What Is a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc (also called a slipped disc) happens when one of the discs between the spinal vertebrae becomes injured and the gelatinous inside of the disc bulges out over the disc’s tougher outer ring. This can pinch nearby nerves, causing pain and numbness in the back and throughout the body. In many cases, fixing a pinched nerve or slipped disc requires surgical intervention, which can require a long recovery and create the potential for other medical complications, ranging from weight gain to surgery-related infections.Common Accidents that May Cause Herniated Discs
You could end up with a herniated disc if you find yourself in a car accident involving any of the following:
- Semitrucks, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Head-on collisions
- Fender-benders
- Drunk drivers
- Inexperienced drivers
- Drowsy drivers
- Distracted drivers
- Vehicle malfunctions and defects
Long-Terms Effects of Sustaining a Disc Injury
In addition to posing myriad health risks and creating massive medical expenses, getting a herniated disc in a car accident can have other long-term, negative effects on your life, such as:
- Reduced mobility and capacity for physical exercise
- Limited ability to engage in social activities, family gatherings, and otherwise meaningfully connect with people
- Lasting weakness and pain in the spine
- Persisting difficulty and pain when lifting things, twisting the back, walking, or performing other normal activities
- Difficulty sleeping
- Reduced bladder and bowel control
- Saddle anesthesia (numbness in the thighs, buttocks, groin, and the back of the legs)
Having a herniated disc can also permanently reduce your earning potential or keep you from earning a living. This is especially true if your job involves physical labor of any kind, as may be the case for construction workers, manufacturing workers, military service members, and many others. If you have been in a car accident and have suffered a herniated disc, it could mean personal and financial disaster for you and your loved ones, and you must secure legal representation as soon as possible in order to protect yourself and your family.
We Have Been Serving Car Accident Victims in Greenville for Decades
At Christian & Christian, we may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve. We are experienced personal injury attorneys, and we have been serving our friends and neighbors in South Carolina for over 100 years. We have successfully helped many injured people prove liability on the part of manufacturers, drivers, and other careless individuals, allowing our clients to be reimbursed for their injury-related costs.
If you are worried about paying for your injury-related costs out of your own pocket, we are here to help you protect your hard-earned money and hold the responsible parties accountable for the effects of their negligent behavior. Connect with a member of our team as soon as possible and ask us about scheduling your free initial consultation.
Call (864) 408-8883 to speak to a Greenville car accident attorney today.