A pre-existing condition refers to a medical condition or injury that a plaintiff has suffered from before the accident in question. Disclosing such conditions is necessary when moving forward with a personal injury claim, as they must be considered when an insurance settlement or jury award is being calculated. That is because a pre-existing condition may reduce the amount of compensation awarded in a civil case.
Having a pre-existing medical condition does not necessarily prevent a claimant from being compensated for the undue harm they have experienced. Clear and compelling evidence must be provided to show that the accident resulted in an exacerbation or aggravation of their condition. To help establish this, medical records from before and after the accident, depositions from treating physicians, and testimony from expert witnesses may be useful.