Neck and back injuries can be mild or extremely serious depending on the circumstances of an accident. These can cause daily discomfort and pain, affecting your ability to work, enjoy life, and go about your day-to-day. When seeking compensation, it’s important to understand the aspects of a personal injury claim as well as the elements that can affect settlement amounts. We share more on what you can expect if you’ve suffered a back and neck injury as a result of someone else’s negligence.
What Factors Are Considered in a Neck or Back Injury Settlement?
Several factors come into play when determining the settlement amount for neck and back injuries. The general expectation is that the more severe an injury is, the higher the settlement will be. A seasoned personal injury attorney can walk you through general expectations and what you could expect to receive as compensation for your injuries. In most cases, factors that are examined include:
- Severity of Injuries. The extent and seriousness of the injury whether it involves fractures, herniated discs, soft tissue damage, or even permanent damage like paralysis can significantly influence the settlement amount.
- Medical Treatment. The cost of medical treatment including surgeries, hospitalization, physical therapy, medications, and ongoing care is a crucial factor to consider along with the duration and intensity of treatment needed.
- Lost Wages. Any missed work or reduced earning capacity is factored into compensation which accounts for lost income and lost potential future earnings.
- Pain and Suffering. Physical and emotional pain and distress caused by the injury are considered. This can include chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and overall loss of enjoyment of life.
- Pre-existing Conditions. Any pre-existing conditions that are exacerbated by the accident can complicate the settlement process but are still taken into account when determining a fair settlement.
Learn more about the timeline for personal injury settlements so you’re aware of what comes next.
Types of Damages You Can Recover
When it comes to neck or back injuries, there are typically two main types of damages you can recover. These are economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are losses that have an obvious financial value, for example, medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, etc. These are financial losses that are directly related to the injury.
Non-economic damages are more subjective and can be more difficult to determine, varying depending on the specific circumstances of the claim. They cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Examples of Neck and Back Injury Settlements
The average settlement amount for neck and back injuries can vary widely based on the specifics of the accident. Oftentimes, these settlements are evaluated alongside other injuries and damages so it can be difficult to isolate the specific amount attributable to neck and back injuries.
However, our firm’s average settlement amount across motor vehicle settlements which can include these types of injuries is around $30,000.
These are a few examples1 of the many personal injury cases we’ve won on behalf of our clients who suffered neck or back injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident:
- $285,000 for a client with pre-existing back issues who required surgery after being in an accident where the other vehicle attempted an illegal pass on a two-lane highway.
- $250,000 for a client with exacerbation to a previous back issue when they struck a vehicle disabled in the middle of the road.
- $80,000 for a client who suffered neck and back injuries as a passenger in a vehicle that was rear-ended on the highway.
- $27,000 for a client who sustained back injuries after being hit by a car that lost control on the highway.
- $16,000 for a client who suffered soft tissue neck and back injuries after being rear-ended.
- $11,000 for clients who suffered soft tissue neck and back injuries after a rear-end accident.
Check out more of our past successes on our results page.
Let Our Team Fight for Your Rights to Fair Compensation
If you’ve suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, the experienced team at DM Injury Law can handle your case. We understand the complexities of motor vehicle accidents and will fight to ensure you receive fair compensation.
We’re dedicated to advocating for your rights and helping you on the journey to getting back on track after a traumatic injury. Contact us today for a free consultation on your case.
- Past results obtained on behalf of clients afford no guarantee of future results and every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. ↩︎