Pre-Existing Injuries Could Complicate Your Personal Injury Case

 Posted on September 25, 2018 in Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney

When you are injured in a car crash, slip and fall accident, or any other type of accident caused by the actions or negligence of another party, you are generally entitled to collect compensation for your injuries. This means that determining the severity of your injuries is an important part of the process.

If you sustained injuries to a part of your body that has never been seriously hurt before, it is reasonable to assume that any damage was the result of the accident. If, however, you sustained injuries to a part of your body that had been hurt before, it can be difficult to know for sure what damage was caused by the accident and what damage had been done previously. Pre-existing injuries can present serious complications in your pursuit of full compensation, but it is possible to collect in spite of them.

Jury Awards $228,000 Despite Prior Injuries

Earlier this month, a Hartford Superior Court jury deliberated for just an hour before finding in favor of a 48-year-old man who had been injured in a 2016 accident in Bristol. The man was hurt when he was rear-ended by another vehicle, and he suffered injuries to his left shoulder, lower back, and neck, reports indicate. According to court records, liability for the crash was not at issue, as the driver of the second vehicle was cited for following too closely. Instead, the main concern was the victim’s injuries.

The victim had injured his left shoulder and lower back in another accident back in 2010. It was, therefore, up to the plaintiff and his attorney to prove that the injuries for which he was seeking compensation were caused—or at least exacerbated—by the 2016 crash. To do so, the claimant relied on testimony from his orthopedic surgeon.

The victim claimed about $78,000 in medical bills and projected expenses. Prior to trial, representatives for the victim said that the defense had offered a $50,000 settlement.

It took the jury only about an hour to decide that the victim’s injuries were the result of the more recent crash. The awarded verdict totaled $228,000. The defense has about two more weeks before the window to file an appeal will close.

We Can Help

If you have been injured in a car accident and pre-existing injuries are threatening your right to collect compensation, contact an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney. Call 860-290-8690 to schedule a free consultation at Woolf Law Firm, LLC today. We will review your case and help you take action in collecting the damages you deserve.

Sources:

https://www.law.com/ctlawtribune/2018/09/24/middlebury-attorney-overcomes-clients-pre-existing-injuries-to-win-228000-verdict/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x5ih6lrfe3STitrxm0DeaycnVf2zdiIW/view