For victims with disabling medical conditions, understanding the requirements needed to establish SSDI entitlement will streamline the process and improve the chances for a successful claim. A Social Security disability attorney can provide clients with advice and legal representation as they proceed through the SSDI claims process. Approximately 71 percent of people in Illinois who file for Social Security disability benefits are declined. In many cases, victims are declined because their claims simply didn’t include the necessary information. Following a life changing medical diagnosis, entitlement for SSDI should be established as early as possible and care must be taken to […]
Fatigued doctors, nurses, and medical staff put hospital ER patients at increased risk for medical errors. Depending on the type of error and the patient’s condition, injuries can range from mild to severe, even fatal. Medical Errors in the ER Doctors, nurses, and medical staff in hospital emergency rooms often work long hours and double shifts that contribute to fatigue and exhaustion, which in turn can lead to a confused mental state that significantly affects motor skills and judgment. These impairments often lead to mistakes and negligent behavior including misdiagnosis, failure to properly inform patients, medication errors, and surgical errors. […]
There may be several causes of Illinois scaffolding accidents at work leading to the potential liability of several parties. In addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits from the injured worker’s employer, injured workers may also separately sue third parties who might also be liable, including negligent manufacturers, negligent installers and third-party property owners in some cases. A workers’ compensation attorney may identify all of the potentially liable parties in a client’s case and help with both the workers’ compensation claim as well as any separately filed personal injury lawsuits against the other parties. Scaffolding Accident Causes The Occupational Safety and […]
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has updated the list of mental disorders that qualify for disability benefits for 2017. The main determining factor remains the individual’s inability to work due to the condition. Merely having one of the listed conditions does not automatically qualify a person to receive Social Security benefits. While it is necessary to have a doctor or psychiatrist complete paperwork detailing the severity of the person’s condition, institutionalization or round-the-clock care is not required to qualify. A Social Security disability attorney can advise individuals who feel they may qualify for disability on the best course of action. […]
Escaping the summer heat by taking a dip in the pool can lead to serious injury or death. On average, 9 people die in drowning accidents each day and many more suffer injuries including broken bones and lacerations. While children are at greatest risk, the reality is that anyone who takes a swim in a commercial or residential swimming pool is in danger of becoming the next statistic. In certain cases, swimming pool related injuries such as paralysis can have life changing consequences. Private Pool Owners Are Responsible for Safety Property owners are responsible for ensuring the safety and security […]
If an employee is fired after suffering a work-related injury, his or her benefits should remain intact. Furthermore, he or she may have an additional claim against the employer for retaliation. Workers’ Compensation Benefits In Illinois, an employee who sustains a work-related injury is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The workers’ compensation system is a tradeoff for an employee not suing his or her employee. In exchange, the employee receives certain medical and monetary benefits if he or she sustains an accident at work. Additionally, he or she does not have to prove that the employer was negligent or that this negligence […]
The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (“OASDI”) Program, popularly known as “Social Security,” is a federal government program that pays monthly income to insured workers and their families at retirement, disability, or death. The OASDI program is split into two parts, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (“OASI”) and Disability Insurance (“DI”) programs. The OASDI Program is the largest social welfare program in the United States, providing coverage to about one in five Americans. Eligibility to File Claims However, it isn’t automatically granted, for a worker to qualify for benefits, she must: Be insured for disability under the Social Security Act […]
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 150 pedestrians were killed in 2015. This is the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities since 2007 when 171 pedestrians died. The State of Illinois has several laws governing what a crosswalk is, who has right of way, and what parties are responsible for different types of crosswalks. Defining a Crosswalk Illinois recognizes pedestrian crosswalks as designated areas between roads that may or may not be marked by the lines or signs. If a sidewalk is intersected by a street, it is understood that this is a crosswalk, even if there are no other […]
Without workplace safe zone protection, Illinois roadway workers are at high risk of injury and death from car accidents. Every year, hundreds of roadway workers suffer serious workplace injuries and file injury claims with a workers’ compensation attorney. Roadway Workplace Accidents Each year over 20,000 workers are injured nationwide in roadway workplace zones. The leading cause of roadside-related injuries and fatalities is objects and vehicles striking workers. Crushing accidents, specifically being pinned by a vehicle, are the third leading cause of roadway accidents and injuries, followed by runover and backover accidents and collisions between vehicles. In 2011, there were 590 […]
Some SSDI applicants in Illinois may be able to recover retroactive benefits that date back to the date that they were first disabled even if that date was earlier than when they first applied for SSDI benefits. Retroactive disability benefits differ from SSDI backpay because they may go back in time beyond the application date. These benefits may help the recipients to pay for their expenses so that they can have some financial stability. A Social Security disability attorney might help eligible applicants with requesting retroactive benefits that date back to the dates that they became disabled. Understanding Retroactive Benefits When […]
