There are many factors that can lead to a motor vehicle accident. We frequently hear about individuals being arrested following an accident who were found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Sometimes, it is the absence of a seat belt that it the primary reason a person dies from a crash. However,
As part of our continuing Q&A section on Social Security Disability and SSI benefits: How does Social Security Determine Disability? They use a five-step process to decide if you are disabled. Here are the questions Social Security asks: 1. Are you working? If you are working and your earnings average more than a certain amount
Fatal crashes occur on our roadways in and around Knox County with alarming frequency. Each time a driver gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, a duty of reasonable care is owed to everyone. A tractor-trailer is so large and weighs in the tens of thousands of pounds, meaning that any truck accident could potentially
Thinking of applying for Social Security Disability or SSI benefits? Here some answers to common questions. This will be part of a continuing series of questions and answers on the blog. When Do I Apply? You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process
A car accident, whether in Knoxville or anywhere in Tennessee, can have devastating consequences. Fatalities can happen in an instant. One moment a person is driving on the Interstate. The next moment their car runs out of gas, and the occupants walk along the road shoulder seeking help. In a flash, a car accident happens
Claimants applying for Social Security Disability and SSI can sometimes qualify for benefits due to serious spinal conditions or disorders. Affected people may qualify under the Listing 1.04 of Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 or under Step Five of the sequential decision making process because of the reduced Residual Functional Capacity resulting from the
A Kentucky woman was lucky to emerge unscathed following a hit-and-run accident that took place in Knoxville, Tennessee, last week. A witness reported that the car accident took place when a male driver struck a 2011 Audi Q5 on Kingston Pike. The driver then got out of his truck to inspect the damage before proceeding
The stage was set for fatal crashes on Knoxville, Tennessee, Highway 92. A Freightliner tractor trailer was moving east on the highway. Directly behind it was one more semi, plus two sedans; equaling a total of four vehicles, all in close proximity to the other. Intending to make a left turn, the lead semi naturally
Social Security Disability claimants beware! As noted in a recent e-mail flash from NOSSCR (a great organization!!), the Social Security Administration recently published SSR 11-1p revising the SSA’s policy for handling subsequent applications when a prior claim is pending with the Appeals Council. Effective July 28, 2011, the Social Security Administration will no longer process a subsequent disability claim
The Social Security Administration has released disposition data for the Administrative Law Judges on their website for September 2010 through June of 2011. You can get historical data on ALJ dispositions here. If you need more information about a personal injury matter (car wreck, truck accident, boating accident, slip and fall, etc.), SSD/SSI matter, or a workers
Workers’ compensation exists to cover the burden of medical expenses and lost wages after an employee is injured. It also provides long-term disability benefits for those who have been hurt while at work. A new workers’ compensation law concerning drug testing became effective on July 1 in Tennessee. The new measure, backed by the state’s
Tony Farmer and John Dreiser were both recently recognized by their peers in the July/August 2011 issue of Cityview Magazine as top attorneys in the areas of workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability. CityView Magazine invites members of the Knoxville Bar Association to participate and this year more than 20,000 votes were cast in 57
A car accident that took place in Springfield, Tennessee, last month, left one man injured and one man dead. Police have confirmed that around 3:45 pm on Sunday, June 20, members of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the scene of an auto accident. It was then they found that a 53-year-old Adairville
Often I am asked, “How much will I get if I am approved for Social Security Disability?” My first response is that I cannot tell you off hand because every person’s benefit is different depending on their earnings. The next thing I advise a client is that an easy way is to look at the pamphlet
Every occupation has its own set of hazards. However, some jobs are far more dangerous than others. For men and women engaged in a hazardous occupation knowing the ins and outs of workplace safety, as well as workers’ compensation, is simply a part of the job. Regulators in Tennessee are taking measures to ensure that
The Tennessee Court of Appeals added a layer of complexity to workers’ compensation subrogation in third-party personal injury matters. In Cooper v. Logistics Insight, Corp., et al. the injured employee, Mr. Cooper, filed suit to recover for personal injuries suffered while working as a tow motor operator for MasterStaff, Inc. Mr. Cooper had received benefits
For the month ending April 28, 2011, the three East Tennessee Office of Disability, Adjudication and Review (ODAR) offices responsible for handling Social Security Disability hearings were ranked in the top 30 for processing times. The Chattanooga ODAR came in ranked at 7th with an average processing time of 259 days. The Kingsport ODAR slipped some to
John Dreiser was one of three presenters at the “Workers’ Compensation Update” sponsored by Lorman Education Services on Friday, June 17, 2011, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The seminar provided attorneys, adjusters, case managers, and human resource personnel with valuable updates and information regarding workers’ compensation claims in Tennessee. The attendees learned about the 2010 and 2011
Men and women injured on the job are entitled to a certain amount of compensation. Workers’ compensation programs are designed to provide this compensation for injured employees. However, this process does not always run smoothly. Over the last several years, a Tennessee man has faced difficulty over workers compensation claims with his former employer. According
On Friday, June 10, 2011, firm attorney, John Dreiser, lectured at National Business Institute’s Social Security Disability Bootcamp in Knoxville, Tennessee. The 6.67 hour CLE was aimed at teaching attorneys, paralegals, and other appointed representatives the ins and outs of representing claimants before the Social Security Administration. The seminar was well attended and received. If you need