Herniated disc C5-C6 accident attorney

C5-C6 is among the most commonly herniated levels in the neck, and cervical herniations behave differently from lumbar ones: the spinal cord itself runs through this region, so a large central herniation can compress the cord rather than only a nerve root, producing symptoms in the legs as well as the arms. 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 imaging and records show

MRI shows the herniation, whether it contacts or displaces the C6 nerve root, and critically whether it contacts or indents the spinal cord — and whether there is any signal change within the cord, which indicates cord injury rather than mere contact. The C6 clinical pattern is pain radiating from the neck into the shoulder, down the outer arm into the thumb and index finger, weakness of elbow flexion and wrist extension, and a diminished biceps or brachioradialis reflex.

Why this injury meets the legal threshold

A confirmed herniation with matching C6 findings is objective injury, and a diminished reflex is an examiner-elicited sign rather than a reported symptom. Where the cord is compressed or shows signal change, the injury is of a different order entirely and any threshold requirement is comfortably met.

Typical treatment course and prognosis

Conservative management first where there is no cord compression or progressive deficit. Cervical epidural injection is used in selected cases. Surgery is most commonly anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, in which the disc is removed from the front of the neck and the segment fused, or disc replacement where suitable. Recognized long-term issues include reduced neck motion after fusion and adjacent segment degeneration, in which the levels above and below take increased load over time.

How insurance carriers attack this diagnosis

That degenerative change in the cervical spine is common by middle age. That vehicle damage was minor. That there was a delay before neck symptoms were reported. That surgery was elective. The counter is the correlation between the imaging level and the C6 clinical pattern, objective reflex and strength findings, and where present, cord contact or signal change, which is not explicable by ordinary degeneration.

Proving the accident caused it

Establish the pre-collision baseline and the mechanism, typically a rear or side impact producing rapid neck movement. Ensure the examination documented the C6 findings specifically — reflexes, elbow flexion and wrist extension strength, sensation in the thumb and index finger. Where any leg symptoms, gait change, hand clumsiness or bladder change is reported, ensure cord compression was assessed, because that changes the urgency and the case entirely.

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 symptoms suggest C6 nerve involvement?

Pain from the neck into the shoulder and down the outer arm into the thumb and index finger, weakness bending the elbow or extending the wrist, and altered sensation in the thumb and index finger. A diminished biceps or brachioradialis reflex on that side supports it objectively.

Why are neck herniations more serious than lower back ones?

Because the spinal cord runs through the cervical spine, whereas below roughly the first lumbar level the canal contains nerve roots rather than cord. A large central cervical herniation can therefore compress the cord itself, producing symptoms in the legs, gait disturbance, hand clumsiness and in some cases bladder changes.

What is cord signal change?

A bright area within the spinal cord on MRI indicating injury to the cord tissue itself rather than mere contact from the disc. It is a significant finding, it is objective, and it is associated with a poorer prognosis for full recovery. Where it is present the case is materially different and should be treated as such.

What is an ACDF?

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion — removal of the disc through the front of the neck and fusion of the adjacent vertebrae, usually with a plate and a spacer or graft. It is the most common operation for cervical disc herniation and it reliably addresses arm symptoms, at the cost of motion at that segment.

What is adjacent segment disease?

Increased load on the levels immediately above and below a fusion, which over years can accelerate degeneration there and sometimes require further surgery. It is a recognized long-term consequence of fusion and, where a fusion has been performed, the risk should be addressed by the surgeon and documented as future care.

I have clumsy hands and my walking has changed. Is that related?

Those are potential signs of cord compression rather than simple nerve root irritation, and they should be assessed promptly. Dropping objects, difficulty with buttons, a change in balance or gait, or any bladder change after a neck injury warrants specific evaluation rather than being attributed to the arm symptoms.

Is disc replacement an alternative to fusion?

In selected patients, yes — an artificial disc preserves motion at the level rather than eliminating it, which may reduce load on adjacent segments. Suitability depends on the anatomy, the degree of degeneration and other factors. It is a decision for you and your surgeon based on your specific situation.

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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