Car accidents can aggravate or worsen the medical conditions you already have. Our DuPage County car accident attorneys can help you get compensated not only for your new injuries but for your old ones that were inflamed by the accident.
Insurance companies may try to limit or deny your compensation by using your pre-existing conditions against you. Our seasoned DuPage County personal injury attorneys will protect you against these tactics and make sure they treat you fairly.
Combined, our team of attorneys at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid has over 74 years of experience. That experience has paid off big for our past clients, for whom we have obtained more than $150 million in verdicts and settlements.
If you’ve been injured in a DuPage County, IL, car accident that also made your pre-existing health problems even worse, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Contact us at (630) 428-4040 to schedule a free and confidential consultation so we can assess your new and old injuries.
If I’ve Been Injured in a DuPage County Car Accident, What Can the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid Do for Me?
The car accident insurance claim procedures are complicated enough under the best of circumstances. But when you’re dealing with new injuries on top of old injuries that have been exacerbated by a car accident, it becomes even more complex.
Our DuPage County personal injury lawyers focus our practice on protecting the rights of injury victims. While cases involving accident victims with pre-existing conditions are particularly intricate, they don’t prevent a person from getting compensation.
You need an experienced attorney who can show how your old injuries or health problems have been made worse. Your medical history and records will be an integral part of proving that.
When you select the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid to handle your DuPage County car accident claim, we’ll make sure you get compensated for your pre-existing conditions that were aggravated by the accident by:
- Talking to you in detail about your prior health conditions, as well as your new injuries
- Reviewing your entire medical history records so we can understand the extent of the harm you’ve suffered
- Working with your medical providers to understand how the accident made your past health conditions even worse
- Retaining some of the state’s top experts who will strengthen your claim for compensation as needed
You shouldn’t try to take on the insurance company yourself. Their primary concern is their financial bottom line, not your well-being. While a fast settlement may seem attractive, their initial offer will likely be grossly inadequate.
When you’re at your most vulnerable, you can count on us to level the playing field and keep the insurance company honest. Reach out to our law office in DuPage County, Illinois, today to get started.
How Do My Pre-Existing Conditions Affect My Ability To Get Compensation After a DuPage County Car Accident?
Illinois is an “at-fault” car accident state, meaning you must pursue the at-fault driver or their insurance company to get compensation for your injuries. Under Illinois law, you must prove that the at-fault driver’s negligence not only caused your new injuries but also aggravated your pre-existing health conditions.
A person who negligently causes an accident that results in your injuries can’t argue that your pre-existing conditions made you more vulnerable to injuries, and therefore they can’t be held liable. Under the “eggshell” skull rule, a negligent party is responsible for an injury that was worsened by the accident, even if they could not have foreseen that.
It’s important to note that if your own actions contributed to the accident, your overall damages may be reduced according to the percentage of your own negligence. If your pre-existing injuries were aggravated by the crash, and you were 25% at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by that percentage. If you were more than 50% at fault, you’re not entitled to any compensation under Illinois law.
What Are Pre-Existing Conditions That Can Be Worsened by a Car Accident?
There are a myriad of injuries you can sustain in a car accident, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries – and everything in between. They can also cause complications with any pre-existing health conditions that you have.
There are some pre-existing conditions that are more susceptible to being made worse in a car accident than others. Some of those include:
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Epilepsy
- Arthritis
- Knee injuries
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
The insurance company will argue that your pre-existing injuries are no worse than they were before the car accident or that you are exaggerating those injuries. We’ll push back and fight tirelessly to get you compensated for all your injuries.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our DuPage County Pre-Existing Injury Car Accident Attorneys
Call the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid if your pre-existing health conditions were made worse by a negligent driver. We have the experience and skill it takes to thoroughly scrutinize your medical records and refute the insurance company’s claims that your pre-existing conditions have not changed.
When negligent drivers make your situation worse, they need to be held accountable. You may have to deal with the physical pain of the car accident, but you don’t have to endure the financial pain as well.
If your pre-existing conditions were aggravated in an accident caused by someone else, call the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid to schedule a free consultation with a qualified DuPage County car accident attorney. We’ll evaluate your case and develop a legal strategy that’s right for you.
