Thomas C. Grajek | April 23, 2025 | Personal Injury

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you might face lasting disabilities that change your life. A disability is any condition that limits your daily activities. After a serious accident, you might develop disabilities right away or over time. 

These conditions can affect your ability to work, care for yourself, or enjoy things you once loved.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 28% of adults in the United States have some type of disability. 

Top 10 Disabilities Resulting from Personal Injuries

Accidents can cause many types of disabilities. Here are the ten most common disabilities that personal injury victims face:

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Brain injuries range from mild concussions to severe trauma. Even “minor” brain injuries can cause problems with memory, focus, balance, and emotions. Severe TBIs may leave victims unable to work or live on their own.

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, about 2.8 million Americans get traumatic brain injuries each year. These often happen in car crashes, falls, and workplace accidents.

2. Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or full paralysis. Depending on where and how bad the injury is, victims may lose function in only their legs or both their arms and legs. Spinal cord injuries require extensive rehab and lifelong medical care, and many victims need home modifications, special equipment, and daily help.

3. Severe Back Injuries

Back injuries like herniated discs, broken vertebrae, and spinal stenosis cause chronic pain and limited movement. These injuries may need surgery, physical therapy, and pain treatments. Even after treatment, many back injury victims have ongoing pain that affects their ability to sit, stand, or lift things for long periods.

4. Amputations

Losing limbs significantly impacts daily life. Whether from the initial trauma or needed surgery, amputations require major life changes and often special prosthetics. Victims face challenges with movement, caring for themselves, and working. Many need home and car modifications to help with their disability.

5. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

This pain condition typically affects limbs after trauma, surgery, or injury. CRPS causes intense burning pain, swelling, skin changes, and temperature sensitivity. The condition often resists standard pain treatments and may stop victims from working or doing regular activities.

6. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Often overlooked, mental disabilities like PTSD can be just as limiting as physical injuries. Accident survivors may have flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and avoid things that remind them of the trauma. PTSD may need long-term psychological treatment and can greatly impact a person’s ability to work, drive, or do activities that remind them of the traumatic event.

7. Severe Burns

Bad burns can cause permanent scarring, limited movement, and ongoing medical problems. Burn victims often need multiple surgeries, painful treatments, and rehab. Beyond the physical limits, visible scars can lead to emotional trauma and social challenges that affect quality of life.

8. Vision or Hearing Loss

Sensory impairments greatly affect communication, getting around, and independence. Vision loss may come from direct eye trauma, brain injuries, or chemical exposure, while hearing loss often comes from head trauma or loud noise injuries. These disabilities often require significant lifestyle changes and special assistive technologies.

9. Multiple Fractures

Severe or compound fractures, especially when they don’t heal right, can cause permanent mobility issues. Some victims develop problems like failure to heal, improper healing, or arthritis after trauma. Recovery typically involves surgery, casts or external fixation, and extensive physical therapy. Some fractures leave victims with permanent pain and functional limitations.

10. Chronic Pain Conditions

Ongoing pain from injuries can prevent regular activities and greatly reduce quality of life. Conditions like fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, and nerve pain may develop after traumatic injuries. Chronic pain conditions often need comprehensive pain management strategies and may substantially limit a person’s ability to work, sleep, and perform daily activities.

Compensation for Disabilities After Personal Injury

If you’ve developed a disability due to someone else’s carelessness, you may deserve compensation. 

A personal injury claim could provide money for:

Each personal injury case is unique, and the compensation you might receive depends on many factors, including the severity of your disability and how it affects your daily life. A personal injury attorney can help you understand and present the details of your claim. 

They can:

  • Accurately value your claim, including future medical needs and ongoing care.
  • Show the lifetime impact of your disability on your life.
  • Gather and present strong evidence of your disability’s effects.

An experienced attorney can help you understand your claim’s true value before you accept any offers.

Contact the Lakeland Personal Injury Law Firm of Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law Today For Help

For more information, please contact the Lakeland and New Port Richey personal injury law firm at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve Polk County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:

Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law Lakeland
2306 Florida Ave S
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 999-9000