In California personal injury cases, injuries to the facet joints—the small stabilizing joints between each pair of vertebrae—are often overlooked but extremely painful, and they can lead to chronic back or neck pain. Though facet injuries don’t always show up on initial imaging, they can cause long-term disability and are often tied to whiplash, falls, or spinal compression from trauma.
🦴 What Are Facet Joint Injuries?
- Each spinal segment has two facet joints (left & right) that help guide and restrict spinal motion.
- Facet joints are lined with cartilage and have a capsule filled with synovial fluid, like your knee or elbow.
- Injury or inflammation can lead to facet joint syndrome, instability, or arthritic changes.
⚠️ Common Causes in PI Cases:
- Car accidents (especially rear-end collisions causing hyperextension)
- Slip and falls
- Trip and falls (twisting or jarring motions)
- Heavy lifting accidents
- Sports or recreational accidents
- Motorcycle and bike crashes
💥 Common Facet Joint Injuries:
| Type of Injury | Description |
|---|---|
| Facet joint syndrome | Inflammation causing localized and radiating pain |
| Facet subluxation | Joint shifts out of place temporarily (partial dislocation) |
| Facet arthropathy | Degeneration or trauma-induced arthritis |
| Capsular tear or strain | Damage to the protective tissue around the joint |
| Facet impingement | Bone or swelling presses on nearby nerves |
| Instability or hypermobility | Joints become loose and painful after trauma |
🧾 Medical Evidence That Strengthens a Claim:
- Physical exam findings (e.g., pain with extension or twisting)
- MRI or CT scans (may show inflammation or degeneration)
- Diagnostic medial branch block (nerve block to confirm facet pain)
- Facet joint injections or radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- Pain diaries and treatment logs
- Evaluations from pain management specialists, orthopedic surgeons, or neurosurgeons
💵 Damages You Can Recover in California:
✅ Economic:
- Medical bills (diagnostics, specialist visits)
- Pain management treatment (injections, RF ablation, PT)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Future care needs if chronic
✅ Non-Economic:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (for spouses/partners)
💰 Estimated Settlement Values for Facet Injuries:
| Injury Severity | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Mild/moderate facet syndrome (injections only) | $15,000 – $75,000 |
| Chronic pain needing RFA or long-term therapy | $75,000 – $200,000 |
| Permanent impairment or multi-level injury | $200,000 – $500,000+ |
Factors that influence value include:
✅ Medical documentation
✅ Impact on work & daily life
✅ Whether surgical intervention is needed
✅ Severity & permanence of the injury
📅 California Legal Time Limits:
- [Generally] 2 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim
- 6 months if a government entity is involved
🔍 How to Build a Strong Facet Joint Injury Case:
✅ Seek medical attention immediately
✅ Keep consistent treatment and follow-up with specialists
✅ Request diagnostic nerve blocks or RFA to confirm pain source
✅ Get written reports connecting injury to accident
✅ Document how it affects daily life (e.g., sitting, driving, working)
⚠️ Insurance Company Strategies to Watch For:
- Claiming your pain is due to degenerative changes
- Downplaying facet injuries as “soft tissue”
- Arguing that MRI didn’t show anything (facet issues often require more specific testing)
- Offering quick lowball settlements