Permanent Disabilities in Personal Injury
Key Takeaways:
- A permanent disability can result in massive medical bills and lost wages.
- You’re permanently disabled if you have an impairment that negatively impacts your ability to stay gainfully employed.
- You can win economic, non-economic, and punitive damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Thousands of Americans become permanently disabled every year in accidents. Anything from a car accident to a workplace injury could change your life. A permanent injury can cause lost wages and massive medical bills. A personal injury lawsuit may be your best option. You could get compensation if you or a loved one becomes injured for the rest of your life.
State personal injury laws vary. An experienced personal injury attorney in your area can give you legal advice. They can explain your options and help you get on the road to financial recovery.
What Is a Permanent Disability?
Many injuries you suffer in an accident can impact your life. That impact can be short or long-term. What makes an injury a permanent disability depends on how it affects your ability to work. You’re permanently disabled if you have an impairment. That impairment must keep you from staying gainfully employed.
Your impairment can be physical or mental. Following are some common types of injuries that can cause permanent disability:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Amputation of a body part
- Spinal cord injury
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Nerve damage
- Paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Organ damage
Car crashes, other vehicle accidents, slip-and-falls, and workplace injuries are common causes of permanent disability. But many types of preventable accidents can leave you with a permanent injury.
Can I Get Disability Benefits?
Accident victims are likely dealing with massive bills from their medical treatment. The financial strain from your medical care can be overwhelming. It would be best if you looked at your current financial loss when you value your claim. You must also look at your future losses, like your lost earnings, because you cannot work.
If you have disability insurance, you may be able to get a payout from your insurance company. The disability benefits available vary by state. The benefits also depend on the type of accident. For example, in a workplace injury case, you can get the following benefits:
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits, including permanent total disability and permanent partial disability
A personal injury attorney in your state can explain your options.
What Compensation Can I Win in a Personal Injury Claim?
Unfortunately, your insurance company may not pay you enough. In that case, you can sue the person responsible for the accident. Following are the three types of damages you can win in a personal injury case:
- Economic damages cover your monetary losses from the accident. Examples include medical bills and lost wages.
- Non-economic damages compensation for any loss in the quality of your life experience.
- Punitive damages punish an offender for an egregious act. States vary in whether you can get punitive damages.
A catastrophic injury can turn your life upside down. Medical expenses, lost wages, and other bills can make it feel like there is no hope of having a quality life. A personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. Their help can keep your world from spinning out of control.
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