Filing for Disability After a Bus Accident

When an individual has been injured in an accident, a bus accident, a slip and fall, auto accident or any other similar type of accident and the injury resulting from the accident ends up being a permanent and severe disability there are a number of possible steps that person could decide to take in terms of filing of benefits to cover medical bills and rehabilitation treatments and to financially support himself while he is unable to earn wages.

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

The first step may be to consult with a personal injury or disability attorney and discuss the possibility of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the “bus driver,” his corporate employer or the bus company and the corporation’s insurance carrier for physical, emotional and financial damages arising from the “bus accident.”  If negligent or reckless driving or other negligent behaviors were used by the bus driver or his corporate employer then damages may be recoverable to reimburse the injured person for some of his lost wages, lost future earning capacity and medical expense.  A lawsuit may also result in an award of damages for pain and suffering due to the accident caused by instances of negligence which would not be available in disability insurance other programs.

Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance

If an individual has been injured in a bus accident or similar type of accident and suffered a disability that severely impairs his ability to engage in gainful employment he may then apply for benefits with SSI or SSDI while he is waiting for a final settlement or a trial and an award of damages pursuant to his personal injury lawsuit involving the accident and disabling injury.  Both programs have different basic eligibility requirements.  SSI requires documentation of limited income and limited asset resources and medical documentation of the severity of the physical or mental disability.  SSDI requires that applicants have paid a minimum amount of FICA taxes into the system before being deemed eligible for wage replacement disability benefits.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has been injured and disabled due to a bus accident or a similar type of accident involving reckless or negligence it may be helpful to contact a disability lawyer to discuss the circumstances of the injury and to consider all options available such as filing a personal injury lawsuit and accessing guidance on submitting applications for benefits with Social Security administered disability benefit programs and other available disability related programs.