Challenges Of Settling Your Car Accident With Preexisting Injuries
After a car accident occurs, the negotiations will begin within a few weeks or months, and these negotiations are a necessary part of settling the case. If you were injured in the accident but had preexisting injuries when it took place, you may face some challenges as you try to settle the case, even if the other party was clearly at-fault for the incident. Here are several things you should know about the effects preexisting injuries can have on a car accident case.
The definition of preexisting injuries
An injury you had before the accident occurred is considered a preexisting injury. This can include injuries to your back or neck, or it may include a health issue such as arthritis or diabetes. Any injury or health problem you had before the accident would be labeled a preexisting injury.
Why preexisting injuries affect settlements
Preexisting injuries can impact settlements for car accidents for several reasons, but the main reason is because it can be hard to prove your new injuries when you already had injuries before you were in the collision. The settlement you receive from the accident will not include healthcare needs you have for the injuries you had prior to the accident. The settlement will only be for the health issues you have for injuries sustained in the accident.
The challenges of proving the difference in health
The challenging part of all of this is trying to prove the new injuries and separate them from the preexisting injuries you have. To get the most money for your settlement, you will need to prove the difference in your health from before the accident to after the accident, and this can be challenging. One way you can do this is by using documents and reports from your doctors that state your health status prior to the accident. Next, you would need health reports for your injuries after the accident. In any case, it may be hard to fully understand the effects of the accident, especially because a car accident can cause preexisting injuries to worsen and become more severe.
What you can do about this
If you are injured from the car accident you were involved in, you should ask for advice from a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers can help, even with cases involving preexisting injuries, and talking to a lawyer is the best way to learn your rights in your case.
Reach out to a personal injury lawyer to learn more.