The personal injury lawyers at Nakase Accident Lawyers & Employment Attorneys handle bulging disc and herniated disc cases in California. Many lawyers and patients get confused about the difference between bulging discs and herniated discs. However, the difference is significant and can impact the value of your settlement. Generally, herniated discs will attract a higher settlement. However, both injuries can have a significant impact on your life, and a bulging disc can cause more damage in some cases.
What Is The Difference Between a Bulging Disc and Herniated Disc?
A bulging disc is where the disc material protrudes beyond the normal margins by at least 50% of the circumference of the disc. In contrast, a herniated disc is where the disc material is displaced by more than 50% beyond its usual limits. Bulging discs are generally seen as less serious than herniated discs. Insurance companies will often try to exploit this to reduce compensation for a bulging disc. However, we have seen in our clients that bulging discs can often impinge on nerves or the spinal cord more than a herniated disc.
Arguments Against Bulging Disc Cases
The defense lawyer will generally seek to discredit your bulging disc cases’ eligibility for compensation. They are likely to say that most of us get bulging discs from gravity, just when we stand up. They will employ medical experts to say that bulging discs cannot be caused by motor vehicle crashes alone.
However, we have great success in arguing these cases at Nakase Accident Lawyers & Employment Attorneys. Bulging discs are not acute injuries, but the point of the case is to determine whether the car accident caused the bulging disc, which is the source of the plaintiff’s pain. Even if this was an underlying injury, if the car accident exacerbates it and the car accident was the result of negligence, then the plaintiff should be awarded compensation.
How Much Is a Bulging Disc Case Worth?
Statistically, a bulging disc case will recover less than a herniated disc case. The average award in the United States is generally $140,311 for a bulging disc case. For a ruptured or herniated disc, it is $413,917. In some cases, the plaintiff’s lawyer may not be equipped or understand the science enough to argue the case correctly. In some cases, they may not have access to appropriate experts to explain why bulging discs can be just as painful as a herniated disc. However, a skilled lawyer, familiar with bulging discs, will greatly improve your chances.
Call Nakase Accident Lawyers & Employment Attorneys on 888-600-8654 for a free consultation today.
Brad Nakase, Attorney
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