If you’ve been involved in a serious accident, then it’s likely that you’ve suffered major injuries that will limit your quality of life and your ability to support your family. After experiencing a major injury that has affected your ability to work, you may find yourself in a precarious financial situation that leaves you wondering how you’re going to move on with your life.
Fortunately, it is for these situations that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) was invented. Here is some important information about accident injuries eligible for disability benefits, provided to you by the southern California disability lawyers at The Law Offices of Dr. Bill LaTour.
Injuries to Your Limbs
The most common forms of injury after a severe accident are broken bones in your limbs. Whether you’ve broken your leg, your arm, your wrist, or multiple bones in multiple parts of your body, you may be eligible for disability benefits if your injuries meet certain criteria.
To receive SSDI benefits for a broken leg, for example, you will need to be able to demonstrate that either your injury is not healing or that you will experience severe mobility impairments for at least 12 months.
For a broken bone in your arm or wrist, you will need to show one or more of the following:
- You have a non-healing fracture,
- You require continuing medical treatment, or
- You will not be able to use your arm for up to a year
Back Injuries
Accident injuries can also manifest in your back, as is the case when damage is done to your spine during a car crash. If you’ve suffered a major injury like this, it can influence your mobility and your ability to work. Qualifying for disability benefits for a back injury requires meeting the specific Social Security requirements for these sorts of injuries.
Conditions of the back that are eligible for SSDI can include lumbar spinal stenosis, verifiable spinal arachnoiditis, severe vertebrate damage, or nerve compression that causes muscle weakness and limited spine movement. To receive your benefits, all of these conditions would need to be verified with a pathology report and radiology images such as an MRI or X-ray.
Soft Tissue Damage
Major personal injury accidents can also cause damage to your body’s soft tissues, including the tendons, ligaments, and nerves. When applying for disability benefits based on soft tissue damage, you will need to prove that the injured part of your body will be affected for at least 12 months or that you must undergo long-term medical treatment to correct the condition.
Depending on the area of the body injured, you may also be required to prove that your mobility has been limited in two or more limbs or that you require treatments like blood transfusions.
Mental Injuries
It is common for accident injuries to be accompanied by or produce psychological injuries, such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you suffer from either of these mental illnesses after a traumatic accident, you may be able to receive benefits. However, the proof requirements are different than with physical injury, which makes it imperative to consult Dr. Bill LaTour for assistance.
Need Help Applying for Benefits After an Accident?
To ensure that you get the benefits you need to support you after an accident, it’s in your best interest to work with an SSDI lawyer from the Law Offices of Dr. Bill LaTour.
We’ve been helping disabled individuals in the Greater Los Angeles area, the Inland Empire, and Orange County get the disability benefits they need for years. Call Dr. Bill LaTour today at 877-824-5887 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
