Were you recently hurt in an accident and believe you have a permanent disability? If you have a disability after a car accident, you need to know how to protect your interests. Learn more about what kinds of benefits you may be eligible for and how to ensure you fight for fair compensation.
Whether the accident was caused by speeding, distracted driving, or reckless behavior, you may be able to hold the other driver accountable. The stakes may be even higher with a permanent disability, so you need a lawyer who has experience representing victims in these claims.
Can I Get Disability Benefits After Being Hurt in a Vehicle Accident?
If you have lasting or catastrophic injuries from a car accident, you may also be eligible to receive SSI disability or social security disability benefits. These benefits are eligible if you are not able to work because you suffer from mental or physical injuries associated with a car accident. You may be suffering from multiple injuries at the same time or severe injuries in one location, such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage.
Other Injuries Complicating a Disability After a Car Accident
In addition to the physical injuries sustained by many victims in California car accidents, you might also experience psychological trauma or cognitive issues that can lead to anxiety or depression. If any of your issues have lasted for at least a year or are expected to last at least that long and have prevented you from working, you may be able to file suit.
Life after a car accident is an overwhelming situation but one that can be handled more effectively by working with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after you’re hurt. In addition to notifying your insurance company and getting medical care you also need to identify an attorney who has experience in this process and who can help guide you through the best way to manage your medical care. When car accidents happen at high speeds or involve aggressive driving, you may sustain critical injuries that lead to disabilities.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Disability After a Car Accident Case?
If you have sustained a permanent injury in a vehicle accident, a lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you need. If you suffer from a permanent disability following a vehicle accident, insurance coverage from the at-fault driver can help cover your suffering pain and diminished wages.
Depending on the extensive nature of their policy it may be able to pay for your full needs. However it is often the case that someone with a catastrophic or disabling injury may need to go to court to hold the other driver responsible to make up for the difference between what their insurance will pay and what you need to survive and get relevant medical care.
Whether insurance partially or fully covers your needs, the end of your personal injury claim in California occurs with a permanent disability settlement. This is a final and single lump sum amount that you will receive in installments or in full, depending on what the at-fault driver’s insurance can afford. Your settlement depends on stacking expenses for both your current needs and your estimated future needs.
What to Know About Medical Expenses in a Vehicle Accident
The most significant component of most permanent disability car accident claims is medical expenses. You may need future coverage for medications, doctor’s visits, surgeries, or assistive devices.
A permanent disability may also require rehabilitation, pain management and therapy, and also cause you pain and suffering or even necessitate outside assistance and care. Further, a permanent disability can quickly disrupt your career, causing you to stop working entirely or take a lower-paying job.
In that case, you are entitled to compensation for the wages lost during your current medical treatment . This may all occur before you fully understand the impacts of your permanent disability and how it may affect your life. Refrain from signing or agreeing to anything with the insurance company until you’ve had the opportunity to speak to your own lawyer. A lawyer can tell you more about some of the most common pitfalls to avoid and what to expect.
