Herniated discs can be some of the most debilitating and painful back injuries that a person can endure. To make things worse, it can also be a very common injury. If you are suffering from these injuries, then it is likely that you’ll be experiencing chronic pain, tingling sensations in your limbs, and/or numbness. In severe cases, it can result in a permanent disability. If you have been a victim of an accident that was not your fault, and have thus sustained a herniated disc injury, then somebody could be found legally responsible.
Here at The Law Place, our personal injury attorneys possess over 75 years of combined experience in helping victims to accidents that were not their fault claim the compensation they are owed for their suffering. Our team will work around the clock to secure the justice that you deserve and will do everything in their power to make this process as stress-free as possible for you and your family. Our law firm operates across Florida. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated lawyer on our team. Call us at (941) 444-4444. Our phone lines are open 24/7 for your convenience!
What Is a Herniated Disc Injury?
The spine is an extremely intricate system formulated of multiple individual bones with their own discs that’s purpose is to protect the spinal cord and allow us to bend, bounce, and twist freely. Unfortunately, as many of us know, the older we get, the weaker our spine and joints become. Therefore, any sharp movements could cause herniated discs to occur in the elderly. A traumatic accident also has the potential to cause a herniated disc, which could happen to anyone at any age.
Herniated discs occur when the tough disc that surrounds our spinal cord protrudes or tears, this then allows for the gel-like substance in the spinal cord to leak out. If the disc is protruding, then it will push on your spinal cord or a nerve root. This can result in very severe back pain. What makes it worse is that, as the spine is linked to the entire body, this pain has the potential to impact all of your body. This can then cause even more severe injuries, conditions, and pain, which include radiculopathy. Radiculopathy occurs because of pressure on the spine, causing numbness and/or pain throughout the arms, legs, and the lower back.
If your spinal injury is serious enough, then it is also possible to experience complications in your movements and intense pain. This may take an extensive period of recovery. In more severe cases, the degree of movement that you had before the disc herniation may, sadly, not return.
Due to how serious and life-altering a herniated disc can be, it is highly advisable that you contact a personal injury attorney at The Law Place if you have recently sustained such an injury in an accident that was not your fault. Our law firm offers a free consultation service, where you will be given a chance to ask any questions relating to your case that you may have, no strings attached.
What Are the Common Causes of Herniated Disc Injuries in Venice, FL?
Elderly people are the most at risk of suffering from herniated discs in accidents. This is because the discs in your spine lose water content as you get older. A decrease in water content in your spine means that the discs become much less flexible, and the likelihood of tears and ruptures, even during normal activity, gets larger. However, it is important to know that it is common for people of all ages to sustain a herniated disc if they’re victims of a traumatic accident.
Some, sadly common, accidents that people suffer herniated discs from includes, but are not limited to, the following:
- A car accident.
- Slip and fall accidents.
- Workplace accidents.
- Physical assaults and other instances of violence against an individual.
- Sports accidents.
If you or somebody you know have sustained a disc herniation because of any incident that was not your own fault (listed or unlisted), then somebody could be liable to pay for your damages, and you may be eligible for compensation.
No personal injury case is exactly like another. This is especially true with any herniated disc injury case, partially because of the vast array of causes that can result in this type of injury. If you are suffering from a disc herniation injury because of something that was not your fault, then do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with the personal injury lawyers at our office as soon as possible! Our lawyers have years of experience in dealing with the legal system in Florida and helping clients such as yourself, so you can be confident that we will fight tirelessly to make sure you receive the compensation you so deserve.
What About Pre-Existing Neck and Back Injuries?
In order to be eligible to receive financial compensation, your accident attorney must be able to prove that you sustained your injury in the accident. This will, unfortunately, be quite difficult to do so if you already have a pre-existing back or neck injury, and that is why it is so imperative that you hire a lawyer with experience and skill. Our lawyers at The Law Place have plenty of experience in dealing with cases such as your own, and we will be able to confidently take on the insurance companies involved in your case.
Our attorneys will work tirelessly to prove that at least a proportion of your injuries and consequent back pain were caused by the accident, and once this has been achieved, you will be able to receive damages. To do this, a lawyer at our office will gather all of the evidence to show how any pain you have has been worsened considerably by the accident. A lawyer could do this by using testimonies from family members and friends, medical records, treatment history, and a daily journal. To learn more about this, contact The Law Place today to organize a free consultation.
What Are Common Symptoms of a Herniated Disc Injury?
Common symptoms of herniated discs include:
- Muscle weakness – Disc herniation can cause unusual weakness or loss of balance in the affected limbs. The particular nerves that the disc presses against may not be able to suitably communicate with the muscle they associate with. This can make an otherwise simple task a lot more difficult to undertake. If the disc is pressing the nerve endings in the lower half of the body, the nerve damage could be permanent or at least long-term. However, this is a very rare occurrence.
- Pain, numbness, or tingling in parts of the body -Where these sensations occur will depend on which disc has suffered from herniation. For example, a herniated disc that is in the lower half of the spine will most likely cause pain in the legs, whereas an injured disc in the neck will more likely affect the arms and shoulders.
- Shooting pain – If the herniation is serious enough, then you are likely to experience severe, shooting pain from the source of the injuries that travel across the whole body. This pain could happen in bursts when you make a sudden movement, such as sneezing, or if you move in a particular way. This pain could occur immediately after the accident, or it could be hours or even days after you sustain the injury.
On a positive note, a majority of clients with a herniated disc have been able to recover through treatment, such as extensive medication and physical therapy. However, if you are suffering from a more serious case, then it is possible that you may require surgery, or else the damage could become permanent, possibly leading to paralysis. Regardless of how serious your injuries are, you may still be owed compensation and thus should contact a lawyer at our practice as soon as possible to organize a free consultation with a lawyer on our team to benefit from our legal experience.
What Damages Could I Be Owed Following a Herniated Disc Injury in Venice, FL?
The most common damages that the attorneys at The Law Place are often able to award their clients in personal injury cases with include:
- Medical expenses – If your herniated disc has meant that you have had to receive professional medical treatment, including surgery and physical therapy, then you could be reimbursed with these costs in your final settlement. Furthermore, if your symptoms are long-term or permanent, then it is often possible to include projected medical costs in your settlement too.
- Lost wages – If your symptoms related to your disc herniation have meant that you have had to have time off work, then your case may award you with these lost wages. Similarly, if you are unable to return to work because of this injury, then you may also be able to claim damages for a loss of earning capacity, i.e., a loss of future earnings.
- Pain and suffering – This is very complex and includes any mental or physical suffering that is related to the herniated disc. It also includes any loss of enjoyment in life. For example, if you are now unable to take part in a sport you once regularly enjoyed, then this would be considered a loss of enjoyment. If a client wishes to recover this type of damages, then it is vital you have a professional personal injury lawyer on your side. This is because it is often very difficult to prove and then translate into an appropriate settlement value.
- Wrongful death -If you have lost a relative because of a herniated disc, then Florida Statute 768.21 allows you to file a wrongful death This type of lawsuit will often award you with a settlement that will cover any funeral expenses and loss of consortium.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at The Law Place Today!
If you or a loved one have recently sustained a herniated disc injury because of an accident that was not your fault, then contact a lawyer at The Law Place today! The pain and debilitating symptoms that always occur because of a herniated disc can be life-changing, and so if your injury was caused by another person’s negligence, then you undoubtedly deserve justice.
Our legal team is here to help! Our attorneys can offer you vital legal advice that you can rely on, and a lawyer at our practice will be dedicated to ensuring your legal rights are protected, and you receive a suitable settlement. Call our office in Venice, FL., today to organize a free consultation with a lawyer on our team, no strings attached! Call us today at (941) 444-4444. Phone lines are open 24/7.