, after the disc has lost its fluid, it can no longer cushion, support and protect the spine, resulting in pain, reduced range of motion and the potential loss of motor function. A standard x-ray taken following an accident is not sufficient to diagnose a herniated disc either; due to the fact that the gel inside the discs is not visible through x-rays. The only way to rule out the possibility of a spinal injury is to order a CT scan or MRI.

Treatment for herniated discs can range from steroidal injections and pain control measures to surgical intervention followed by an ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation. These methods can be cost prohibitive and even when they are successful; injured victims may need to endure pain for the rest of their lives. Herniated discs also place those injured at an elevated risk of suffering other complications such as the development of osteoarthritis.

At The Rybak Firm, PLLC our experienced New York personal injury lawyers understand the need for our clients have access to immediate and long-term medical care to treat their injuries. Insurance companies often argue against the value of future medical expenses by questioning whether certain procedures and treatment options are truly necessary. Our injury attorneys will substantiate your injury claim using medical specialists and economists to ensure that the maximum compensation is achieved.

Contact us today by submitting a quick form on our website or Call us at (718)307-5554 to arrange a Free Consultation with one of our highly qualified Personal Injury Lawyer Brooklyn NY.  We will collect the information we need to evaluate your case and let you know what legal options are available so that you can make an informed decision on how to proceed with your case. You are assured that we will never require payment upfront. We take personal injury cases on contingency basis therefore, can only receive a fee once we have secured a compensation for you.