As Tampa Bay’s trusted personal injury attorneys, we are accustomed to helping victims through the aftermath of accidents. What happens though if you’re left with a permanent disability after an accident? Does this affect your settlement? What should you do?
Our team is here to answer your questions and give you peace of mind as you face the future after your injury.
What is classified as a permanent disability after an accident?
After an accident, you might suffer from a long list of injuries. While some are temporary, others can be permanent and life-altering.
The Legal Information Institute by Cornell Law School defines a permanent disability as:
“a physical or mental impairment that indefinitely diminishes a worker’s ability to perform the activities that the worker performed before the accident or serious illness.”
While directly referring to injured workers, the same idea applies to all victims of serious injuries after an accident. If you can’t work or participate in life as you did before, legal counsel considers you disabled. If medical experts confirm that you won’t likely make a full recovery, your disability is permanent.
Permanent disabilities include, in part:
- severe Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- spinal injuries
- paralysis
- limb amputations
- blindness
Any of these conditions, and many more, could leave you unable to work, care for yourself or your family, and function in day-to-day life.
How does a permanent disability affect my case?
Victims of serious injuries (and likely permanent disabilities) frequently ask this question when they come into our firm. While many settlements are for short-term injuries and damages, some settlements must factor in long-term or permanent disabilities after an accident.
Perhaps the way permanent disabilities affect your case the most is in the projected need for assistance. “Standard” injuries like whiplash, a broken bone, or even a minor head injury are likely to heal in a reasonable amount of time. Settlements for these kinds of injuries focus on paying for accrued medical expenses following the accident, paying for damages to property and the vehicle, and compensating for trauma, lost income, etc. These settlements are more straightforward and don’t usually require long-term projections.
Therapy could be a lifelong need with permanent disabilities after an accident.
Cases involving serious, and likely permanent, injuries and disabilities are more complicated. These settlements must account for the need for long-term care, extensive medical costs, and the loss of the victim’s income. Victims may need ongoing services like:
- in-home care
- assisted living care
- home nursing
- physical therapy
- medications
- occupational therapy
- feeding services
- transportation
- and more
Having an experienced accident and injury attorney in these cases is crucial to a successful outcome for victims and their families.
As an aside, we must mention the effect of a settlement on Social Security disability benefits. This is another primary concern of victims and their families and should be discussed with your own attorney based on the details of your unique case. If you want more information about this particular subject, feel free to reach out to our team!
Do injury attorneys work with victims of permanent disabilities after an accident?
Absolutely! The team at Brooks Law Group advocates for victims just like you, fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve after your accident. We know your life has changed drastically, and believe you should feel supported, informed, and empowered throughout your case. Our top priority is ensuring you get the help you need, for as long as you need it.
If you or someone you love were seriously injured in an accident, and don’t know where to turn, call us. You can always Look to Brooks.
