How to Read Your MRI Report After a Car Accident (And Why It Matters for Your Injury Claim)

If you've been injured in a car accident and your doctor ordered an MRI, you probably received a report filled with confusing medical language like "disc protrusion," "foraminal narrowing," or "degenerative changes."

So what does it all mean — and how does it affect your personal injury case?

At Ryan & Rouse, we help injury victims throughout North Alabama understand their medical records, work with specialists, and translate MRI findings into strong legal claims. Here’s a breakdown of how to read your MRI report and why it’s so important.

What Is an MRI — and Why Is It Ordered After a Crash?

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a detailed imaging scan that shows soft tissue injuries that X-rays can’t detect — including:

• Herniated or bulging discs
• Ligament tears
• Nerve compression
• Spinal cord abnormalities
• Joint and muscle injuries

Doctors often order MRIs when patients complain of neck, back, or joint pain that lasts beyond a few weeks, or when neurological symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness appear.

How to Read the Key Parts of Your MRI Report

MRI reports are written by a radiologist and usually broken down into a few sections. Here’s what to look for:

✅ “Findings” Section

This is where the radiologist describes what they see at each level of the spine or joint.

Common terms include:

• Disc Bulge – A disc that has extended slightly beyond its normal boundary
• Herniated Disc (or Protrusion) – A more significant disc displacement, which may press on nerves
• Foraminal Narrowing – A narrowing of the nerve passageways; may cause radiculopathy (radiating pain)
• Spinal Stenosis – A narrowing of the spinal canal that may compress the spinal cord
• Facet Arthropathy – Degeneration or arthritis in the small joints of the spine
• Signal Abnormality or Edema – Signs of inflammation, swelling, or trauma
• Ligament Tears or Sprains – Common in shoulder, knee, or spinal ligament injuries

✅ “Impression” Section

This is the radiologist’s summary — the most important part of the report. It lists the major findings and often includes a diagnosis (e.g., “C5-C6 disc protrusion causing mild neural foraminal narrowing”).

What Does the Insurance Company Look For?

When evaluating your injury claim, insurance adjusters (and defense attorneys) look at your MRI report to:

• Assess the severity of your injury
• Look for preexisting conditions(e.g., degenerative disc disease)
• Question whether your pain is really caused by the accident
• Dispute the need for ongoing treatment or surgery

That’s why it’s critical to work with a law firm that understands how to connect your MRI findings to the trauma of the accident — and not let the insurance company blame everything on aging or prior wear-and-tear.

Don’t Let “Degenerative Changes” Hurt Your Case

It’s very common for MRI reports to mention degenerative disc disease or spondylosis, especially in adults over 30. Insurance companies often use this to argue that your pain isn’t related to the crash.

But here’s the truth: a traumatic event like a car accident can aggravate a preexisting condition — and under Alabama law, that’s still a valid claim.

We work with treating physicians and radiologists to show that:

• You were not symptomatic before the wreck
• Your MRI shows acute changes consistent with trauma
• Your pain, treatment, and limitations began after the crash

How We Use MRI Reports to Build Your Case

At Ryan & Rouse, we:

• Review your imaging reports and medical records in detail
• Consult with your doctors to connect the findings to the wreck
• Use radiology findings to explain the need for treatment, injections, or surgery
• Fight back when the insurance company tries to minimize your injuries

We also ensure that your MRI findings are properly documented and explained in settlement demands and, if needed, in front of a jury.

Get Help from Attorneys Who Understand the Medicine

Understanding your MRI report is more than just decoding jargon — it’s about knowing how to use it to support your injury claim. At Ryan & Rouse, we speak the language of medicine and the language of the courtroom — and we use both to fight for the compensation you deserve.

📞 Call us today at (256) 801-1000 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your records, explain your MRI results, and help you take the next step toward recovery.