What Happens If You Get Hurt and Can't Work

A minor mishap, staying home because you have the flu, or suffering an injury that only lasts a day or two doesn't require insurance coverage. But what happens if you're hurt to the extent you can't work for several months? While many families have life insurance on their primary wage earner, the majority don't have a plan for when that wage earner becomes disabled. How you protect yourself depends on the injury, how you hurt yourself and where the accident happened. You might find help from three different sources.

Injury Protection Coverage
If you've been injured at a business, that business may have injury protection coverage. If so that protection may pay for your medical expenses and lost income. It may also pay for emotional stress as well. The business manager may or may not tell you they have such coverage. Have your insurance company contact the business or the business's attorney to see what coverage, if any is available. If your insurance company declines to help, contact a reputable personal injury attorney. Most will give you a free consultation and take the case on contingency, which means that you have to share whatever you get from the business's injury protection coverage with the attorney as payment.

Workers Compensation
Another option is workers disability compensation which could kick in if you're injured at your place of employment. Many states mandate that kind of coverage. However, the injury has to be the result of the work place. You need to follow proper operating procedures, use the right safety equipment and use common sense. Don't assume that if you do become injured that you'll automatically be covered. It depends on the circumstances and whether the injury was partially or totally your fault.

Personal Disability Insurance
The option most people fall back on is private, personal disability insurance. If your employer offers health insurance they may offer disability insurance as well. The insurance will require that you can't work. It may not start until you've been off work for six to eight weeks. Your full salary may not be covered. Some disability covers only certain expenses while others give you a check based on the coverage you have. What you spend the check on is up to you.

Check to make sure the policy doesn't require you to work at any job, but in the same line of work you were qualified for before you were injured. Also check to see how long the coverage lasts.

3 Types of Disability Claims

Disability claims are the type of cases which personal injury lawyers usually handle. It is usually necessary to hire the services of a legal professional once your initial claim has been denied. There are a number of capable law firms which can help remedy your legal situation. They will help you throughout the whole process of appealing your case.

For the sake of those who are not familiar with the differences between the disability claims, perhaps it is necessary to explain what sets them apart from each other.

Social Security Disability

First, there is the Social Security Disability (SSDI). It provides income to people who are unable to work due to their disabilities. How much you receive per month, will depend on the amount of money you were able to put into the system by means of paycheck reduction. In extreme cases, when the disability is severe, the SSDI is also made available for the children of the recipient.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The second type of disability claim is called the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Basically, it is remarkably similar to the SSDI. However, it is reserved for people belonging to the low-income bracket who were never able to find any type of work due to their disabilities. This process demands applicants to pass the necessary eligibility requirements.

Veterans Disability

The last type is the Veterans Disability. As the name suggests, this is reserved for the military veterans. It is for those who sustained service-related injuries or those who have developed illnesses as a result of their actions in the line of active duty. The amount one gets is dependent on the severity of the injuries themselves, and the number of dependents the claimant has.

Hiring Personal Injury Lawyers

Hiring legal counsel will be the smart move for you. The first thing they will do is to get an independent medical examination. This will serve as additional proof of your disability. The lawyers that you hire will be the ones to fight against the administrative red tape. You won't need to burden yourself with unnecessary stress. Let your lawyers do their work. There is a reason why they are lawyers after all. If done right, you will be able to get your benefits in no time at all.

Claims can be denied for any number of reasons. For instance, it can be as straightforward as needing additional documentation. It can also be due to your paperwork containing wrong information or other errors. However, as it sometimes happens, the reason as to why your application was denied can be caused by the Social Security Administration or the Veterans administration disagreeing with your claim. They can say that you do not fit the criteria for the disability claim. They can state that you do not fit their definition of someone with physical or psychological disabilities.

Whatever the case, you will surely need the help of personal injury lawyers if you truly want to claim what is owed to you by the state.