Food Insecurity: The Overlooked Side Effect of an Injury Accident

After a personal injury, you and everyone around you may focus on the incident and its aftermath. Your attention may be on managing your pain, doctor’s visits, lost mobility, and mounting medical bills. 

These are serious consequences, and they can’t be ignored. But in the rush to address your medical needs, another serious issue may get overlooked: trouble putting food on the table. 

For many South Carolina families, food insecurity becomes a daily struggle after a serious injury. There is help, but you may not know where to look, especially if your household isn’t used to facing problems with getting food. 

What is Food Insecurity?

“Food insecurity” occurs when a person or household can’t get enough food to support a healthy life. You may have food, but not enough. Or you may be able to afford only ultra-processed “empty calories” food that doesn’t provide the nutrition needed for health, growth, and recovery from serious injuries. 

South Carolina already faces higher-than-average food insecurity. The USDA ranks South Carolina 7th in the nation for food insecurity. At any given time, about 14.4 percent of South Carolina households don’t have enough food.

A serious personal injury increases the risk of food insecurity in multiple ways. Lack of funds, mobility, and ability all pose hurdles to providing sufficient, nutritious meals on a family’s table. 

How Personal Injury Accidents Lead to Food Insecurity

Personal injury accidents can cause food insecurity in several ways:

• Lost wages. When an injured person’s income fed the family, the loss of that income can mean there’s just not enough money to buy food. 
• Loss of mobility. Often, getting food means going to the store, choosing items from the shelves, bringing those items home, and putting them away. When a serious injury prevents someone from doing these tasks, filling the shelves becomes difficult or impossible. 
• Loss of ability. For someone with serious injuries, healing is a full-time job. The effort required to plan and prepare a meal can be overwhelming. Similarly, family caregivers who must miss work or tend to their loved one may not have the funds or ability to focus on meal planning. 

Food insecurity can be tough to beat. For families who aren’t used to needing help, the burdens can be even greater. Figuring out who to ask and where to get help is one more task these households must do – on top of dealing with a serious injury and its consequences. Fighting food insecurity can be one battle too many. 

The Real-Life Impact of Food Insecurity

“Food insecurity” is an abstract term for a real-life, daily problem. Your household may be facing food insecurity if:

• Some family members are skipping meals or eating smaller portions so others can eat. For instance, parents will often skip meals so their children have enough to eat. 
• You’re relying on cheaper, less nutritious foods than you normally eat. Ultra-processed foods, “ready-to-eat” frozen meals, and similar foods may provide calories, but they don’t typically provide the vitamins and minerals the human body needs. You may feel hungry or unsatisfied, even when you’ve just eaten.
• Family members are facing food-related health issues. Children’s growth can be affected. Certain medical conditions, like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, can be affected by food insecurity as well.
• Food has become an emotional subject. Stress, anxiety, guilt, and isolation are common feelings that come with food insecurity. You don’t want to think about tough questions: Where will your next meal come from? Are the kids eating enough? Yet you also can’t stop thinking about them. 

Food insecurity can have serious impacts on those recovering from serious injuries as well. 

Food Insecurity Slows Recovery

Food insecurity affects an entire household after a serious injury. Yet it can harm the injured person the most. 

When an injured person doesn’t get a balanced diet of nutritious food, their healing may be delayed. The body doesn’t receive the nutrients it needs to rebuild bone, muscle, and other tissues. Slower healing means more time off work and away from household tasks. Slow healing can also lead to worse long-term health outcomes.

For an injured person with chronic health issues, food insecurity can make matters worse. Managing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and chronic pain is already a challenge. When food doesn’t provide enough essential nutrients, managing these conditions can get even harder. 

Solutions and Resources for Injured Families

Food insecurity is a big problem – and many local, state, and federal organizations step up to help. If you need help putting food on the table after a serious injury, reach out to the following programs.

Food banks. Several food banks serve the greater Charleston area. These include food pantries run by the Lowcountry Food Bank, Harvest Hope Food Bank, and others. Let the food bank know if you need help picking up food; some organizations will deliver groceries to those injured. 

• Lowcountry Food Bank Food Distribution Calendar
• Lowcountry Food Bank Pantries
• Community Resources Center
• MUSC Health Food Banks
• Charleston Area Senior Citizens Food Pantry
• Meals on Wheels
• Bible Way Church of Piedmont Avenue Food Pantry (Emergency Food available by appointment)
• St. John Baptist Food Pantry (Tuesdays from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM)
• Neighbors Together (Monday-Thursday from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM)
• One80Place (Community Lunch Schedule, Monday-Sunday from 1:00 PM-1:30 PM)

If you would like to make a donation online, you can visit the Lowcountry Food Bank Virtual Fund Drive. 

Assistance programs. SNAP benefits help low-income households with their food bills. WIC benefits support nutrition for mothers of infants and children up to age five. Check to see whether you or your household qualify for these assistance programs.  

Neighbors, churches, and community groups. It can be tough to admit you’re having trouble putting food on the table. But friends, family, neighbors, community groups, and religious groups all want to help – they just need to know you need them. Several churches and religious organizations in Charleston run food pantries. Neighbors can often help you pick up groceries, make meal plans, or even do some cooking. 

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Make a Difference

Insurance companies tend to overlook food insecurity when they evaluate claims or offer settlements. Yet you can’t afford to overlook the impact of food insecurity. For you, hunger is a daily companion – and so are fears that your family isn’t getting the food they need. 

Your attorney can help by:

• Ensuring your compensation covers loss of income, including future needs if you’re unable to keep working
• Highlight the hidden hardships your injuries imposed during settlement negotiations and, if needed, at trial
• Help you connect with community resources to get your needs met.

If an accident has left your family struggling to make ends meet, know that you’re not alone, and help is available. The attorneys at Steinberg Law Firm understand the real-life impact injuries have on South Carolina families, and are here to fight for the support and resources you deserve.

FAQs

Can food costs be covered in a personal injury claim?

Not directly. However, a personal injury claim can cover wages lost as a result of being unable to work. Since wages are often used to buy a family’s food, food costs become part of the claim for lost wages. 

Who can help if I can’t afford groceries after an accident?

Charleston is home to several food banks and food pantries that can provide assistance after an accident. You can also consider applying for benefits such as SNAP and WIC if your household is eligible. Don’t forget to ask neighbors, friends, and family for help – many people are willing to assist if you reach out. 

How long does it take to get compensation from a personal injury claim? 

Typically, a personal injury claim takes a few months to a year or more to fully resolve. An attorney can help speed the process along, but court dates, insurance company efforts, and other events often mean the process takes a while. 

When your household needs groceries, this timeline can be too long. That’s why it’s important to reach out for help right away if your household is facing food insecurity due to an accident. 

Is it normal to feel embarrassed about needing food assistance?

Yes. Food is more than just fuel for our bodies: it’s also an important part of family time, of our cultural and social traditions, and a source of comfort and safety. When we can’t do something as basic as put a meal on the table, we often feel embarrassed, guilty, ashamed, or angry. 

When these feelings arise, remember: This situation is not your fault. You were injured, and you need help. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is ask for the assistance you need.