No. Michigan law does not block an injury claim just because you had a pre-existing back condition. If a crash in Sterling Heights made that condition worse, the driver who caused it can still be responsible for the aggravation.

The question you should be asking instead is: what proof shows your condition got worse after this crash?

That is where people lose money.

Insurance adjusters love to act like an old MRI, prior pain treatment, or past work restrictions mean your current claim is worthless. That is a myth. The real fight is over before-and-after evidence.

What helps most:

• Medical records showing your baseline before the crash
• Prompt treatment after the crash, with complaints that match the impact
• Imaging, exam findings, and doctor notes describing a new flare, new limitations, or worsened symptoms
• Proof of missed work, lifting limits, or changed daily function after the wreck

This matters a lot in Michigan auto cases because your claim can split into different parts. Your No-Fault PIP benefits can cover medical bills and wage loss through your own insurer, but you still may need a separate claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if your injuries meet Michigan's threshold for a serious impairment of body function.

Fault still matters too. Michigan uses modified comparative fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover noneconomic damages from the other driver. If you were partly at fault, your recovery can be reduced.

Do not wait around hoping the pain settles down. In late fall around M-53, M-59, and I-696, crashes involving grain trucks, flatbeds, black ice, and sudden slowdowns can turn a manageable back problem into a major one. In Michigan, the general deadline to sue for personal injury is 3 years, and No-Fault benefits have their own notice and timing rules that can come up much sooner.