SSDI Benefits, Car Accidents, Disability Claims

Getting SSDI Benefits After a Car Accident

Those injured in motor vehicle accidents may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Car crashes can leave people with serious physical and mental injuries. While some heal with treatment and time, others have lasting effects that may keep people out of work for extended periods or permanently. Understanding how SSDI works after a crash can help injured people protect their income and stability.

Qualifying for SSD Benefits with Car Crash Injuries

To draw SSDI benefits for car accident-related injuries, people’s medical conditions must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability. The medical criteria for conditions deemed severe enough by Social Security to cause impairment are described in the agency’s Listing of Impairments, also known as the Blue Book. Additionally, their conditions must be expected to cause disability for at least 12 consecutive months, result in permanent impairment, or be likely to result in death.

Some of the most common conditions resulting from motor vehicle collisions that may qualify for SSDI include:

• Spinal disorders

• Burns and soft tissue injuries

• Fractures of the arms, hands, legs, or feet

• Mental and emotional disorders such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Injuries and Disorders of the Spine

Car accidents often cause or worsen serious spinal problems. Listed injuries such as a broken vertebra, slipped discs, and degenerative disc disease may all arise from a collision. People may qualify for SSDI with such disabling injuries if one of the following conditions exists:

• An X-ray or MRI shows a diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, and the person experiences weakness, painful cramping, and a severe deficiency in their ability to walk.

• An X-ray or MRI shows compression of a nerve root, along with a positive straight leg raising test, limited spine movement, weakness, decreased reflexes or sensation, and muscle atrophy.

• An operative or pathology report shows a diagnosis of spinal arachnoiditis, and the person needs to adjust positions more than one time every two hours to manage pain or other symptoms.

When there is no objective medical evidence such as imaging, pathology, and operative reports, Social Security may also consider people’s statements about their symptoms and the functional limitations they experience. These statements, combined with medical records and doctor opinions, help the SSA make disability determinations for spinal injuries caused by car accidents.

Burns and Soft Tissue Injuries

People may obtain SSDI benefits for burns and soft tissue injuries, such as those affecting the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, skin, and blood vessels, which commonly result from motor vehicle collisions. These injuries can lead to scarring, chronic pain, and long-term loss of strength or mobility.

SSDI may be awarded for these types of injuries when they cause impaired functional use of the affected area or body part. In addition to showing a medical diagnosis of burns or soft tissue damage, people must also show that they have had and continue to receive treatment intended to restore their function. This can include surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitative care.

Ongoing treatment and documented functional limits are central to many successful SSDI claims.

Fractures of the Arms, Hands, Legs, and Feet

Under certain circumstances, fractures of the arm and hand may qualify as disabling conditions. To receive benefits for breaks or cracks of the arm, elbow, or wrist bones, people must show that:

• The bone has not healed properly or remains unstable.

• They lack any functional use of the arm for work-related activities.

• They have tried surgical intervention and other treatments to help restore use of the arm, but these efforts have not been successful.

People may also receive SSDI benefits for fractures of the leg and foot bones. To qualify for benefits under the pelvic, thigh, shin, or tarsal bone fracture listing, the fractures must:

• Lack a solid union of the bone and remain non-healing or unstable.

• Cause extreme difficulty walking that is expected to persist for at least 12 months.

• Require the use of assistive devices such as walkers, crutches, or similar aids to move around.

Mental and Emotional Disorders After a Crash

The trauma of getting into a motor vehicle crash can leave people struggling with mental and emotional disorders that are every bit as disabling as physical injuries. Conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression may make it difficult or impossible to return to work, especially in high-stress or safety-sensitive jobs.

These conditions may qualify for SSDI when they are characterized by at least three of the following symptoms:

• Irritability

• Difficulty concentrating

• Muscle tension

• Restlessness

• Tiring easily or chronic fatigue

In addition, people must show extreme or seriously limiting problems in at least one of these areas:

• Completing tasks in a timely and consistent manner

• Recalling, understanding, or using information needed for work

• Using socially appropriate behaviors and interacting with others

• Taking care of themselves, including personal hygiene and daily activities

• Adapting to changes, managing stress, or making independent decisions

How the SSA Assesses Ability to Work

In addition to having a qualifying medical condition, Social Security bases SSDI eligibility on whether applicants’ disabilities prevent them from working. On a case-by-case basis, the SSA assesses people’s residual functional capacity (RFC), or the most they can still do despite the limitations resulting from their conditions.

Only those who can no longer perform their prior job duties, complete the tasks of any past jobs, or adjust to new types of work may be approved for benefits. To evaluate an applicant’s RFC, Social Security considers:

• Medical history, including diagnoses, hospitalizations, and test results

• Symptoms and their effects on daily activities and work tasks

• Treatments received and their side effects or limitations

• Physician opinions and clinical signs observed during examinations

The SSA evaluates RFC in relation to the exertional and non-exertional demands of work, such as:

• Sitting, standing, walking, and lifting or carrying objects

• Pushing, pulling, bending, reaching, and making fine finger movements

• Comprehending and remembering instructions or work procedures

• Communicating with coworkers, supervisors, and the public

Social Security also considers factors such as an applicant’s age, work experience, and education in determining whether disabling conditions resulting from car accident injuries—or from other causes—meet the required level of impairment for SSDI benefits. For many people, carefully documenting their injuries, treatment history, and work limitations after a crash is a critical step toward securing the financial support they need.