The expectation after receiving an injury during a motor vehicle accident is that the insurance company will step in to provide fair compensation. However, any blemish on a driver’s record can become a friction point when filing a claim.
Those who have been driving for many years tend to have a traffic ticket or other minor violations on record. Insurance companies that seek to deny an injury claim can bring a more serious incident to bear as evidence for the court.
The case for negligent driving habits
Claimants who accumulate points on their record for committing traffic violations in Tennessee might fall under the accusation of being negligent drivers. During a personal injury case, a history of prior violations could come up as evidence that the individual filing a claim is at fault for the accident. If proven to be primarily responsible for a crash, the claim may lose significant value for the filing individual.
The case for preexisting injuries
A prior accident on record is grounds for an argument for preexisting injuries. Even if the claimant proves to not be at fault for an accident in the past, insurance companies might try to prove that the injury in question was the result of a previous incident. This can result in denial of the current injury claim if the argument satisfies the court.
Individuals who experience a personal injury resulting from a car accident should disclose relevant driving record details with their attorney. This will help representatives prepare to deal with insurance companies that may use past incidents in an effort to devalue an injury claim.
