A compression fracture from a car accident can upend your job, family life, and overall health. When it happens because of another driver’s negligence, it can be especially frustrating. If the other driver’s insurance company offers to pay you at all, they will probably lowball you and claim it’s an average settlement for a compression fracture.
The truth is that there is no one average settlement for a compression fracture. The compensation you should receive should be tailored to exactly what you lost, as well as the future costs that will arise because of this injury.
At the Beliz Law Firm, we calculate the full amount you are owed and then fiercely advocate for it.
How Compensation Is Calculated
A spinal compression fracture due to a car accident can result in long-term pain, mobility issues, and even permanent changes to your ability to work or participate in daily activities. In California, compensation for such an injury is calculated by examining the unique impact on your life.
Several factors influence the value of your case:
- Medical expenses—including emergency care, hospital stays, diagnostic imaging, surgeries, and follow-up treatments;
- Rehabilitation costs—such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, or pain management;
- Lost wages—if you cannot work for days, weeks, or even months while you recover;
- Reduced future earning potential—if your injury limits the type of work you can perform;
- Pain and suffering— recognition of the physical pain and emotional distress of living with a spinal injury; and
- Loss of enjoyment of life—such as being unable to engage in hobbies, sports, or family activities.
Insurance companies often try to reduce these cases to a number that ignores the details of your life. At the Beliz Law Firm, we do the opposite. We gather medical records, consult specialists, and document how the injury disrupted and changed your circumstances. This careful approach ensures the calculation reflects your true loss.
How Insurance Companies Try to Minimize Payout
Insurance companies have one goal: to save money. Even in cases of clear negligence, they may deploy tactics designed to reduce the payout.
You may see them:
- Downplay the severity of your compression fracture by pointing to age or pre-existing spinal issues;
- Claim your pain is temporary and does not warrant long-term compensation;
- Argue that you can return to work sooner than your doctor recommends;
- Offer quick settlements before you know the full extent of your medical needs;
- Using hired medical examiners who give opinions that favor the insurer’s position; or
- Claim you were partially at-fault, using California’s pure comparative negligence doctrine to lower your compensation.
These strategies are intended to frustrate you into accepting less than you deserve. Without legal help, many people end up agreeing to a compression fracture car accident settlement that fails to cover even the basic medical bills, let alone future costs. Our role is to anticipate and counter these tactics with solid evidence and legal arguments.
Compression Fracture from Car Accident Settlement Process
The settlement process follows several key stages. Each stage matters because it shapes the outcome of your case.
- Investigation. We collect police reports, witness statements, and photographs of the accident scene. We also review your medical records and treatment plans.
- Demand. Once we understand the full scope of your injury and losses, we prepare a demand package that clearly outlines the compensation you are entitled to.
- Negotiation. Insurance companies usually respond with an offer far below what you need. We negotiate strategically, highlighting medical evidence and the effect of the injury on your life.
- Litigation. If the insurer refuses to pay a fair amount, we file a lawsuit and take the case to court. Our experience in personal injury trials positions us to present a powerful case to a judge or jury.
- Resolution. The case ends either through a negotiated settlement or a court judgment. Our goal remains the same in either scenario: securing the maximum compensation possible.
This process can take time, but patience and persistence usually lead to better outcomes. Quick settlements may seem tempting, but they rarely account for the long-term impact of a compression fracture.
Common Medical Treatments and Their Costs
A compression fracture often requires a wide range of medical interventions. These treatments significantly affect the settlement amount because they reflect both the injury’s severity and the anticipated recovery costs.
Typical treatments include:
- Bracing—to stabilize the spine and limit movement during healing;
- Pain medications—which may need to be taken for months or even years;
- Physical therapy—to rebuild strength and mobility;
- Epidural steroid injections—to manage chronic pain;
- Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty procedures—where cement is injected into the fractured vertebra to restore stability; and
- Surgery—in severe cases, especially if the fracture compromises nerves or the spinal cord.
Each treatment carries different costs. Some require ongoing care, meaning the financial impact could continue long after the initial accident. Factoring these expenses into a settlement is critical to ensure you are not left paying out of pocket.
Long-Term Effects of a Compression Fracture
Even with the best medical care, many people experience long-term consequences from a spinal compression fracture. Car accident victims may find that the injury completely reshapes their daily lives.
Examples include:
- Chronic back pain—requiring ongoing management;
- Reduced mobility—making it harder to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods;
- Height loss or spinal deformity—in severe fractures; and
- Emotional impacts—such as anxiety, depression, or frustration due to lifestyle limitations.
It is vital that your claim consider these outcomes. A settlement that only pays for initial hospital bills is inadequate when the injury continues to affect you for decades.
Schedule Your Free Case Review
At the Beliz Law Firm, we know that a compression fracture is more than a medical diagnosis. It is a life-altering injury with lasting consequences for you and your family. Since 2011, we have dedicated our practice exclusively to personal injury cases, and we have seen how insurance companies undervalue serious spinal injuries when calculating compression fracture car accident settlements.
Fortunately, you do not need to face the insurance company alone. Michael Beliz will work with you one-on-one to pursue the full compensation you need for medical bills, lost income, and the pain you are living with. Contact the firm today to schedule your free case review and begin the process of protecting your future.
Michael A. Beliz, Esq., established The Beliz Law Firm in the spring of 2011. Michael has been a practicing attorney since 2006 and worked for two of the most prominent plaintiff’s personal injury law firms in Southern California. He has worked on and handled hundreds of cases as an attorney in all types of personal injury cases, including vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents and dog bites, and successfully recovered millions of dollars for his clients.
Rate this Post
Loading...