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Summary
The average car accident settlement for back and neck injuries is $10,000 to $100,000.
Table of Contents
Average Settlement for a Car Accident Back and Neck Injury
The average settlement range for a back and neck injury resulting from a car accident is around $10,000 to $100,000.
For each individual, the settlement amount they will receive depends on a variety of factors, with the most significant factor being the severity of the back and neck injury.
In a car accident, minor back and neck injuries, such as whiplash or strained muscles, typically have an average settlement range of $10,000 to $25,000, while more severe or even catastrophic injuries, such as spinal fractures or nerve damage, have settlement ranges around $75,000 to over $100,000.
If you seek to obtain an above-average settlement amount for your Nevada car accident neck and back injury, schedule a free consultation with the experienced Las Vegas car accident lawyers at the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm today by calling (702) 566-3600 or submitting an inquiry.
What Factors Affect a Car Accident Neck and Back Injury Settlement
Several factors affect how much money one might receive for a car accident neck and back injury.
Understanding these factors is crucial in determining the worth of a car accident neck and back claim and ensuring that the insurance company offers a fair settlement.
Severity of the Neck and Back Injury
One of the most significant factors that affects a car accident neck and back injury settlement is the severity of the injury, as it directly affects the other factors.
Severe spinal cord injuries or herniated discs often lead to higher settlement amounts than those of minor soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash or sprains.
Amount of Medical Expenses
The total cost of medical care required to treat the neck and back injury, including surgeries, physical therapy, hospital stays, and prescription medications, will directly affect the settlement amount, with higher medical expenses leading to larger settlements.
Long-Term Care Costs
The amount of time it takes for the back and neck injuries to adequately heal, and if the injuries result in chronic pain or permanent disability, will be factored into a car accident neck and back injury settlement.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
If the neck and back injury results in your losing income or affects the way you were able to work before the injury, your settlement can include the lost income caused by the injury, taking into account factors such as yearly salary and time off work.
Liability
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which states that drivers who share fault in an accident will have their compensation reduced by the percentage of fault they hold.
Sharing liability in a car accident can significantly reduce your neck and back settlement amount, so it's crucial to avoid this from happening by enlisting the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer at the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm.
Insurance Policy Limits
The insurance policy limits of the at-fault parties typically set a cap on the amount of compensation that can be paid out.
What these insurance policy limits mean is that if a driver has the Nevada minimum liability insurance coverage amount of $25,000, your neck and back settlement may be maxed out at $25,000 unless there are other sources of compensation.
How Can You Maximize Your Settlement for a Car Accident Back and Neck Injury
Maximizing a neck and back injury settlement for our clients is the primary goal of our Las Vegas auto accident lawyers. This makes it essential to share information on how to maximize neck and back injury settlements in auto accident cases so our future clients can better understand our legal process and take the right steps to maximize compensation.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Following a car accident, no matter how you feel, you must obtain immediate medical attention.
The reason to seek prompt medical care after a car accident is to ensure you haven't suffered any hidden injuries and that you immediately get any injuries you sustained in the auto accident professionally documented in medical records, which can be used as evidence to increase your settlement.
Follow Your Doctor's Treatment Plan
Following your doctor's treatment plan after a car accident isn't just good for your health, but also your car accident claim.
Insurance companies often look for lapses in a person's treatment to justify a lower settlement amount, but by strictly adhering to your doctor's recommendations, the insurance company will have a substantially harder time giving you a low settlement offer.
Document Everything
Documentation is key when seeking to maximize the settlement for back and neck injury cases, which is why you should also keep detailed records of:
- Medical bills
- Employer lost wage letters
- Daily physical and emotional pains you suffer
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- The cost to repair or replace personal property
Don't Speak to the Insurance Company Alone
Insurance companies work to minimize back and neck injury settlements by pressuring you into a low initial settlement offer or using your own words against you.
For this reason, it's crucial that you don't negotiate or communicate with the insurance companies alone, but instead protect rights and compensation by having the Las Vegas car accident attorneys at the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm handle the insurance companies for you.
Consult with a Car Accident Attorney
One of the best ways to maximize your back and neck injury settlement is to seek legal representation from an experienced car accident lawyer.
By enlisting the help of a car accident lawyer, they will:
- Handle negotiations with the insurance companies
- Calculate the complete value of your claim by accounting for past and future expenses
- Utilize their local connections with medical and accident experts to assist in the case
- Represent you in court if necessary
If you are seeking legal representation for your Nevada back and neck injury case, contact our car accident lawyers today, who have over 20 years of experience handling personal injury claims just like yours.
What Damages Can You Seek for Suffering a Back and Neck Injury in a Car Accident
Back and neck injury claims offer various types of economic and non-economic damages that victims can seek to compensate them for the loss and pain the injury caused.
Understanding the available damages in a back and neck injury claim is crucial to ensuring a fair settlement.
Damages that can be sought following a car accident back and neck injury include:
- Medical Expenses: Neck and spinal cord injuries often require extensive medical treatment, which can be costly; however, you can seek compensation for past and future medical expenses related to the injury.
- Lost Wages: If you sustained serious injuries that caused you to miss work or lessened your ability to work, compensation can be sought for the lost wages and loss of earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: The amount of physical pain and emotional distress can be factored into your back and neck injury settlement.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If the back and neck injury prevents you from partaking in hobbies, sports, and everyday activities you used to enjoy, compensation can be sought for the loss of enjoyment of life.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Expenses incurred for things such as driving to a medical appointment, purchasing assistive devices, or hiring home care can be compensated for in your claim.
Seeking damages following a back and neck car accident injury can be a difficult task, even though you may be entitled to them, which is why it's highly recommended to enlist the car accident lawyers at the Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm, as we ensure maximum recovery for every client.
Common Neck and Back Injuries in Car Accidents and Their Average Settlement Amounts
A car accident can result in a variety of neck and back injuries, ranging from minor strains and whiplash to severe injuries such as serious herniated disc injuries or spinal cord damage.
Knowing the common neck and back injuries sustained in auto accidents and their average settlement amounts can help you identify if you have suffered one and, if so, how much compensation you should be entitled to in your auto accident case.
- Whiplash: Whiplash injuries typically have an average settlement range of $10,000 to $25,000, as they are often considered minor injuries.
- Herniated Disc Injuries: A typical herniated disc injury has an average settlement range of $25,000 to $75,000 and could result in higher settlements exceeding $100,000 if the injury requires surgery.
- Spinal Fractures: The average settlement payout for a spinal fracture ranges from $50,000 to $150,000, with severe cases potentially reaching settlement values of $ 200,000 or more.
- Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve): Bulging disc injuries or inflammation in the neck can compress spinal cord nerves, resulting in cervical radiculopathy. This serious injury typically receives an accident settlement amount of $40,000 to $100,000.
- Spine Injuries (Partial or Complete): A partial or complete spinal injury is considered a catastrophic injury, as it can result in permanent paralysis in areas of the body. Due to the life-changing effects, partial or complete spinal injury victims are typically given higher settlements, with the average being $250,000 to $1,000,000.
What Are the Symptoms of a Back and Neck Injury After a Car Accident
Understanding the symptoms of back and neck injuries is crucial to identifying a potential injury and preventing its worsening.
Common symptoms of back and neck injuries include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Back pain
- Headaches
- Limited range of motion in the neck and back
- Weakness or numbness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Muscle spasms
- Bladder control issues
Following a car accident, if you notice any of these symptoms, it's crucial that you seek immediate medical treatment.
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Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer is a Las Vegas personal injury law firm with over 20 years of experience helping clients obtain maximum compensation following injuries from accidents such as car crashes, worksite injuries, and slips and falls. Over those years, The Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer Law Firm has become an experienced law firm that can ensure exceptional results for any of its clients.
