Do NOT give the insurance adjuster any past medical documents or sign an authorization for them to collect these documents without speaking with a lawyer. Earlier this week, lead trial counsel for Scottsdale Injury Lawyers, Tony Piccuta, obtained a $380,000 settlement for his client. Mr. Benyamin has personally helped his clients recover over $10,000,000 in vehicle accident insurance claims in the State of California. Journal of Spine Surgery. Not to mention, a spinal cord injury can make lifting, reaching, bending, or twisting impossible. Spondylosis is a severe degenerative back and spinal condition. This means your whiplash settlement should be for a permanent, lifelong injury, not for a 4-6 week minor injury. . Unfortunately, many of our "normal" daily tasks may also decrease the cervical lordosis, like viewing low lying computer screens (below eye level), sleeping with two . It boils down to all the intangible facts, which we discuss in our case valuation page. Median: $320,000. This isn't my case. Keep reading to find out what causes a loss of lumbar lordosis. Lets take a moment to look at the various curvatures of the neck. Craning the neck at a 60-degree angle to look down a phone you just pulled out of your pocket increases the pressure on the neck by 5-6 times, and it can also lead to a straightening of the vertebrae. After a car accident, you may need to visit cervical spine specialists, doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists. "We've known that the neck curve is a big deal in helping avoid structural overload . Whiplash is undoubtedly one of the most common auto accident injuries. However, if you received delayed injuries and were not aware of their extent for several months, you should confirm your case still falls under the statute of limitations in your state. Some of these variables, like property damage, are not genuine and are the subject of disingenuous lowball offers. If the jury verdict finds the other driver at-fault, the driver or their insurance company must release a check to your attorney which will then be dispersed to you. We have a multi-step process so our team can really get to know you and your case to ensure that it sounds like you are a good fit for the unique testing and treatments that we offer here. A pinched nerve in the shoulder occurs when a nerve is compressed or irritated anywhere along its path, from the nerve root where it emerges from the cervical spine to the area in the shoulder it supplies. Also referred to as whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), its actually a type of sprain caused by a tear in the necks delicate ligaments. When neck and back injuries are catastrophic, settlement values can go into the millions. In turn, this factor increases its overall settlement amount. A herniated disc occurswhen the gel-like center of the intervertebral disc leaks into the spinal canal. Keep in mind that the average whiplash neck injury settlement amounts will include $2,000 whiplash car accident settlements and $200,000 whiplash auto accident settlements. You can recover from your initial symptoms of a whiplash injury within a few weeks of the accident occurring. These numbers are weighed down by the fact that the average accident involves a short, 3-6 week injury and minor collision. Rear end vehicle accident verdict with cervical soft tissue injury, $72,000 As mentioned above, close to 50% of all soft tissue and whiplash neck injuries are permanent. In our settlements and verdicts page, we describe how even when lawyers use the same methodologies, they may reach different settlement averages for a similar case type. Ultimately, those who have whiplash injuries have been often shown to have poor quality of life long after their accidents. In an average car accident case with a relatively minor soft tissue neck or back injury, the accident victim may expect to receive a settlement anywhere between $2,500 and $10,000 from the at-fault driver's insurance company. Cervical vertebrae are especially important, as they contain the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2). Howe well these damages are valued will depend heavily on the creativity of your lawyer, more than based on how much you say it hurts on a scale of 1 through 10. Soft tissue neck injury claims are worth between $5,000 and $20,000 on average. As a result, issues with memory, sleeping, and balance can occur. First, the insurance company will demand full documentation of all the medical care and emergency room records, including visits to primary care physicians, doctors and chiropractors, and past medical records. When you go to the hospital following a car accident, they will often do an x-ray. [Google Scholar] These are all factors that are part of the mechanism of your neck injury and understanding them better will be a part of how to make a stronger claim for whiplash after a car accident. BMC public health,16, 13. Both your past and future medical care costs are recoverable in your neck injury settlement. How healthy discs herniate: a biomechanical and microstructural study investigating the combined effects of compression rate and flexion. During a car accident, the rapid forward-backward or side-to-side motion can cause these delicate tissues to stretch or tear. Similarly, injuries requiring treatment by physiciansas opposed to chiropractors, or even physical therapistsare given more weight by many insurance adjusters. An MRI revealed a herniated disc to her cervical spine, and she ultimately underwent a cervical fusion surgery. Car accidents can cause a lot ofserious injuries, and among the most serious are injuries to the cervical spine. If after that, you are symptom free, then you know the full picture of your injuries and what you are negotiating for. an iatrogenic disorder. You may not want to wait 2-3 years to get your money. Whiplash injuries can be difficult to diagnose. Along the way, spinal cord injury victims may have several complications, including infection, bleeding blood clots, and pneumonia. Remember, you can only file one claim for your injuriesyou cant follow up in ten years seeking more compensation because of an inability to work. This case was handled by Partner Jeffrey A. Call our Washington auto accident lawyer at 425-399-7000 today for . Ongoing bouts of dizziness. Vehicle accident settlement with cervical soft tissue injury, $93,000 This can lead to shoulder pain, numbness, and pins and needles, and can even affect the movement of . snoopy happy dance emoji 8959 norma pl west hollywood ca 90069 8959 norma pl west hollywood ca 90069 Your neck is left virtually unprotected during a car accident. How Long Is the Process for a Bulging Disc From Car Accident Settlement? The challenge is that for decades now, one of the most common neck injuries whiplash injuries has developed a reputation of being a claim raised by fakers and exaggerators. 2016 May;89(1061):20150996. For instance, a bulging disk can make standing or sitting pure agony. As many as 50% of injury victims go on to develop persistent symptoms that can have a detrimental effect upon their mental and physical well being. Tearing, sprains, or strains to the ligaments, muscles and tendons in the neck following a car accident are described as soft tissue damage. This is evidenced by the multi-million examples above in which all victims required surgery. Rear end auto accident settlement with cervical soft tissue injury, $91,000 Anyone suspected of having such an injury should remain as immobile as possible until medical assistance arrives. Vehicle accident settlement with cervical fracture injury, $350,000 In the image below are x-rays of a lordotic curve (correct neck curvature) and the gradual loss of lordosis to a straightening or military curve, an eventual reverse curve or Kyphotic curve, and eventual reverse of the reverse curve the S curve signifying cervical spine instability. Throughout the insurance claim or lawsuit process, you must provide a plethora of evidence, give a detailed breakdown of all damages (special and general), and establish liability. A statute of limitations is a time limit placed by courts that determines how long a victim has to filea civil lawsuitor take action against the individual who harmed them. In general, the more severe and long-lasting the injury, the higher the compensation in a personal injury insurance settlement or jury verdict. If your medical records show no prior complaints of neck pain prior to the accident, it could increase the value of your injury case. The association between prevalent neck pain and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis. Here are a few real-world examples of personal injury cases involving neck injuries. You should speak with your pain management doctor about this. Head on vehicle accident verdict with cervical soft tissue injury, $200,000 Looking for a record of pre-existing neck pain, theyll also be checking for evidence of any degenerative conditions if you happen to be an older person. The loss of the normal cervical lordosis might be localized, occurring in just one or a few segments of the vertebrae, or it can involve the majority of the cervical spine segments. For example, medications can help with reducing pain and inflammation.. Some damages, like medical bills and lost income, are fairly easy to quantify. Another study concluded that the loss of normal lordosis represented mechanical derangement of the . Your body has 23 spinal discs, and each holds an important purpose. The man also suffered a mild traumatic brain injury. This can cause the neck and shoulder muscles to feel tight and sore. It is in your interest to have an attorney on your side in this situation. If pain resulting from a whiplash injury continues for more than ten weeks, it may also be an indication that there are other accompanying injuries, such as: Some researchers also believe that some persistent or worsening pain and headaches following a neck injury may be associated with a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and that a car accident can cause psychological stress that manifests itself in physicals symptoms. Once you give them this and they discover hurtful information, there is no undoing that. This occurs when the body accelerates quickly forward, causing the head to accelerate via the neck. For example, if the plaintiff is an avid violin player, but can no longer hold the instrument properly because of the neck injury, his damages based on "loss of quality of life" will likely be higher in the eyes of a jury. Mechanism of injury is the medical explanation of what happens structurally to your body during a traumatic event which caused your injury. A loss of normal neck curve or lordosis (hypolordosis) was observed in only 4% the normal/non-injured patients. A doctor will diagnose your neck injury and can help prevent potential chronic pain and long-term complications from ruining your life. The muscles in the neck and shoulders have to work harder to support the weight of the head as the curvature that usually facilitates the even distribution of this weight is lost. Our auto accident practice includes service in the follow areas: Serving all of Los Angeles, including Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Claremont, Canoga Park, Chino, Chino Hills, Covina, Diamond Bar, Downey, East Pasadena, El Monte, Encino, Highland Park, Inglewood, La Verne, Long Beach, Malibu, Montebello, Monterey Park, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Reseda, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Dimas, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, South Bay, South LA, South Pasadena, Sunland, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Van Nuys, Venice, West Covina, West Hollywood, and Westlake Village. A 34-year-old man was rear-ended by a police officer. If the injured accident victim has to seek physical therapy, injections, or other procedures to treat the soft tissue . The average settlement amount for a neck or back injury in Michigan is $462,900, and the median amount is $320,000. loss of cervical lordosis car accident settlement. Also, if you do not go to the hospital, the insurance company will use that as an excuse to say you were not really hurt. If youve recently injured your neck in an accident, doctors have likely referred to your injuries as damage to the cervical spine, the medical term for the bones and tissue that make up your neck. You later learn you have ligament laxity or other damaged tendons or ligaments which have healed over with scar tissue, and will cause lifelong permanent symptoms. Rear end truck accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $2,500,000 If the at-fault driver was working when the accident occurred, such as in the UPS example above, you might be able to file a claim against their employer as well. He suffered C4-5 and C5-6 protrusions and spondylosis. . Similarly, if a plaintiff had a preexisting neck injury, her damages might be reduced since it might not be possible to tie the defendant's actions to all of the plaintiff's current pain and suffering. Sometimes, that nominal amount is $5,000, and they think they just pulled a fast one on the insurance adjuster but what this does in reality is close the door on any more money when you realize your injury is actually worse. Rear-end vehicle accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $535,000 The researchers are suggesting that people who suffer from whiplash injuries may have more of a worsening or onset of symptoms than others because their neck was already in a compromised shape. [Google Scholar] A compression fracture occurs when a vertebra partially or completely breaks. How Long Will It Take To Settle Your Personal Injury Case? A minor sprain can heal within a few weeks. Several studies have investigated the cervical spine alignment in asymptomatic subjects and have found that significant proportions did not have lordotic cervical spines. To reiterate, in other words, some people may be walking around with loss of their cervical curve and it is completely asymptotic. A paper published in The British Journal of Radiology (1) suggested straightening of the C-spine alignment in MDCT (as seen in a multidetector (MDCT) CT scan) alone is not a definitive sign of injury. For this reason, theyre referred to as non-economic damages, since theyre not tied to a number. Otherwise, find a lawyer who really understands these injuries and how to squeeze out maximum value for you. This likely explains why in excess of 80,000 neck injuries resulting from car accidents are recorded in the U.S. making traffic collisions the primary cause of neck injuries. $865K Accident Settlement for a worker struck by a dump truck while driving a company vehicle. Its important to understand each car accident has varying factors (such as total damages or liability) that impact its overall settlement value. As for bulging cervical discs, call an injury attorney ASAP because otherwise, you may be very disappointed in your neck injury lawsuit settlement. $1,200,000 settlement for aggravation of pre-existing neck injury, requiring surgery, after plaintiff rear-ended in an, what the person being sued (the defendant) would be willing to pay, and. It is also possible to separate the injuries and prove that car accident caused a different type of neck injury. A bulging disc occurs when the outer cartilage of the spinal disc cracks, revealing its soft center. -ABNORMAL CERVICAL CURVE; CAR WRECKS AND LOSS OF THE One of the most common ways to really foul up a cervical curve is to be involved in a MVA (MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT).). The problem is usually detected on X-ray of cervical spine and it should be . What they found was the existence of an association between the constitutional sagittal alignment of the cervical spine and the outcome after whiplash injuries. In other words, the curvature of the cervical spine is a factor in if patients would recover from a whiplash injury. The party that pays your neck injury settlement depends on which avenue you and your attorney chose to take: an insurance claim or a lawsuit. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. These claims result from automobile accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death incidents, homeowners insurance, work injury, construction accident, trip and fall . Causing significant pain and having the potential to injure your spinal cord leading to paralysis, a neck fracture is an extremely serious injury that requires immediate medical attention. When the curve of the spine points toward the front, it's called a lordosis and toward the back, it's called a kyphosis. If you proceed with legal action immediately after sustaining cervical spine damage in a car accident, you likely wont have to worry about your statute of limitations expiring. This includes becoming . In this article, we will present our clinical findings and observations on how the treatment of cervical ligament damage may be the answer that has eluded them. While this is not life threatening, it can lead to long term disability and can be included in your settlement demand. Unlike a compression fracture where you can typically feel the symptoms immediately, spondylolisthesis tends to be one of themany delayed painsafter an accident. This soft tissue damage can include mild to severe back pain. In the state of Arizona, you need to file an insurance claim with the at-fault drivers insurance company to seek compensation for your damages. Pain. That means, you or your lawyer lawyer cant just write and shout that your case is worth more, or demand more. What is the average settlement payout for a whiplash injury? Rezai, M., Ct, P., Cassidy, J. D., & Carroll, L. (2009). In the illustration below we see the various measurements and landmarks that help doctors and patients understand their cervical spine instability. how far can a duck swim underwater / roy's ko olina menu / nypd 1 police plaza human resources phone number / loss of cervical lordosis car accident settlement; loss of cervical lordosis car accident settlement. Non-economic damages typically include the hardships your accident caused, including: Average neck injury settlements can be hard to estimate. Cervical lordosis is a curvature of the neck from the sagittal or side view. Vehicle accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $30,000 In 2012, a 31 year old teacher was driving a car in Boynton Beach when was hit by a car that ran a red light. The UPS truck driver entered the opposite lane to pass the victims vehicle but was met with oncoming traffic. Lumbar spinal injuries from car accidents can be serious, and the lifetime costs of any spinal cord injury can be extensive for victims. Her orthopedic diagnosed her with a cervical (neck) disc herniation at C4-5. Do you want us to review your case to see if it has the potential for an above average whiplash or neck injury settlement payout? Serving all of California, with a focus on Kern County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County. Turn your neck to each position as far as possible without . You could end up with $2,000 if you dont hire a lawyer who will protect the value of your claim. As you are reading this article, you likely have a problem with your cervical spine brought on by a whiplash-type injury. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. 1.Loss of cervical lordosis from a car accident - Caring Medical; 2.LOSS OF CERVICAL LORDOSIS FOLLOWING TRAUMA. Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. You need to find that perfectly balanced bowl of porridge when hiring a law firm, one that aligns with your interests and potential case value. $3,500,000 Neck injury lawsuits are typically filed when car accident victims do not receive enough from an insurance claim to cover medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and other expenses. IS 3.Permanent Injury From Whiplash - X-ray Proof - Dr. Martin Schmaltz; 4.Your Neck Curvature Will Help You or HURT YOU if You're Involved 5.Correcting Your Cervical Lordosis Can Prevent Whiplash and Neck Article Author: This law article was written by attorney Ray Benyamin, Esquire. Some symptoms can take up to weeks to manifest. (800) 400-5050 Free Consultation 247. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This rapid motion causes the vertebrae to pull apart, fracturing the delicate bones. Required medical expenses included spinal fusion surgery as well as future medical attention, including epidural injections in his cervical spine. This occurs when there is an impact to the face while the head is in a neutral or bent position, and can produce fractures of the spinal processes, damage to the load bearing surfaces, and spine dislocations. . We hope you found this article informative and it helped answer many of the questions you may have surrounding Whiplash associated disorders, Craniocervical Instability, upper cervical spine instability, cervical spine instability, or simply problems related to neck pain. When you are in a car accident hit from behind and whiplash is suspected, getting proper diagnostics is important. But achieving a neck injury car accident settlement is not as cut-and-dry as you may think. For example, a victim with serious injuries may experience a significantly decreased quality of life. Would you rather have $30,000 today or $55,000 in 2 years? He experienced arm pain and hand tingling. $1,200,000 Settlement for Auto Accident Victim With Neck Injuries. If someone else was at fault for the accident that led to your neck injury, the best way to get information that's tailored to your situation is to talk to a lawyer. Spine,39(13), 1018-1028. Plus, they can handle the claims or lawsuit process so that you can focus on healing. When this happens, you can feel pain, weakness, tingling and numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. A cervical spine injury can be completely life-changing, creating emotional and physical trauma as well as thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages. Sample Spondylosis Car Accident Settlements and Verdicts. To continue on with this discussion, please see my article Treatment of Whiplash associated disorders. Healing from a neck injury following a car accident may occur at different speeds for different individuals, but chiropractic medicine can help expedite an accident injury victims recovery, and prevent or greatly reduce, chronic symptoms. It is important to note, the loss of the normal neck curve was AFTER the muscles spasms in the neck were gone! VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level. Regardless of the underlying cause of a straight neck, the impact can be severe. Whiplash is one form of soft tissue neck injury. Six months later, the symptoms have not gone away, and you are wondering what happened. Surgeries involve lengthy hospital visits and require rehabilitation. These fractures typically occur when the upper part of the body is thrown forward while a seat belt restricts the lower half. Two reasons why. Your spine is composed of several different types of soft tissue, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Early documentation of damage (especially if it includes a diagnosis) can increase the value of your back injury settlement. Such displayed above, they had a military or straight spine shape before the accident, and many of those people had no previous neck-related symptoms. Firstly, you have the loss of cervical lordosis. As you are reading this article, you likely have a problem with your cervical spine brought on by a whiplash-type injury. This occurs when the head receives an impact when bent forwards, and produces vertebrae wedge and burst fractures, along with spine dislocations. With a national reach, we invite you to contact us for help. The cost of physical therapy in that case was a bit over $7,000. $537,000 settlement for a man who required cervical fusion surgery following a car accident. Block O'Toole & Murphy won a settlement of $1,200,000 for the plaintiff, a woman whose car was rear-ended in New York and suffered a neck injury as a result. Image Based Life > Uncategorized > loss of cervical lordosis car accident settlement For injuries with lifelong complications, those costs can become insurmountable. In fact, there are eight factors that influence the average settlement for cervical spine injuries. This is what the study authors wrote: Whiplash-associated disorder is a common cause of chronic neck pain. Seeking chiropractic help to either reverse the cervical lordosis, or improve the loss of the cervical lordosis, from a car accident can help prevent damage to the soft tissue in the neck and to the sensitive cervical spine ligaments. $900K Rear-End Car Accident Settlement for a New York photographer hit by a truck at a stop sign. A tendon is a type of tissue that links muscle to bone. This is because of the unique nature of each accident, injury, and individual. Spondylolisthesis is caused by spondylosis, or when a fracture in the vertebra forces the bone to move forward, backward, or over another bone. In this article, you, and other auto accident injury victims, will learn why that is. Special damages are also referred to as economic damages for this reason. If the insurance company rejects your claim or offers a counterclaim, your attorney will negotiate with the insurance adjuster to obtain a fair settlement offer. At our center, we see many patients with chronic whiplash symptoms. 1996 Aug;66(2-3):223-7. Did you know more than800,000 car accidentsinvolving neck injuries are reported annually in the U.S. alone? Car accident neck injury settlement amounts related to whiplash can often double and triple, but only after we push the case towards the finish line i.e., into litigation towards trial. A spine injury from a car accident is an injury to the cervical, lumbar or thoracic spine. The C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae form the midsection of the cervical spine, near the base of the neck. walmart stabbing victim; google financial analyst salary london. The truck accident was so severe, the trunk of the victims vehicle was crushed, and his rear-view window was shattered. Hyperextension soft tissue injuries of the cervical spinea review. Tell your doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors everything you are suffering through so they can document it for your case. Pain and suffering are non-economic damage that can significantly increase your accident settlement. Soft tissue injuries themselves, as well as the above common back injuries, can create nerve damage, which furthers feelings of pain and discomfort. Hyperextension injuries can also cause vertebrae and spine dislocation. In another car accident case, a 60-year old retiree received a $2.76 million cervical spine neck injury settlement after he was hit by a United Parcel Service (UPS) truck operator. Filing an injury claimallows you to sue the responsible party and/or their insurance company to recoup your damages. According to clinical research and empirical evidence. Just like you, we want to make sure you are a good fit for our clinic prior to accepting your case. Yes. This is the "Military Neck" you see in the x-ray on the left. Rear end car accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $268,000 If it is that simple (which, by the way, it is), how come all lawyers do not do this for every case? Arizona has a two-year statute of limitations for a car accident personal injury claim.