Herniated and bulging discs are painful conditions that may result from a sudden injury or after extended periods of strenuous labor. Although sometimes used interchangeably, the two terms describe different conditions. A bulging disc presses against the spinal canal, while a herniated disc has ruptured and spills fluid into the spinal canal. Both conditions are typically extremely painful.
Herniated discs sometimes cause pinched nerve pain, and this may extend from the disc’s location into the arms or legs. Sciatica is a term to describe leg pains from a pinched sciatic nerve. Herniated or bulging typically discs are treated with physical therapy, oral steroids, epidural injections, pain medications, or spinal surgery.
Causes and Risk Factors For Herniated or Bulging Discs
These conditions can result from genetic predispositions to weakened discs, an injury caused by sudden momentum shifts or lifting heavy objects, or degeneration and aging. In some situations, another party may have contributed to a herniated or bulging disc and the resulting pain. It’s vital to understand how these conditions are caused and what environmental conditions or other incidents may increase your risk of forming a bulging or herniated disc.
In some situations, an employee who develops a herniated or bulging disc may hold their employer accountable for unsafe working conditions or unreasonable work requirements that resulted in an injury. If a herniated disc is the result of a car accident or other personal injury, the injured party shouldn’t have to bear the costs of recovery on their own.
Proving Negligence In A Herniated or Bulging Discs Case
In any personal injury case, negligence on the defendant’s part must be proven. This includes proving that they owed the victim a duty of care to act with reasonable safety, that they breached this duty, and that their failings in this regard directly contributed to the herniated or bulging disc. If these conditions occur at work, workers’ compensation benefits may assuage some of the financial burden of medical expenses and lost time from work, but they won’t cover any necessary ongoing treatments such as physical therapy, surgeries, or other treatments.
If the herniated or bulging disc resulted from a car crash, the victim must prove that the defendant was not acting with reasonable care and the accident would not have happened otherwise.
Suing for Damages After A Disc Injury
Anyone suffering from herniated or bulging discs knows how painful they can be and that they can potentially alter the victim’s life permanently. It’s important to understand your rights in case you ever experience these conditions as the result of an injury or accident. If another party is responsible for causing a herniated or bulging disc, the victim may be able to claim damages for:
- Medical expenses that resulted from the accident
- The cost of ongoing medications, procedures, surgeries, physical therapy, or other treatments
- Pain and suffering as a result of the herniated or bulging disc
- Diminished quality of life or future inability to work
- Punitive damages, if the defendant was engaged in illegal activities at the time they injured the patient
Contact a Springfield Herniated or Bulging Discs Lawyer Today
Regardless of the situation, the right legal counsel will make the ordeal much more bearable. If you’re dealing with a herniated or bulging disc in Springfield or Bolivar, Mo., you have enough pain to worry about without the added stress of a legal battle. The legal team at Douglas, Haun & Heidemann can provide compassionate and thorough legal counsel for any herniated or bulging disc case.
With more than 100 years of experience serving the citizens of Springfield, Mo., Douglas, Haun & Heidemann has provided expert legal counsel to all our clients since our founding in 1912. We’re committed to achieving the most compensation possible for our clients in any personal injury case. If you’re experiencing the effects of a herniated or bulging disc that resulted from someone else’s negligence or a hazardous working environment, don’t bear the burden alone. Reach out to our team of legal experts to start reviewing your case today.