Every year, there are approximately 43,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States. When some people with pre-existing medical conditions meet with accidents, the legal process of wrongful death claims becomes extremely complicated. Understanding how past health issues can affect a wrongful death claim is crucial for families who are seeking justice as well as financial support. Let's explore the guide and the potential impacts.
The Eggshell Skull Rule: A Basic Legal Foundation
The "eggshell skull rule" is a legal rule in wrongful death cases, where the individuals who caused the accident are completely responsible for the death of the victim, even if the pre-existing health conditions had made the victim more prone to serious injuries or death.
For example, if a person has a heart attack every three seconds and dies in a minor car crash (that would not be life-threatening), the driver who caused the accident is fully responsible legally. This rule protects individuals with health problems from having their claims rejected only because they were already living with those conditions. The court says that people with pre-existing health conditions deserve similar legal protection as those who are in good health.
Challenges in Proving the Reason Behind the Death
Even with the eggshell skull rule, giving proof of causation in cases of wrongful death with pre-existing medical conditions is very challenging for a wrongful death attorney. In 2022, around 227,039 individuals met with death because of unintentional injuries. Defendants often argue that the individual had died because of their underlying health issues, regardless of the accident.
Here, the medical professionals are crucial, who can help identify whether the accident was the major contributing factor to death or it's just a coincidence. The main question is whether the accident made the underlying health issues worse or caused the death to occur in a way that would be different from what those conditions alone would have caused.
How Pre-Existing Health Conditions Impact Compensation?
The pre-existing health conditions can have a significant impact on the total amount of money that the family receives in a wrongful death claim.
The court looks at these things:
How long is the life expectancy of the victim
What is the earning capacity of the victim
What's their overall health status at the time of the accident
This analysis involves the expert opinions provided by the experienced healthcare professionals regarding the progression of the condition and its impact on the future of the individual.
If the medical reports show that the pre-existing health conditions would have reduced life expectancy or affected the earning capacity of the victim, families might face low compensation. But this does not mean that there is no claim. Individuals with underlying health issues can still play an important role in supporting their families- financially and emotionally.
Why Medical Records are so Important?
In these cases, complete and clear medical records become very important. These records show:
The severity of the pre-existing health conditions
The treatment history of the victim
The progression of the victim's condition before the accident
This documentation helps find out the baseline health status of the victim. Also, the doctor who treated the victim can explain their health status and life expectancy. This can help the legal team to argue about how much damage is caused by the accident, not just due to the health conditions.
Final Thoughts
Though pre-existing health conditions make wrongful death claims more complicated, they do not stop you from successfully winning the case. With the help of qualified and skillful wrongful death attorneys and medical experts, families can get justice. The proficient wrongful death attorneys know well how to utilize the "eggshell skull rule" to tackle these challenges and prove that the accident actually the cause of the death of your loved one.
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