How Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Personal Injury Claims

If you’ve been injured in an accident and already had a medical condition before it happened, you may wonder if that will hurt your chances of getting compensation. The truth is, a pre-existing condition doesn’t prevent you from filing a personal injury claim—but it can make your case more complex.

At Marienfeld Law PLLC, we help clients across Michigan navigate these situations every day. Our job is to make sure insurance companies don’t use your medical history as an excuse to deny fair compensation.

Understanding Pre-Existing Conditions

A pre-existing condition is any injury, illness, or physical limitation that existed before the accident. Common examples include:

• Chronic back or neck pain

• Prior surgeries or fractures

• Arthritis or joint issues

• Previous concussions or head injuries

• Degenerative disc disease

Having these conditions doesn’t mean your pain after an accident isn’t real — or that you’re not entitled to compensation. In many cases, an accident can aggravate or worsen a pre-existing injury, creating new symptoms, greater pain, or longer recovery times.

Michigan Law Protects Victims With Pre-Existing Conditions

Michigan courts follow what’s known as the “eggshell plaintiff rule.”

This means a negligent party is responsible for all harm caused by their actions, even if the victim was more vulnerable to injury than an average person.

Simply put, the defendant must take the victim as they find them.

If an accident worsens your condition, the at-fault party can still be held liable for the additional damage — even if your health issues made you more susceptible to serious injury.

The Role of Medical Evidence

Medical documentation is key in cases involving pre-existing conditions. To succeed, your attorney will work to:

• Compare your medical records before and after the accident

• Obtain testimony from your treating physicians or medical experts

• Demonstrate how the accident exacerbated your prior condition

For example, if you had occasional lower back pain before the crash but now have constant pain requiring physical therapy or injections, that difference is clear evidence of aggravation.

Common Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance adjusters often claim your pain is unrelated to the accident, hoping to reduce or deny your settlement. They may:

• Demand access to years of medical history

• Suggest your injuries are entirely pre-existing

• Minimize your new symptoms as “just part of getting older”

That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced Michigan personal injury attorney on your side. We know these tactics — and how to counter them with medical evidence, expert testimony, and a clear presentation of your case.

How Marienfeld Law Can Help

At Marienfeld Law PLLC, we take the time to understand your full medical picture and how the accident truly impacted your life. We work with medical professionals to show what’s new, what’s worsened, and what you deserve to recover.

Our goal is simple: to ensure your pre-existing condition isn’t used against you — but instead helps tell the full story of how the accident changed your health and well-being.

If you’ve been injured in Michigan and have a pre-existing condition, contact Marienfeld Law PLLC today for a free consultation. We’ll help you navigate the legal process, deal with insurance companies, and fight for the compensation you deserve.