What Is A Disabling Condition?

If you have suffered an accident or injury, or otherwise think you may qualify for disability in Washington State, it’s important to find out. A wide variety of conditions exist that may qualify as disabling, resulting from a number of different accidents, injuries, or life circumstances.

We’ll discuss what a disability is, what types of disability compensation you might be eligible for, and how a lawyer can help. Understanding the disability system can be challenging, so if you believe you have a qualifying condition, it's essential to contact experienced workers' comp lawyers in Washington who can help you pass through this process.

A General Definition of Disability

According to the Washington State Legislature, a disability “means the presence of a sensory, mental, or physical impairment.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual.”

The Washington State Health Care Authority offers a more specific definition for residents of the state: “A disability means being unable to perform with reasonable continuity the duties of your job as a result of sickness, injury, or pregnancy during the benefit waiting period and the first 24 months for which long term disability benefits are payable.”

What Types of Disability Exist?

While all types of disability involve the affected person being unable to work or perform their normal activities, each benefit provider has different criteria for qualifying as disabled and eligible for benefits. You may qualify for disability benefits through long-term disability insurance purchased by your employer.

You may also qualify for benefits through your state’s Veterans Association, in which case you must have performed military service which has resulted in your disability. If so, you could conceivably receive significant benefits.

Possibly you can qualify for benefits through Social Security Income. To do so, you must satisfy a number of conditions, including being unable to work, being severely impaired, having an approved medical condition, and being unable to perform other types of work or past work.

Showing you meet all of these specifications, explains the Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center, which can be difficult and may be too difficult for you to prove yourself, which is where a lawyer’s help comes in.

If You Have a Disability, What Are Your Options?

While there are multiple types of disability claims that you can theoretically file, several things can go wrong with that. If your claim is not correctly filed, you may be denied even if you are eligible. And even when your claim is correctly filed, you may need the help of a specialist to dispute a denial of your claim. Additionally, as discussed above, meeting specifications can be quite difficult and nitpicky.

It’s also important to be aware that even if you’ve suffered an accident and don’t appear to have any injuries directly afterward, that doesn’t mean they can’t develop over time as a result of a violent accident or impact. For instance, you might have hidden injuries that develop after a car crash. So if it has been a while since your accident and you’re noticing symptoms, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a reputable attorney who can help you assess whether you have a disability and if you’re due compensation.

If you’re ready to talk to an attorney today, please get in touch with Lehmbecker Law. We will help you by giving you a free case evaluation, and help determine whether you can get compensation and file a claim if you can. It’s time to move on with your life, we can help you get the benefits you deserve.