Maryland Injury and Disability Law : Washington DC Metro Injury & Disability Lawyer & Attorney : Greenberg & Bederman : Accidents, Falls, Medical Malpractice : Maryland, DC, Virginia

Processing times at the various hearing offices continue to vary greatly. During the month of February, 2008, the hearing office with the shortest average processing time was Harrisburg, PA. SSA Locator The average processing time for that office was 258 days. Bringing up the rear at number 143, was Indianapolis, IN with an average processing time of 816 days.

During this period, Washington, DC dropped farther down the list to number 36. The DC hearing office had an average processing time of 394 days. Certainly not a great showing but much better than Baltimore which weighed in at number 97 and reflected a processing time of 542 days.

In reading these numbers, please bear in mind that these are average processing times. Some cases may proceed at a much quicker pace and others may proceed at a slower pace. Each case is different.

To learn more about social security disability law issues please click social security disability law.  To learn about our social security disability lawyer in Maryland, please click social security lawyer and go to the firm bios of Dory Sutker or Suja Varghese.

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Social Security Trust Fund- 2008 Report

Through the years we have all heard dire predictions that the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted in the very near future. On March 25, 2008, the Board of Trustees for the Social Security Trust Funds issued a report stating that the solvency of the trust funds remained stable in 2007 and may have even improved slightly.* As reported in 2007, the trust funds’ reserves are projected to be exhausted in 2041.  Trust Fund Data

What does this mean? It means that until 2041, more than 30 years from now, the Social Security Trust Funds will be able to pay 100% of promised benefits. This projection assumes no change in taxes or benefits.

What will this Congress do to protect future recipients? Probably nothing. Since the need is not immediate, I do not believe that this Congress will feel pushed into resolving the long-term solvency issue in this election year. However, the Trustees’ report does note that the Medicare problems are more immediate so perhaps, there is some hope that Congress will act.

* The overall actuarial deficit (i.e. the percent of taxable payroll needed to close the gap) has improved.

Source of information: NOSSCR Social Security Forum

To learn more about social security issues please go to social security disability law.
 and click on social security.  To learn more about our social security lawyers, click on social security lawyers, and look at Dory Sutker or SUja Varghese under the firm bios.

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WHAT IS PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION?
Automobile insurance policies offer many different types of coverage: property, personal property, uninsured motorist, under insured motorist, collision, rental, bodily injury, and personal injury protection (PIP). PIP is primarily available to pay medical bills related to an automobile accident and, a percentage (85%) of lost wages due to disability from injuries from a motor vehicle accident. What coverage is required varies from state to state. In Maryland, PIP must be offered by insurance carriers to customers, who then have the option of waiving or denying the coverage.  Maryland Pip Studies

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING PERSONAL INJURY
PROTECTION?
There are numerous advantages to PIP benefits. First, customers are entitled to the benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident. This means that even if you caused the accident, there are benefits in your car insurance policy that you can use for your medical expenses and lost wages. Second, since fault does not need to be determined, medical bills can be paid without unnecessary delay. Maryland law requires that the PIP insurance provider take action on PIP claims within 30 days of submission of a medical bill or lost wage claim. Third, PIP can increase the amount of compensation obtained from the at-fault party’s insurance. An injured person can make a legal claim for medical bills even if PIP has already paid them, unlike health insurance which must be paid back. Fourth, PIP covers a variety of people thereby filling insurance gaps. PIP is available to all family members of the insured who resides in the same household, permissive drivers, guests/passengers in the insured’s vehicle, and pedestrians injured as a result of the accident. It is important to know that PIP money is not available, however, to those who have actively chosen to waive it under their own insurance policy, even if they are injured as passengers in a car that does have PIP coverage. In short, waive it on your policy, and you waive it for yourself on all insurance policies in Maryland.   Maryland Approved Insurance Companies.

HOW MUCH COVERAGE SHOULD I HAVE?
PIP coverage is limited to the amount of coverage the policy carries. Policies are usually
written in three amounts: $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. The standard, and most common, amount is $2,500. Considering the benefits of PIP, I recommend that customers purchase as much as they can afford (high wage earners should always purchase the maximum amount of insurance possible). The legal system is slow. Recovery from the at-fault party can take months, even years, depending on the severity of the injuries. During that time period, there are precious few avenues for compensation for injured persons. PIP can pay outstanding medical bills before they go to collections and affect a person’s credit history. PIP also offers these people a source of income, if disabled, during the long road to recovery.

To learn more about PIP or personal injury issues, please see personal injury law.  To learn more about our personal injury lawyers, please click on personal injury lawyers maryland and read the firm bios on Andrew Bederman, Roger Greenberg, or Jason Fernandez.

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