Car accidents often lead to serious injuries, such as back and neck injuries. These injuries are mostly complicated and require advanced medical treatment. Recovery time for these injuries varies from person to person. Some individuals may heal from these injuries faster than others who may encounter discomfort and pain that interfere with their daily lives. If you are someone or know someone who got injured in a car accident, you may be able to get compensation via a settlement. The amount of money you get in an average settlement for car accident back and neck injury depends on several factors, such as the severity of the injury, lost income, medical treatment bills, etc.
If you want to learn more about it, then you should read this article. In this article, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about the average settlement for car accident back and neck injury. So let’s get started!
Understanding Neck and Back Injury Car Accident: Types of Injuries
Car accidents often cause several types of injuries, ranging from minor injuries to worst spinal injuries. Neck and back injury car accident has a huge negative impact on the nerves, muscles, and spine, and may lead to long-term pain and mobility problems. Below are some of the most common neck and back injuries caused by car accidents:
1. Whiplash:
It is one of the most common neck injuries caused by a car accident. This injury is mostly caused by rear-end collisions. It is caused due to the sudden jerking movement of the head in both forward and backward directions, straining the muscles of the neck. Symptoms of Whiplash are a stiff neck, pain in the neck, headaches, dizziness, memory-related issues, etc.
2. Herniated Disc:
It occurs when the soft cushion-like structure present between spinal vertebrae comes out of its place due to strong pressure. It further puts a lot of pressure on the nerves present near the affected area, causing numbness, pain, and lots of weakness in the legs and arms. Herniated discs can take place in both the lower back and neck.
3. Sciatica:
It happens due to the compression of the sciatic nerve, running to the legs from the lower back. It leads to tingling in the affected area, pain, and weakness in the lower back, legs, and buttocks.
4. Pinched Nerves:
A nerve gets pinched due to the pressure exerted on a nerve by the swollen or herniated disc. It leads to tingling, weakness, sharp pain, and numbness in different parts of body.
5. Soft Tissue Injuries:
These injuries have an impact on tendons, muscles, and ligaments present in the neck and back. These injuries lead to swelling, pain, and restricted mobility.
6. Spinal Cord Injuries:
Major car accidents lead to major injuries, and can even damage the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries are severe and require long-term medical care and treatment. Spinal injuries cause major issues such as mobility issues and also disrupt the functioning of organs.
Average Car Accident Settlement and Back injury car accident: Everything you need to know
The amount of money you get in an average settlement for car accident back and neck injury is dependent on several factors. These factors are listed down below:
1. The Severity of the Injury:
The amount of injury is highly dependent on the severity of the injury caused by a car accident. In simple words, there will be more than average settlement for car accident back and neck injury if the injuries are severe or major injuries, and vice versa.
2. Medical Treatment Bills:
The lower back pain car accident settlement you receive will cover every bill and cost related to the injury caused by a car accident. It includes the cost and bills of surgeries, medications, physical therapy, hospitalization, emergency room visits, assistive devices used such as wheelchairs, braces, etc., chiropractic care, and several other things.
3. Lost wages:
If your back injury car accident disrupts your working life, and you are not able to work due to the severity of the injury, then the settlement should compensate for the lost wages. If the injury causes long-term disability, then the settlement should also cover future lost income or future lost wages.
4. Discomfort and Pain:
Victims of car accidents may experience extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress. Discomfort and pain compensation are dependent on the severity of the injury, how the injury is disrupting normal life and the time of recovery. Anxiety, depression, and chronic pain caused by car accidents can contribute to the chances of a higher settlement. In case of lower back pain car accident settlement, the amount of payout will depend on the intensity of pain.
5. Documents:
If you have strong documents of proof for your injuries, then the chances of you getting a settlement increase. Evidence of proof and documents include: Medical records, accident reports, statements of witnesses, photos or videos showing the accident scene, and notes of the doctor regarding the severity of the injury, recovery time, and future medical needs.
6. Recovery Time:
Car accident injury settlement amounts are also dependent on the recovery time of injuries. If injuries are taking a long time to heal, then they mostly lead to higher settlement. If back and neck injuries are causing long-term disability and severe discomfort, and then there are high chances of higher compensation amount.
Car Accident Injury Settlement Amounts
The settlement amount for back and neck injuries caused by car accidents depends on several factors such as the severity of the injury, discomfort, lost wages, etc. The minimum payout for whiplash and soft tissue damage is $10,000 to $50,000, mild injuries like lower back pain car accident settlement, and herniated disc settle for $50,000 to $200,000, and severe injuries such as spinal damage and paralysis settle may settle for more than $1 million.
Conclusion:
Car accidents lead to back and neck injuries. The average settlement for car accident back and neck injury depends on several factors such as type of injury, severity of injury, medical bills, lost bills, and discomfort caused by the injuries. Minor injuries such as whiplash may result in a small settlement, whereas serious injuries such as damage to the spine, and paralysis can lead to maximum payout. If you are someone or know someone who has got back and neck head injuries in a car accident, you should consult a lawyer, and seek his help to get the settlement you deserve.
