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

Do you know anyone who is defrauding the social security administration (SSA)? If so, do you know what you can do about it? 

            The SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Fraud Hotline handles allegations of fraud, abuse, and waste. Here’s the skinny on reporting fraud to the hotline.

How do I contact the Hotline?

            Internet:         Go to SSA Website and click on Fraud Reporting Form

            U.S. Mail        Social Security Fraud Hotline

                                    P.O. Box 17768

                                    Baltimore, MD 21235

            Fax:                (410)597-0118

            Telephone      1-800-269-0271 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm EST.

            TTY:              1-866-501-2101         

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Obama on Social Security and Medicare

Two days ago, a new president was inaugurated, ushering in the dawn of a new era. Though these are tough times for our nation, hopes and expectations are high. What is in store for social security and medicare?

Just days before being sworn in as our country’s 44th president, Obama pledged to shape a new Social Security/Medicare “bargain” with the American people, explaining that the country’s long-term economic recovery cannot be achieved unless the government gains control over its most costly entitlement programs. With this in mind, Obama will convene a “fiscal responsibility summit”.

Recognizing that social security is a critical issue, President Obama said “What we have done is kicked this can down the road. We are now at the end of the road and are not in a position to kick it any further. We have to signal seriousness in this by making sure some of the hard decisions are made under my watch...”.

President Obama did not outline any specific fixes for Social Security and Medicare, but he was confident he could solve the problems with Social Security. Turning to Medicare, the new president opined, “The big problem is Medicare, which is unsustainable... We can’t solve Medicare in isolation from the broader problems of health-care system.” As reported by the Washington Post, Medicare is projected to be insolvent by 2019. Over the next two decades, Medicare spending is projected to double.

The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael J. Astrue, welcomed the news that President Obama wants to address this issues of social security and medicare.

Time will tell whether or not the Obama administration will be successful in its endeavor to reform and preserve the Social Security System. For now, let us be hopeful that the Obama administration will turn their “Yes, we can” slogan into Yes, we did.

To learn more about social security law issues, please read social security faq.  To learn more about our social security disability lawyers, please read about dory sutker or suja varghese.

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 Accident Reconstruction

Accident reconstruction is a scientific method used to evaluate the circumstances of a traffic accident by working backwards at the scene. Some post-accident investigations require accident reconstruction analysis where liability is disputed. In many cases there are controversies about how fast the vehicle was traveling, the direction each vehicle was travelling, or which driver was at fault. Accident reconstructionists, specially trained people hired to determine most likely how the accident occurred, evaluate the scene by looking at skid marks, where the damage occurred on the vehicles, how deep the damage is, the road conditions, all in an attempt to uncover what most likely transpired at the time of the accident.

The process of reconstructing an accident scene is scientific and helps us to remove the mystery surrounding the accident . Accident Reconstructionists are highly technical, and skilled expert witnesses, and they rely on systematic testing of an extensive body of data. Accident reconstruction specialists rely on crash reports and videos of crash tested vehicles. The videos and follow up reports demonstrate the crush patterns that occur in various types of collisions. The typical reported data are then applied to accidents with similar fact patterns. Some specialists rely on computerized technology which provides a model of the roadway and its surface so it resembles the original conditions. Once the survey is brought into the reconstruction program, the accident scene can be simulated to include irregularities in the road surface to exactly recreate what happened at the time of the accident. Technology can be programmed to simulate a view point of both drivers involved in the accident.
 

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Social Security Children’s Benefits

Some of our clients call us because they need some help with their children who are disabled. I noticed a pattern in the questions, and decided to post a small blog of frequently asked questions as they relate to children’s social security disability benefits.

What type of benefits are available for disabled children?

                Some children who are either born with or develop medical conditions may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

We already know that people who have worked can usually be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or if not, possibly Supplemental Security Income (SSI). So, what type of benefits could a disabled child be eligible for?

Disabled children may apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. It is the same program used for adults who either never have worked, or have not worked in a long time. A child under 18 can qualify for SSI if he/she meets Social Security’s definition of disability for children, AND, if his/her income and resources fall within the eligibility limits. The federally permitted SSI amount paid monthly is $674.00 for 2009, but it may vary depending on where you live. The amount of the SSI payment is different from one state to another because some states add to the SSI payment. Your local Social Security Office can tell you more about your state’s total SSI payment. Click here to see the local office SSI calculation.

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Tractor Trailer Collisions : Truck Safety and Victim Awards

The Maryland Traffic Safety Handbook offers statistics on the safety of particular drivers as well as that of particular vehicles. The latest data in this handbook is from 2006, and notes eight deaths and 743 injuries from tractor trailer drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers statistics nationwide from 2007. Last year there were 802 tractor trailer driver deaths as a result of collisions, 23,000 people were injured, with an overall total of 4,808 people killed in large truck accidents. Given the size and weight of tractor trailers, the potential is greater to do considerable damage when involved in an accident.

The recent local collision involving two cars and a tractor trailer on the Bay Bridge made headlines all over Maryland. In this tragic case, a tractor trailer was heading west-bound on the Bay Bridge at a time when the bridge had two-way traffic. The truck swerved across the east bound lane of traffic and hit the Jersey wall of the bridge. Unfortunately, the wall was not enough to stop the 18-wheeler, and the tractor trailer and its driver, John R. Short, went over the wall and into the water, resulting in his death. Many local leaders are questioning the safety of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, as this is the first time that a vehicle has ever gone over the edge of the bridge. This case raises questions about the safety of two-way traffic on bridges, the safety of bridges themselves, and the safety of tractor trailers.
 

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Perils of Anesthesia.

Occasionally we read about medical errors and malpractice cases brought as a result of anesthesia errors. Despite the overall healthcare improvements and technical innovations, anesthesia errors still pervade our medical system.
Anesthesiology is a branch of medicine specializing in the use of drugs or other agents that cause insensibility to pain. While anesthetics are essential to conducting many medical procedures with little to no discomfort, they carry the risk of unwanted post-effects. Anesthesiology is also defined as a continuity of patient care involving preoperative evaluation, intraoperative and postoperative care. Most people think of anesthesia-related malpractice as it relates to surgery; however it can happen during pre-operative preparation, post-operatively in the recovery room, and in any procedure room in a medical facility or doctor’s office. Anesthesia mistakes can take place during childbirth and even before routine dental procedures. Anesthesia mistakes are not limited to anesthesiologists.

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists , it is estimated that nearly 40 million anesthetics are administered each year in this country. Anesthesiologists provide or participate in more than 90 percent of these anesthetics. In the operating room, they are responsible for the medical management and anesthetic care of the patient throughout the duration of the surgery. The anesthesiologist must carefully match the anesthetic needs of each patient to that patient’s medical condition, responses to anesthesia and the requirements of the surgery. In many surgical settings, anesthesiologists work in the “anesthesia care team” mode, medically supervising the work of non-physician anesthetists such as nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants, who, although are not physicians, have been trained in the technical administration of anesthetics. Anesthesiologists have important functions outside of operating rooms, such as evaluating patients prior to surgery or conducting postoperative visits. However, the majority of their activities, which are performed inside the operating room, are seen by few people outside of the surgical and nursing team. Usually the patients are unable to remember the anesthesiologist’s involvement because much of the critical work may be done while the patient is anesthetized. The role of the anesthesiologist in the operating room is to: 1) provide continual medical assessment of the patient; 2) monitor and control the patient’s vital life functions; and 3) control the patient’s pain and level of consciousness to make conditions ideal for a safe and successful surgery.
 

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I’m sorry to report some bad news. The processing times at the Washington and Baltimore hearing offices have increased. Washington, which used to be in the top 20 hearing offices in the nation for processing time, has dropped to number 65. The average processing time is now 447 days. Baltimore now ranks at number 90, with an average processing time of 495 days. This news is certainly disappointing; especially in light of the Commissioner’s stated commitment to lessen the backlog.

To learn more about social security disability issues, please read our social security FAQ.

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