Ross F. Mann | October 6, 2025 | Personal Injury
Personal injury and disability can hit anyone at any time. Whether it’s visible or not, a disabling condition can leave someone unable to work, take care of their family, or just get through daily life. If you’re wondering whether your condition qualifies for support, it’s helpful to understand the types of disabilities that are most commonly recognized.
Long-term disability typically applies to conditions that will affect you for at least a year, sometimes permanently, that involve ongoing treatment. They can greatly affect your ability to work. Short-term disability covers temporary situations that could keep someone out of work. These conditions often have a clearer recovery path but require solid medical documentation.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Back injuries, arthritis, and joint disorders are some of the most common causes of long-term disability. They limit the range of motion throughout the body, leaving a person in constant pain, and make it difficult to move around.
Cardiovascular Disease
Any condition that affects the heart can leave someone permanently unable to do physically demanding work or even basic tasks without risking their health. If your heart can’t keep up in some workplaces, you simply won’t be able to do your job.
Mental Health Disorders
Long-term disability doesn’t only cover physical conditions. Depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety can prevent someone from functioning in a typical work environment.
Neurological Conditions
Brain and nerve disorders often progress over time, affecting a person’s speech, movement, and cognitive abilities. ALS, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injuries fall under this category.
Cancer and Its Aftereffects
Cancer isn’t always fatal, but the road to recovery is often long, and not everyone recovers to full capacity. Lingering fatigue, pain, and complications from treatment may qualify someone for long-term support.
Recovery from Surgery
Many short-term disability claims cover recovery periods from surgeries. If a procedure will keep you out of work for a while, you can usually apply for financial assistance to keep you afloat until you go back.
Recovery from Injury
Likewise, disability also covers recovery times from serious injuries like broken bones or any other physical trauma that temporarily takes you out of commission.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Complications
This is one of the most commonly approved short-term disability claims. Bed rest during pregnancy, C-sections, or medical issues after giving birth usually meet the criteria.
Acute Mental Health Episodes
Not all mental health struggles are long-term. Severe episodes of depression, anxiety attacks, or short-term psychiatric hospitalizations may make someone eligible for temporary benefits.
Illnesses with Clear Recovery Timelines
If you have a condition like pneumonia, a severe infection, or a non-chronic illness that prevents you from working for a few weeks, short-term disability often applies.
Contact Our Lexington Personal Injury Lawyers at Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Many people quietly battle health issues that keep them from working. Every case is different, but whether you’re facing a temporary setback or something more permanent, knowing where your condition fits can help you figure out what kind of support you need.
You don’t have to navigate the aftermath of an accident alone. The most critical step is to seek professional medical care if you are potentially dealing with a disability, as your health is most important.
If your health issues resulted from someone else’s negligence, like a distracted driver, you could also be entitled to compensation. We offer our services on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us nothing up front and only pay us if we win compensation.
If you were injured in an accident in Lexington, and need legal help, contact our personal injury attorneys at Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers, to schedule a free case review today.
We proudly serve Fayette County and the surrounding areas.
Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers – Lexington
501 Darby Creek Rd UNIT 48
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 413-3900
