Research Example: Aggravation of Pre-Existing Conditions in Personal Injury Cases
Here’s a mock research assignment showing how Midpage can help a personal injury lawyer quickly uncover the governing rules on aggravation of pre-existing conditions.
The scenario
Your client, a 55-year-old man with a history of lower back problems, was rear-ended at a stoplight in Los Angeles. Following the collision, his back pain significantly worsened, and he has now been diagnosed with a herniated disc. The defense argues that the herniation was entirely the result of his pre-existing back issues, not the crash.
You need California authority clarifying when a defendant is liable for aggravating a pre-existing condition, and how damages are apportioned between the old injury and the new harm.
Step 1: Start with a proposition search
“A defendant is liable for aggravation of a plaintiff’s pre-existing condition if the defendant’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing the increased harm.”
This type of query targets judicial statements of law, not just passing mentions of “pre-existing conditions.”
The first few results show a mix of negligence claims, ranging from slip-and-fall to malpractice but not all are directly tied to accident liability. Thanks to Midpage’s AI summaries, it’s easy to skim past background cases and move on to find those that directly address accident liability.
Step 2: Narrow with a yes/no question
To refine, we ask:
“Did the court hold the defendant liable for aggravation of a pre-existing condition?”
Filtering to cases where the answer is Yes narrows our results to 13 results from California appellate opinions.
Step 3: Zero in on a key case
One case stands out: Ramirez v. Barajas CA4/2. The AI summary highlights that the court reaffirmed the jury’s apportionment of damages, finding sufficient evidence for a 50/50 split in causation between defendant’s negligence and the pre-existing condition.
That kind of appellate language, confirming liability while also outlining how damages can be divided, is exactly what you need to counter the defense’s argument that a pre-existing injury wipes out liability altogether.
Step 4: Build the argument quickly
Within 15 minutes of research, we’ve:
Identified controlling California precedent applying that a “tortfeasor may be held liable in an action for damages where the effect of his negligence is to aggravate a pre-existing condition or disease”
Pulled appellate language confirming liability for aggravation of pre-existing conditions
Found authority explaining how damages may be apportioned between a prior injury and new harm
Armed with this case law, you can start drafting a demand letter or trial brief with confidence.
The takeaway
Midpage helps personal injury lawyers cut through vague search results and zero in on the law that matters. By starting with a proposition and filtering with a yes/no question you can quickly uncover the exact rules courts use in cases involving aggravation of pre-existing conditions.
Whether you’re dealing with a back injury, prior knee surgery, or another chronic condition, Midpage helps you move from uncertainty to authority in minutes.