A serious trauma can inflict significant and sometimes lifelong consequences on the health and well-being of an individual. For some who suffer injuries, there are no available medical treatments that will allow them to save their limbs and appendages. Nearly two million Americans live with amputations, and many of those individuals live right here in Oklahoma.
An amputation is the removal of a limb or appendage from a person’s body. After an accident or injury, an individual may have his or her leg, arm, hand, or other body part removed due to the serious and irreversible trauma it sustained. Losing a limb is a trauma in and of itself, and those who survive amputations face many challenges as they move forward.
One difficulty that people may face in the wake of an amputation is the challenge they may face in doing the work they performed before they lost their limb or appendage. Not only may they struggle to do the work they did before, but they may find that they cannot work because of the serious and traumatic loss of their limb.
A person who has had to undergo an amputation may be able to seek disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. As with other qualifying disabilities, the individual must be able to demonstrate that their disability is long-term and that it meets the elements of the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability as it relates to the individuals particular medical condition. Meeting these conditions may be challenging for amputees, which is why all cases should be reviewed with disability benefits attorneys.
Injuries that result in amputations are serious medical conditions. While some individuals may be able to return to their normal lives, others who have undergone amputations may suffer and struggle to stay financially afloat. Disability benefits may be available to those whose disabling amputations leave them without the ability to work, but acquiring the assistance of a skilled legal professional may prove beneficial when navigating the difficult process.