There is no such thing as an “average” herniated disc settlement in Georgia. Every person’s settlement will differ based on factors specific to their situation.
A personal injury lawyer in Atlanta can determine your case’s worth and even pursue that amount on your behalf. This is important because the insurer may try to get away with underpaying you for your injury. Your attorney may also recommend that you submit a personal injury lawsuit to pursue the herniated disc settlement you deserve.
The Importance of Calculating a Fair Herniated Disc Settlement in Georgia
When someone’s negligence causes an injury, their insurance company is responsible for reimbursing you for your losses. To save themselves money, the insurer may try to get you to accept a lower settlement than you deserve by:
- Urging you to accept a fast settlement, even before you have had the chance to hire a lawyer to assess your case for you
- Claiming your injuries are not worth very much
- Trying to assign partial or total blame for the injury to you, which would reduce how much you can receive under Georgia’s contributory negligence law
- Denying that their client behaved negligently, which would absolve them of responsibility for paying for your losses
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Your Georgia Law Firm Can Protect Your Settlement
The claims adjuster knows that the average accident survivor knows less about the law than they do, and they may try to take advantage of this fact.
Instead of letting the insurance company dictate terms, you can hire a personal injury lawyer in your area to calculate your case’s exact worth. This can prevent the insurer from withholding the compensation you need to get back on your feet after an accident.
What Goes Into Determining a Georgia Herniated Disc Settlement?
There are many factors that will influence how much you can collect after suffering a herniated disc injury. This is why an average settlement does not exist in Georgia or anywhere else. Everyone’s injuries, and the consequences of those injuries, are unique.
Your settlement could include:
The Cost of Medical Treatment of the Herniated Disc
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a herniated disc may require you to undergo various kinds of tests and treatments, most of which cost money. You could be compensated for the cost of:
- X-rays, CT scans, and similar diagnostic tests
- Physical therapy
- Pain medication
- Back support devices, such as a brace
Any medical care you receive because of your herniated disc is typically compensable.
Pain and Suffering Caused by Herniated Disc Symptoms
A herniated disc injury can cause upsetting, life-disrupting symptoms, including:
- Pain
- Spasms
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness
Beyond your physical pain and suffering, you may recover compensation for other non-economic damages. Such an injury can even cause emotional distress, if the physical symptoms are serious enough or if the event that caused the injury was very traumatic. The more severe your physical and mental symptoms, the more money you could potentially recover.
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Income Losses Caused by a Herniated Disc Injury
When pain and other herniated disc symptoms keep you from doing your job, you cannot earn the salary or benefits that your family needs to survive. This may be a temporary condition that ends when you return to work. On the other hand, if your injury is chronic, you may never be able to earn as much as you did before.
A Georgia personal injury attorney can help you recover lost wages by reviewing your paystubs, requesting medical records, and asking experts how your injury is likely to affect your ability to earn a living.
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How to Handle Herniated Disc Injuries in Georgia
No matter what kind of accident you were involved in or how you feel in the immediate aftermath, it is imperative that you see a doctor as soon as possible. This is because:
- Some injuries can get worse over time. The faster you can get medical care, the faster they can diagnose you and prescribe treatment to prevent unnecessary pain or permanent disability.
- You have a limited amount of time to file a case based on your injury. In most situations, as stated in O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you must begin a case within two years or forfeit your right to damages.
- Your case may be more convincing if you seek healthcare promptly after the accident. Otherwise, the insurer in your personal injury claim may ask why you did not get help sooner and speculate about some other event being the “real” cause of your pain.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
As the Mayo Clinic explains, the spinal disc refers to small, flat objects located between each of the vertebrae in your spine. They keep the other parts of your spine, particularly bones and nerves, from touching each other as you move around.
Sometimes, whether due to an accident or a disease, a disc will rupture and cause the bones and/or nerves to come into contact. This can happen with any disc in your spine. While some herniated discs are asymptomatic, others can be extremely painful.
How Georgia Herniated Disc Accidents Happen
Any event that causes a violent twist or fall may result in a herniated disc. For example:
- An auto accident can throw you around the vehicle or even eject you from the vehicle.
- A slip and fall can cause you to wrench your back as you struggle to maintain balance. If you land on your back, the impact can also cause an injury.
- Trying to lift heavy objects at work can put stress on your back, especially if you are not given proper tools to do the job you are assigned.
- Any traumatic event that causes damage to your spine.
If you were hurt, we encourage you to seek a medical evaluation to ensure your safety and well-being. Once you are following your treatment plan, you may want to start thinking about working with a disc injury lawyer.
Recovering from a Herniated Disc Accident
After you have seen a doctor, be sure to follow all of their instructions to the letter. This goes for herniated disc treatment as well as treatment for any other injuries you sustained in the accident.
The good news is that many herniated disc injuries are treatable, and patients can expect a full recovery given time and rest. As you recuperate, your personal injury lawyer can confront the liable party and try to get their insurance company to pay what your family needs.
Did You Suffer a Herniated Disc in Georgia?
Since there is no average herniated disc settlement in Georgia, it may be in your best interests to find an attorney you can trust to calculate a fair value for your injuries. Our accident lawyers can seek justice against the at-fault party on your behalf.
Call Kaine Law for a free initial consultation. With decades of experience helping people like you, we are prepared to fight for the fair settlement you deserve. We can offer legal advice, answer your questions, and explain the next steps in your disc injury case.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
