Personal Injury and Social Security Disability Blog

Link of the Day - Friday Fun

My thanks to California lawyer Jonathan Stein for  this great video of college students attempting to tow a car out of snow.

As Jonathan said, "I would love to see the insurance claim filed for this. "

Link of the Day - Tom Mighell's Inter Alia

For the month of March, I am going to use my Link of the Day feature to highlight legal blogs that I think are interesting and useful. Some may not be directly related to personal injury or Social Security disability law, but each one is worth a look. Today's entry in March of the Blogs: Today's entry in March of the Blogs is a special one.

I want to end this March of the Blogs with the person who did the most to help me start my own blog. Tom Mighell was kind enough to spend a long lunch with me almost a year ago, giving advice on getting my other blog up and running.

Tom's inter alia blog is the premier legal research blog, and has been for years. I appreciate Tom's assistance and friendship, and I appreciate his wonderfully helpful blog.

Medical Lawsuit Caps Shut Out Worthy Claims

An article in the Austin American-Statesman about the Texas medical malpractice tort reform legislation provides food for thought for all those Texans who voted for this legislation. The result of the new law, as trial lawyers warned, has been to shut the courthouse doors on people with valid malpractice claims, but without big economic damages. In real terms, that means health care providers are essentially immune from suits by children and retired persons, no matter how blatant the malpractice may have been.

Link of the Day - Hoosier Lawyer And Hoosier Daddy

For the month of March, I am going to use my Link of the Day feature to highlight legal blogs that I think are interesting and useful. Some may not be directly related to personal injury or Social Security disability law, but each one is worth a look. Today's entry in March of the Blogs:

Indiana lawyer, and friend,  Stephen Terrell has two blogs, Hoosier Lawyer and Hoosier Daddy. One is helpful and very informative, and the other is helpful and very funny. Steve has a great perspective on the law and on life in general, and both blogs are well worth a long look.

Social Security Administration Finalizes Rule Changes

The Associated Press reported today that the Social Security Administration has finalized rule changes that have been in the works for months. The changes cited in the AP story sound good, but not mentioned are the changes that will make it harder for claimants to obtain benefits, such as raising the ages of the various brackets. Excerpts from the article:

People who are clearly disabled could be approved for disability benefits in as little as 20 days under a new determination process to be rolled out by the Social Security Administration.

The new procedures, to be finalized Tuesday, could cut at least nine months off the roughly three years it takes people seeking disability benefits to work through the entire process for appealing decisions when benefits are denied.

Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart said six states in the Northeast will be the first to use the revised system, beginning Aug. 1. People who applied for benefits before the change will still operate under the old procedures.

The changes will be implemented in a second region about a year later, with new procedures put in place nationwide over several years.

Among the changes, a special unit will screen applicants for cases of clear disability that can be quickly approved for benefits. Other changes aim to give applicants a faster and more meaningful reconsideration in cases when claims are denied.

Medical and vocational experts will play a bigger role in evaluating disability applications.

Link of the Day - Hawaiian Family Law Blog

For the month of March, I am going to use my Link of the Day feature to highlight legal blogs that I think are interesting and useful. Some may not be directly related to personal injury or Social Security disability law, but each one is worth a look. Today's entry in March of the Blogs:

One of the lawyers fortunate enough to live in Hawaii is Jane Tate. Her blog about Hawaiian Family Law is a new one, but shows great promise.

Link of the Day - Massachusetts Personal Injury Blog

For the month of March, I am going to use my Link of the Day feature to highlight legal blogs that I think are interesting and useful. Some may not be directly related to personal injury or Social Security disability law, but each one is worth a look. Today's entry in March of the Blogs:

Christopher F. Early is a Massachusetts lawyer with a brand new blog titled Massachusetts Personal Injury Blog. His blog provides: Information and Discussion of Massachusetts Personal Injury Law.

Link of the Day - Advokids Blog

For the month of March, I am going to use my Link of the Day feature to highlight legal blogs that I think are interesting and useful. Some may not be directly related to personal injury or Social Security disability law, but each one is worth a look. Today's entry in March of the Blogs:

New York attorney Saundra M. Gumerove is a banking and business lawyer with an admirable devotion to challenged children. Her Advokids blog contains information about legislation and other matters that may have an impact on these kids. As Sandy says, Helping Kids Is Our Top Priority.

Link of the Day - Workers Comp Law Blog

For the month of March, I am going to use my Link of the Day feature to highlight legal blogs that I think are interesting and useful. Some may not be directly related to personal injury or Social Security disability law, but each one is worth a look. Today's entry in March of the Blogs:

Attorney Ricky Bagolie, of Bagolie Friedman, writes the Workers Comp Law Blog. The subtitle explains the purpose of the blog: What do you do if you are hurt at work, develop a job related cancer or are injured by a defective medical device? The workers' compensation and personal injury trial lawyers at Bagolie Friedman will give you answers and help you get justice.

Link of the Day - Friday Fun

Just in time for summer vacation plans, Google has a great new travel site. Check it out here.