Epidural steroid injection accident attorney

An epidural steroid injection places anti-inflammatory medication near an irritated nerve root. In an injury claim it does two things at once: it treats the symptoms, and it helps establish which level is generating them — because a person whose radiating pain resolves after an injection targeted at a specific root has provided strong evidence about the source. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handles spinal injury claims in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York.

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What the procedure record establishes

The procedure note documents the level and approach used, imaging guidance, and any contrast pattern confirming correct placement. That level is the evidentially important detail, because it ties the treatment to a specific nerve root. The follow-up note documenting the degree and duration of relief is equally important and is frequently the item that goes unrecorded — a documented response localises the pain generator in a way imaging alone cannot.

Why this matters evidentially

A targeted injection producing meaningful relief at a level that matches the imaging finding and the clinical examination completes the correlation that these claims depend on. It is also evidence that conservative care was escalated appropriately rather than abandoned or repeated indefinitely, which forestalls the argument that treatment was inadequate or excessive.

What the procedure involves

It is performed with imaging guidance, either between the vertebrae from behind or through the opening where the nerve exits. Relief varies in degree and duration — some people obtain lasting benefit, others temporary relief that nonetheless confirms the diagnosis. A limited series is typical rather than indefinite repetition. Recognized effects include temporary increased pain, flushing, elevated blood sugar in people with diabetes, and rarely more significant complications.

How carriers use injections

In two contradictory ways. Where injections were given, that treatment is characterized as excessive or attorney-directed. Where they were not, the absence is used to argue the pain cannot have been severe. Where relief was obtained, it is used to argue the problem resolved. The response is the documented clinical indication, the targeted level, and an accurate record of the degree and duration of relief.

Using the record properly

Ensure the level injected is documented and that it matches the imaging finding and the examination. Ensure the response is recorded — how much relief, for how long — because that response is diagnostic evidence and it is frequently left out of the chart. Where relief was temporary, that is not evidence of resolution; it is evidence that the correct level was identified and that the underlying problem persists.

Available insurance coverage

What can be recovered is limited by what coverage exists. The at-fault party’s policy is the starting point, but it is frequently not the only source: the injured person’s own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, household policies, employer coverage where a vehicle was used for work, umbrella and excess layers, and the coverage of any additional responsible party can all apply. Underinsured coverage typically requires notice and consent before any settlement with the at-fault party — settling first can forfeit it. Identifying every available layer is early work, not closing work.

How damages are categorised and proven

Damages are not a single number that gets negotiated. They are separate categories, each proven by different evidence. Past medical expense is proven by billing records and the reasonableness of the charges. Future medical expense requires a physician’s opinion that the care is reasonably certain to be needed. Lost income is proven by employment and tax records; lost earning capacity is a different and larger question requiring vocational and economic analysis. Non-economic loss — pain, limitation, and the effect on daily life — is proven through the medical record and through testimony from people who can describe specific changes rather than general decline. No one can responsibly tell you what a case is worth before that evidence exists, and any figure offered at the outset is a guess.

Filing deadlines

Every injury claim is governed by a statute of limitations, and the periods differ by state and by claim type. For personal injury actions the period is two years in Virginia under Va. Code § 8.01-243(A), accruing at the date of injury; three years in Maryland under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101; three years in the District of Columbia under D.C. Code § 12-301(8); two years in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2; and three years in New York under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5). These are general periods. Discovery rules, tolling for minors and incapacity, claims against government entities — the District imposes a six-month notice-of-claim requirement for claims against the District government — and claim-specific statutes can shorten or extend them. Do not rely on a general period for your own case; have the deadline confirmed on your facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an epidural steroid injection?

An injection of anti-inflammatory medication into the space around the spinal nerves, targeted at a specific level, performed with imaging guidance. It is used to reduce inflammation around an irritated nerve root and to help identify which level is producing the symptoms.

Does it hurt?

It is generally performed with local anaesthetic and sometimes light sedation. Most people describe pressure rather than sharp pain during the procedure, and a temporary increase in pain over the following day or two is common before relief begins. Your physician will explain what to expect.

Why does the response matter to my claim?

Because relief following an injection targeted at a specific nerve root is evidence that this root is the source of the pain. It completes the correlation between the MRI finding, the clinical examination and the symptoms. Make sure the degree and duration of relief is recorded, because it frequently is not.

The relief only lasted a few weeks. Does that hurt my case?

No — it confirms the diagnosis. Temporary relief demonstrates that the correct level was identified while showing that the underlying compression persists. It should be documented accurately rather than reported as either a complete success or a failure.

How many injections will I need?

A limited series is typical rather than indefinite repetition, with the number depending on your response and your physician’s judgment. Ongoing repetition without documented benefit invites the argument that treatment was litigation-driven, so the clinical rationale for each should be recorded.

Will the insurer say the injections were unnecessary?

Frequently, yes — and equally frequently, in cases where injections were not given, that their absence shows the pain was not severe. The answer to both is the same: a documented clinical indication and a documented response, recorded by the treating physician rather than reconstructed later.

Does having an injection mean I will need surgery?

No. Many people are managed with injections and therapy without ever requiring surgery. Injections are part of the conservative pathway, and escalating to them is evidence that conservative care was pursued properly rather than an indication that surgery is inevitable.

How long do I have to bring a claim?

Two years in Virginia and New Jersey, three years in Maryland, the District of Columbia and New York for personal injury actions, subject to tolling and discovery rules and to shorter notice requirements where a government entity is involved. Confirm the deadline on your own facts.

About Mr. Sris

Mr. Sris is the owner and founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., which has practiced since 1997. He is a former prosecutor and is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York. Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and handle matters alongside him. In 2019 Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee on House Bill 635.

Speak with Mr. Sris

Injury claims are governed by filing deadlines that vary by state and by claim type, and evidence degrades quickly. Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Consultations are by appointment.

Last reviewed: August 22, 2026.

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