Broken bones are a common injury in Florida. Whether it is caused by a fall, a workplace accident or a car accident, suffering a fracture can greatly impact a person’s ability to work. Unfortunately, sometimes a broken bone is so severe that it renders the victim totally disabled.
When examining a fracture in a person’s application for Social Security Disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will consider a number of factors. First of all, when it comes to a broken pelvis, tibia, femur or tarsal bones, it needs to be shown that per medical imaging there is no solid union, and that the broken bone will render the worker unable to effectively walk The inability to move around for these purposes means that the applicant is nearly or totally unable to walk without the aid of assistive devices due to an insufficiency in the working of their lower extremities.
When it comes to the fracturing of one of the applicant’s upper extremities, such as the ulna, radius or humerus, it must be shown that there is a nonunion despite undergoing an operation and that it will not be possible to restore function to the upper extremity within one year of the injury.
Suffering a broken bone can lead to life-long pain and suffering. Medical expenses, therapy expenses and lost wages are only the tip of the iceberg. Such injuries can affect a person’s ability to work, and without the ability to earn an income, the worker may soon find themselves facing a financial situation that prevents them from paying for the basic necessities of life. When this happens, pursuing Social Security disability benefits may be a good way for the worker to obtain the financial resources they need during a dire situation.
Source: socialsecurity.gov, “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security: 1.00 Musculoskeletal System – Adult,” Accessed March 1, 2015
