Severe auto accidents can leave victims with significant injuries that impact their ability to return to their former careers. If you were injured in a Colorado car accident, you may wonder whether you can qualify for disability benefits to make ends meet now that you are no longer earning your previous income.
An auto accident lawyer in Colorado can review your case and help you understand whether you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
What Is SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), also referred to simply as “disability,” is a benefit managed by the Social Security Administration for people who are unable to work due to a medically determinable disability. The general criterion to qualify for SSDI is having injuries or a physical disability that persists for at least one year and that prevents you from working.
SSDI provides monthly payments that are calculated based on factors like your lifetime average earnings and other benefits you are receiving (such as workers’ compensation). An auto accident lawyer in Colorado can help you understand how benefits are calculated.
Can You Qualify for Disability After a Car Accident?
You may qualify for SSDI if your car accident injuries have impacted your ability to work. Your case must meet these four criteria:
- You have earned enough credits toward SSDI by working jobs that have paid into the Social Security system.
- You are not currently employed and earning more than the SSA’s income threshold.
- You can show that your disability has prevented you from working, or is expected to prevent you from working, for at least one year.
- You cannot perform any jobs or be trained to perform any jobs with your disability.
Under these criteria, no longer being able to participate in your former career will not automatically qualify you for SSDI. You need to prove that you cannot complete any sort of gainful employment. An auto accident lawyer in Colorado can help you compile evidence to support your claim.
What Car Accident Injuries Qualify for SSDI?
The Social Security Administration maintains a Listing of Impairments, or “Blue Book,” of injuries that may qualify for disability benefits. While having one of these impairments will not automatically qualify you for disability, it can help you support a claim for SSDI.
The Blue Book discusses a wide range of injuries that may apply to Colorado car accident cases, such as:
- Fractures of the arm or leg
- Disorders of the spine and neck
- Soft tissue injuries and burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Anxiety disorders
A personal injury attorney can help you review the listings that apply to your injuries and evaluate whether your medical condition might meet the criteria in the listing.
Supporting a Claim for SSDI
Even if your condition exactly meets the description of a qualifying impairment in the Blue Book, you will not automatically qualify for benefits. You need to provide medical evidence along with your insurance claim to support that your condition prevents you from working or undergoing training for a new job. An auto accident lawyer in Colorado can explain the types of evidence that may be helpful.
Evidence might include:
- Medical documentation
- Treatment plans
- Written testimony from medical providers
- Pain or symptom logs
This evidence should include details about whether you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) or whether your condition is expected to improve further.
Seek Assistance With Your Disability Claim From an Auto Accident Lawyer in Colorado
Qualifying for SSDI is not always a straightforward process. Grant & Associates Law Firm, P.C., provides legal assistance to clients applying for disability benefits. Call 970-356-5666 or fill out our form to schedule a consultation with an auto accident lawyer in Colorado.