Traumatic Brain Injuries and Brain Damage: Social Security Disability Benefits

Have you suffered a traumatic brain injury? Our experienced attorneys know how brain trauma can turn your life upside down. If your brain has been seriously injured and your ability to work is now impaired, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits (SSD).

What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI), or intracranial injury, is defined as brain trauma caused by an external force. Though collision is the most common form of TBI, brain damage may also be caused by dangerous motion such as rapid acceleration or deceleration.

TBIs don't just begin and end with accidents – secondary injury transpires in the minutes and days afterward. This secondary injury causes complications like changes in blood flow and pressure within the skull.

Who is Eligible to Receive Social Security Disability Benefits for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Anyone who has been hurt due to a car crash, slip and fall accident, sports injury, or act of violence may suffer a traumatic brain injury. If your TBI is expected to last at least one year, or result in death, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Family members and other loved ones may be eligible to receive SSD benefits for your TBI as well. However, if you have little to no significant work history previous to your brain trauma, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead.

Traumatic brain injuries are especially prevalent among veterans and military service members. Depending on work history and financial income, those who served in the military are eligible for either Social Security disability insurance or Supplemental Security Income. When applying for SSI or SSD benefits, it's important to let the Social Security Administration (SSA) know about your military history because the SSA offers expedited disability claim processing for veterans and members of the armed forces.

How Do You Know If You Have a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Symptoms of TBI:

Symptoms for a higher level of severity include:

Signs of TBI that are fatal include:

Looking to Collect SSD Benefits for Brain Trauma? We can Help

With over 3/4s of all Social Security disability benefits applicants turned away in the initial application phase, securing the SSD benefits you need can be tough. Even worse, a traumatic brain injury can make the SSD application and appeals process a nightmare.

That's where we come in. Our experienced Pennsylvania SSD attorneys know how the Social Security system works. If you've suffered brain damage and you're seeking disability benefits, put our law firm to work for you. We'll fight to help you get the benefits you deserve. Get started now by taking advantage of our free legal evaluation.