A car accident can cause serious injuries. But an accident can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions. In Connecticut, personal injury law allows accident victims to seek compensation even if they had a medical condition before a crash, provided that the wreck in question caused an escalation of harm that would not have occurred absent the accident event. This legal principle, known as the eggshell plaintiff doctrine, protects individuals whose health conditions have been made worse due to someone else’s negligence.
The eggshell plaintiff doctrine holds that a negligent party is responsible for the full extent of a victim’s injuries, even if the victim had a prior condition that made them more vulnerable to harm. This means that if an accident worsens an existing injury, an at-fault driver can still be held liable for the additional pain, medical treatment and complications suffered by the victim at issue.
For example, if a person with a history of back problems is involved in a rear-end collision that significantly worsens their pain and mobility, they may be entitled to damages for the increased severity of their condition. Similarly, someone with a previous knee injury who experiences further damage in a crash can seek compensation for the new medical treatment they require.
Demonstrating proof, seeking compensation
To successfully recover damages, an accident victim must show that the crash directly aggravated their existing condition. Insurance companies may try to argue that the injury was not caused by the accident but rather by the natural progression of the condition. This is why strong medical evidence is important when it comes to building a victim’s case.
Partially because it is so consequential that the link between a crash and an individual’s aggravated harm be proven clearly, accident victims need to seek medical treatment and legal guidance as soon as possible after a wreck occurs. Insurance companies often try to deny or reduce claims involving pre-existing conditions, arguing that an accident was not the primary cause of a particular injury. Acting decisively to prove this link can make all the difference to an overall outcome accordingly.