Certain catastrophic injuries from a car accident may leave you with costs and treatment for many years to come. Recognizing this, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, but you may also qualify for SSI or SSDI disability benefits.
While not every accident will result in life-changing injuries, some accidents are so severe that you’ll be coping with the fallout for many years. You may not ever fully recover from certain injuries, which is when you may want to discuss the possibility of filing an injury suit or trying to get disability benefits. If your condition will last for over a year or is terminal, evaluate if now is the time to file for disability.
Some of the conditions that may allow you to recover disability payments include traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, anxiety or PTSD, back injuries, whiplash, joint injuries or fractured bones and hearing or vision loss. In order to qualify for disability benefits at the federal level, your medical records must indicate that your personal injury or medical condition has prevented you from being able to work for at least 12 months or is expected to keep you from being able to work for at least 12 months. Bear in mind that applying for disability benefits can be one of the most challenging aspects of recovering from a serious car accident.
The vast majority of claims are denied on first review. Making sure that you know what you’re stating in your claim and increasing your chances of success by working with a qualified lawyer can help to reduce your overall stress level and better position you to recover the compensation and benefits you deserve.