What Is the Average Back and Neck Injury Settlement After a Car Accident?

December 20, 2023

Colbert Cooper Hill Attorneys

Following a car accident, it is very common to experience a neck or back injury. Even a relatively low-speed crash can cause whiplash or other serious soft-tissue injuries, depending on how the crash occurred and the stresses put on your body.

If you were the victim of another driver’s negligence, and you are suffering from pain after your car accident, you may start to question whether you should make an insurance claim against the at-fault driver. If you have mounting medical bills, you are probably wondering what is an average settlement for car accident back and neck injuries.

Injuries that don’t feel serious at first may still have a big impact on your life. If you are experiencing pain following a car crash, you should go see a doctor right away. You should also take some time to consult an experienced car accident lawyer to see what your case may be worth.

Since every case is different, it’s impossible to know what kind of settlement your case might receive without knowing the specifics. The calculations for fair compensation are unique to each case, and depend on many factors including how much your life changed as a result of the car accident.

Common Back and Neck Injuries After a Car Accident

The spinal cord, which includes the back and neck, provides critical structural support for the human body. It is incredibly complex, providing the body with flexibility, stabilization, and information about your limbs. The forces involved during a car crash can easily cause an impact to your head or a compression of your spinal cord. Here are some common back injuries that you may experience when that happens:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Neck fracture or compression
Slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)
Slipped or herniated disc
Pinched nerves
Neck sprain or strain (whiplash)

It can take time for a neck or back injury to become apparent. In some cases, the pain may take hours or days to show up.

Furthermore, the same forces that cause whiplash and neck strain can also cause your brain to smash into the inside of your skull. This can cause bruising or bleeding of the brain, which is very serious. This is another reason why it’s a very good idea to get checked out by a doctor following a car accident, even if you don’t feel very hurt.

Keep an eye out for symptoms like headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, confusion, and tingling or numbness. These can all be signs that you have a spinal cord injury.

Factors That Influence Settlement Amounts

Young man sitting with doctor reviewing his chart

The biggest influence on the amount of your injury settlement is the severity of the injury.

There really is no way to fairly calculate an “average” settlement for a neck injury in Oklahoma. Some cases might be worth a few thousand dollars. Others might be worth hundreds of thousands, or even millions. A good attorney will be able to give you an estimated range of settlement amounts, but only once they understand your unique circumstances.

In general, you should expect your personal injury claim to recoup all your medical expenses related to the accident, lost wages, and car repair or replacement.

However, there are other factors that usually require the expertise of a lawyer to calculate fairly. These can include things like:

The future cost of medical care: This includes the costs if you expect more surgeries will be required in the future, or if you require ongoing care such as a home nurse, or even if you’ll need ongoing physical therapy. Those costs can be difficult to estimate.
Loss of future earnings: Your injuries may prevent you from doing your job for the foreseeable future. Or, they might affect your future earning potential if you can only do part-time or lower-paying work.
Pain and suffering: How can you put a price on living with chronic pain due to your back injuries, possibly for the rest of your life? “Pain and suffering” accounts for physical pain, emotional suffering, and other “non-economic” losses that don’t come with a specific price tag.
Quality of life: If you were a runner, and your spinal cord injuries resulted in paralysis, then you can no longer enjoy one of your favorite hobbies. This loss in your quality of life is hard to quantify, but it’s an important factor.
Permanent disability or disfigurement: Any injury that permanently affects your abilities or your appearance increases your average settlement amount.

It can be very difficult to put a price tag on many of the factors that go into a back injury settlement. This is one of the reasons that you are likely to get a better settlement if you have a personal injury attorney on your side.

Another big factor is the insurance policy limits of the at-fault driver. Your settlement may be capped by their insurance coverage.

How an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help

When it comes to a car accident settlement, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is probably not going to treat you fairly. Their job is to find the lowest settlement offer that you will accept. They have the benefit of experience, and it is likely that you are not very experienced in calculating a fair settlement amount. They will use all the tactics they can to reduce your claim.

Many soft tissue neck injuries don’t show up on an X-ray or CT scan. The insurance companies argue that these “invisible injuries” are not as serious as you say they are.

A good lawyer will advise you on how to prove that your injuries are valid and serious. An experienced personal injury attorney will also know who to contact in the medical field as a reliable expert witness to help show the facts of your case.

There are cameras everywhere these days, which means car accidents are likely to be recorded. Your lawyer will put in the effort to track down any security camera footage, eyewitness accounts, traffic surveillance, and more. These sources of evidence can help show that the other driver was liable for the motor vehicle accident, which strengthens your claim.

Your attorney may also be able to uncover other insurance policies that can cover you if you exceed the coverage of the other driver’s auto insurance. This can be life-changing, especially if your injuries are severe and will require expensive care.

Finally, a good lawyer will skillfully negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Many cases do not even go to trial because both parties successfully reach an agreement about what is fair. Your lawyer will never agree to a settlement that you are not satisfied with—it is always your decision.

Contact Colbert Cooper Hill For Your Free Consultation Today

No two car accidents are alike, which makes it impossible to say what the average settlement for your back or neck injury may be. However, we know that all pain, big or small, makes your daily life more difficult. That’s why the Wolf Pack™ is on your side, ready to fight for you to get the money you deserve.

We know that back injuries can make it tough to do your job. Whether you sit at a computer or are on your feet all day, you’re probably feeling the effects of the car accident. Don’t wait to go see a doctor, and don’t try to take on the insurance companies without our help.

We offer a free consultation so that you don’t have to pay a penny for our initial advice. Call (580) 271-9672 or fill out the online form if you’ve had an accident in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Ardmore, or any of the surrounding areas. While you focus on recovery, the Wolf Pack™ will be on the hunt for the facts to build your case.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.