Herniated Discs

Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries, but some arise with more frequency than others. For example, many people involved in collisions sustain herniated discs. Herniated discs can be debilitating and often require extensive and costly treatment. Fortunately, the law allows people who suffer herniated discs in car crashes caused by another party’s negligence to pursue damages in civil lawsuits. If you suffered a back injury due to a car accident, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible regarding your potential claims. The knowledgeable Cape Cod lawyers of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are adept at helping injured parties seek redress for their losses, and if we represent you, we will zealously pursue any damages you may be owed. Collectively, our attorneys have more than one hundred and fifty years of experience helping people hurt in car crashes pursue compensation on Cape Cod and in Plymouth. Our zealous advocacy has helped us recover several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Herniated discs typically occur when the force produced by a collision causes vertebrae to push into the spinal canal, putting pressure onto the spinal cord. Herniated discs can occur in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine, and they often cause weakness, numbness, and tingling. They can also cause pain in the back, neck, legs, and arms. People who have herniated discs will often need to undergo physical and occupation therapy, and in many instances, will require surgical repair.

People who sustain herniated discs in collisions will often seek to recover damages for their injuries in a civil lawsuit. Typically, a plaintiff in a car accident case will name the individual that caused the crash as a defendant. Other parties, like a car manufacturer or entity that designed or maintained the roadway where the accident occurred, may be named as defendants as well. Regardless of who the plaintiff deems liable for their harm, they will most likely have to prove negligence to recover compensation.

Under Massachusetts law, establishing negligence requires a plaintiff to show that the defendant had a duty of care. The duty owed may be to act reasonably under a given set of circumstances, or it can be an obligation that arises out of a statute. The plaintiff then must demonstrate that the defendant breached the duty in some way. For example, if the defendant failed to abide by traffic signals, it may constitute a departure from the duty owed. Last, the plaintiff has to prove that the defendant’s breach proximately caused the collision and that they suffered measurable harm as a result of the crash. In other words, the plaintiff is required to show that the accident would not have happened absent the defendant’s actions or omissions.

A plaintiff that successfully proves a defendant’s fault may be awarded the cost of any medical treatment needed after the accident or that will be required in the future, as well as out-of-pocket expenses and lost wages. The plaintiff may also be granted compensation for the intangible harm caused by the collision, like suffering, pain, and mental distress.

Herniated discs are critical injuries that can cause lifelong pain and impairments, and drivers that recklessly cause crashes that result in such harm should be held accountable. If you sustained a herniated disc in a collision, it is advisable to meet with an attorney regarding your potential claims. At The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our experienced Cape Cod car accident lawyers can advise you of your rights and help you to seek the best legal outcome possible under the facts of your case. We have a record of favorable results, including many settlements and verdicts exceeding one million dollars. We represent parties in car crash lawsuits on Cape Cod, and we are also available for consultations in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can reach us via our form online or at (888) 262-6664 to set up a conference.