The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates a variety of physical impairments for disability, including crush injuries. A hand or finger crush injury can leave you with decreased motion, a weakened grip and an inability to flex your fingers. This can make it difficult to perform most job duties.
If you have suffered a crush injury and cannot work, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Our lawyers at Dayes Law Firm have experience handling SSDI or SSI claims and are well-versed in the kinds of impairments that meet or equal a listing in the SSA’s Blue Book. Call our firm to schedule an initial consultation. It costs nothing and there is no obligation to have us represent you.
Understanding Crush Injuries and How They Happen
Crush injuries to the hands and fingers can happen when these extremities are crushed, caught, compressed, pinched or squeezed between two or more objects or between parts of an object.
These injuries often happen in the workplace. A hand or finger might get caught or crushed in operating equipment, get pinned between a moving and stationary object or get pulled into a piece of machinery. A heavy object may even be accidentally dropped or fall on a hand while performing daily work tasks.
Crush injuries are also common in car accidents. The hands could get caught in the steering wheel upon impact or get trapped between two pieces of a vehicle. This can lead to a devastating crushing injury that causes loss of hand function. In the most severe cases, a hand crush injury can result in amputation.
Qualifying for Disability Benefits for a Crush Injury
A crush injury must be severe enough and adhere to the SSA’s definition of a disability to qualify for benefits. This means the following criteria must be met:
- You are unable to perform your previous work duties
- You cannot adjust to other work due to your impairment
- Your impairment is expected to last for at least a year
Medical evidence also plays a vital role in disability claims. That is why after a crush injury, it is important to seek immediate medical treatment. The SSA will closely review your medical records to determine how severe your physical impairment affects your life and ability to function.
Benefits of Having Experienced Legal Help
Did you know that most disability applicants who seek legal representation have a greater chance of approval than those who do not? If you are unsure whether you qualify for disability benefits, reach out to an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer in Phoenix.
He or she could help you with the following:
- Review your situation and how it relates to your claim for disability
- Gather medical evidence to help show how your hand crush injury is disabling
- Demonstrate your inability to perform your previous work duties due to your impairment
- Prove that your impairment is so severe that it prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity
An Initial Consultation is Free and Confidential
Our firm is ready to help you obtain the disability benefits you need, whether it be at the initial application stage, during reconsideration, or at a disability hearing before a judge.