Advice: Coping with a Life-Altering Injury

A serious accident can happen in the blink of an eye and many accident victims are often left with a long-term injury that unexpectedly impacts their quality of life. Dealing with a sudden life-altering injury involves much more than physical pain. The inability to function in a familiar manner can create depression in the injury victim and family alike, as well as create living complications no one ever anticipated. These social impairments of lifestyle and mobility are as contributory to dealing with an injury situation as much as physical damage, but there are some basic steps that can help the healing process.

 

Assess Your Budget

Life-changing injuries also create altered personal home budgets. Expenses are often added by the injury treatment and necessities and adjustments must be made. Financial problems can literally be the insult to the injury. Some claims can take time to settle, but others can be established immediately, such as short-term disability insurance and worker’s compensation claims. However, a Social Security disability claim can be a starvation process, as the SSA uses an enormous number of over-lapping rules to determine eligibility.

 

The Social Security Administration can move very slowly for some claimants, but some may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income while waiting on a full disability ruling. Staying in contact with your legal counsel from the beginning can help start the immediate protections while waiting for others.

 

Follow Medical Recommendations

It is very important to follow the treatment recommendations of any medical professional. Physical therapy is a prime example of treatment that injured victims may want to avoid. Regardless of difficulty, this is still very important for lifestyle improvement and legal claim protection.

 

Any respondent could use failure to seek appropriate treatment as a legal claim that the injuries are over-stated or do not impede the claimant’s normal life. Additionally, claim respondents have the legal authority to request the victim to visit a doctor in their network. Even though an injury is severe, insurance companies and government agencies will still attempt to lessen the value of the claim by alternate medical opinions. It is as important to meet respondent requests for medical evaluation as it is to pursue rehabilitation of the injury.

 

Hire an Attorney Immediately

Severe injuries can easily result in full and permanent disability for any injured party. The ability to maintain gainful employment is often gone and the victim will at least be facing a disability claim with the Social Security Administration. Depending on the victim’s employment situation, they may also be eligible for worker’s compensation or disability insurance from their employer. In addition, there may be negligence claims that can be filed in many instances, such as an automobile accident.

 

These claims are always time sensitive. Therefore, it is always a good idea to immediately discuss the circumstances with an attorney who is experienced in handling legal claims for impaired clients who have suffered long-term, life-altering injuries or illnesses, whether it’s a Columbia workers compensation attorney or a disability firm in Atlanta.

 

Regardless of the number or location of any legal claims, it is always important to retain an attorney who regularly practices in the field of disability law as soon as possible. Dealing with life-altering injuries is difficult enough with respect to physical and budgetary problems, but hiring an experienced and effective local attorney can help the injured victim focus on rehabilitation as best as can be expected and let an easily accessible attorney take care of the legal issues.

 

Author and artist Molly Pearce addresses current issues in the legal, medical, and human rights arenas and shares this post in the hopes of encouraging even just one disable individual. She suggests searching the phrase Columbia workers compensation attorney to find out more about the possibility of being compensated for lost wages, pain, and suffering after a life-changing injury at work.

 

Photo Credit- http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmgxvolley/5756114047/

 

Categories: altering, columbia workers, disability claim, disability insurance, Injury, legal claim, legal claims, life, life altering, life changing, security administration, social security

Help! Why Was I Denied Disability?

Even if you become permanently disabled, it can be difficult to get approved for disability benefits without going through the appeals process. After all, the government wants to reduce their risk of providing coverage to people who do not actually need it, so it is common for claims to be denied the first time. Therefore, if you are disabled and truly need the assistance, you should be prepared to spend an extended period of time dealing with paperwork and hearings that are part of the appeal process. Fortunately, your odds of being approved go up when you appeal, and working with an attorney who specializes in disability cases will increase your odds even more.

Top Reasons that People are Denied for Disability

1) Incomplete Paperwork – Each state has different guidelines that determine exactly how the process of filing for state disability insurance works. However, regardless of your location and the type of disability claim that you are filing, you must fill out all of the applicable paperwork completely and accurately. Any mistakes or omissions can easily lead to a denied disability request. Additionally, you need to ensure that all of the necessary proof to back up your claim is submitted with your paperwork.

2) Failure to Meet Specific Requirements – Individuals who file for Social Security disability insurance benefits have to be able to prove that they are no longer able to perform their current job and they cannot adjust to a new position. It is also necessary to have accrued at least 40 work credits before you can file. The only exception to this rule is made for people who become disabled when they are young. If you are filing for state disability benefits instead, you will need to review your local requirements to make sure that you are eligible. Each state has different guidelines and requirements for qualifying for disability.

3) Questionable Diagnosis – Even if your doctor signs a statement saying that you are disabled, this does not mean that your disability claim will be approved. In fact, it is common for people to be denied for claims that seem questionable, especially if the issue cannot be easily verified. For example, if your doctor says that you have a panic disorder that prevents you from working, your claim could be denied because the people who review your case do not believe that your issue has been properly proven.

What Should I do if I am Denied?

You will only have two options if your claim is denied: you can file an appeal or drop your case. Most people will choose to file an appeal, and this will provide you with the opportunity to submit any new evidence that supports your claim. You will also most likely get a hearing to discuss your case. However, it is important to note that not every appeal is granted a hearing.

The best way to deal with a denied claim is to have an attorney assist you with the process of filing an appeal. After all, an attorney who works primarily on disability cases will have a much better understanding of how to present your case. Therefore, it is best to work with a lawyer from the very beginning.

 

Melanie Fleury is a long-time sufferer of Lupus, an autoimmune disease that can often lead to the sufferer becoming disabled. Marc Whitehead & Associates, a national disability claims law firm, advocates for the disabled by appealing disability denials. Being denied disability can be frustrating without the proper assistance to work through the process.

Categories: Denial, disablity, social security