Role of Epidural Injections in Injury Claims
If you received an epidural injection after an accident in New York, you may be wondering how that treatment will affect your personal injury claim. Epidural steroid injections are often used to manage back or neck pain resulting from car crashes, workplace incidents, or slip-and-fall accidents. While they can provide relief, they also serve as crucial evidence in legal cases. Understanding the role of epidural injections in injury claims is essential to protecting your rights and maximizing your compensation.
What Are Epidural Injections and Why Are They Used?
Epidural injections are a common form of pain management involving the injection of corticosteroids near the spinal nerves. These procedures are typically recommended for individuals suffering from inflammation, nerve compression, or herniated discs following trauma.
Key points:
- Used for pain relief in the spine, neck, or lower back
- Often administered after physical therapy or other conservative treatments fail
- Not a cure, but a diagnostic and therapeutic tool
For legal purposes, receiving an epidural injection often indicates a more serious injury than soft-tissue damage alone.
How Epidural Injections Affect Your Personal Injury Case
Proof of Injury Severity
The need for an epidural injection often supports the claim that your injury is significant and has not responded to simpler treatments. This can help demonstrate the long-term impact of the accident.
Influence on Compensation Value
Courts and insurance companies may consider the cost and seriousness of this procedure when evaluating your settlement. The average epidural injection can cost between $1,000–$3,000 per treatment, sometimes requiring multiple sessions. This directly affects your potential epidural injections personal injury settlement.
In cases where multiple injections are required over an extended period, the financial burden can increase dramatically—an important point when negotiating compensation. An attorney will ensure these costs are factored into the settlement discussions.
Medical Documentation as Legal Evidence
Medical records that include imaging (MRIs, CT scans) and physician notes about the injection are key components of your claim. They strengthen your attorney’s argument for epidural steroid injections compensation.
Medical documentation also helps establish a timeline. Showing that your symptoms persisted long enough to require an epidural injection can counter any claim that your injuries were minor or short-lived.
Do Epidural Injections Guarantee a Higher Settlement?
Not necessarily. While they can support a higher valuation of your case, many factors come into play:
- Total cost of medical treatment
- Duration and frequency of injections
- Long-term impact on your ability to work
- Medical expert testimony
- Insurance policy limits
Some insurance adjusters may argue that epidural injections are “conservative” treatments and not evidence of permanent damage. Others may question whether the injections were medically necessary. This is why having an experienced personal injury attorney is crucial.
An attorney can present these treatments not just as a medical choice, but as a legal indicator of the seriousness of your injury. They may also use expert testimony to clarify the rationale for the treatment and its outcomes.
Common Legal Questions About Epidural Injections
Will my insurance cover the cost of the injection?
Often yes, especially under no-fault laws in New York. However, your insurer may later dispute the necessity or reasonableness of the procedure, especially in relation to epidural treatment and insurance claims.
Should I agree to an injection just to boost my claim?
No. Medical decisions should always prioritize your health, not legal strategy. Only undergo epidural injections if recommended by a physician.
In fact, insurance companies and defense lawyers may question the validity of treatment that appears motivated by legal gain rather than medical need. This can hurt your credibility in court or negotiations.
Can the defense use my epidural injection against me?
Possibly. The defense may argue the treatment was unnecessary or exaggerated. Proper documentation and expert support help counter these claims. They might also claim that since the injection was only temporary relief, your injury isn’t permanent.
This is where your legal team, such as Cohan Law Firm, will work to present the medical evidence in a clear and persuasive manner.
Strategic Use of Epidural Injections in Personal Injury Claims
Epidural injections can be a valuable part of your case when used correctly:
- Document everything. Keep a complete record of all treatments, appointments, and costs.
- Follow your doctor’s advice. Consistency in care shows you’re serious about recovery.
- Consult a personal injury attorney. They can help frame the medical treatment appropriately within your legal strategy, especially when dealing with a back injury epidural injection lawsuit.
The strategic value of the injections lies not just in their cost, but in what they imply: that your injury is chronic, requires targeted pain management, and could affect your future ability to work or enjoy life.
Schedule Your Free Case Review
If you’ve received an epidural injection following an accident, your case deserves careful legal evaluation. At Cohan Law Firm, we can help you understand how this treatment affects your rights and what compensation you may be entitled to. Schedule your free consultation today to explore your legal options.
Our team has handled many cases involving epidural steroid injection legal cases, and we’re prepared to guide you through every step of the process.
Disclaimer Legal
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship.