Auto Accident Injuries That May Qualify For Social Security Disability
Bryan Greenberg
Social Security Disability
Auto accidents may result in long-lasting, devastating, and life changing effects. When your auto accident injuries affect your ability to work in the long or short term, this could mean having to qualify for social security disability insurance. Social security disability insurance is a federally funded insurance available to those who have a disabling injury or illness, and it provides monthly payments to help to cover the injured party’s day to day living expenses. When a person gets behind the wheel of their vehicle, they don’t expect to get into an accident, and they certainly don’t expect to leave that accident with a disability. However, this happens more frequently than some may think. Some of the most common auto accident injuries that lead to the need for social security disability insurance are:
Traumatic brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries are easy to get and difficult to treat. The brain is the body’s most complex organ, and an injury to the brain can leave behind life changing consequences. Traumatic brain injuries may occur in serious accidents, and they may occur with auto accidents that look comparatively “mild”. If a person’s head hits the dashboard, steering wheel, window, or any other part of the vehicle, they are at risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury. These injuries may lead to lasting memory loss, personality changes, headaches, dizziness, vision problems, and more.
Whiplash – Whiplash, to many, is just a common part of the auto accident experience. Afterall, being jolted by even minor force may lead to the neck and shoulder pain associated with a whiplash injury. What many don’t realize is that whiplash may also be serious and lead to serious lasting effects. Whiplash may lead to traumatic brain injury as the brain is jostled around in the skull, it may lead to lasting neck injuries, and it may lead to spinal damage in the back.
Bone fractures – While a minor wrist fracture from an auto accident will likely not lead to social security disability benefits, a major compound fracture might. Severe bone fractures that require surgery, months of physical therapy, and prolonged pain or lack of mobility are a common reason some may apply for social security disability benefits after an auto accident. These injuries can take months to heal, which may mean months spent out of work.
Back injuries – Back injuries can occur even during minor auto accidents. Even with surgery and other treatments, an individual who has suffered a back injury in an auto accident may find themselves in too much pain to carry out work in their former occupation. Chronic pain from a back injury doesn’t only affect the back, and may cause pain to the arms, legs, torso, head, or neck. An inability to go about daily life without pain could qualify an injured person for social security disability insurance.
Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder – Not all injuries from an auto accident are physical. Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common emotional or psychological injuries incurred after an auto accident, and they can be highly disruptive to everyday life. If these conditions are severe and ongoing, even with treatment, they may qualify an individual for social security disability.
Hearing and vision loss – Hearing and vision loss can stem from a traumatic brain injury, or they can be incurred all on their own after an auto accident. Something as simple as the deployment of an airbag in a minor accident can cause serious injury to the eyes or ears. Vision and hearing loss may render a person unable to carry out their former occupation, qualifying them for social security disability benefits.
For those in the Venice, Florida area who have suffered serious auto accident injuries, getting the social security disability benefits you deserve can be a challenge. The best course of action to take is to have a skilled personal injury lawyer by your side to help you through the applications process.