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Accidentes automovilísticos

What You Should Know About Disc Herniations After A Car Accident

If you have suffered a herniated disc injury in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries.

Written By
Published On
May 11, 2026

One of the most common injuries suffered after a car accident is a disc herniation, which can cause significant injury. If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important to seek a medical diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. It is similarly important to contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney who can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.

Causes of Disc Herniations in Car Accidents

The bones in your spine, called vertebrae, protect your spinal cord from injury and provide support for your back. In between each vertebra is a disc, which is a rubbery cushion that acts as a shock absorber. When the disc ruptures, some of its jelly-like center can bulge out or leak out of the disc, creating the condition known as “herniation.” This is an extremely painful and harmful condition.

What causes a disc herniation?

Any traumatic accident can cause a disc herniation, including a car accident. Anything that exerts excessive pressure on the spine can cause a disc herniation. The force of a collision, even a seemingly minor one, can put enough pressure on the spine and the discs to cause the jelly-like center to push through and create a herniated disc.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

In many cases, the herniated disc pushes on the spinal cavity’s highly sensitive nerves, causing anywhere from mild pain to debilitating symptoms. Common symptoms of a herniated disc include:

  • Numbness or tingling in the back that radiates to the leg or foot
  • Pain shooting through the legs, shoulders, or arms
  • Muscle weakness
  • Burning sensations
  • Limited range of motion

Treatment Options for Herniated Discs

Most herniated discs are first treated non-surgically with conservative treatments. Some even resolve themselves on their own or with anti-inflammatory medication that works to reduce the inflammation in the spinal canal. Physical therapy is another common recommendation. Other injuries, however, are severe enough to require surgery.

Beyond rest and physical therapy, common treatment options include:

  • Spinal injections and muscle relaxants
  • Artificial disc replacement 
  • Removal of part or all of the disc to take the pressure off the nerve
  • Stabilizing the spine by inserting rods into the vertebrae
  • Removing part of the vertebrae, creating more space and giving the herniation room to take pressure off the nerve

How Can a Milwaukee Personal Injury Attorney Assist With Your Herniated Disc Claim?

No matter the treatment plan for your herniated disc, the costs can add up. If you have suffered a herniated disc injury in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries. Depending on your physical, emotional, and financial damages, a Milwaukee personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for, among others:

  • Medical bills and future medical care costs
  • Physical therapy costs
  • Lost wages
  • Future lost wages
  • Pain and suffering

If you are considering filing a claim, contact us to discuss your case. We have vast experience in representing clients with herniated disc injuries and we will fight for your right to compensation so that you can move forward and heal.

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