Why It’s Crucial to Disclose Prior Medical Conditions in a Personal Injury Case in Des Moines, IA & Throughout the State of Iowa
7016408197 • January 12, 2025
Why It’s Crucial to Disclose Prior Medical Conditions in a Personal Injury Case
When you've been injured in an accident, your first concern is likely about your recovery and securing compensation for your medical costs. However, there's a key factor that many injury victims overlook: full disclosure of prior medical conditions.
What’s the Risk of Hiding Past Injuries?
Let’s say you hurt your neck in a car accident. Naturally, the insurance company, doctors, and possibly even the opposing party’s legal team will inquire about any previous injuries to your neck or shoulder region. Why? Because they need to understand whether you're claiming compensation for a completely new injury or for an aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
It’s important to note that aggravations of old injuries are still compensable. So, withholding this information can harm your case more than help it. You may think keeping quiet about a past injury will prevent complications in your claim, but in reality, it can do the opposite. It raises doubts about your credibility. If you fail to disclose prior medical conditions, it opens the door for the opposing side to question your honesty on other issues too.
An Example
Consider this scenario: years ago, you injured your knee while playing basketball. Recently, you were involved in a car accident where you broke your hip. Though the prior knee injury doesn’t seem directly related to the hip injury, failing to disclose the past issue could make your case more complicated. Even if irrelevant, any omitted medical history could lead to scrutiny or delays in your settlement.
Full Disclosure Protects Your Case
The best approach in any personal injury claim is full transparency. Always disclose your full medical history to your doctors and the insurance companies involved in your case. If you’re unsure what’s relevant, that’s where an experienced personal injury attorney comes in—they can help you navigate these details.
At the end of the day, honesty is the best policy when it comes to building a strong personal injury case. If you have questions about what to disclose, give your Des Moines' personal injury lawyers at LLDDC Law a call. The call is 100% free and there is no cost until we take your case and win.
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