{"id":5567,"date":"2026-11-07T04:08:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T04:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/pre-existing-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T03:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T03:22:52","slug":"pre-existing-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/pre-existing-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"Spinal Cord Injury Claim in New Mexico: Prior Spine Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-dark chg-hero\" style=\"min-height:460px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-60 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(32,36,46,1) 0%,rgba(32,36,46,1) 55%,rgba(32,36,46,0.7) 100%)\"><\/span><img class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-5565\" alt=\"Dented motorcycle roll bar, scuffed helmet, and torn riding jacket in labeled evidence bins on a metal shelf, with a crash diagram on a tablet.\" src=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dented-motorcycle-roll-bar-scuffed-helmet-and-torn-riding-ja-photo-9.jpg\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dented-motorcycle-roll-bar-scuffed-helmet-and-torn-riding-ja-photo-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dented-motorcycle-roll-bar-scuffed-helmet-and-torn-riding-ja-photo-9-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dented-motorcycle-roll-bar-scuffed-helmet-and-torn-riding-ja-photo-9-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dented-motorcycle-roll-bar-scuffed-helmet-and-torn-riding-ja-photo-9-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/dented-motorcycle-roll-bar-scuffed-helmet-and-torn-riding-ja-photo-9.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 825px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"chg-eyebrow has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Spinal Cord Injury Claims in New Mexico<\/p><h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\" style=\"text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Prior Spine Issues and Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim<\/h1><p class=\"has-base-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.625), 1.25rem);text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.6),0 0 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)\">Questions about an earlier back or neck problem come up often. Talk with El Gringo Law about what your medical records show and how they relate to the crash.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Start your free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Start your free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">By Josh Wood \u00b7 Published November 6, 2026<\/p>\n\n<article lang=\"en\">\n\n\n<h2>Short Answer: A Prior Spine Condition Does Not Automatically End a Claim<\/h2>\n<p>The central question is what the crash changed.<\/p>\n<p>Many people hurt in car crashes already had neck or back problems. Reading old scans and treatment notes after a wreck can feel alarming. Still, the focus is cause, not whether you had problems before.<\/p>\n<p>Under that instruction, a crash does not have to be the only explanation for your injury. Every claim turns on its own medical history and records. For the broader picture, read our spinal cord injury claim guide.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#x27;re sorting through old scans and records after a crash, you don&#x27;t have to do it alone. Talk with El Gringo Law in a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue. Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/a-resident-in-a-manual-wheelchair-heads-down-an-accessible-a-photo.jpg\" alt=\"A resident in a manual wheelchair heads down an accessible apartment corridor past a wall-mounted grab rail, leash in hand.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>What Counts as a Pre-Existing Spine Condition<\/h2>\n<p>A pre-existing spine condition is any neck or back problem you had before the crash. Records may describe it in medical terms, or only in your own words.<\/p>\n<p>Common examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Degenerative disc changes<\/strong>, which is normal wear in the discs between your spine bones over time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>An earlier herniated disc<\/strong>, where disc material has pushed out of its normal place.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spinal stenosis<\/strong>, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chronic neck or back pain<\/strong> that you treated or talked about with a doctor.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prior spinal surgery<\/strong>, including any hardware or procedure in the neck or back.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Earlier imaging findings<\/strong>, such as an MRI or X-ray that showed a change before the crash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It helps to separate two things. A diagnosis is a condition a provider identified and recorded. Symptoms are what you felt and reported, even if no one named the cause. Both can appear in your chart, and both matter.<\/p>\n<p>Pre-crash records form your baseline. Doctors compare later findings against that baseline to see what changed. A missing baseline can make that comparison harder, so gathering what exists early is worth the effort.<\/p>\n<h2>How Aggravation of an Existing Condition Is Evaluated<\/h2>\n<p>A crash can make an existing spine condition worse, and a worsened condition can be the core of a claim. Lawyers call this aggravation, meaning harm that goes beyond what you had before.<\/p>\n<p>The comparison is usually before and after. Records and your own account can describe how you functioned before the crash. Think about work, sleep, walking, lifting, daily chores, pain levels, and medicine use. Then compare those same areas after the collision.<\/p>\n<p>The key distinction is between what was already there and what the crash added or made worse. A crash does not have to create a condition from nothing. The New Mexico Supreme Court has addressed the meaning of proximate cause. That is why a pre-existing condition and a crash-related injury can exist together in the same case.<\/p>\n<h2>The Medical Evidence That Usually Decides the Question<\/h2>\n<p>Medical records from before and after the crash usually carry the most weight. They show what was documented, when, and by whom.<\/p>\n<p>The most useful items tend to be:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prior treatment records, including visit notes, therapy notes, and medication lists.<\/li>\n<li>Imaging taken before the crash and after it, reviewed side by side.<\/li>\n<li>The dates symptoms first appeared after the collision, and how they changed over time.<\/li>\n<li>Opinions from treating physicians about whether the crash caused the new or worsened findings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Spinal cord injuries can change over time. A review of <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8080912\/\">natural recovery after spinal cord injury<\/a> addresses how neurological function changes after injury and which factors affect recovery. That is why a dated timeline matters. Doctors read changes across a series of records, not a single snapshot.<\/p>\n<p>Consistency matters too. Describing symptoms the same way from the first emergency visit onward helps the notes line up. Report what you feel accurately, without exaggerating or minimizing it.<\/p>\n<h2>How Insurers Raise Prior Conditions and Why Accurate History Matters<\/h2>\n<p>Insurers often request prior medical records. They may focus on old conditions to argue that the crash did not cause the injury you&#8217;re claiming.<\/p>\n<p>An accurate, complete history given to every provider protects your claim. Gaps or inconsistencies can be used against a claim, even when they were honest mistakes. If you&#8217;re unsure of a date or a past treatment, say you&#8217;re unsure instead of guessing.<\/p>\n<p>Timing of contact also matters. New Mexico law limits certain early contact with an injured person. Under <a href=\"https:\/\/nmonesource.com\/nmos\/nmsa-unanno\/en\/item\/18541\/index.do\">New Mexico settlement and statement limits<\/a>, a person whose interest is adverse to an injured person under a health care provider&#8217;s care, or in a hospital, may not within fifteen days of the occurrence try to negotiate a settlement, obtain a general release, or obtain a statement for those purposes. That rule has specific conditions, so ask our team how it applies to your situation.<\/p>\n<p>Before you give a detailed recorded statement to an insurer, talk with our team first.<\/p>\n<h2>Organizing Your Records Now<\/h2>\n<p>Start by gathering records and writing down what you remember while it&#8217;s fresh. Organized documents make the timeline easier to follow.<\/p>\n<p>A practical checklist:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Medical records from before and after the crash, including emergency, primary care, and notes from other treating doctors.<\/li>\n<li>Imaging reports, plus copies of the images when you can get them.<\/li>\n<li>Pharmacy records and therapy or rehabilitation notes.<\/li>\n<li>A dated symptom journal covering pain, numbness, weakness, sleep, and daily activities.<\/li>\n<li>Crash documents, such as the police report number, photos, vehicle damage notes, and insurance claim numbers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tell every treating provider about your prior spine history. Complete, consistent records are easier to read.<\/p>\n<p>Crash reporting has its own timeline. New Mexico law requires a driver in an accident with bodily injury, or total property damage of $500 or more, to forward a written report to the Department of Transportation <a href=\"https:\/\/nmonesource.com\/nmos\/nmsa-unanno\/en\/item\/18569\/index.do\">within five days<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Filing deadlines and claims involving government vehicles are covered on our related pages. A family member may also have their own claim.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-dose-mid wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk it through with our team &#8212; the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a-woman-in-a-wheelchair-boards-an-accessibility-van-via-a-li-photo-2.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in a wheelchair boards an accessibility van via a lift while a driver assists her.\" style=\"border-radius:8px;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>Talk With El Gringo Law About Your Situation<\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;re reviewing old scans, prior records, and a new diagnosis after a crash, that&#8217;s a lot to carry. Some readers are doing this work for a family member who needs help right now.<\/p>\n<h3>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>How can an earlier back condition come up in a spinal cord injury matter?<\/summary><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier medical history is one of the topics reviewed in these matters. The question is what the crash changed, as shown by the medical records.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>What is aggravation?<\/summary><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aggravation means a crash made an existing condition worse. Harm beyond your prior baseline can be part of a claim.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Will old imaging hurt my claim?<\/summary><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Old scans are part of your medical history, and doctors often compare them with newer images. They can show what changed after the crash.<\/p><\/details><details class=\"wp-block-details chg-faq is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Should I give a recorded statement to the insurer?<\/summary><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Talk with our team before you give a detailed recorded statement.<\/p><p>If you&#8217;re sorting through old records after a crash, you don&#8217;t have to do it alone. El Gringo Law offers a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue. Reach out through our <a href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">contact page<\/a>, and we&#8217;ll talk through your medical history and the crash facts.<\/p>\n<p>This page&#8217;s content is the responsibility of Josh Wood, licensed in New Mexico and Arizona, at El Gringo Law. Website: elgringolaw.com.<\/p><\/details><\/article>\n<footer class=\"disclaimer\"><em>El Gringo Law is a personal injury law firm licensed to practice in New Mexico. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact us directly to discuss the specific facts of your case. El Gringo Law, 1448 Bridge Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, (505) 207-5000.<\/em><\/footer>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">How we review your medical history<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--document\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We review your records<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We look at what your medical records show from before and after the crash, including imaging, treatment notes and symptoms reported over time.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--lightbulb\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We focus on what changed<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key question is what the crash changed compared with your prior baseline. We work to explain that change clearly, based on the medical evidence.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--shield\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your privacy comes first<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your health information is shared only as needed for your matter, and our conversations are confidential.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"chg-icon chg-icon--users\"><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plain answers, step by step<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our team explains each part of the process in plain language, so you know what is being reviewed and why.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-32197852 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);border-radius:8px;padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem;border-left:6px solid var(--wp--preset--color--cta,currentColor);box-shadow:0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.18)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-color has-text-color\">Share your full history with us<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell us about any past back, neck or spine treatment, even if it seems minor or happened long ago. Leaving details out can make it harder to explain your medical history later.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Contact El Gringo Law<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Contact El Gringo Law<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-583d630a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">What to bring to your consultation<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prior imaging and records<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">X-rays, MRI or CT reports and any records from earlier back or neck care, if you have them.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treatment history<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A list of providers, physical therapy, injections or medications you used before the crash.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms since the crash<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple log of new or changed symptoms, including when they started and how they affect daily life.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 14px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);padding-top:1.5rem;padding-bottom:1.5rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Work and daily activities<\/h3><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notes on the tasks, hobbies or routines you could do before the crash and what has changed since.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4d466591 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--primary,#20242e);color:var(--wp--preset--color--base,#ffffff);padding-top:3rem;padding-bottom:3rem;padding-left:1.5rem;padding-right:1.5rem\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color\">Talk with Josh Wood about your spinal cord injury questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-0aa01211 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-call\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+15052075000\">Contact El Gringo Law<\/a><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-button chg-cta chg-cta-form\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">Contact El Gringo Law<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related practice areas<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/\">Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in New Mexico | El Gringo Law<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<!-- chg:section-siblings -->\n<nav aria-label=\"More in this section\">\n<h2>More in this section<\/h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/rear-end-collision-spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-albuquerque\/\">Rear-End Collision Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/recorded-statement-insurer-spinal-cord-injury-new-mexico\/\">Can I Give a Recorded Statement to the Other Driver&#x27;s Insurer After a Spinal Injury?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/rio-rancho-negligent-security-spinal-cord-injury-lawyer\/\">Spinal Cord Injury From Negligent Security in Rio Rancho | El Gringo Law<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/rollover-spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-albuquerque\/\">Rollover Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/should-i-accept-insurance-settlement-spinal-cord-injury-new-mexico\/\">Should I Accept an Insurance Settlement After a Spinal Cord Injury in New Mexico?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<!-- \/chg:section-siblings -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A prior spine condition doesn&#8217;t automatically end a New Mexico spinal cord injury claim. Learn how aggravation and medical records are weighed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":127,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"chg_review":"","chg_sendback":"","chg_canonical":"","chg_lang":"","chg_hreflang":"[{\"hreflang\": \"en\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/pre-existing-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"es\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/es\/abogado-lesion-medular-nuevo-mexico\/lesion-medular-preexistente-nuevo-mexico\/\"}, {\"hreflang\": \"x-default\", \"href\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer-new-mexico\/pre-existing-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico\/\"}]","chg_jsonld":"[{\"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/prior-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico\/#article\", \"about\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Personal injury\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Personal_injury\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Negligence\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Negligence\"}], \"author\": {\"name\": \"Josh Wood\", \"@type\": \"Person\", \"worksFor\": {\"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\"}, \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/equipo\/josh-wood\", \"jobTitle\": \"Personal Injury Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.sbnm.org\/For-Public\/I-Need-a-Lawyer\/Lawyer-Info\/customercd\/149357\", \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC6b1Q-Kn_RKss9tZw_94OGQ\/featured\", \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/woodinjurylaw\/?igshid=MjkzY2Y1YTY%3D\"]}, \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"headline\": \"Prior Spine Issues and Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim\", \"keywords\": [\"pre-existing spine condition spinal cord injury claim new mexico\", \"aggravation of pre-existing back injury car accident new mexico\", \"prior back injury personal injury claim new mexico\", \"degenerative disc car accident claim new mexico\", \"spinal cord injury prior medical records claim new mexico\", \"spinal cord injury car accident new mexico\"], \"provider\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"El Gringo Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"El Gringo Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/\"}, \"speakable\": {\"@type\": \"SpeakableSpecification\", \"cssSelector\": [\"article > p:first-of-type\", \".wp-block-details p\", \"article > h1\"]}, \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\", \"description\": \"Explains how a pre-existing spine condition is weighed in a New Mexico spinal cord injury claim after a car accident, including aggravation, medical records, and insurer questions.\", \"articleSection\": \"Personal injury resources\", \"spatialCoverage\": {\"name\": \"New Mexico\", \"@type\": \"State\"}, \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/prior-spine-condition-spinal-cord-injury-claim-new-mexico\/\", \"@type\": \"WebPage\"}, \"mentions\": [{\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Comparative negligence\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Comparative_negligence\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Spinal cord injury\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spinal_cord_injury\"}, {\"@type\": \"Thing\", \"name\": \"Spinal disc herniation\", \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Disc_herniation\"}], \"reviewedBy\": {\"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Josh Wood\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/equipo\/josh-wood\", \"jobTitle\": \"Personal Injury Attorney\", \"sameAs\": [\"https:\/\/www.sbnm.org\/For-Public\/I-Need-a-Lawyer\/Lawyer-Info\/customercd\/149357\", \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodInjuryLaw\", \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC6b1Q-Kn_RKss9tZw_94OGQ\/featured\", \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/woodinjurylaw\/?igshid=MjkzY2Y1YTY%3D\"], \"worksFor\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"@id\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/resources\/#organization\", \"name\": \"El Gringo Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/elgringolaw.com\/\"}}, \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How can an earlier back condition come up in a spinal cord injury matter?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Earlier medical history is one of the topics reviewed in these matters. 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