Social Security Disability and SSI claimants now have more opportunities to get their cases fast-tracked for certain conditions. The Social Security Administration announced 13 new Compassionate Allowances conditions involving the immune system and neurological disorders. The Compassionate Allowances program fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that claimants with the most serious disabilities receive benefit decisions within
Most Knoxville, Tennessee, drivers already know that failure to obey traffic signs can be dangerous. Many car accidents occur because drivers do not see a traffic sign or they choose to ignore one. This may be the case in a car accident that took place on Oct. 15. According to authorities, a 24-year-old Knoxville man was
Knoxville residents may have been surprised to learn that a paralyzed man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in connection with a fatal car accident that took the life of another man. The sentencing took place on Oct. 4. The 52-year-old man pleaded guilty back in April to charges of felony possession of
Two Jefferson County teens suffer fatal personal injuries after car accident on I-40 in Knoxville, Tennessee. On 1:01 a.m., on Thursday, October 20, 2011, Jean-Luke Lane and Joshua Allen Bullington, both eighteen from White Pine, Tennesse, died when their car crossed Interstate 40 during a pouring rain and slammed into an oncoming pickup truck. Mr. Lane
Social Security Disability claimants will receive a raise next year! On Wednesday, October 19, 2011, the Social Security Administration put out a press release announcing that the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for beneficiaries will be 3.6% in 2012. This adjustment affects individuals receiving Old Age and Social Security Disability benefits. In 2011 there was no COLA.
Car and truck accidents can happen in an instant. Drivers always need to be vigilant of their surroundings to ensure that they and everyone around them are operating in a safe manner. This is especially true for Interstate highway driving, where vehicles are traveling at a higher speed. If drivers are distracted, they can fail
This entry is the third and final installment of a review of changes to Social Security Disability and SSI proposed by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would supposedly save $3 trillion from entitlement plans. Listed below are some of his “reforms” with some brief comments in italics from this author. The government should be represented at the ALJ
Most Tennessee drivers who are experienced in driving around the Nashville area know that traffic can get heavy on Interstate 40 during rush hour times. And whether traffic is moving at a crawl or stopped completely, drivers need to be aware of their surroundings. No one should have to fear traveling. But one good Samaritan,
A Knoxville man died last week after he was hit by a sports utility vehicle. The 68-year-old man had just come off the sidewalk, riding in his motorized wheelchair. As he entered onto Forest Glen Drive in West Knoxville, the driver of the SUV hit him, knocking the man out of his wheelchair. He was
This entry is the second installment of a review of proposed changes to Social Security Disability and SSI made by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would supposedly save $3 trillion from entitlement plans. Listed below are some of his “reforms” with some brief comments in italics from this author. Eliminate the 10% cap on recovery of SSI
Social Security Disability and SSI are likely to see some changes in the future in order to provide the program with the solvency it needs to take care for those who need the benefits to survive. However, some proposed changes to the program would significantly harm deserving claimants and only add more expense and confusion to an
No matter how much experience someone has behind the wheel, they still may not be able to anticipate the foolish negligence of another driver and become involved in a car accident. In Knox County recently, a 21-year-old man was driving on Maryville Pike when he tried to pass another vehicle. As he drove into the
A Tennessee man was killed in an accident when an oncoming dump truck smashed into his car. The 59-year-old man was from Athens, just southwest of Knoxville. Police say the truck accident happened on a Tuesday afternoon in September. The drive of the Kenworth dump truck was carrying a full load of rocks when the
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of a Workers’ Compensation claim for being untimely due to a previous filed claim under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). If you or someone you know makes a claim under the EEOICPA, then please consult an attorney immediately to determine any rights you may
VA says I am disabled, so why is Social Security denying my Social Security Disability or SSI claim? It is Social Security’s position that VA decisions are not binding upon them. Social Security and VA have similar standards for approving disability claims, but the VA has many partial disability programs. For Social Security disability, one
When a car accident involves a pedestrian, it can often lead to serious injury or death. Tennessee state laws require drivers to be vigilant of pedestrians for that very reason. Motor vehicle operators must exercise reasonable care to avoid a car accident, and when one occurs, the driver must stop and immediately report the incident.
Can I get Social Security disability benefits if I expect to get better and return to work? You have to have been disabled for at least one year or be expected to be disabled for at least one year. So, if you expect to be out of work for one year or more on account
Driver negligence that results in serious injury to another person is treated seriously in Knox County. The gravity of this situation can be magnified when the driver at fault in the accident was operating a tractor-trailer. The same can be said for a driver who flees the scene without stopping to see if the people
On August 29, 2011, the Tennessee Supreme Court filed its decision affirming the workers’ compensation decision in Cherokee Insurance Company, Inc. v. Ralph McNabb awarding Mr. McNabb sixty-percent (60%) disability and penalizing the insurer for a frivolous appeal. The Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser represented Mr. McNabb. Mr. Ralph McNabb sustained a right rotator cuff tear
As part of our continuing series on Social Security Disability and SSI benefits: What kinds of benefits are there? There are several kinds of disability benefits for which a person can be eligible. Depending on the facts, you may be entitled to one of these benefits, or you may be entitled to more than one.