Best & Anderson, P.A. Personal Injury Blog

Social Security Disability – The wait

We at Best & Anderson share the frustration of our clients at the unconscionable long waits endured by many of those seeking benefits under Social Security Disability. A recent report showed that the average wait for a hearing is now 17 months, more in some parts of the country. The budgetary cutbacks of the last few years have forced the agency to reduce staff; the number of administrative judges is inadequate; the result is the cruel waits that those who are most vulnerable are subjected to.

Our Social Security administrator, Ms. Runge, has been working Social Security Disability cases for the last 15 years. She agrees that the backlog of cases seen today is unprecedented.

One tool that is at her disposal is what is called an “on the record” decision (OTR). For certain, well-documented cases, we can apply using only the documentation available. This process negates the need for a hearing, thus cutting back the wait time. Sometimes decisions can be received in a matter of weeks.

If you think that your case merits an on the record decision please call us. We will be more than happy to inform you about this procedure and any other aspects of Social Security Disability.

Labels: Social Security Disability On The Record Decision

Visitors and tourists injured while on vacation.

Being injured while on vacation is both a disillusion and a burden. The last thing a tourist is looking for is to become the victim in a car accident, the subject of a fall, the victim of a violent act due to negligent security. Yet, unfortunately, these incidents do happen. Our roads are among the most crowded in the nation. Our attractions, Disney World, Sea World, Universal, as well as many of our fine local hotels, are normally safe places. Nonetheless, employees, management, subcontractors are human, they make mistakes, sometimes procedure is not followed, unsafe situations are created, the unfortunate result is that innocent visitors are injured, sometimes seriously.

Tourist, especially those from far-away regions and countries, are sometimes reluctant to seek a local attorney. Yet, a local attorney is exactly what you need. An injury that happens here would have to be tried in Florida, probably in Orlando or Kissimee, where we have our offices. You would need an attorney that is licensed in Florida in order for him/her to file suit on your behalf. You would want a firm, like Best & Anderson, that knows the area, knows the local insurance companies and has a staff of lawyers, paralegals and investigators that have handled locally similar cases to yours.

We write this blog for you, the injured visitor, to inform you that you should not be reluctant to be compensated for an injury caused by the negligence of someone else. We have helped clients from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, France, England, Canada, Quebec, and many other countries. As far as clients from inside the U.S., we have had clients hailing from virtually every state. In Puerto Rico, we have a partner law firm in San Juan with whom we have successfully concluded several cases. We speak, in addition to Spanish, French and Portuguese. We are used to handling cases with clients that reside far away. You do not have less right to be compensated just because you are not a U.S. citizen.

Contact us in whatever language you want, wherever you happen to now be. If you have been injured in Florida, Best & Anderson will do it’s utmost to bring you the justice you deserve.

Gracias, Obrigado, Merci
Thank you

Labels: tourist injuries orlando attorney lawyer abogado

Being involved in an automobile accident is, perhaps, one of the most stressful events that can happen to a person, and when there are serious injuries, that stress is only compounded. Approximately one-fifth of people involved in automobile collisions experience symptoms involving the head and neck region, and sometimes those symptoms do not appear until days or even weeks after the accident. Although some people may recover quickly from the injuries they sustained in an accident, many do not and may develop chronic conditions that result in severe pain and even some kind of permanent disability.

Following automobile accidents, people may experience a range of symptoms including neck and back stiffness and/or pain, headaches, shoulder pain and/or stiffness, pain between the shoulder blades, pain/numbness in the arms or hands, sleep disturbances, and difficulty with memory and concentration. The first thing anyone should do following an automobile accident is be examined by a physician.

Because automobile accidents may involve personal injuries and property damage, knowledge of Florida's law is crucial should you have to pursue a claim involving monetary recovery either from your insurance company or that of another driver involved in the collision. An experienced personal injury attorney such as David Best or Dutch Anderson in Orlando, Florida will advise you on what, if any, valid insurance claim you have against an insurance company.

In order to commence a lawsuit for personal injuries due to a car accident, you must have sustained a "serious injury." According to law, a serious injury is one that results in "death; dismemberment; significant disfigurement; fracture; loss of fetus; permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system; permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member; significant limitation of use of a body function or system; or a medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitute such person's usual and customary daily activities for not less than 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment."

Deciding negligence in an auto accident means determining who was at fault or who caused the accident. In some situations, however, accidents are not necessarily caused by other drivers. An auto accident can occur due to a manufacturing defect such as a defective tire or steering mechanism. Improper repair to a car may cause an accident; in these cases, the injured party is still eligible for benefits if certain criteria are met.

Following an accident, you should not hesitate to call upon an experienced personal injury attorney to help you sort through the insurance paperwork and claims package. At Best & Anderson, Attorneys at Law, one of our experienced car accident attorneys is here to help you; please call today to schedule your free initial consultation.