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The Impact of Pre-Existing Conditions on Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury cases aim to compensate individuals who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence. From car accidents to workplace injuries, these cases often revolve around establishing the extent of harm caused by the incident. But what happens if the injured party has a pre-existing condition? How do these conditions influence the outcome of a personal injury case?

Understanding the role of pre-existing conditions in personal injury claims can be crucial for plaintiffs and defendants alike. While pre-existing conditions don’t automatically disqualify someone from receiving compensation, they can complicate the case and affect the potential settlement or verdict.

What Are Pre-Existing Conditions?

Pre-existing conditions refer to any medical issues or injuries an individual had prior to the incident in question. These could include chronic illnesses such as arthritis, previous injuries like a torn ligament, or even mental health conditions. The key consideration is whether the condition existed before the injury occurred.

For instance, someone involved in a car accident who already had back problems may find their condition worsened due to the impact of the crash. This distinction—whether the incident caused a new injury or aggravated an existing one—plays a pivotal role in personal injury claims.

The “Eggshell Plaintiff Doctrine”

Legally, individuals with pre-existing conditions are still entitled to pursue personal injury claims. This is largely due to what’s known as the “eggshell plaintiff doctrine.” This legal principle states that the defendant takes the plaintiff as they find them. If the plaintiff was particularly vulnerable due to a pre-existing condition, the defendant remains liable for the injuries caused, even if someone in better health might not have been harmed as severely.

For example, if a person with a brittle bone condition sustains fractures in a minor accident, the defendant would still be held responsible for the injuries—even if those injuries wouldn’t have occurred in someone without the condition. However, this doesn’t mean pre-existing conditions are a free pass to maximize compensation. The injured party must prove that the defendant’s actions directly worsened their condition.

Challenges in Proving Causation

One of the main challenges in cases involving pre-existing conditions is proving causation. Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the defendant’s actions either caused a new injury or exacerbated their existing condition. This usually requires thorough medical documentation and expert testimony.

Defense attorneys often focus on separating pre-existing conditions from the injuries stemming from the incident in question. They may argue that the plaintiff’s pain, suffering, or limitations would have occurred regardless of the defendant’s negligence, which could reduce the amount of compensation awarded.

Medical records and expert evaluations become critical at this stage. Detailed documentation of the plaintiff’s health prior to—and after—the incident can establish the distinction between pre-existing conditions and injuries caused or worsened by the event.

How Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Compensation

Pre-existing conditions can impact the amount of compensation awarded in a personal injury case. Courts seek to compensate plaintiffs for harm caused by the defendant, but not for issues unrelated to the incident. This is where the concept of “apportionment” comes into play.

Apportionment aims to separate the effects of the incident from the natural progression of the pre-existing condition. For example, if a plaintiff with chronic knee pain is injured in a slip-and-fall accident, damages may only cover the additional medical treatment or pain caused by the fall—not the underlying knee issues.

While compensation may be reduced due to pre-existing conditions, plaintiffs can still receive damages for:

  • Aggravation of an existing condition
  • If the incident worsened their pre-existing condition.
  • New injuries directly caused by the defendant’s actions
  • If the incident resulted in a distinct, separate injury.

Best Practices for Plaintiffs with Pre-Existing Conditions

If you have a pre-existing condition and are pursuing a personal injury case, transparency and documentation are key. Hiding your condition can weaken your case’s credibility if discovered later. Instead:

  • Disclose your medical history upfront 
  • Be honest about pre-existing conditions with your attorney.
  • Provide thorough medical records 
  • Document how your condition changed after the incident.
  • Work with medical experts 
  • Secure expert opinions that support your claim.

Final Thoughts

Pre-existing conditions are no barrier to pursuing justice in personal injury cases, but they do present additional complexities. Proving that a defendant’s actions aggravated an existing condition or caused a new injury requires meticulous evidence and expert testimony. With proper preparation, injured individuals can still secure fair compensation, ensuring they receive the support they need to recover and move forward.