When you suffer a disabling injury or illness, your future may seem uncertain. You may be unable to continue working in your chosen profession, worry how you will financially support yourself and struggle with learning to cope with your impairment. Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits provide many who are unable to work after a disability
Obesity is a commonly misevaluated issue in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. The Social Security Administration (SSA) issued Ruling SSR 19-02p: “Titles II and XVI: evaluating cases involving obesity” on May 20, 2019. This new ruling will apply to all claims filed or pending on or after May 20,
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that Independence Day is the worst US holiday for drunk driving crash fatalities. There were 1,192 such fatalities between 2010 and 2017 while Memorial Day, which came in second, saw 1,105 fatalities. Tennessee residents should know that the overall DUI fatality rate for the Fourth
When car buyers in Tennessee and around the country visit dealer showrooms, safety is often one of their primary concerns. Auto manufacturers are aware of this, and they have introduced a range of safety features in recent years that are designed to warn drivers about potentially dangerous situations and prevent accidents. Some road safety experts
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has called the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. Teens, who are inexperienced to begin with, are on the road more frequently during the summer, which is why the risk they run for getting in a car crash increases about 15%
Most drivers in Tennessee recognize the danger of drowsy driving. If they do not get adequate sleep (the CDC recommends at least seven hours), they will only raise the risk for a car crash. The National Sleep Foundation reports that going without sleep for 24 hours will create the same level of impairment as that
With 214 million opioid prescriptions being issued every year, there is little doubt that the nation is seeing an opioid epidemic. Tennessee residents should know that opioids are dangerous substances for drivers and operators of heavy machinery because they can make one sedated and even dizzy. However, many people drive while impaired by opioids. Roughly
Truck accidents remain a major hazard on roads in Tennessee and throughout the United States. And when truck accidents occur, the occupants of smaller passenger vehicles are much more likely to be injured or killed than the driver of the truck. This is simply due to the huge size differential – trucks often weigh 20
When you sustain a disabling injury or develop a debilitating disease that prevents you from being able to work, you may have the option of turning to Social Security benefits for financial help. However, the process is complicated and often leads to a rejection the first time you file a claim. Certain factors increase the
As a Tennessee resident who has trouble supporting yourself because of a serious, debilitating disability, you may decide you want to pursue Social Security disability benefits as a method of making ends meet. Available through the U.S. Social Security Administration and intended for those with severe disabilities unlikely to improve with time, disability benefits are
You and your daughter are out on a walk on a beautiful day in Knoxville and see your neighbors walking their dog. You stop and make small talk and ask if your little one can pet the dog. She loves dogs. “Of course,” your neighbor replies. Your daughter reaches for the dog, but the dog
At this point, the federal government shutdown has lasted nearly two weeks. While many legislators are calling for it to end without President Trump being allocated money for his border wall, it’s unclear if this will occur. If you rely on the Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits that you receive to cover
A 15-year-old girl was killed days before Christmas in a crash on Millertown Pike in East Knox County, Tennessee. In the incident, two pickup trucks ran into each other, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Four other people were injured in the crash, and their conditions were not available. The sheriff’s office said alcohol
Data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this past summer captured how even though fatal automobile accidents in the United States were on the decline for a number of years, their rates have recently increased. The data also shows that while Tuesday may be the safest day for a motorist to get
Accidents can happen to even the most careful drivers. Even if you have comprehensive auto insurance, you obey all of the rules of the road and you never drink and drive, text and drive or get behind the wheel while you’re drowsy, you can still have the misfortune of being hit by an insured driver.
Any time you travel across Tennessee by car, you run the risk of encountering road construction. For some drivers, navigating through these work zones can prove difficult and even dangerous. Construction zone crashes are steadily increasing across the nation, highlighting a need for increased awareness about their dangers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
Officers with both the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) stepped up their patrol of area roadways during a 104-hour period beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25. By the time the enhanced enforcement period was over, 1,013 traffic citations had been issued by
Over 10 million Americans qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in the United States. At least 7 million of those also receive for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). An individual’s ability to qualify for benefits has historically rested in the hands of a vocational witness to decide. This may change come Dec. 4 when the
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently released several new Social Security Rulings (SSRs) that apply to both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. The first two SSRs relate to the establishment of the onset of disability dates and replace SSR 83-20. SSR 18-01p and SSR 18-02p became effective as of
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that nearly five million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. At least 50 percent of those are children. Some 30,000 people were forced to undergo plastic surgery to repair a disfiguring injury caused by a dog bite in 2014. Many of these injuries could have