Can a car accident cause a bulging disc?
Car Accidents - September 16, 2025
A car accident can cause a bulging disc or other spinal cord injuries. These injuries can have long-term, serious effects. Connecting with a Joliet car accident lawyer from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates supports your chances of securing the compensation you need to reach full recovery and get justice.
Can a car accident cause disc injuries?
Disc injuries are among the common spine injuries from a car accident. These injuries are painful and can have lifelong consequences. The discs (also spelled “disks”) in the spine have soft jelly-like centers surrounded by tougher cartilage. Per the Mayo Clinic, discs “act as cushions between the bones that form the spine.”
In a bulging disc injury, the outer layer of the disc bulges out, putting pressure on the spine and potentially irritating nerves. Victims often feel pain, tingling, or numbness. The symptoms of a herniated disc are similar, and the terms “bulging and herniated” are often used interchangeably. However, the injuries are not exactly the same.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a herniated disc injury occurs when there is a tear in the outer layer of disc cartilage. The jelly-like material inside the disc leaks or sticks out of the outer layer. A “ruptured disc” is another term for a herniated disc. Herniated discs can be more painful than bulging discs.
How car accidents can cause bulging disc injuries
Bulging disc pain, disc herniations, or other spinal injuries can result from traumatic impact, according to the Illinois Pain and Spine Institute. The sudden impact of a car crash can cause spinal compression. The crash does not have to be violent. Even a seemingly minor rear-end collision can do significant damage.
Never assume back or neck pain is temporary or minor. The initial shock from a crash can hide pain and other symptoms. Get immediate treatment to prevent further damage. Prompt verification of your injury also supports your car accident claim.
What are the effects of spinal cord injuries
Disc injuries are a type of spinal cord injury, and they can cause nerve damage. Untreated injuries can lead to permanent damage. Extended pressure on the nearby nerves from the protruding material injures those nerves.
Depending on where the injury is along the spine, you can experience pain, numbness, muscle weakness, incontinence, or even paralysis. The cervical spine is the neck area. The thoracic spine comprises the rib and mid-back area, and the lumbar spine is in the lower back. Most bulging discs are in the cervical or lumbar spinal areas.
Emotional and financial effects
The physical effects of these injuries are easy to see, but the real spinal cord injury cost also includes devastating emotional and financial fallout. You may become depressed and anxious. You may feel isolated when you cannot participate in activities you enjoy.
Spinal injuries can prevent you from working. Medical treatment is always expensive. This combination of income loss and costly care can quickly destabilize your financial situation and your future.
What are the treatment options for disc injuries?
Conservative treatments for disc injuries include physical therapy, rest, pain medications, and injections. If symptoms do not improve or the injury is more severe, you may need surgery. Some procedures are less invasive than others.
Treating spine injuries requires extreme care. Prior to any treatment, you will need to undergo diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays or MRIs. You may also need nerve tests. An attorney can help you make wise medical decisions and keep track of all bills, diagnoses, tests, and treatments.
Will a settlement cover my medical bills and other damages?
Your car accident lawyers will fight for a settlement to cover all losses associated with your accident and resulting bulging disc or other spinal cord injury. Connect with our law firm quickly after the accident, as the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) 735 establishes a two-year limitation on filing most injury claims.
The at-fault party’s insurance company may try to label your injury a pre-existing condition to avoid culpability. They will try to blame you for the accident to lower their payout or deny you justice altogether. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, you can only recover damages if you’re less than 50% at fault for the crash
We will fight to recover your medical costs, wage loss, property damage, and other related expenses. Your pain and suffering, both emotional and physical, also deserve acknowledgement. We will put a fair compensatory value on those losses.
We’ll take care of your claim, so you can focus on healing
Sustaining spinal cord injuries in a car accident can set you back physically, financially, and emotionally. A Joliet car accident lawyer from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates is ready to fight to hold the at-fault party accountable and restore your losses. Call (800) 985-1819 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation. We’ll handle all the legalities of your claim, so you can stay focused on healing.
