Finding the Average Settlement for a Bulging Disc due to a Car Accident in Nevada is tricky because every spine is different. If you are dealing with back pain after a crash, you likely want a clear number. However, settlements vary based on the damage to your body and how much your life changed after the impact.
What is a Bulging Disc?
Your spine has rubbery cushions called discs between the bones. A bulging disc happens when the tough outer layer of that cushion pushes out into the spinal canal. People often mix this up with a herniated disc, which is technically different because a herniation involves a crack in the outer layer that lets the soft inner gel leak out, whereas a bulge is more like a balloon being squeezed until it protrudes.
Insurance adjusters often try to say a bulge is less serious than a herniation. Science shows this is not always true. A bulge can press against nerve roots just as hard as a herniation can, leading to:
- Sharp, shooting pain known as sciatica.
- Numbness or tingling in the legs and feet.
- Significant loss of muscle strength.
- Difficulty sitting or standing for long periods.
Doctors usually find these injuries using an MRI or a CT scan to see exactly where the pressure is hitting the nerves.
Why Settlement Values Vary
There is a big gap between the median and average payouts for back injuries. Across the country, the median jury award for a bulging disc is about $31,000, but because a few cases result in massive awards due to extreme circumstances, the average can look much higher.
In Nevada, several factors move the needle on your case value:
- Total cost of medical bills, including emergency room visits and physical therapy.
- Lost wages from missing work while you recover.
- Future money you lose if you cannot do your old job or have to take a lower-paying position.
- The amount of insurance coverage the other driver has on their policy.
If a case involves surgery, the value usually goes up significantly because juries view surgery as definitive proof that the injury is permanent and severe.
The Defense Strategy Against Your Claim
Insurance lawyers have a favorite argument that they use in almost every single case involving the spine. They will claim your bulging disc is just part of getting older and call it a degenerative condition rather than a traumatic injury caused by the crash. They might even say everyone has some bulging in their discs just from standing up and dealing with gravity over the years.
You can beat this argument with a simple concept. Even if your back was not perfect before the crash, you were not in pain. If the car accident turned a quiet, painless bulge into a source of constant suffering, the at-fault driver is responsible for that change. A personal injury lawyer uses medical experts to show that the crash is what caused your symptoms to flare up and ruined your quality of life.
How Shared Fault Changes Your Payout
Nevada follows a rule where your payout depends on who caused the crash. If you were partly to blame, your money gets cut by your percentage of fault. This is known as modified comparative negligence, and it can be a major hurdle if the insurance company tries to shift the blame onto you.
- If your total damages are $100,000 but you were 10 percent at fault, you would get $90,000.
- If you are more than 50 percent responsible, you cannot collect any money at all.
Long-Term Risks and Treatment
Most people get better with rest and shots. Some might need cortisone injections to lower inflammation, which involves a doctor inserting a needle into the nerve area to deliver relief directly to the source of the pain. In rare cases, a bulging disc can lead to cauda equina syndrome or saddle anesthesia. These are serious medical emergencies where you lose feeling in your legs or lose control of your bladder and require immediate surgery to prevent permanent paralysis.
Get Help With Your Nevada Claim
Experience matters when dealing with insurance companies. Friedman Injury Law knows how to handle these complex medical cases. We work on a contingency fee, which means you do not pay us anything unless we win your case. If you are hurting and need to talk to Blake Friedman – accident lawyer, about your options, call (702) 970-4222 for a free consultation about your case.