A strong attorney-client relationship can help you properly price lost wages and determine your accidents impact on future income, so you can receive the compensation you deserve. Having dealt with hundreds of these claims, we can often predict when an injury is serious, but at the end of the day we are lawyers, not doctors. A fracture that affects the spine can cause the vertebrae to slide forward which leads to anterolisthesis. First, this approach only works by showing, not telling, that your case is worth more. For example, a victim with serious injuries may experience a significantly decreased quality of life. 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. But for subjective damages like "pain and suffering," predictions are at best an educated guess based on awards in similar neck injury cases. In comparison, another client of ours sustained a cervical strain that resulted in only 8 weeks of physical therapy. Learn more about how the nature and extent of injuries affects claim value. In comparison, a minor injury that requires weekly chiropractic treatment may only cost $10,000 a year, depending on insurance. Cervical lordosis is a curvature of the neck from the sagittal or side view. 2020 Mar;6(1):124. Loss of lordosis can begin in early childhood, however, whiplash from automobile accidents, stress, injuries from falls and sports injuries can cause this issue in adulthood. Yes. But despite their small size, they balance a whole lot of weight. The association between prevalent neck pain and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis. The settlement was the result of a personal injury lawsuit that was filed after the client was in a low-impact, rear-end, car accident. 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. As the disks dehydrate and shrink, signs of osteoarthritis develop, including bony projections along the edges of bones (bone spurs). The UPS truck driver entered the opposite lane to pass the victims vehicle but was met with oncoming traffic. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves help maintain the structure and integrity of your spine. bodily trauma. A lawsuit for a motor vehicle accident begins with a complainta legal document typically prepared by your lawyer that details your version of events and what you expect for your suffering. Vehicle accident settlement with cervical fracture injury, $350,000 What is the average settlement payout for a whiplash injury? Mechanism of injury is the medical explanation of what happens structurally to your body during a traumatic event which caused your injury. Generally, whiplash creates localized neck and shoulder pain, as well as a limited range of motion in the cervical spine. When there is a loss of lumbar lordosis, the lower spine's natural inward curvature has become straighter, making that section of the spine flatter than it should be. But it still has value in an auto accident lawsuit. We keep mentioning the intervertebral discs in this article, and for good reason. Our lawyers have handled ACDF accident cases that settled for $75,000, and ACDF accident cases that settled for over $750,000. "We've known that the neck curve is a big deal in helping avoid structural overload . $865K Accident Settlement for a worker struck by a dump truck while driving a company vehicle. Ongoing medical care for cervical spine injuries includes: Surgeries are a massive investmentnot just financially, but emotionally and physically. This needs to be kept in mind when claiming whiplash after a car accident, because the neck injury lawsuit settlement should match your injuries. 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. Rollover vehicle accident verdict with cervical soft tissue injury, $125,000 Having a surgery also means you endure the risk of infection and complications. . Abnormal curves of the cervical spine (neck) come in two forms. (However) Craniocervicalinstability has a straightening effect on the cervical alignment.. Special damages are expenses that are capable of exact calculation. An un-savvy car accident attorney will skip the medical lesson, and this limits their ability to prove the full extent of a clients injuries. 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. Soft tissue neck injury claims are worth between $5,000 and $20,000 on average. When this happens, you can feel pain, weakness, tingling and numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. Her orthopedic diagnosed her with a cervical (neck) disc herniation at C4-5. Some neck injuries and the pains associated with them will be permanent. Injury Advocates Group Attorneys, L.L.P, all rights reserved. Even if the potential damages are high, a defendant will be less willing to settle and more inclined to take their chances at trial. They tell the story of a bad whiplash that reversed their cervical spine lordosis. Theyre tied to a precise number, which can usually be found on a receipt, bill, or statement. Physical therapy; ice, heat, massage; soft collar and drugs are first-to-be-tried approaches. Although this injury is not as common, it is visible in imaging such as x-rays, which will help relate the injury to the accident more easily which can help you in claiming whiplash after a car accident. Ultimately, those who have whiplash injuries have been often shown to have poor quality of life long after their accidents. If this occurs, your lawyer will advise you about moving forward with a civil lawsuit against the other motorist and their insurance company. Rear end truck accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $2,500,000 In summary, loss of lordosis can and usually is associated with irritation of the muscles causing loss of the normal curvature. When the impact from such events causes fractures and/or dislocation of the vertebrae (disks of the spine), a . If your medical records show that there was a neck problem prior to the car accident, then with the right help from a creative lawyer, it could be proven that the accident made the existing condition worse. This rapid motion causes the vertebrae to pull apart, fracturing the delicate bones. Clin. Vehicle accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $30,000 Ferri FF. The only way to get an accurate idea of the value of your injury claim is through aconsultation with an attorney. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. A strain is a soft tissue injury caused by a tear in the muscles or tendons. Your spine is one of the most delicate components of your body. Yes. Muscle irritations can be caused by disk herniations , muscle sprains, and fractures. Call (727) 733-0433 for a cervical lordosis evaluation! 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. Loss of cervical lordosis can result in pain and stiffness in neck. Whiplash is undoubtedly one of the most common auto accident injuries. For example, medications can help with reducing pain and inflammation.. Your neck is left virtually unprotected during a car accident. In most cases that injury was brought on by car accident or sports injury. Rear end car accident settlement with cervical disc injury, $268,000 Not only does the impact of a collision affect the neck, but the anticipation of impact often causes the individual to tense their neck muscles, meaning that theyll have more potential for injury than if their muscles were relaxed. With a national reach, we invite you to contact us for help. $3,500,000 Vehicle accident settlement with cervical soft tissue injury, $93,000 To correct a loss of cervical lordosis, the underlying cause must be addressed. The disc herniation itself can cause pain and swelling, but the aggravation to surrounding nerves can create a tingling, burning, and stabbing sensation. Tell your doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors everything you are suffering through so they can document it for your case. Of course, there are also stories from people who have a long history of neck problems and their car accident/whiplash injury turned occasional neck pain, dizziness, vertigo, and radiating pain into a daily event. $220K Settlement for Cervical Disc (C4-C5) Herniation from Car Accident. Average: $462,900. As its name suggests, post-traumatic kyphosis is a condition that results from serious injury, such as a fall from a height, a motor vehicle accident, a horseback riding accident, or even a bounce off a wave while boating. The victim was sitting in his double-parked car on a two-way road when the truck operator approached from behind. Call our Washington auto accident lawyer at 425-399-7000 today for . . loss of cervical lordosis car accident settlementthe renaissance apartments chicago. A chiropractor may also recommend a series of safe and gentle relaxation techniques to help the healing process. 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. The truck operator then swerved the truck back into the victims lane, colliding directly into the victims vehicle. Go get the medical care that you need! Improper posture and muscular spasm are two important causes for loss of cervical curvature. Some whiplash injuries even occur when a car is traveling at speeds as low as 5mph. When traveling in a car, your body may be held firmly in place by a seat belt, but your head and neck are unrestrained and remain so up until the point of impact. Let's look at some of the health problems related to the . Mr. Benyamin is a registered member of the following legal organizations: Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles(CAALA), theLos Angeles County Bar Association(LACBA), theState Bar of California, theAmerican Bar Association (ABA), and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Traffic accident data has revealed that more than 90% of whiplash injuries result from rear impacts. What does this mean? Image Based Life > Uncategorized > loss of cervical lordosis car accident settlement 3% (74/2176) 2. These bones run from the base of your skull to the top of your shoulders. Some of these variables, like property damage, are not genuine and are the subject of disingenuous lowball offers. degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is from $55,000.00 to $300,000.00 or more if spinal fusion is needed and results in complications. That is until something happens to them. This is what the study authors wrote: Whiplash-associated disorder is a common cause of chronic neck pain. These delicate bones influence your center of gravity, mobility, and more. A doctor will diagnose your neck injury and can help prevent potential chronic pain and long-term complications from ruining your life. Cervical vertebrae are especially important, as they contain the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2). This is to rule out that you do not have an acute injury (a serious injury), such as a neck fracture. 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. The C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae form the midsection of the cervical spine, near the base of the neck. To receive more information or a FREE consultation with one of our Los Angeles attorneys, give us a call, send us an email, or submit the contact form below. 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. The truck accident was so severe, the trunk of the victims vehicle was crushed, and his rear-view window was shattered. The timeline for healing, as well as the amount of medical treatment required during the healing process, directly impacts your potential settlement amount. In stories, we hear from people, those diagnosed with craniocervical instability following a car accident that caused the whiplash-associated reversal of cervical lordosis, are the stories that suggest something was already going on in their neck and the car accident was the final straw. The person will tell us about a head-on car accident that initially did not cause them any problems at all. In the illustration below we see the various measurements and landmarks that help doctors and patients understand their cervical spine instability. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of scholarly articles discussing the concern for untruthful or exaggerated whiplash injury claims. Soft tissue injuries themselves, as well as the above common back injuries, can create nerve damage, which furthers feelings of pain and discomfort. Cervical lordosis loss causes severe pain, discomfort and affects the patient's ability for normal movement of the neck and shoulders. A bulging disc injury can be caused by age-related wear and tear or pre-existing spinal conditions. In other words, some people may be walking around with loss of their cervical curve and it is completely asymptotic. Examples of special damages included in an accident settlement: General damages are expenses that are not capable of exact calculation. Anyone suspected of having such an injury should remain as immobile as possible until medical assistance arrives. This is not the time to macho up and play down your symptoms. As a result, they settle early on for a nominal amount making their whiplash claims payout average much lower than it could be. Hyperextension soft tissue injuries of the cervical spinea review. Numbness, weakness, or sensory symptoms in the hands, arms, or legs. Car accident verdict with cervical soft tissue injury. However, thats not to say general damages dont increase the value of your case. A ligament is a band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone at your joints. The insurance company will scrutinize your past medical records to try and bring forth the argument that you had a pre-existing condition. Kinematics of human cadaver cervical spine during low speed rear-end impacts. They refer to the emotional and mental damages suffered from a car accident. Whiplash is the rapid movement of the neck and head forward and then returning to the head rest. $250,000 settlement for aggravation of a pre-existing neck injury in a car accident. This can cause the neck and shoulder muscles to feel tight and sore. Cervical spine neck injuries can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. This isn't my case. Otherwise, find a lawyer who really understands these injuries and how to squeeze out maximum value for you. C2-3 or C3-4 pseudosubluxation < 4mm. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, how the nature and extent of injuries affects claim value, how the "right" medical treatment increases injury settlement value, determining fault in a personal injury case, finding the right personal injury lawyer for you and your case, Tips for Getting the Best Personal Injury Settlement. 38 CFR 4.16 a ( "Schedular") - To be eligible for this form of TDIU, the veteran will need to have one condition rated at minimum 60 percent or two conditions that can be combined to reach at least 70 percent, with one condition being a minimum of 40 percent. Ross Hauser, MDCan a car accident cause straightening of your cervical spine? These claims result from automobile accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death incidents, homeowners insurance, work injury, construction accident, trip and fall . absence of cervical lordosis . The following three major injury types can occur to the neck and cervical spine following a car accident: Fracturing of the cervical vertebrae and damage/rupturing of the ligaments and soft tissue that link the vertebrae together. If you experience any of the following, be sure to seek medical assistance as quickly as possible: Radiating pain that penetrates the shoulders, arms and hands, Any tingling, numbness or weakness in the arms, hands and fingers. 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. Before searching for cervical spine injury settlement amounts, its important to fully understand the types of damages that can be included in an injury claim. The impact of a car accident can cause your atlas to become misaligned. Cervical kyphosis can mean your neck is either abnormally straight or bent backward . This might happen to a passenger in a rear facing seat with no head restraint, or an inadequately designed one. 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. If you give up work permanently or even on a short-term basis, the money lost through unearned wages are recoverable. Filing an injury claimallows you to sue the responsible party and/or their insurance company to recoup your damages. Damage to soft tissue goes by two names: sprains and strains. In most cases that injury was brought on by car accident or sports injury. For instance, an injury that requires minimal treatment and recovery time will average roughly $25,000. If after that, you are symptom free, then you know the full picture of your injuries and what you are negotiating for. Spondylosis is a severe degenerative back and spinal condition. 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. Not to mention, additional doctors and surgeons may be required to care for you. Cervical lordosis meaning is that it refers to the normal curve of the spinal cord. Compression fractures generally occur in the thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar spine (lower back). Because every case and every jury is different, even the best analysis will still only predict pain and suffering damages within a broad range. 2 Teo AQ, Thomas AC, Hey HW. If it is that simple (which, by the way, it is), how come all lawyers do not do this for every case? Injury Mechanisms & Criteria, 2001. $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. This is evidenced by the multi-million examples above in which all victims required surgery. The average settlement amount for a neck or back injury in Michigan is $462,900, and the median amount is $320,000. In a typical front end or rear end accident, the neck will bounce in both directions forward and then returning to the headrest, or vice-versa. February 9, 2023. You can recover from your initial symptoms of a whiplash injury within a few weeks of the accident occurring. Yes. The second reason the all in approach often is not an option is it takes a lot of time. For instance, a bulging disk can make standing or sitting pure agony. 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? There is some controversy as to whether a straight spine or military neck cervical spinal alignment is the cause of a patients whiplash-associated problems following the injury. 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. 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. The Cervical Spine Research Society. 38 CFR 4.16 b ( "Extraschedular") - This form of TDIU is for . Also referred to as whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), its actually a type of sprain caused by a tear in the necks delicate ligaments. More common causes of cervical lordosis are: Postural changes: A change in the curvature can happen over time with habitually poor posture when standing, frequent weightlifting . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. An exercise program focusing on cervical extensor muscle strengthening and restoring the balance of flexor and extensor muscles is recommended for patients with loss of cervical lordosis. Cervical vertebrae are small, measuring just under an inch wide. The control group only showed a neck disc arthritis incidence of 6%. Copyright 2023 attorney advertisement by Injury Advocates Group and licensed, practicing attorney Ray Benyamin, Esquire. Another study concluded that the loss of normal lordosis represented mechanical derangement of the . When discussing cervical spine injury settlement amounts, you must bear in mind the strength of your personal injury case. a congenital disorder. Personal Attention & Quality Legal Service Since 1961. 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.