I Had a Car Accident Before – Does It Hurt My Case?
If you’ve been in a previous car accident, you may worry that it will hurt your current claim. The truth is, a prior accident does not automatically harm your case—and in some situations, it can even strengthen it.
How Previous Injuries Can Affect Your Claim
Aggravation of existing injuries:
If you had injuries from a previous accident that are made worse in the new accident, you are entitled to compensation for the aggravation.
In Texas, this falls under the “eggshell plaintiff” rule, which recognizes that some people are more vulnerable to injury than others. Even a minor collision could cause serious harm if your body was already weakened.
New injuries unrelated to the previous accident:
If your new injuries are clearly separate from any prior accidents, they can be fully compensated just like any other injury.
Insurance company challenges:
Insurance companies may try to argue that your injuries are from the previous accident rather than the new one.
This is why documentation is crucial—medical records, imaging, and doctor notes showing progression or aggravation of injuries will support your claim.
How an Attorney Can Help
An experienced personal injury attorney can document and explain the difference between old and new injuries.
They can use expert opinions and medical records to show how the new accident caused or worsened injuries, protecting your right to full compensation.
Properly handled, prior accidents do not reduce the value of your current claim if evidence shows aggravation or new injuries.
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