Impairment vs Disability: Defining the Differences Before You Claim
The term "impairment" has different meanings in different contexts, which is why some people get confused when it is applied to workers' compensation cases. There's a thin line between impairment and permanent or partial disability when an injury occurs on the job.What is an Impairment?
Impairment is defined as when a person's physical/psychological health, structure, and/or function gets changed or damaged. Workplace injuries exemplify impairment because they may cause physical, emotional, or psychological damage to a person, which could be permanent. However, impairment like these may not necessarily affect a person's ability in performing their responsibilities in the workplace.
What is a Disability?
Disability, on the other hand, is a person's inability to perform their job, usually due to an injury or another form of impairment. Disability results from an impairment, but an impairment may not always result in disability. It is worthy to note that both impairment and disability can be temporary or permanent.
Here are some helpful details to understand the differences between impairment and disability, and how to approach the situation should either scenario happen during your employment.
Impairment vs. Disability
The American Medical Association (AMA) gives different definitions of the term "impairment." In some cases, impairment can mean permanent injuries. In other cases, it can mean a decline in health, disorder, or disease that is far from the norm which requires an objective judgment.
Disability, on the other hand, is a different concept because it compares a person's abilities with job requirements. It's possible for two people to suffer from the same impairment without both individuals qualifying for disability. The main test is that the impairment must affect the person's work.
Workers Comp Attorney in Long Beach or Los Angeles, CA
If you have received an impairment or disability that is work-related and are residing in and around Long Beach or Los Angeles, CA, get in touch with the experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at Gaylord and Nantais today. They are always there to help your case in receiving workers compensation claim as a result of your injury.
Comments