Strong Advocates Dedicated To Obtaining The Best Possible Results

I cannot work after my car accident. Now what?

On Behalf of | Mar 8, 2017 | Injuries

A car accident can change your life in an instant. In a matter of moments, you may find yourself with medical bills, catastrophic injuries and a significant amount of damage to your personal property. The consequences of such an accident go beyond your finances; they may impact your ability to work and support your family.

When a serious car accident leaves you permanently or temporarily disabled, what are your options? Not only do you need medical care and recovery from the wages you lost from missing work, you need to know how you will survive if you are unable to work for an extended period of time. If this is the situation in which you find yourself, you may be eligible for disability benefits.

Eligibility for disability benefits

A catastrophic injury suffered in a car accident that affects your ability to work could make you eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, you may be eligible if you have the following:

  • An employment history of jobs covered by Social Security
  • A medical condition expected to keep you from working for at least a year

If you secure SSD benefits after a serious car accident, they would continue on a monthly basis until you are able to work again.

What if the SSA denied my claim?

Many first-time applicants receive a denial. If this happened to you, there are still options available. You may seek a reconsideration of your claim, seek an appeal or, in certain circumstances, file a lawsuit to have your case heard in federal court. It does not always have to be that complicated; however, and you can quickly learn the next appropriate steps by seeking legal counsel as soon as possible.

With an experienced SSD attorney working on your behalf, you can fight for the benefits to which you have a rightful claim. Instead of navigating this process alone, you may benefit from the following forms of assistance from your legal ally:

  • Complete explanation of Social Security policy and eligibility requirements
  • Gathering of all necessary documentation
  • Assistance with filing necessary paperwork
  • Help navigating the appeals process and fighting back against a denied claim

Securing disability benefits after a serious car accident can be complicated and frustrating. Whether you have a denied claim or access to benefits through an employer’s disability insurance policy, you do not have to navigate this complex process alone.