What Causes Disabilities?

Unfortunately, suffering a disability is not as unlikely as most people think. According to the National Safety Council’s 2001 Field Guide, the odds of suffering a disabling accident in a given year are 1 in 21. The importance and benefits of disability insurance were analyzed in a previous blog. What causes these disabilities?

Disabilities can be physical or mental and stem from accidents, injuries, or disease, among other things. They can be partially or totally disabling, short-term or life-long, and range from mild to severe. Dividing the causes of disability in 2003 into a pie chart produces a diverse and relatively balanced picture that might surprise most people.

Hartford Financial Services Group released a report entitled “Unintended Exposure: The Surprising ‘Big Gamble’ Employees Take Every Day,” which polled 600 working people between the ages of 18 and 65. The study found that most assumed the majority of disabilities were due to accident or injury, when in reality, accidents and injuries make up only 13 percent of short-term disabilities and 10 percent of long-term disabilities.

Perhaps what these figures best portray is the unpredictability of disability. There is no “primary cause” of disability. It is difficult, and in many instances impossible, to determine which individuals are predisposed to becoming disabled.

When healthy, it is easy to dismiss disabilities, but that does not decrease the risks they pose. Disability insurance protects you from the financial dangers of a disability, regardless of its cause.