Pre-Existing Conditions and Truck Accidents

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries, which can lead injured victims to file personal injury lawsuits. These cases can be very complex, and they are even more complicated if a victim has a pre-existing medical condition. Insurance companies frequently try to use prior health issues to minimize or deny compensation, arguing that an injury was not caused by the crash. However, the law recognizes that accident victims are entitled to recovery even if they were more vulnerable to injury because of a pre-existing condition. This is what you should know if you have been injured in a truck accident and have a pre-existing condition.

What Are Pre-Existing Conditions?

A pre-existing condition is any injury, illness, or medical issue that existed before the accident., These conditions can be recent or longstanding and may range from relatively minor health concerns to more serious, chronic issues. The severity or duration of the condition does not change its classification as pre-existing. Common examples include previous back or neck injuries, arthritis, chronic pain disorders, degenerative disc disease, or respiratory issues like asthma. Even conditions that seemed dormant or well-managed before an accident can become significant factors in evaluating injury claims after a crash.

What Happens to Someone With Pre-Existing Injuries In A Truck Accident?

The force of a truck collision often places additional stress on already vulnerable areas of the body, leading to more intense symptoms, delayed healing, or permanent damage. In some cases, previously stable conditions will become disabling after the accident. When a person with pre-existing injuries is involved in a truck accident, the trauma of the crash can aggravate or accelerate underlying medical issues. For instance, someone with mild degenerative disc disease may experience a severe herniated disc after the crash. Arthritis can worsen due to joint trauma, turning manageable stiffness into chronic pain. Old fractures or surgical sites can be re-injured, causing new swelling, instability, or mobility loss. The recovery process for someone with a pre-existing condition often involves not only healing from new injuries but also managing flare-ups of old ones, which can complicate medical treatment and make daily life harder. 

Can People With Pre-Existing Injuries File Claims?

The answer is, yes. In Illinois, as in other states, there is something called an “eggshell plaintiff” rule. This doctrine means that a defendant must take the plaintiff as they are, even if they are more fragile or vulnerable to injury than the average person. In other words, the at-fault party cannot escape liability for the injury simply because the victim already had a medical condition that made the consequences of the accident worse.

This rule is meant to keep things fair by stopping negligent truck drivers or companies from using a person’s medical history against them. Everyone’s body reacts to accidents in its own way. Someone with a health issue may get hurt worse than someone who was perfectly healthy. The “eggshell plaintiff” rule says the at-fault party is responsible for the real injuries the crash caused, not just the kind of injury a healthier person might have had. Therefore, even if you have a pre-existing injury, you are just as entitled to file a lawsuit following a truck accident as someone who does not have a pre-existing injury.

How to Prove That A Pre-Existing Injury Was Aggravated

While people with pre-existing injuries can file lawsuits if they have been in truck accidents, they will need to show that the pre-existing injury was aggravated. To succeed in a personal injury case involving a pre-existing condition, you need to clearly demonstrate how the accident affected your health and caused additional harm. This requires proving both the existence of the condition before the accident and the impact the accident had on worsening it. 

You will need to show:

• You had a diagnosed or documented medical condition before the accident.
• The accident worsened or aggravated that pre-existing condition.
• The worsening caused measurable damages, such as increased medical expenses, lost income, or reduced quality of life.

This requires you to provide evidence. Evidence includes medical records from before and after the accident, doctor’s testimony showing how the condition worsened, diagnostic tests like MRIs or X-rays that reveal new damage, and treatment plans that expanded after the accident.

Common Mistakes Accident Victims With Pre-Existing Conditions Make

People with pre-existing conditions sometimes make choices after an accident that unintentionally weaken their personal injury claims. One common mistake is failing to disclose their full medical history. Although it might seem helpful to withhold information, the defense usually uncovers it later, which can damage your credibility and hurt your case.

Stopping medical treatment too soon is another error. Consistent treatment is crucial to show that your injuries are ongoing and connected to the accident. Gaps in care make it easier for insurers to argue that you’ve recovered or that the injury isn’t serious.

Waiting too long to get legal help can also be costly. Insurance companies move quickly to minimize payouts, and without early legal guidance, you may unintentionally harm your case. An experienced truck accident attorney can protect your rights, gather evidence, and negotiate effectively to maximize your compensation. Starting early with legal support greatly improves your chances of success.

Contact An Experienced Truck Accident Attorney

Dealing with a truck accident is stressful, and pre-existing conditions can complicate things. On top of that, insurance companies may try to downplay your claim by blaming your pain on your prior condition rather than the crash itself. Because these cases can be complex, consulting with an experienced truck accident attorney is especially important. A truck accident lawyer can review your medical records, work with doctors to show how the crash worsened your condition, and push back against insurance companies that try to undervalue your claim. Having an advocate on your side can ease the stress and give you the best chance of securing fair compensation for both your old and new injuries.