Back Herinated Disc Settlements and Verdicts

The median settlements and verdicts in lumbar (back) disc injury cases in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. The median lumbar disc injury case in Maryland is $74,750. The Washington, D.C. and Virginia median settlement verdicts were $199,000 and $150,000, respectively.

This is from one source, Metro Monthly Verdicts, which tracks jury verdicts and settlements. It is a good source. But our back injury settlements have varied from seven-figure settlements and verdicts to very small awards. It really depends on the scope of the injury.

So any look at “lumbar disc injuries” will group together herniated disc, bulging discs, protruding disc and other disc injuries in the back. So you certainly have to take these statistics with several grains of salt.

• Get sample herniated disc injury verdicts and settlements

So not every back injury case will be treated the same. Some cases are worth millions and others are worth very little. To distill it down, it largely depends on (1) the extent of the injury and, (2) whether pre-existing injuries contributed to your current problems.

When it comes to extent of the injury, the biggest variable is going to be whether the injury comes with diagnostic findings. If you have an x-ray, CT-Scan, MRI, or nerve conduction study (EMG), and you have an objective finding that shows an acute injury (as opposed to degenerative), that changes the landscape. These objective, measurable injuries are the ones that get the insurance company’s attention.

Of course, the injury itself is important. The most serious are the ones that you think would be the most serious, back injuries that lead to paralysis, bowel and bladder problems, significantly decreased mobility, or great pain. These are the best cases in terms of compensation value and in terms of the time it takes to get the case resolved. Many of these cases are settled either before a lawsuit is filed or shortly after the claim is brought.

Having preexisting injuries is not a claim killer, at least not in Baltimore City or Prince George’s County. But it does make the mountain that needs to be climbed steeper. If you want to get full value and beyond in these cases, you need to be a believable and likable plaintiff and you need a strong treating doctors to stand behind you and support your claim.

One more point on pre-exiting conditions cases. Most of our personal injury cases settle before our lawyers ever file a lawsuit. But in these claims, you are also going to go to court far more often. If you are looking for a quick settlement in these cases, you are going to likely be leaving real money on the table. Some people prefer that quick money and that is fine. But the majority of our clients are willing to wait it out a little to let us do what we do — fight like crazy to fully maximize the value of your case.

What is a Herniated Disc?

The spine is made up of vertebrae (bones) cushioned by discs, which act as shock absorbers. Each disc has a soft, gel-like center (nucleus) surrounded by a tougher outer layer (annulus). A herniated disc occurs when the outer layer is damaged, causing the soft inner core to push out through a tear or rupture. This can compress nearby nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in various parts of the body.

Herniated discs are a common injury in auto accidents, especially in collisions involving significant force like rear-end or side-impact crashes. These injuries can range in severity, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to debilitating pain that may require extensive medical treatment or even surgery.

Understanding how herniated discs occur, their impact on victims, and how they affect potential legal claims is crucial for those involved in car accident lawsuits.

Herniated Disc Settlements and Verdicts

Below are summaries of recent verdicts and publicly reported settlements from personal injury cases in which a herniated disc was one of the primary injuries for which the plaintiff sought compensation.

• $31,294 Verdict (Maryland 2024): The plaintiff, a 64-year-old male, said his vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by the defendant while he was stopped in traffic, the force of which propelled his vehicle forward and into the rear of the vehicle stopped ahead of him. The plaintiff reported injuries including a concussion with memory lapses and disc herniation at L4-L5 with spinal nerve encroachment, disc protrusion at L5-S1 with spinal radiculopathy and a cracked tooth. The plaintiff claimed his head and back injuries are permanent and noted that he underwent lumbar surgery. The defendant disputed whether the injuries were related to the accident.
• $50,000 Verdict (Maryland 2023): The plaintiff said she was stopped at a red light when her vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle operated by the defendant. The force of the initial impact sent her vehicle forward and into the vehicle stopped ahead of her at the light. The plaintiff reported injuries including cervical and lumbar radiculopathy and spinal stenosis, lumbar disc herniation and cervical disc bulging. The plaintiff underwent lumbar interbody fusion surgery which entailed permanent placement of surgical hardware in her lower back. The plaintiff claimed permanent pain and surgical scarring with numbness and tingling of her right leg. The plaintiff was claiming $250,000 in economic damages so this verdict was a major loss.
• $91,213 Verdict (Virginia 2023): The plaintiff  said he was traveling eastbound near an intersection when a southbound vehicle operated by defendant Adan Aleman, an underinsured motorist, proceeded through the intersection on a steady red light and collided with the driver’s side of his vehicle. The plaintiff allegedly suffered injuries, including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprains; aggravation of pre-existing C5-C7 disc herniations and a lumbar disc herniation; partial tear of the right supraspinatus; a right-hand contusion; and a leg abrasion. He sought UIM damages from his insurer, Erie Insurance, and brought this action when they refused his claim.
• $219,400 Verdict (Maryland 2023): The plaintiff said she proceeded into an intersection on a green light when the vehicle occupying the left turning lane adjacent to her suddenly changed lanes into her lane of travel and caused a collision. The plaintiff reported injuries including disc tears and herniations to her lumbar spine at L5-Sl, which required injection therapy, as well as concussion and soft tissue cervical and thoracic strains. The verdict included $20,000 for past medical expenses and $50,000 for future medical expenses.
• $152,282 Verdict (Virginia 2022): The plaintiff, an adult male motorist, allegedly suffered herniations at C4-C5, stenosis at C6-C7 with radiculopathy and hand numbness, stenosis also at L4-S1 with radiculopathy and right shoulder arthritis in a three-vehicle incident that also involved defendants. The case went to trial on the issue of damages only.
• $236,254 Verdict (Maryland 2021): The plaintiff  reportedly suffered a herniated cervical disc, for which he later had surgery, when the defendant, driving directly behind the plaintiff, rear-ended his vehicle, which was stopped at an intersection walkway for pedestrians. The defendant contested the nature and extent of the plaintiff’s claimed injuries and damages, contending the plaintiff’s actions of stopping suddenly and unnecessarily in the middle of the roadway caused or contributed to the accident. The verdict included over $200,00 in past medical expenses and only $27,500 for pain and suffering.

Getting a Lawyer for Your Case

If you have suffered a disc injury in you back as the result of a car accident or truck accident, you need a lawyer that understands the medicine and mechanism of injury in disc and other spinal injury cases – particularly herniated disc cases.

Call our lawyers for a free no obligation consultation. You can speak to a lawyer today by calling 800-553-8082 or online by clicking here.

More Information on Back Injuries

• How much compensation can I expect to get from my herniated disc injury case? Get more information on the value of these cases and get some sample verdicts to compare to your case.
• What if you do not get surgery but steroid trigger point injections instead? How this impacts settlement payouts in disc injury cases.
• How much is my claim worth? (looking at how personal injury cases are valued for settlement)
• Contact a Maryland injury attorney at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free consultation