Howard Coker | August 12, 2025 | Personal Injury
In the United States, one in four people lives with a disabling condition. Many disabilities are genetic, while others are caused by lifestyle choices. Often, a disability appears in an instant because of a traumatic event like a car accident or slip and fall incident. These disabilities can affect a person’s ability to work, care for themselves, or enjoy daily life without support.
Learn about the 10 most common disabilities in the United States.
1. Mood Disorders
A mood disorder is a mental health condition that impacts a person’s emotional state, potentially affecting their ability to function normally. Anxiety is the most common mood-related disorder, with 6.8 million adults in the country suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Depression and bipolar disorder also belong in this category.
2. Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Disorders
Your musculoskeletal system includes bones, cartilage, ligaments, and other connective tissues. Together, these parts allow you to move, grip items, and perform daily tasks. Potentially disabling disorders within the musculoskeletal system include arthritis, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
3. Intellectual Disabilities
An intellectual disability prevents a person from reasoning, thinking, and learning at a typical level. These conditions also affect adaptive behavior, making it very difficult to function in everyday life.
Acquired and traumatic brain injuries can cause intellectual disabilities. The severity of these disabilities can vary. Some people can manage daily tasks, while others require constant help.
4. Circulatory System Disorders
Your circulatory system transports oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body and removes waste products. It is made up of blood vessels like veins and arteries. Disabling conditions that impact the circulatory system include irregular heartbeats, congenital heart disease, aneurysms, and heart failure.
5. Nervous System Disorders
Your brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sensory organs make up your nervous system. Some of the most common disabilities that affect this system include brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy.
6. Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a serious psychotic disorder that may involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and catatonic episodes. Schizoaffective and delusional disorders also fall under this category. Many people with psychotic disorders struggle to remain stable enough to hold a job and function normally.
7. Neoplasms
“Neoplasm” is a medical term for a tumor, or an abnormal growth in the body. Neoplasms occur when cells divide more quickly than is normal. They can be benign, pre-cancerous, or malignant. When unchecked, a neoplasm can spread to other parts of the body.
8. Respiratory Disorders
Respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis can make breathing very difficult. They lead to chronic coughing and reduced blood oxygen levels that make living a normal life impossible.
9. Autoimmune Diseases
Some illnesses cause the immune system to attack healthy cells. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease are all examples of potentially disabling autoimmune conditions. Symptoms can fluctuate, and many of these conditions involve unpredictable flare-ups.
10. Organic Mental Disorders
Organic mental disorders are problems within the brain that cause psychological or behavioral issues. They can be long-term or temporary, but they impact all aspects of life. Diseases, injuries, and developmental defects can cause these disorders, which include dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and amnesia.
Contact the Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyers at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you or a loved one developed a disabling condition as a result of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Hiring a Jacksonville personal injury attorney can allow you to recover your losses, receive appropriate treatment, and live a better quality of life. Contact Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville personal injury law firm of Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County and its surrounding areas.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers
136 E Bay St #5438
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-6071
Find us with our Geo Coordinates: 30.32569719086265, -81.65515220132858
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville personal injury law firm of Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County and its surrounding areas.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers
136 E Bay St #5438
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-6071
Find us with our Geo Coordinates: 30.32569719086265, -81.65515220132858
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Attorney Howard Coker is the founder of Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers. A graduate of the University of Florida College of Law, he has dedicated his career to representing individuals in serious personal injury cases. With more than four decades of courtroom experience and over 350 jury trials, Howard is recognized as one of Florida’s top trial attorneys. His commitment to justice ensure every client receives the strong, personalized representation they deserve. Check our recent case results.
Location: Jacksonville, FL