Will a Pre-Existing Condition Affect My Car Accident Claim?

Rutter Mills Law Firm

Will a Pre-Existing Condition Affect My Car Accident Claim?

Car Accident Info

You can recover damages for the injuries that you suffer in a car accident, even if you have a pre-existing medical condition. However, your compensation will be limited to the specific injuries that were caused by the crash. This means that you and your car accident lawyers will need to demonstrate factual proof of causation.

Our team at Rutter Mills help car accident victims to recover damages for their crash-related injuries– even when they have pre-existing medical problems. We have more than 50 years of experience with these cases, and we know the difference between the kinds of injuries that result from car crashes and other non-crash medical issues.

Should you disclose a pre-existing condition to an accident claims adjuster?

Your pre-existing conditions will inevitably be disclosed when you make your damages claim, particularly if you file a lawsuit to recover compensation. However, you need to be careful when you make that disclosure. An insurance adjuster can use your statements as a basis to reduce your damages claim. Rather than speaking directly to an insurance adjuster, you will better protect your interests if you hire a car accident attorney to handle all of these communications. Your attorney will then provide the relevant details without waiving any rights that you might have to recover a more substantial award.

How does a car accident attorney separate pre-existing conditions from injuries caused by an accident?

car accident lawyer will use your pre-accident medical records to show that your pre-existing condition was stable. In fact, you and your physician had no reason to believe that your condition would get worse. Under these circumstances, even if your pre-existing condition made you more susceptible to suffering injuries– an insurer will have less of an argument to reduce your damages or to withhold compensation altogether.

Your lawyer can also argue that the accident made your other condition worse and that you are entitled to recover compensation for the degradation that the accident caused.

What happens if the pre-existing condition was unknown before the accident?

An individual might have had arthritis or another chronic degenerative condition before an accident– without being fully aware of it. Regardless, a victim’s knowledge of it will not be relevant when they are seeking to recover damages. A skilled lawyer will use the victim’s medical records and the results of diagnostic tests to demonstrate how the accident made the condition worse.

Car crash victims should always undergo a thorough medical exam after an accident. This is to establish the scope of the injuries and any medical conditions they may have had at the time of the accident.

Contact Rutter Mills in Norfolk to Recover the Compensation you Deserve Regardless of Your Pre-Existing Condition

The lawyers at Rutter Mills represent automobile accident victims that have suffered injuries in car accidents in Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, and elsewhere in Virginia. Please see our website or call our Norfolk offices directly for a confidential, no-fee consultation with a car accident lawyer about how you can recover the damages you deserve even if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

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TESTIMONIALS

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Dave Put His Trust in Us

Don’t Fall For The Insurance Company’s Games

Dave suffered serious injuries in a car accident. The defendant’s insurance company tried to offer him a low amount so Dave called Rutter Mills. We took over dealing with the insurance and got Dave the money he needed to get back on his feet.

They enabled me to be happy in life again.

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Glenn’s car accident changed his life, but not permanently thanks to the help of his Rutter Mills attorney. When the insurance companies wouldn’t help him, our team fought back and won.

I knew I needed Rutter Mills.

Fighting For What's Right

Getting Justice

On his way home from work at the shipyard, Dan was involved in an accident. He tried to file a claim on his own, but the insurance company wouldn’t give him the money he needed to put his life back on track. Dan knew he needed to call Rutter Mills.

They actually won my case 3 times!

Larena's Win

After her car accident, Larena asked her father, a local stevedore, for his advice on who to call. He recommended Rutter Mills. Her team of car accident experts at Rutter Mills fought back when the insurance companies tried to deny her the money she needed to recuperate from her injuries. We took her case to trial – and won. When the insurance company filed their appeals, we beat them again – two more times! Larena got the money she needed and the justice she deserved.

We’re going to immediately call Rutter Mills. That’s the people I trust with my baby girl.

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After a car accident, Jamaree’s first call was to her mom. She was shaken up and scared. Mom told her “We’re calling Rutter Mills. Her next was to Rutter Mills. Her Rutter Mills car accident team helped her get compensation “above & beyond” what she was expecting.

They lifted allot of stress off my shoulders. I recommend them to anybody because they WILL fight for you.

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Referrals From Friends and Family

After John was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, he turned to the person he trusts most for a recommendation. His wife, a paralegal of 30 years, told him to call Rutter Mills on the advice of the lawyer she worked for.

They really care for you as a person. Words cannot describe what Rutter Mills did for me and for my case.

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When the insurance company tried to get Carol to sign paperwork after her car accident, she knew she needed a lawyer. Carol knew she needed Rutter Mills.

When I called Rutter Mills, I knew it was the right fit. They’re so interested in helping you get justice.

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Taryn was in a car accident while she was pregnant. She knew she needed someone in her corner to protect her rights and her family’s future.

There’s attorneys, then there’s Rutter Mills.

We're Here When The Unexpected Happens

Priorities

A devasting accident changed Levon’s life forever. The physical and emotional toll left him scared and in pain. When the insurance company for the defendant contacted the family, they made an offer that did not even cover the cost of the medication, much less doctors’ bills, and physical therapy. They knew they needed to talk to a serious lawyer. Rutter Mills took care of the negotiation so Levon could focus on healing.

When you’ve got a serious injury, you need a serious lawyer. That’s why we chose Rutter Mills.

Motorcycle Accidents Change Everything

When Ed was injured in a motorcycle crash, he knew he needed a serious lawyer to protect his rights. The insurance companies were fighting him every step of the way. Rutter Mills helped prove Ed’s case and get him the money he needed to get on the road to recovery.

With the seriousness of the accident, I knew that we needed a serious lawyer. I needed Rutter Mills.

Carol & Levon's Story

They knew they needed a serious lawyer when Carol and her son were seriously injured. After the other party’s insurance company tried to get her to settle for less than she needed, Carol called Rutter Mills for help. We took on the insurance company so she could focus on healing.

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