March 5, 2025 | Personal Injury
A cervical spine injury can change your life in an instant. These injuries, affecting the neck and upper spine, can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, or even paralysis. Cervical spine settlement amounts in Florida can range from a few thousand for minor soft tissue injuries to $500,000 or more for catastrophic injuries to the vertebrae or spinal cord.
Settlement amounts for cervical spine injuries vary widely based on factors like the type of injury, long-term consequences, medical bills, and the effect on your daily life. Understanding what affects your claim’s value can help you make informed decisions about your case.
What Is a Cervical Spine Injury?
A cervical spine injury refers to an injury to the ligaments, tendons, nerves, joints, bones, and spinal cord in the neck area. This includes soft tissue injuries, damage to the spine, and spinal cord injuries. The cervical spine refers to the seven vertebrae of the spinal column, which allows for flexibility of the neck and the head to turn. These vertebrae are labeled C1 to C7.
Common cervical spine injuries include:
- Whiplash: A soft tissue injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, common in rear-end car accidents.
- Herniated disc: This happens when the softer center of a spinal disc is pushed through the tougher exterior. This can put pressure on a nearby nerve and cause pain and limited range of motion.
- Cervical fractures: When a vertebra is broken, it can cause pain, stiffness, and limited motion. It can also cause damage to the spinal cord.
- Cervical dislocation: This happens when adjoining bones in the spinal column are pushed out of alignment.
- Cervical facet joint syndrome: This refers to damage to the small facet joints in the cervical spine. It can cause radiating pain, stiffness, numbness or tingling in the hands and arms, and reduced range of motion.
- Nerve damage: Many injuries to the cervical spine region can damage nerve roots exiting the spinal column. Nerves may be compressed or even severed.
- Cervical stenosis: This refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal, putting pressure on nerve roots or the spinal cord.
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs): Damage to the spinal cord in the cervical region may result in partial or total paralysis. The higher the injury, the more severe the loss of function and sensation. C1 to C4 injuries can be fatal because they may impair breathing.
Most traumatic cervical spine injuries are caused by car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and slip-and-fall accidents. Workplace accidents are also a leading cause of serious neck injuries. Traffic collisions and falls alone account for 78% of spinal cord injuries, the most serious type of cervical spine injury.
Average Cervical Spine Injury Settlement Amounts In Florida
There is no set amount for cervical spine injury settlements. Payouts often range from $10,000 to over $1 million, depending on the severity of the injury and other factors. Here are examples of settlement ranges for different types of injuries:
- Low-end settlements ($20,000 to $100,000): A settlement on the lower end is more likely with soft tissue injuries that heal within months, do not require surgery, and do not cause permanent disability. Common injuries in this range include whiplash, cervical stenosis, and herniated discs.
- Mid-range settlements ($100,000 to $500,000): A settlement in the mid-range usually involves injuries that are serious and require extensive treatment and/or rehabilitation. These injuries may result in partial disability and significant lost wages. Injuries that require surgery are often in this category.
- High-end settlements ($500,000 to $1,000,000+): Cases that settle for more than $500,000 usually involve catastrophic injuries or serious injuries with long-term effects. For example, spinal cord injuries, spinal fractures and herniated discs requiring spinal fusion, and permanent nerve damage may qualify.
The average cost of tetraplegia ranges from $840,000 to $1.16 million during the first year and $124,000 to $202,000 for every subsequent year in medical and living costs alone. This does not even consider the loss of earning potential or the impact on the victim’s life.
Factors That Affect a Cervical Spine Injury Settlement
Every case is unique, but several key factors influence settlement amounts:
- Injury type and severity: The more serious the injury, the higher the settlement. Permanent damage, chronic pain, and reduced mobility all increase a claim’s value.
- Long-term medical needs: You are entitled to damages for your projected future medical costs.
- Ability to return to your job or perform any work, with or without retraining: If your injury prevents you from working, you may receive compensation for your lost earning capacity.
- Impact on your daily life: The greater the impact on your ability to enjoy hobbies, participate in child-rearing, and live independently, the more your case may be worth. A settlement should consider changes to your daily life, mental health effects, chronic pain, and other effects.
- Your age and lifestyle before your accident: A devastating injury to a young adult or someone living a very active lifestyle will be valued higher than a similar injury to an older adult. This is because a younger person will likely live with the effects for longer, and the injury will have a greater impact on an active person’s lifestyle.
- The at-fault party’s insurance coverage: The insurance company will not settle above the policy limit. If their policy does not fully compensate you, the at-fault party may have assets you can pursue through a lawsuit.
There may be factors that limit what you can recover. If you share responsibility for your accident, your recovery will be reduced by your share of negligence. In Florida, you cannot recover damages if you are more than 50% responsible for your accident. This is due to a modified comparative negligence rule.
A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one suffered a cervical spine injury in Vero Beach, Florida, Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group is here to help. Schedule a free consultation today so we can assess your case, help you understand what you may be entitled to, and take the next steps in recovering the money you need.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Florida
If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced Personal Injury lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Florida, including Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, and Port St. Lucie.
Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – Vero Beach
2651 20th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772) 758-5735
Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – St. Petersburg
200 Central Ave Suite 304
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(772) 404-3858
Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – Port St. Lucie
10805 SW Tradition Square Unit 024A
Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
(772) 617-8814
