Injuries due to others’ mistakes can be stressful. Especially if there’s fear of an insurance claim denial due to a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies’ only goal is profit. They might deny claims for pre-existing conditions.
It is not uncommon that an insurance company will use someone’s pre-existing condition to avoid compensating an injured party. However, an initial denial of coverage does not mean all is lost.
What Is a Pre-Existing Condition?
A pre-existing condition is a mental or physical ailment someone had before the incident. Below are some common pre-existing conditions that insurance companies will try and use to avoid liability.
- Back or neck problems
- Joint problems
- Respiratory conditions
- Anxiety, depression, or other psychological conditions
Insurance companies cannot deny a claim simply because of a pre-existing condition. However, they can deny it if the claim merely seeks to compensate for an earlier, unrelated injury.
When a Pre-Existing Condition Is Not Related to the Claim
If you had a health issue before the accident, and it’s not linked to your current claim, the insurance can’t use it to deny your claim. The following is evidence that can be used to help make your case:
- Medical records: Medical records for the injury being claimed can be used to show the history of the injury. A medical record will show the claimed injury’s diagnosis, treatment, and recovery progress. Your medical records should have doctors’ notes concerning what caused the injury and whether it was linked to a pre-existing condition.
- Medical history: You may be reluctant to share your medical history with an insurance company, but it tells the story of your health, including the pre-existing condition. Your medical history will show when you were treated for your pre-existing condition, what treatments you received, the recovery process, and indicate whether the pre-existing condition was asymptomatic at the time of the new accident. For example, if you hurt your neck ten years prior and received treatment but were no longer receiving treatment because the injury had fully healed, your medical history will show that.
- Medical professional statements: You can also request a statement from the treating medical professional or professionals concerning the injury being claimed. In the statement, the medical professional would provide their opinions and observations concerning the injury and whether it was linked to a pre-existing condition.
Read more:
- What You Need to Know About Requesting Your Medical Records
- Why Your Medical History Before an Accident is Vital
What to Do if an Insurance Company Denies Your Claim Because of a Pre-Existing Condition
If an insurance company has denied your claim, you do not have to accept the denial. You can challenge the insurance company. Show them the injury isn’t because of the old condition. If they don’t listen, you can sue them and the at-fault driver.
It is important to note that Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state. You might not get compensation if you’re over 49 percent responsible for an accident.
What Happens if My Pre-Existing Condition Has Worsened Because of an Accident?
While you cannot recover compensation for a pre-existing condition, you deserve compensation if the accident aggravated your pre-existing condition. Georgia follows the “eggshell plaintiff rule.” It lets people claim for worsened injuries due to others’ mistakes.
Under the eggshell plaintiff rule, a claimant can usually recover compensation for their injuries if they can show that:
- Their pre-existing condition was stable when the incident occurred, and
- Before the accident, there was no indication that the stability of your pre-existing condition would change.
Insurance companies are generally required to take a claimant as they are, meaning if someone’s pre-existing condition would have remained the same if they were not involved in the accident, the injured party may be eligible to receive compensation.
Contact an Experienced Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you have been injured in Augusta because of another person’s negligence, you deserve to be represented by a skilled and knowledgeable legal team who will fight for your best interests. The Augusta personal injury attorneys of Chris Hudson Law Group are here to help you get the compensation you deserve after an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Call us today at (706) 863-6600 for a free, confidential consultation and to learn more about your legal options.
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