Can a Car Accident Cause Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Yes. Sciatic nerve pain can happen if a car accident causes any injury to the lower back, which can potentially put pressure on the sciatic nerve and create pain or tingling in the lower back, thigh, or leg.

This condition is also known as sciatica, which is a radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. Radiculopathy is a general term for any condition where pressure on a nerve root causes pain or numbness in the surrounding area.  

What is the sciatic nerve?

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that connects the legs to the base of the spinal cord. It is the main channel by which sensations in your feet, legs, buttocks and thighs reach the brain.

There are five “nerve roots,” which are places where the sciatic nerve connects into the larger nervous system. These are located around the lumbar spine or lower back. Pressure on these nerve roots can cause tingling sensations or pain.

What kinds of car accidents cause sciatic nerve pain?

Most cases of sciatic nerve pain involve an injury to the lumbar spine. This can either be a situation where a vertebra has shifted out of place, a bulging or herniated disc, or some kind of injury that causes swelling in that area.

There are many kinds of vehicle accidents that can cause this kind of injury. For example:

• Rear-end collisions throw passengers forward in a whipping motion. While this usually affects the neck, the lower back can also be injured, potentially causing sciatic nerve pain.
• Head-on collisions can also throw passengers forward.
• Motorcyclists will often face back injuries, often from being thrown from their bike.
• Pedestrians who are hit may suffer a back injury from the impact itself or from being thrown to the ground.

How can I get my sciatic nerve pain covered by insurance?

In Georgia, the law says that the at-fault driver is responsible for all costs related to the accident. This includes the costs of injuries, and sciatic nerve pain is definitely covered. However, it’s not always easy to get this kind of pain included in your insurance payout without negotiating. And even if it is included, the insurance company may offer you far too little.

The reason for this is simple: insurance companies want to make money. If they can find a way to deny or underpay a claim, they will. And they can often find an excuse to deny sciatic nerve pain, for several reasons:

• They may state that the pain is not related to the accident, especially if you don’t have extensive back injuries
• They may argue that you don’t need as much treatment as you are claiming
• They may even suggest that you already had the nerve pain prior to the accident and it shouldn’t be covered at all, or
• They may blame your nerve pain on a condition you already had, such as a herniated disc

All of these arguments are false, and a good lawyer can get around them. The bottom line is this:

If you didn’t have sciatic nerve pain before, and you do after the accident, it’s covered.

Even if a pre-existing condition is involved.

Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer for Free

Sciatic nerve pain can be intense, constant, and hard to live with. You deserve the treatment you need, and if you weren’t at fault, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Let us help you.

We will give you a FREE consultation with a top accident lawyer. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.