A worker employed by one of the contractors involved at a foundry in Tennessee was injured in a work-related accident on a recent Thursday evening in August. Very little information relating to the accident has been made available, and the company has been quiet regarding the matter. It is known that the workplace injury resulted
There are many types of injuries and illnesses that are considered to be permanent disabilities. Among these is a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. No matter how the injury occurred, a TBI can have an impact on all the different aspects of your life. It can leave you unable to work, and can also harm
A Tennessee man was pinned under his vehicle after an accident with another vehicle. Now, his fiance is searching for the people who rushed to help free him in order to express her gratitude. The car wreck happened at approximately 3.30 p.m. on a recent Monday afternoon in August. The driver of the second vehicle was a 16-year-old boy returning
One often reads about the dangers of distracted driving and driving under the influence, but seldom of another lesser known danger — drowsy driving. A driver who has had too little sleep is a danger on the road. Many Tennessee readers likely recall the truck accident in which comedian Tracy Morgan was seriously injured. Lack
“Disability” can mean different things to different people. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) follows strict guidelines outlining what it means to be disabled with regard to the receipt of benefit payments. Additionally, the SSA assumes that disabled people have access to other financial resources if they are unable to work. These may include unemployment
Many of the dam workers involved in cleaning up coal ash after a huge spill in Tennessee in 2008 are now realizing that they have been exposed to many hazardous chemicals during the cleanup operation. Now, eight years later, workers’ compensation claims are being filed as more and more of these workers recognize that their
The following is an article I recently wrote for the August 2016 edition of Dicta by the Knoxville Bar Association. An Attempt to Level the Playing Field? A recent bill allowing an award of attorney fees on temporary workers’ compensation issues. In 2013, Governor Bill Haslam signed into law the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 2013. Its
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – REPRESENTATIVE PAUL RYAN PROPOSES ENDING CHILDHOOD SSI BENEFITS
A Congressional proposal could drastically affect benefits for children receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). On June 7, 2016, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, released an outline of proposals to supposedly address poverty titled “Poverty, Opportunity and Upward Mobility.” One of the more concerning proposals is to end childhood SSI monetary
What was at first an absolute tragedy turned into hope for a Tennessee family. Their son, just 5 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene of a car wreck. Fortunately, someone decided not to give up on the boy and continued trying to save him. The resuscitation efforts were rewarded and he was revived.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently proposed regulations that would affect all claimants trying to qualify for social security disability insurance (SSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. Currently, despite a regulation that allows individual ALJs to have a policy or rule requiring all evidence be submitted five days prior to a hearing, only Region
An important and devastating issue for people seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the time it takes to get their case decided once they reach the hearing level. I have been a bit late on providing an update on this issue. My last entry was in April of 2016.
We live in a society dominated by electronic gadgets. Tennessee residents, like many others around the world, find themselves immersed in an environment in which many people seem so involved with their newest electronic toy that they forget about everything and everybody around them. News reports on the many car accidents resulting from the new
An accident which led to the closure of several lanes on Interstate 75 on a recent Tuesday in July led to one fatality, while three more people were injured. The accident, involving only one vehicle, happened just before midday. Tennessee authorities suspect that drugs may be involved in the car wreck. It is reported
A civil claim was filed against an incarcerated truck driver approximately one year after a horrible accident. The June 2015 truck accident led to the death of six people, while many others were seriously injured. The plaintiff is allegedly the fiancé of the trucker, who is currently in a Tennessee jail. The accident involved nine
Mental illness does not discriminate and affects individuals of all ages, income brackets and education levels. National statistics indicate that as many as one quarter of U.S. adults suffer with a mental illness. Despite the prevalence of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorder; those who suffer with these invisible disabilities often
Summer is here, bringing lovely warmer weather with it. While most people enjoy the warmth that comes with summer, those working outside may not always enjoy it. Many workers may be exposed to extreme heat and, thus, be in danger of succumbing to heat related illnesses if they are not careful. While the goal is
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued a “Notice of Proposed Rule Making” (NPRM) on reporting certain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). As part of amendments to the NICS in 2007, Federal Agencies are required to submit to the Attorney General “any record of any
Charges may be filed against the driver of a pickup truck involved in an early morning accident on a recent Sunday morning in June. Tennessee authorities report that the car wreck, which involved a tractor trailer and a pickup truck, happened at approximately 8:00 a.m. The two deceased victims were passengers in the pickup truck.
All states across the United States, including Tennessee, have very specific laws stipulating requirements for dog owners. When owners do not pay attention to these laws and allow their dogs to run free, the results may be costly — for owners, victims and animals. A dog owner may find that he or she has to
In April of 2016, President Obama took executive action to notify approximately 387,000 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries of the potential eligibility to have outstanding student loan balances discharged on the basis of “total and permanent disability” (TPD). The Department of Education will send out letters to beneficiaries of their possible eligibility and will