How SSDI Approval Can Strengthen a Catastrophic Injury Case

Catastrophic injuries often bring a whole set of complications for accident victims. In many cases, the damages they sustain are so severe that collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may be the only option left.

For personal injury lawyers, your client getting approved for SSDI could work in their favor. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it definitely adds another key layer of evidence in their case. Learn more about how to use an SSDI approval in your favor and help your client secure the benefits they deserve.

What Does SSDI Approval Actually Mean?

Applicants who are approved for SSDI need to show evidence that they can’t perform any meaningful activities. This involves presenting a mix of medical records, work history, and a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) that gives medical professionals and the SSA a full picture of their limitations. In most cases, getting approved for SSDI means you’ll be injured for at least 12 months or have a permanent disability.

How To Use SSDI Approvals to Support Damages

SSDI approval may be a different approval process than a personal injury case. However, getting a positive response from the SSA could help your case’s outcome.

Your client’s approval is coming directly from a third-party agency. SSDI cases are also based on relevant documentation that proves your client has severe and permanent injuries. If you can connect this evidence with your client’s PI case, it can reinforce their credibility and support the injured victim’s argument in court.

Challenges When Presenting SSDI Approval

SSDI Approval Isn’t Automatic Proof

SSDI approval can help your case, but it doesn’t guarantee success.  There are different legal standards, and a court won’t necessarily treat SSDI as definitive proof that the other party is guilty. For the best results, having proof that connects both your client’s condition and what happened in the accident ensures your client’s claim is successful.

Timing and Strategic Use

Sometimes, SSDI approval may not come until after you file your claim. This might cause unnecessary delays and may force you to reconsider whether to use it in your client’s case. If you’re planning on using SSDI evidence, don’t make it the defining part. Coordinate it with your PI case’s medical records, testimonies, or anything other relevant documentation for the best outcome.

Differences in Legal Standards

SSDI and personal injury cases have completely different processes. The first one focuses on your ability to work or engage in any gainful activity. On the other hand, personal injury cases focus more on the accident itself, which includes liability, causation, and relevant damages.

The defendant might use these differences to discredit your case and say the SSDI evidence doesn’t relate to the accident. Avoid this by ensuring it is clearly connected to your current PI case for the best results.

Strengthen Your Client Case With SSDI

When used correctly, an SSDI approval can be a valuable asset to your client’s personal injury case. However, the way you present it can make or break the final outcome. Our New York Social Security disability lawyers have worked with personal injury lawyers to help injured accident victims maximize their compensation. Please contact us at 855-208-9799 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experts today.