Permanent Disability Benefits and Lifetime Costs

Many Texans face permanent changes to their lives and health due to catastrophic injuries and illnesses.

Car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents are common causes of permanent disability. A permanent disability may involve the loss of a limb, loss of function such as paralysis, or mental impairment. Workplace injuries are also a common source of disabling injuries.

If you experience a permanent disability, you may be unable to handle the strenuous physical demands of your previous job, or you may find yourself unable to work at all. The lifetime costs of medical treatment, living expenses, and remodeling your house to make it accessible can easily exceed $1 million for those with serious disabilities. That means you need the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.

If someone else caused your disabling injury, the at-fault person may be financially accountable for your injuries and losses. You also may be eligible for federal disability benefits if you cannot work. A Texas disability lawyer at Kraft & Associates, P.C., can help you evaluate your options for seeking some financial security. The attorneys with Kraft & Associates, P.C., have been helping people with disability claims for more than 50 years. We know how to get the public benefits and other compensation you need.

Whether you are pursuing compensation through a personal injury claim, applying for disability benefits for the first time, or need help navigating the Social Security Disability appeals process, you should have experienced lawyers who will fight for you. At Kraft & Associates, P.C., we have the knowledge and experience to help you seek financial security to move forward with your life after a disabling injury. Learn more by calling (214) 999-9999, going to our contact page, or speaking with our live chat service.

Types of Injuries That May Cause Permanent Disability

There are many different kinds of injuries that can lead to a permanent disability.

Some of the more common injuries that cause permanent disabilities include:

• Spinal cord injuries – Damage to the spinal cord is irreversible. A spinal cord injury can result in pain, weakness, and numbness below the injury, as well as partial or complete paralysis. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Spinal cord injury survivors may suffer paraplegia (loss of the use of two limbs) or quadriplegia/tetraplegia (loss of the use of all four limbs).
• Traumatic brain injuries – A traumatic brain injury disrupts normal brain function. Serious brain injuries cause thousands of people to be disabled each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Unintentional falls account for nearly half of the brain injuries requiring hospitalization, while car crashes account for another fourth of TBI patients. Those who suffer brain damage can experience a range of neurological effects, including loss of mobility, changes in personality, cognitive impairment, memory issues, and more.
• Amputated limbs – A motor vehicle crash, other serious accident, or illness can result in the loss of one or more limbs. Even with the use of a prosthetic limb, amputees often have difficulty returning to work after the amputation.
• Internal organ damage – Crush injuries, penetration injuries, and the force from a motor vehicle crash can damage internal organs and hamper a person’s ability to work and take part in other activities. For example, damage to the lungs can make it difficult to breathe, while damage to the kidneys can result in the lifelong necessity of dialysis treatments.
• Burn injuries – Severe burns can cause disfiguring scarring that requires multiple skin grafts to treat. The pain from severe burns can be intense and permanent. In some cases, the damage to skin, muscle, and bones from a severe burn injury may never heal completely.

Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of injuries that result in a lifetime disability. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that there were 14,656 serious injuries due to crashes in 2020.

Other common causes of permanent disability are:

Lifetime Costs of Permanent Disability

One of the keys to negotiating full compensation for a permanent disability is to document the full extent of the costs of the condition. Few people understand the true costs associated with a long-term disability. That means that many accident victims accept insurance settlements that are far less than the compensation they should demand.

For example, a person who sustains an injury resulting in paraplegia will have first-year costs of about $567,000 and estimated lifetime costs of $1.5 million to $2.6 million depending on their age, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. The younger a spinal cord injury survivor is, the longer their life expectancy and the higher their lifetime costs.

An experienced disability lawyer at Kraft & Associates, P.C., can consult with your doctors to understand the extent of your disability and your future medical treatment requirements.  Our team will collaborate with life-care planners to estimate and document the lifetime costs of your permanent disability.

Some of the lifetime costs associated with a permanent disability include:

• Future Medical Expenses – Persons with a permanent disabling condition often need treatment for the rest of their life. It’s important to account for ongoing costs.
• Lost wages – A permanent disability can limit the types of work you can do and substantially reduce your annual income. Compensation in a personal injury claim should include the lost wages from the period after your injury and the weeks and months that follow.
• Reduced future earning potential – A personal injury claim can demand money to make up for the compensation you would have made in your previous work if not for your disabling injury.
• Pain and suffering – Many injuries that result in a permanent disability are extremely painful. A settlement or judgment can include compensation for the pain and mental anguish you have experienced.
• Assistive devices – Many disabling conditions require special equipment to increase mobility and assist in daily activities. These devices are essential but can be quite expensive. Compensation may be sought to cover required medical and assistive devices.
• Modifications to your home – Extensive renovations to your home may be necessary to widen doorways, lower countertops, add ramps and remodel bathrooms so you can live independently with a permanent disability. The costs of these home improvements should be accounted for in your demand for compensation.
• Vehicle modifications – Just like your home, your vehicle may need special modifications to help you get around more easily.
• In-home care – One of the most significant expenses for many disabled Texans is the cost of in-home care. For those with conditions that limit their mobility and ability to care for themselves, in-home care is an essential service. A complete accounting of your injury-related expenses should include the cost of the ongoing care you need and deserve.

At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our experienced attorneys help people with permanent disabilities pursue full compensation that reflects the lifetime costs of their injuries and changes to their life.

Permanent Injury Settlement

If you sustain a permanent injury due to someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. Through an insurance claim or lawsuit, you can demand compensation for the costs associated with a permanently disabling condition. You will improve your chances of recovering compensation for a permanent disability by working with a seasoned attorney.

You may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits if you have a permanent disability that prevents you from maintaining gainful employment. The Social Security Administration has strict rules of eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

A lawyer at Kraft & Associates, P.C., can help you understand what compensation you might be owed and whether you qualify for federal disability benefits.

FAQs

Here are a few of the most common questions we get about permanent disability benefits in Texas:

Contact a Permanent Injury Attorney Today

At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our compassionate disability lawyers have the skills, knowledge, and dedication to help you get the money you need after a permanent injury. Don’t wait to get help getting the benefits or compensation you need. Learn more by calling (214) 999-9999, using our live chat service, or visiting our contact page.