[Legal Dictionary] Definition of Disability
If you’re considering filing a lawsuit after an injury, the term “disability” may figure prominently in your case. Under New York law, a disability is the inability to engage in “substantial gainful activity” because of a physical or mental impairment.
The gainful activity referred to is not limited to work. Your enjoyment of hobbies, sports or other activities, particularly those in which you engaged before your injuries, are included in the classification.
For example, if a construction worker loses an arm in an accident, he or she can no longer work in that field. This is a disability. The gainful activity in this case is work.
In another example, a medical transcription clerk suffers a 50 percent hearing loss. The clerk also plays cello in the local community symphony. While her office job is not affected, she finds she can no longer hear the other musicians well enough to play. The gainful activity in this case is her hobby of playing music with a group; the hearing loss is a disability.
[Legal Dictionary] Ufafanuzi wa Ulemavu Ikiwa unafikiria kuwasilisha kesi baada ya jeraha, neno "kuvunjika" linaweza kuonekana sana katika kesi yako. Chini ya sheria ya New York, ulemavu ni kutokuwa na uwezo wa kushiriki katika "shughuli kubwa ya faida" kwa sababu ya ulemavu wa kimwili au kiakili. Shughuli inayotokana na mapato inayotajwa haipatikani tu kwa kazi. Kufurahia shughuli zako za burudani, michezo au shughuli nyingine, hasa zile ambazo ulifanya kabla ya majeraha yako, ni pamoja na katika uainishaji. Kwa mfano, ikiwa mfanyakazi wa ujenzi anapoteza mkono wake katika aksidenti, hawezi kufanya kazi katika uwanja huo tena. Hii ni ulemavu. Kazi yenye faida katika kisa hiki ni kazi. Kwa mfano, mkurugenzi wa ofisi ya matibabu anapatwa na hasara ya kusikia ya asilimia 50. Msimamizi huyo pia hucheza muziki wa cello katika okestra ya muziki ya jumuiya ya eneo hilo. Ingawa kazi yake ya ofisini haathiriwi, yeye hupata kwamba hawezi tena kusikia wanamuziki wengine vizuri vya kutosha kucheza. Kazi inayoleta faida katika kisa hiki ni burudani yake ya kucheza muziki pamoja na kikundi; upotezaji wa kusikia ni ulemavu.