The average settlement for a car accident back and neck injury ranges from several thousand dollars to well over $100,000. It all depends on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances surrounding the crash that left you injured.
If you’ve suffered back or neck injuries in a collision, you will likely be entitled to compensation. These injuries often affect every part of your life, from your ability to work to your day-to-day comfort levels.
The recovery process is long, painful, and stressful—but you don’t have to face it alone. If you’re searching for answers about how much your case might be worth, it’s a good idea to speak with a car accident lawyer in Boston as soon as possible.
Common Types of Back and Neck Injuries in Car Accidents
The human spine is a very fragile part of the body. Even relatively low-speed collisions produce enough force to damage soft tissues, discs, or vertebrae in the neck or back.
These are common examples of back and neck injuries that often stem from car crashes in Massachusetts:
Whiplash
This is a frequently diagnosed neck injury in rear-end collisions. It occurs when the head is abruptly thrown forward and back, which ends up stretching or tearing muscles and ligaments in the neck. Symptoms include stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and reduced range of motion.
While some people recover within weeks, others experience chronic whiplash-associated disorders.
Herniated or Bulging Discs
The force of a crash causes spinal discs to rupture or protrude, which subsequently places pressure on the nerves. This leads to pain that radiates into the arms or legs as well as numbness and loss of motor control.
Herniated discs often require MRIs to diagnose them, and they might necessitate physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgical procedures.
Spinal Fractures
Compression fractures in the vertebrae result from high-impact crashes. These injuries are especially serious, and they potentially require surgical stabilization. In other cases, they often lead to long-term disability.
Muscle and Ligament Strains
Soft tissue injuries in the back and neck are extremely common, not to mention painful, limiting movement and daily function. While these injuries often heal with rest and therapy, some individuals develop ongoing issues or re-injury risk.
Nerve Damage
When spinal nerves are compressed or damaged, it causes a range of neurological symptoms, including shooting pain, tingling, or muscle weakness. In some cases, the damage is permanent.
The severity of these injuries varies drastically, and the overall impact on someone’s life—including their ability to work, drive, or carry out daily tasks—plays a major role in determining the eventual settlement value.
Massachusetts Car Accident Injury Law and the No-Fault System
Massachusetts is a “no-fault” state, meaning that individuals injured in a car accident must initially seek compensation through their own insurance company, regardless of who caused the crash.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance provides up to $8,000 in benefits for medical expenses and lost wages. However, once damages exceed this limit or certain conditions are met, the injured person has the option to pursue a liability claim against the at-fault driver.
To step outside of the no-fault system and file a third-party bodily injury claim, Massachusetts law requires that the injury meet the state’s tort threshold. Here’s what this threshold includes:
- Reasonable and necessary medical expenses exceeding $2,000
- Permanent and serious disfigurement
- Fractured bones
- Substantial loss of hearing or sight
Many back and neck injuries qualify, especially if imaging tests are involved, treatment continues for several months, or surgery is required.
Once a claim surpasses this threshold, additional compensation—including pain and suffering—will likely be pursued from the responsible party’s insurance company.
Examples of Typical Settlement Ranges
While settlements vary widely, these are examples of general ranges for back and neck injury claims based on publicly available Massachusetts case data and national trends:
- Mild whiplash or strain: $2,500 to $15,000
- Moderate soft tissue injury: $15,000 to $40,000
- Non-surgical herniated disc: $30,000 to $75,000
- Surgical herniated disc: $75,000 to $200,000 or more
- Fractured vertebrae or serious spinal damage: $100,000 to $500,000 or more
- Permanent disability or spinal cord injury: $500,000 to $1 million or more
Again, these are general estimates. The actual settlement for any individual case in Massachusetts will depend on the unique circumstances surrounding your case.
Timeline for Reaching a Settlement for a Car Accident Back and Neck Injury
Many car accident injury claims are resolved through a settlement, though some will still go to trial if liability or compensation are disputed. For back and neck injuries, the process typically unfolds over several months to a year or more, depending on:
- The time required to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- The thoroughness of medical documentation and damage calculations
- The cooperation—or lack thereof—of insurance companies
- The degree of disagreement about fault or compensation
Also, in Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims related to car accidents is three years from the date of the incident.
This deadline applies when filing a lawsuit, not negotiating a settlement. Waiting too long to initiate a claim will likely result in the loss of your legal right to recover compensation altogether.
Contact Our Massachusetts Personal Injury Law Firm to Learn More
The average settlement for a car accident involving back and neck injuries will likely range from several thousand dollars to well over $100,000. It all depends on the specifics of your case.
If you or someone you care about is suffering from back or neck pain after a car-related collision, you don’t have to figure out the aftermath on your own. These types of injuries often disrupt your work, your routine, and your peace of mind—but support is available.
At Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, we have 21-plus years of experience helping over 15,000 people in circumstances just like yours. We’ve recovered more than $250 million in compensation. There’s no obligation—just information®. That’s our Stone Cold Guarantee®.
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