Young Woman Denied Benefits Despite Brain Injury
A teenager in Tennessee was severely injured in a DUI-related car crash nearly a decade ago. Despite her struggles to work and perform daily tasks, she is still being denied federal disability benefits. It is clear that she suffers from a serious brain injury, but since it’s “invisible,” nobody will take her seriously.
In the accident, which happened in July 2018 in Greenbrier, the drunk driver died on impact. The four teens he hit head-on were seriously injured. The teenager in this case suffered the most severe injuries.
Shortly after the accident, the teen was placed in a coma, suffered multiple fractures, and received a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury. Medical experts told family members that she might never speak, eat independently, or even brush her teeth again. While she made unexpected gains in her recovery, much of her former personality, communication ability, and independence remain lost.
Her family has sought disability status from the Social Security Administration for eight years. That designation would entitle her to monthly benefits to help cover essential needs such as housing, care, and medical support. But each application has failed. In the most recent review, an administrative judge ruled she had only “mild to moderate limitations” and could sustain gainful work. The judge denied her claim, even though the hearing was done entirely by phone and the judge never even met the young woman in person.
Her neuropsychiatrist strongly disagreed with that ruling, arguing the judge should have observed the teen directly and taken her disability seriously. The doctor emphasized that her cognitive deficits are debilitating and she “can’t really function in an effective way” under normal work demands.
The family is frustrated. The woman’s mother said her daughter is “just as disabled as somebody in a wheelchair.” Indeed, the young woman is facing many difficulties. She cannot drive and has difficulty holding down a job. She can walk and spends a lot of time painting, but most of the time, she just sits and stares.
The family worries about the long-term future: as caregivers age and resources become strained, they do not know who will support her or how she will survive financially.
Meanwhile, they have appealed the decision and are also hoping for legislative attention to the case. They argue this situation highlights weaknesses in how invisible disabilities like brain injuries are evaluated by the disability benefits system. The programs are structured in ways that often fail to recognize impairments that don’t show up on simple tests or scans but profoundly affect daily functioning.
Contact Us Today
Brain injuries may not always be visible but they can cause significant damage to many parts of the body and affect someone for life.
Getting the benefits you need can be complicated. A Mt. Juliet brain injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC can gather the evidence you need to prove the at-fault party’s liability and help you secure the compensation you deserve. To schedule a consultation with our office, call (615) 622-6060 today or fill out the online form.
Source:
fox17.com/fox-17-investigates/tennessee-teen-denied-disability-benefits-despite-invisible-brain-injury-marlie-ford-car-accident-victim-nashville-news-google-trends
