Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers | September 7, 2024 | Personal Injury
Some disabilities are easy to see and identify, while others go unseen. Any impairment of the body or mind that impacts your ability to perform certain activities or interact with the world around you could be termed a disability, and you may suffer temporary or permanent disability at some point in your life.
What are the most common disabilities?
1. Arthritis
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among adults, affecting more than 21% of women and over 16% of men. Characterized by pain and swelling around the joints, this condition can be both progressive and debilitating.
One of the signs that you will be approved for disability insurance is an inability to work. If you have medical documentation to support impairment from arthritis that prevents you from doing your job, you may be eligible for disability insurance coverage.
2. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
When considering what qualifies for short-term disability vs. long-term coverage, you’ll find that work-related musculoskeletal disorders (affecting muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels) could fall into either category. Some of the most common disabilities include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Trigger finger
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Muscle strains, especially in the neck and back
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
Depending on the severity of these conditions, they may qualify for benefits like workers’ compensation or disability insurance.
3. Hearing/Vision Impairment
When you suffer the partial or total inability to hear or see, it can have a major impact on your ability to function and participate in the world. Even so, many people use assistive devices and successfully develop ways to work around these disabilities.
4. Spinal Cord Injuries
Whether you’re involved in a car accident, you suffer an injury on the job, or you slip and fall on a wet floor or icy sidewalk, spinal cord injuries can cause significant impairment. They may be temporary or permanent and result in symptoms like pain, weakness, and even paralysis. When it comes to what medical conditions qualify for long-term disability, spinal cord injuries could meet the criteria.
5. Cerebral Palsy
This movement disorder appears in infancy or early childhood and results in muscle weakness, spasticity, and exaggerated reflexes, among other symptoms. It’s a debilitating, lifelong disability with no known cure.
6. Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ranges from mild to severe and is characterized by social challenges (communication and interaction) and repetitive or restricted behaviors and thoughts (stimming, need for routine, etc.).
7. Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is characterized by loss of memory, cognition, and language due to abnormal changes in the brain. These degenerative conditions impact independent function and quality of life.
8. Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs due to a significant impact on the head or body. This could result in anything from a mild concussion to permanent brain damage.
9. Cancer
You might not think of cancer as a disability, but treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and more can leave you unable to work and function normally. Whether you’ve suffered a cancer misdiagnosis that worsened your outcome or you simply can’t work, you may need legal help to seek compensation.
10. Psychiatric Disabilities
This broad category covers depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, and more, ranging from mild to severe. Treatment is available in many cases, but the disorders can still be debilitating.
There’s Help For Those With Disability
Whether your disability is temporary or permanent, there is help available for people who cannot work because of a disability. If you’re having trouble claiming benefits, search for “disability lawyers near me” to find a qualified attorney. The best Social Security disability lawyers can guide you through the process of fighting for needed compensation.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced lawyer at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Columbus, OH, and Charleston, WV.
Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Columbus, OH Office
20 E Broad St Suite 1000, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 587-8423
Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Charleston, WV Office
10 Hale St Suite 501, Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 720-1000