Discs are soft, gel-like padding situated between each vertebra in the spine that absorb force and allow for flexibility. These discs are housed within hard casings, which offer protection as we walk, run, twist, and move on a daily basis. However, the force of impact of a car accident can be enough to cause these discs to slip out of place or rupture through their protective casings.
When a disc herniates, it can put pressure on surrounding nerves and throw the spine out of balance, causing severe physical pain and suffering.
If you’ve suffered a herniated disc from a car accident in California, it’s important to consider your legal options. Herniated disc injuries can require extensive medical care, force you to miss time at work, and change life as you know it, at least for a short while. When someone else has caused your car accident, they should be held accountable for the resulting consequences. That's why it is advised to contact an experienced San Diego car accident attorney.
Here’s what you need to know about herniated disc injuries after a car accident in California, as well as the best steps to take to ensure that you’re not struggling with the consequences on your own.
What Types of Car Accidents Are Most Likely to Cause Herniated Disc Injuries?
Even low-impact collisions can exert enough force on your spine to cause a disc to rupture or slip out of place. These herniated disc injuries, which are sometimes called slipped discs or ruptured discs, most often occur in the lower back or neck.
So, car accidents that typically cause neck and/or lower-back injuries are most likely to cause herniated discs. This includes:
Rear-End Collisions
Victims of rear-end collisions often suffer rapid back and force whipping of the neck and head, an injury most commonly known as whiplash. However, hyperextending the neck can also cause the vertebrae to separate and give the discs an opportunity to slip out of place, resulting in a herniated disc injury.
Head-On Collisions
When two moving vehicles collide head-on, the sheer force of impact can be catastrophic. It’s not uncommon for vehicle occupants to move rapidly back and forth or from side to side, which can put a considerable strain on the spine. This unnatural motion, paired with excessive force, can allow the spine to compress and/or overextend, often in the lumbar and cervical regions. This creates the perfect opportunity for discs to slip out between the vertebrae.
Rollover Accidents
In a rollover, vehicle occupants may experience severe spine injuries as their spines expand and then rapidly compress. Expansion can create gaps through which the disc can slip out of place. When the spine compresses, the discs won’t be there to absorb force, which can cause the vertebrae to crash against one another with force, resulting in fractures and other serious injuries to the spine and, in some cases, the spinal cord.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Herniated Disc Injury I Should Be Aware of After a Car Accident?
If you’ve experienced trauma to your neck or lower back in a car accident in California, signs that you’ve suffered a herniated disc injury include:
- Pain at the site of the injury
- Numbness and tingling in your back, shoulders, arms, or legs
- Muscle weakness and fatigue in your arms or legs
- Bladder dysfunction
- Coordinate and balance issues
- Saddle anesthesia (loss of feeling in the inner thighs and back of the legs)
The symptoms you experience will tend to depend on (a) where on your spine you’ve slipped a disc and (b) the severity of that injury. The more a disc compresses surrounding nerves or nerve roots, the more likely it is that you’ll experience these (and other) symptoms.
It’s important to seek timely medical care if you suspect that you’ve suffered a herniated disc injury. While some slipped discs will resolve over time on their own with rest, ice, and over-the-counter medications, others will require more intensive therapies and treatment. Herniated disc injuries can be diagnosed by a physical evaluation and imaging of the spine. If there’s considerable evidence that parts of the spinal cord are impaired or that the disc is unlikely to move back into place on its own, your doctor may suggest surgery.
Absent appropriate treatment, severe herniated disc injuries from a car accident can potentially cause paralysis, permanent muscle weakness, progressive deformities, and even neurologic defects. In rare instances, an untreated severe herniated disc injury can be fatal.
What Should I Do If I’ve Suffered a Herniated Disc Injury in a Car Accident?
Herniated disc injuries can be painful and costly. When it’s the result of a car accident, there are steps you’ll need to take to protect your legal rights and ability to pursue compensation for resulting medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering.
- Report the car accident to ensure you have a formal record of the crash
- Document the crash to the best of your ability by taking pictures of the scene of the collision, damage to your car and other property, and other evidence that could be useful if you file a personal injury claim for damages
- Seek timely medical care at the closest emergency room, making sure that you relay any symptoms that could be indicative of a herniated disc injury
- Document any symptoms that arise that could be related to a herniated disc once you’ve been discharged from the hospital
- Refuse early settlement offers that might not represent the full costs associated with your ruptured disc injury
- Speak with an experienced California car accident attorney near you about your legal rights
Hiring an attorney is the best way to navigate a very difficult time in your life. Crash victims across the Golden State choose Singleton Schreiber because we’re local litigators who provide compassionate and effective legal representation when it matters most. As award-winning personal injury attorneys, we’ve helped injury victims and families win billions in settlements and jury awards.
Now, we can help you fight for maximum compensation as you recover from a herniated disc injury after a car accident in California. Contact one of our law offices - conveniently located in San Diego, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Pasadena - to schedule a free consultation today.
