Can you receive long term disability benefits if you have experienced trauma? According to the world health organization, 15% of the population lives with some trauma disability. Traffic accidents, violence, falls, burns and assault are the most common traumatic events that can leave you with a disability for a lifetime.
A 2015 study conducted in Kashan Hospital showed patients that experienced a traumatic event like a car accident were still experiencing symptoms a year later. The most alarming part of the study was the age of the patients; 56% of the patients were under 35 years old and still considered to be of working age when they were injured.
Physical Trauma and Long Term Disability
Being involved in a traumatic event that causes physical trauma is a life-changing experience. Among the different types of trauma, vehicle accidents are the most common. Most people involved in a motor vehicle accident experience a small amount of trauma that will go away within one year. Unfortunately not everyone is that lucky. Physical trauma like losing a limb comes with major surgery, a ton of physical therapy, and learning how to do things very differently than before the accident.
In this case, you may not be able to go back to your “own occupation” after recovery. Example: John is involved in a car accident and loses an arm; he will not be able to return to his job as a neighborhood patrol officer anymore. He will have to choose a different career path now.
In John’s case, he has a strong claim for long term disability. It will probably be well over a year before he is completely recovered and found work that he can do with only one arm.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Long Term Disability
Post-traumatic stress disorder is anxiety that manifests after a traumatic event. PTSD is common in military veterans who have been involved in active combat. But people can also experience PTSD after a car accident, fire, tornado, hurricane, school shootings, or any other major incident in their life. While there are therapy and medication to help people cope with PTSD, the effects can be life long.
Most people learn to cope with their PTSD. They learn to avoid triggers and use therapy techniques to decrease anxiety when they are confronted with a similar situation. But some people have a harder time than others coping and may qualify for long term disability benefits.
It is important to note that most insurance companies consider PTSD a mental disorder. Mental disorders that are covered under your insurance policy will have a maximum month of payment— usually 24 months. It’s a good idea to check your policy for the exact wording regarding PTSD.
Applying for Long Term Disability
After you read your policy, you can decide if you think you have a case for LTD benefits. When you start gathering information for your claim, be sure to include all the necessary information that will “stack” your administrative file. Your administrative file is everything in your case. It includes all the correspondence between you and your insurance company, all your medical information, notes from your doctors, and even surveillance footage. Check out our article on harmful elements on the application that can hurt your claim.
Not Sure Where to Start?
An experienced disability attorney can help you gather the necessary medical information needed for your claim. They can help you track your deadlines (which are very strict), gather evidence such as medical statements/opinions from your doctors, represent you during a field interview and communicate with the insurance company for you.
Many questions need answers when you are dealing with disability benefits and insurance companies. If you are not getting the answers you need, give us a call at (888) 321-8131.
Although based in Florida, the Ortiz Law Firm represents claimants across the United States. If you’d like to speak to a Pensacola Long-Term Disability Insurance Attorney contact us to schedule a consultation. We can help you evaluate your claim to determine if you will be able to access Long-Term Disability Benefits and how to move forward with the process.