When a lot of people think of the word disability, they oftentimes think of conditions or illnesses a person can be born with. But as our frequent visitors know, this isn’t always the case. A person can become disabled because of a condition that develops later in life. A person can also become disabled after being involved in a motor vehicle accident as well.
As you can imagine, motor vehicle accidents extend far beyond simple fender benders. From serious pedestrian strikes to violent head-on collisions, some of the more severe crashes are likely to lead to debilitating injuries or conditions. Let’s take a look at a few today.
Spinal cord injuries. These types of injuries can happen in a number of accident types such as pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, car and truck collisions. As you probably already know, SPIs can cause a person to lose the ability to move their bodies. Depending on where the injury occurs and the extent of damage, a person may lose their ability to walk or even feed themselves.
Head injuries. These types of injuries can occur at any rate of speed, increasing in severity as a vehicle’s speed increases. Depending on the blow to the head, brain damage can occur. And depending on where the damage occurs, a person might experience anything from memory problems to losing their ability to communicate properly.
Amputations. In more catastrophic crashes, doctors may be forced to amputate limbs in order to save a person’s life. Depending on the extent of amputation, a person’s movement may be impacted a little or greatly.
PTSD. Though some may not realize it, PTSD can develop after a serious or particularly traumatizing accident, explains the National Institute of Mental Health. A person may become anxious when near an accident scene or around other elements of the accident. They may also experience flashbacks or have recurring nightmares that can lead to further anxiety or depression.
As you can see, disabilities are not just something you’re born with. A person can develop them later in life. Whether it’s genetic or because of a motor vehicle accident, disabling injuries and conditions can qualify a person for SSD benefits. Anyone in a situation such as this is encouraged to apply, particularly with the help of a lawyer in some cases.
