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Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

“Ruptured” or “slipped” discs commonly refer to herniated discs (herniate means to stick out or bulge). These discs are like soft cushions which exist in-between each of your spine’s 26 vertebrae, and herniated discs are relatively common in auto accidents, especially in the lower part of the backbone known as the “lumbar spine.”

Herniated discs occur when there is a tear in the disc’s outer fibrous ring, which causes a leak from its jelly-like center and pushes the disc’s central portion outward to the area of damage. The disc then irritates surrounding nerves, which can cause pain extending from the back to the legs. The location of pain may depend on exactly which disk/s have been damaged: some patients have reported pain through the buttocks and into the thigh and calf of one leg, while others have reported pain in both legs and still others suffer from numbness and tingling in the legs and feet. Herniated discs are generally diagnosed in a physical exam and occasionally with imaging tests.

The energy that is transferred into the seatbacks of a vehicle during an accident can do its damage in a split second: the seat is compressed by the torso, which can cause axial (up-and-down) compression of the spine, and the thoracic spine is straightened while the area from the C1 to the sciatica is compressed. While most individuals over thirty years of age (especially senior citizens) have spine/disc degeneration to some extent, this degeneration can weaken discs and their outermost rings, known as “annulus fibrosus,” making them more prone to injury over time.

Recovery from symptomatic spinal disc injuries commonly includes anti-inflammatory and pain medication, rest, and physical therapy. The most severe pain is caused by active movement due to the pressure placed on nerves, which eases during periods of rest. Some spinal disc injuries can cause lifelong complications, especially if medical treatment is not sought immediately, which is why accepting medical attention as soon as possible after an accident is crucial for both your health and your legal case.

If you’ve suffered a herniated disc in the neck or back in an auto accident due to negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses, and we at Mike Agruss Law are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected.

The value of a personal injury case for a herniated disc may depend on many factors, including medical expenses, property damage, punitive damages, and lost income. Here are some other important considerations:

  • Non-surgical methods for healing herniated discs are available, but can require months of bed-rest and absence from work for recovery.
  • Surgeries to repair herniated discs for uninsured patients can cost $35,000 or more.
  • Treatment for repairing herniated discs may leave permanent scarring along the entry-points.
  • Recovery-periods for herniated disc surgery may last weeks or even months, but often depend on the patient and his/her unique circumstances.
  • Following herniated disc surgery, patients may suffer from stiffness and/or limited range of motion for an extended period of time.

By law, your insurance company owes you a duty to “act in good faith,” meaning it should not attempt to escape its obligation to investigate and pay out claims. However, “bad faith” – actions which involve escaping this obligation – do exist and are often summarized as the “three Ds: deny, delay, and defend.” Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side is essential to ensure that your rights are protected from bad faith on behalf of an insurance company.

We at Mike Agruss Law are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will work with the insurance company to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another’s negligence, you need an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact Mike Agruss Law today for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based personal injury law firm, and helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will file your claim and take care of the insurance company, medical bills, property damage, and lost income. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, our personal injury lawyers are not paid attorney fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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