- April 11, 2018
- Admin
- Categories: FAQ, Personal Injury
According to the New York Times, 8 out of 10 people have some type of a backache.
Herniated or bulging discs are common injuries resulting most frequently from these types of accidents:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Manual labor
- Falls from elevated heights
- Occupational exposure to continual vibration and other related incidents
It is our law firms experience from assessing a wide array of personal injury clients in and around New York that a herniated or bulging disc is often the basis of a car accident injury claim.
To understand what a herniated disc is, you first have to look at the role of discs in the makeup of the human spine. The small spongy discs cushion the bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back. When healthy, these discs act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. An injury to the spine from a car accident, for example, can cause tiny tears or cracks in the hard outer layer of the disc. Inside the disc, there is a thick gel that can be forced out through the tears/ cracks, which then cause the disc to bulge. Where the interior gel ruptures the outer layer and seeps out is referred to as a herniated disc.
Herniated discs can affect any part of the spine including the following areas:
- Cervical spine (in the neck)
- Thoracic spine (in the upper back)
- Lumbar spine (in the lower back)
When a herniated disc presses on nerve roots, it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the area of the body where the nerve travels. A herniated disc in the lower back can cause pain and numbness in the buttocks and down the leg. This pain is called sciatica, the most common symptom of a herniated disc in the lower back. Left unchecked a herniated disc or bulging disc may require surgical intervention which could include spinal fusion, laminectomy or other site-specific surgical intervention. Either way, it is important to seek medical attention for a herniated or bulging disc immediately.
You Have a Right to Compensation
If you are suffering from a herniated or bulging disc injury from an accident which occurred due to the negligent act of another person, then you are entitled to seek full and fair compensation for not only your medical bills but also for pain, suffering and other losses.
At TonaLaw, our team of attorneys understands our back injury clients’ needs and the strategies to effectively resolve their cases. Our expertise and integrity, combined with our attention to detail and nuance of the law, ensure the most effective and efficient herniated disc injury litigation. We seek to maximize your recovery in every instance.