Motor vehicle collisions can cause many different types of injuries. Crashes can cause limb loss and permanent traumatic brain injuries. They can cause soft tissue injuries that produce debilitating pain. Individuals who sustain significant injuries in a car crash scenario typically have the option of pursuing compensation from the driver at fault. They can file an insurance claim or possibly even a lawsuit in scenarios involving significant injuries and inadequate insurance coverage. Some drivers don’t have any bodily injury liability coverage at all.
In some cases, the process of securing compensation can be more difficult than normal. If the party injured in the crash has a pre-existing medical condition, their prior medical challenges can influence the outcome of a compensation claim.
What is a pre-existing condition?
Many people have chronic medical conditions. A pre-existing injury could be the result of a prior car crash or an incident at work. People can also have congenital medical conditions that they have endured their entire lives. Pre-existing injuries can affect how someone’s body responds to a crash. A pre-existing condition might increase the risk of a vehicle occupant sustaining serious injuries because their body is unusually susceptible to certain types of damages.
What types of conditions might affect a crash?
There are many types of pre-existing conditions that could worsen the outcome of a car crash. Mental health conditions might lead to people panicking and could increase their risk of having a trauma response to the collision. A back issue related to a blue-collar job could become significantly worse after the aggressive motions involved in a car crash.
Any medical conditions that affect an individual’s behavior, cause pain or influence their functional abilities could potentially impact the outcome of a car crash. Even issues like heart disease and diabetes can make people susceptible to certain adverse medical reactions in a car crash scenario. They may end up in the hospital because what happens during the crash triggers their underlying condition or significantly worsens it.
How can pre-existing conditions affect compensation?
Insurance companies often go to great lengths to limit what they pay those making claims against a policyholder. If the company finds out about a pre-existing condition, it may try to blame that prior medical issue for the symptoms someone experiences after a car crash. They may use the medical history of the claimant as a justification to reduce the compensation they offer or to outright deny the claim. The injured party may need assistance negotiating with the insurance company and gathering evidence to prove that the car crash worsened their condition.
With the right support, people with pre-existing injuries exacerbated by a car crash can seek appropriate compensation from the party at fault for the wreck. They may be able to obtain compensation for increased medical expenses, lost wages and lost future earning potential. While they may have a more complex claims process ahead of them, if they secure legal representation, they may still be able to offset the economic impact of their condition.
Recognizing that pre-existing medical challenges can complicate car crash compensation claims can be helpful for those hurt in a wreck. Instead of “simply” hoping for the best, those with pre-existing medical conditions may need to act assertively by getting help as early as possible after a collision.