Degenerative Disc Disease Aggravated by a Car Accident

New York City Personal Injury Lawyers | Greenstein & Pittari, LLP

You never had severe back or neck pain before the crash. Then the MRI comes back showing degenerative disc disease. Almost immediately, the insurance company claims your pain has “nothing to do with the accident.”

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and you are not out of options.

At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, we represent New York City car accident victims whose degenerative disc disease was aggravated by a motor vehicle collision. We understand the medical science behind spinal degeneration and the insurance strategies used to deny legitimate injury claims. When a crash turns a dormant or manageable spinal condition into chronic, disabling pain, New York law allows you to pursue compensation, and we know how to prove it.

We proudly represent injured clients throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Free consultation. No legal fees unless we recover compensation.

Can a Car Accident Aggravate Degenerative Disc Disease?

Yes. Absolutely.

Degenerative disc disease usually develops gradually over time, but a car accident can worsen the condition or trigger symptoms that never existed before. Degenerated spinal discs are already weaker and more vulnerable to trauma. A sudden impact, even in a low-speed collision, can cause:

• Disc bulging or herniation at previously degenerated levels
• Increased disc compression and nerve irritation
• New or intensified neck pain, back pain, or radiating arm or leg pain
• Loss of mobility, stiffness, and chronic inflammation
• Worsening spinal instability

Many accident victims had no symptoms before the crash and experienced severe, life-altering pain afterward. Under New York personal injury law, aggravation of degenerative disc disease is compensable.

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Your spine is made up of vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs, which function as shock absorbers. Each disc has:

• An annulus, which is the tough outer layer
• A nucleus, which is a gel-like, water-rich center

Degenerative disc disease occurs when these discs lose hydration, elasticity, or structural integrity over time. This process can lead to:

• Disc desiccation or drying out
• Loss of disc height
• Increased stress on facet joints
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Bone spur formation
• Spinal stenosis or nerve compression

Many people in New York City have degenerative disc disease without pain. A traumatic event, such as a car accident, can change that entirely.

Can a Car Accident Cause Degenerative Disc Disease?

No. Degenerative disc disease itself develops over time and is not caused by a single traumatic event.

However, this distinction is critical for injury claims. A car accident can activate symptoms, accelerate degeneration, or turn an asymptomatic condition into a painful and disabling injury. A negligent driver remains legally responsible even if your spine was more vulnerable than someone else’s.

When a Crash Turns a Silent Spine Condition Into Daily Pain

Many adults have spinal degeneration without symptoms. A motor vehicle collision can change your baseline.

Sudden force and rapid movement can cause inflammation, disc damage, and nerve compression. Symptoms may appear immediately or worsen gradually over days or weeks. Delayed onset of pain is typical and does not mean the accident was unrelated.

What matters legally is whether the crash changed your condition, your function, or your need for treatment.

Why Degenerative Disc Disease Often Gets Worse After a Crash

People with degenerative disc disease are more susceptible to injury. After a collision, symptoms often worsen because of:

• Nerve compression from disc bulges or herniations
• Inflammation caused by traumatic force
• Accelerated disc damage from sudden impact
• Reduced mobility that contributes to further spinal degeneration

This explains why some people suffer severe pain after relatively minor crashes while others walk away unharmed.

Whiplash and Degenerative Disc Disease After a Car Accident

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in rear-end collisions and other motor vehicle accidents. The rapid forward and backward motion of the neck places extreme stress on cervical spinal discs.

For someone with degenerative disc disease, whiplash can activate a previously silent condition and cause:

• Worsened disc deterioration
• Bulging or herniated cervical discs
• Increased nerve compression
• Severe neck and upper back pain
• Reduced stability and range of motion

I’m seeking medical care promptly to protect both your health and your legal claim.

Common Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease After a Car Accident

Aggravated degenerative disc disease may cause:

• Sharp or aching neck or lower back pain
• Chronic pain lasting weeks, months, or longer
• Pain radiating into the arms, hands, hips, or legs
• Pain that worsens while sitting, bending, lifting, twisting, or driving
• Relief only when lying down or changing positions
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the extremities
• Reduced activity levels, muscle loss, and fatigue

If you were functional before the accident and now struggle to work, sleep, or move without pain, that change is significant.

Types of Car Accidents Most Likely to Aggravate Disc Injuries

Any collision can injure the spine, but degenerative disc disease aggravation is commonly seen after:

• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone or side-impact crashes
• Rollover accidents
• Truck and commercial vehicle accidents

The direction and suddenness of force often exceed what the spine can tolerate, especially when discs are already weakened.

Herniated Discs and Secondary Spine Conditions

A car accident can turn spinal degeneration into a much more serious injury. When the outer layer of a disc is weakened by age or wear, trauma can cause the inner material to bulge or rupture, resulting in a herniated disc.

Aggravated degenerative disc disease cases may also involve:

• Sciatica
• Spinal stenosis
• Bone spurs
• Pinched nerves
• Osteoarthritis
• Changes in spinal alignment

These complications often increase medical costs and long-term disability.

How Degenerative Disc Disease Is Diagnosed After a Car Accident

Diagnosis typically involves medical imaging, including:

• X-rays, which can show disc space narrowing and bone spurs
• MRI scans, which reveal disc bulges, herniations, nerve compression, and soft tissue injuries

MRI imaging is often the most critical evidence in a degenerative disc disease aggravation claim because it allows doctors and attorneys to compare pre-accident and post-accident findings.

Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease After a Car Accident

Treatment depends on severity and symptoms and may include:

• Physical therapy
• Pain management and anti-inflammatory medication
• Facet joint, trigger point, or epidural steroid injections
• Microdiscectomy surgery
• Spinal fusion or disc replacement in severe cases

Insurance companies often argue that treatment is unnecessary because degeneration is age-related. We counter that argument by documenting how the accident changed your condition and why treatment is medically necessary.

How Degenerative Disc Disease Affects a New York City Injury Claim

Insurance companies routinely claim that pain is caused by pre-existing degeneration to reduce payouts.

Under New York law, you may recover compensation for the aggravation of a pre-existing condition, including:

• Increased pain and suffering
• Accident-related medical treatment
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Reduced quality of life
• Long-term or permanent disability

The key is proof, and experienced legal representation makes all the difference.

How Greenstein & Pittari Prove Degenerative Disc Disease Aggravation

We build strong, evidence-based cases by:

• Analyzing MRI scans and diagnostic imaging
• Working with orthopedic surgeons and spine specialists
• Establishing symptom-free or minimal-symptom baselines
• Demonstrating new or worsened pain patterns
• Connecting medical findings directly to crash mechanics
• Challenging insurance company pre-existing condition defenses

These cases are winnable when handled strategically and thoroughly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Degenerative Disc Disease and Car Accidents

Can I file a claim if I already have degenerative disc disease?

Yes. You can seek compensation for any worsening of your condition caused by the accident.

What if I never had back pain before the accident?

That is widespread and often strong evidence of aggravation. Many people have asymptomatic degeneration until a crash triggers pain.

What evidence helps prove aggravation?

Medical records before and after the crash, MRI or X-ray imaging, and medical opinions explaining how trauma worsened your condition.

Can whiplash worsen degenerative disc disease?

Yes. Whiplash places extreme stress on spinal discs and frequently aggravates degeneration, especially in the neck.

Can I recover compensation for future medical care?

Yes, if future treatment is reasonably expected and supported by medical evidence.

How long do I have to file a claim in New York?

Deadlines vary depending on the case and parties involved. I think it’s essential to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

Do I need a lawyer for a degenerative disc disease car accident case?

Yes. These claims are medically and legally complex, and insurance companies aggressively challenge them.

Speak With a New York City Car Accident Lawyer Today

If a car accident aggravated your degenerative disc disease, you should not be left in pain while the insurance company looks for excuses.

Greenstein & Pittari, LLP fights for injured New Yorkers across all five boroughs and does not back down when insurers try to blame injuries on age or wear and tear.

Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) for a free consultation.
No fee unless we win. That is our Fee Guarantee.

Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?

• Local Harlem office and multiple NYC-area locations
• No fee unless we win your case
• Bilingual legal services available
• Hundreds of positive client reviews and testimonials
• We handle the insurance companies so you can focus on healing
• Top-rated, award-winning personal injury lawyers

We maintain offices in Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Yonkers, and Nassau County for your convenience.

Our firm motto is “Don’t Be a Victim Twice.”
If you were injured by a negligent driver, including uninsured or underinsured motorists, call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) today to take the first step toward justice and compensation.

The call is free. The consultation is free. You do not pay us unless we are successful.