The driver involved in the Tennessee accident that killed six people in late June, which was reported on in a blog post from July 1 titled “Tennessee truck accident a real tragedy” was served a court order in early July informing him that he may not operate a commercial vehicle on any interstate highway. The driver is
I am preparing for a childhood Supplemental Security Income (SSI) hearing for a young girl with a very serious liver disorder. As discussed previously, childhood SSI benefits are decided under different rules than utilized for adult Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. The requirements are actually more stringent. The SSA determines
Interstate 40 in Tennessee was closed for about four hours on a recent Monday morning. This followed a tragic car wreck that caused the death of a man from another state. Police reported that the accident occurred in the vicinity of Sevierville. According to an accident report, a 61-year-old driver of a sedan was eastbound
I periodically write about the average processing times for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims at the hearing offices. For instance, my latest update on this was on June 4, 2015. The average processing times and hearing wait times are growing and are inexcusable. However, we are apt to forget
Mediation is a voluntary settlement process to help parties resolve disputes. Mediation is an informal process where a mediator helps people with a dispute to reach agreement. The mediation process identifies important issues, clarifies misunderstandings, explores solutions, and negotiates settlement. Mediation is a process that brings parties together to resolve their differences through discussion and
One accident on a recent Thursday evening at the end of June in Tennessee has led to the death of six people. This is the most people killed in one single truck accident in the last ten years in the state. According to reports, a large truck ploughed into eight cars that were waiting at a
Childhood SSI benefits are available to children from birth up to age eighteen. To qualify for childhood Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, a child must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition for disability for children and the parents must have low income and few resources. Some time back, I wrote about qualifying for Supplemental Security
The number of temporary workers in the United States seems to be on the rise. It is estimated that in 2013, 17 million people were employed in temporary positions across the U.S, including Tennessee. At the same time, current research shows that temporary staff has a much higher chance of suffering a workplace injury than
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases are typically won or lost on the strength of the medical evidence and the credibility of the claimant. However, if you are an attorney representing claimants, there are certain things you should always remember in preparing a case for hearing. 1. Failure to formulate
In any accident between a car and a large truck, the occupants of the car have very little chance of escaping injury. It is quite understandable when one considers that a truck may weigh between 20 and 30 times more than a sedan. There are many different factors which may play a role in 18-wheeler
On April 26, 2015, I posted the average processing times and approval rates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims for East Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky. Already, the numbers need to be updated. Please remember that these statistics are only for claims pending at the hearing level or Office of
Employers have a legal duty to provide workers’ compensation insurance in order to protect the interests of their workers. This insurance allows for Tennessee workers to claim for loss of income and other expenses after suffering a workplace injury. There are many types of injuries for which you can claim, and the general rule is
I recently blogged about Attorney Fees in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases, but there are instances where attorneys can get paid for work performed before the federal court under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). To aid individuals have access to the Court systems to remedy unjust governmental
Losing a loved one in a car accident is naturally a traumatic experience. This is even more so when there are a lot of unanswered questions. In some instances, the underlying circumstances of an accident only become evident after thorough investigation. Two people lost their lives and another was injured in a recent Tennessee car
I am often asked about how attorneys are paid on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (technically non-attorney representatives are paid the same way, but see about the “Dangers of Non-Attorney Reps in Social Security”). First, any fee charged or collected by a representative must be approved by the Social Security
Even when motorcycle riders wear helmets, they remain vulnerable. Motorists are protected by the bodies of cars that are specially designed to absorb the impact of car accidents while motorcyclists are exposed to injuries that can be catastrophic. When a group of helmet-wearing motorcyclists were recently involved in a Tennessee crash, two lost their lives
May 18 is the beginning of the annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week in the United States. Annually, in the United States, at least 4.5 million people suffer injuries after being bitten by dogs, and children make up at least half of this number. It is quite shocking to think so many people are bitten yearly, and
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may be paid directly to a disabled worker or another person may draw benefits as a result of that worker. Auxiliary beneficiaries encompass dependency and survivor benefits that first require a wage earner who met entitlement requirements. The following are types of auxiliary beneficiaries: 1. Spousal insurance benefits: The spouse can
Today, even compared to ten years ago, useful resources for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or SSI attorney are everywhere. The cost can range from nothing for readily available materials on the internet to hundreds of dollars for multi-volume treatises. Apart from traditional resource material (paper or electronic), an attorney now also has more wide
Tennessee authorities are still investigating the cause of an accident that led the first responders remove their hats and bow their heads – perhaps in prayer. The tragic car wreck led to the death of six people, and injuries to three others. An infant was among the deceased. The accident happened on a recent Thursday evening