Can a Car Accident Cause Spondylosis?

Spondylosis is a back condition involving degeneration of the spine. Because it is a gradual degeneration, it is not directly caused by the impact of a car accident.

However, a person with spondylosis is at much higher risk for other painful back injuries during an accident—and the accident may make the spondylosis itself much more painful. In fact, many patients never even realize they have spondylosis until it gets aggravated by an accident.

What is spondylosis?

Spondylosis is actually used to refer to several kinds of spinal degeneration. However, the most common is osteoarthritis of the spine. This is when the cartilage “discs” that act as cushions between the vertebrae start to wear out and become harder and more brittle. The result is that the spine has less cushioning. This can happen naturally with age and it starts affecting most people after the age of 50.

On its own, spondylosis may or may not be painful. But it makes the back much more susceptible to injury. Any impact or injury can cause serious harm—including chronic back pain. In other words, a car accident can cause permanent pain or injury to someone with spondylosis, even if a different person would not have been as affected.

Isn’t spondylosis a “pre-existing condition?” Will my car accident claim pay for it?

Yes, if you are the victim in a car accident, your accident claim should pay for all costs for any injuries or treatment related to spondylosis. It is a pre-existing condition, however. In other words, if you have a spondylosis-related injury in a car accident, it means the spondylosis was already there to begin with.

Pre-existing conditions do not prevent you from winning your accident claim. With spondylosis in particular, there are a few reasons why:

• An accident can make spondylosis worse
• An accident can also cause related injuries, like vertebrae moving out of place and pressing on a nerve
• If these conditions happened because of the car accident—even if pre-existing spondylosis was involved—they should be covered

In other words, if the only treatment you need is the same regular physical therapy appointment you were already getting for your spondylosis before the accident, then that treatment probably won’t be covered. But if you need new or additional treatment (medication, injections, back surgery, a brace, etc.) your car accident claim should cover it.

Your claim should also include money for any missed work time. And, most importantly, you should receive pain and suffering damages for the severe pain that spondylosis can provoke following an accident.

Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer for Free

Spondylosis car accident claims are complex and insurance companies will fight them. Don’t face them alone. Let us give you a FREE consultation to get you the answers you need—and help you get paid. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.