SettlementBoard.com News, Articles and Information for Legal Junkies

27Jan/120

Victim of Dental Malpractice Receives Two Million

Dental malpractice claims are not as common as claims for medical malpractice and the awards victims receive are usually not as high. This is simply because dental procedures are less likely than medical procedures to cause major and irreparable harm. However, victims of dental and medical malpractice receive the same types of compensation: medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in some extreme cases, punitive damages. Experienced Montgomery County dentist malpractice attorneys understand malpractice laws and can counsel clients as to the viability and potential value of their claims.

Some dental malpractice awards, however, can be quite substantial. This is especially true in cases involving punitive damages for reckless conduct by a dental professional. In one such case in 2009, a South Carolina jury awarded a victim of dental malpractice two million dollars, consisting mostly of punitive damages designed to punish the dental provider for its egregious conduct.

In that case, a 28-year-old woman scheduled to have three teeth removed awoke to find the dentist had removed all 13 of her upper teeth by mistake. The jury found not only that there was no medical basis for the procedure, but also that following the surgery the clinic altered patient records and charts to cover up the mistake. The jury awarded the patient $500,000 to compensate her for her losses—including medical bills for restorative surgery, lost wages, and pain and suffering—and $1.5 million in punitive damages against the clinic.

Montgomery County dentist malpractice attorneys can help

While this is an unusual case involving particularly egregious conduct on the part of a dental professional, other victims of dental malpractice can still receive substantial rewards. Corrective procedures following dental malpractice can be costly and many patients may be unable to afford such procedures without receiving compensation. Simply having a Montgomery County dentist malpractice attorney involved may make a negligent provider more willing to offer a fair out-of-court settlement. In other cases, an investigation by an experienced attorney may uncover the true extent of the misconduct of a dental professional not immediately apparent to the victim.

Contact an experienced malpractice attorney today

For 35 years, attorney Paul R. Wiesenfeld has represented personal injury victims throughout Maryland. His practice includes automobile and other road accidents, as well as medical and dental malpractice cases. He maintains offices at Jackson Place South, Suite 20, 932 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850. He offers free initial consultations and is available by phone at 301-760-4666 or through his online contact page.

26Jan/120

What to Know About Qualifying for Social Security Disability

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), about three in ten workers age 20 will become disabled before they are ready to retire.   With the likelihood that you may become unable to work before your planned retirement, it is important to understand how to qualify for Social Security disability insurance benefits.

 

Qualifying for Social Security disability

According to Chicago Social Security disability lawyers, Social Security disability benefits are available only for workers who have worked for a certain amount of time in qualifying jobs and paid Social Security taxes.  In addition, workers must suffer from a disability as defined by the SSA.  To qualify, a disability must do the following:

  • Prevent you from doing the work you did before
  • Prevent you from adjusting to other work
  • Last, or be expected to last, for at least one year or result in death

Temporary or partial disabilities do not qualify.  However, whether a disability qualifies you for benefits can be disputed.  It may depend on a doctor's diagnosis or even how your disability is presented to the SSA.  To help ensure you receive the benefits to which you are entitled, it is important to consult with knowledgeable and experienced Chicago disability lawyers.

How long do Social Security disability benefits last?

Once you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, they usually continue until you are able to work regularly once more.  In addition, certain work incentives may be available, depending on your situation, which provide continued benefits and health care coverage while you are transitioning back to work.  If you are receiving disability benefits when you reach retirement age, those benefits convert to retirement benefits.

Chicago Social Security disability attorneys who are well versed in disability and benefits laws can guide you through any step of the complex application process to make sure you receive your much needed benefits.  If your claim for benefits is denied, experienced attorneys can help you appeal the denial to the SSA or the courts, as needed.  Contact Daley, DeBofsky & Bryant today for help with your Social Security disability claim today.  We work tirelessly for you.

 

 


 

26Jan/120

Keys to Successful Immigration

Dealing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can be intimidating. What follows are some hints and tips to make dealing with USCIS less stressful and more successful.
Keep records of everything
Keep copies of every document you send to USCIS, including supporting documentation—e.g., photocopies of your passport and birth certificate—as well as USCIS forms you submit. Keep the original and copies of every letter or document USCIS sends to you, as well.
Bring records and documentation with you when you go for immigration interviews or visit USCIS
Bring all of your records with you when you go. You do not have to memorize the content of every document, but you should have an idea of the type of information each document contains and know where to find it every time you interact with USCIS—at your immigration interview, on phone calls, and on all other occasions on which you interact with an Immigration Officer.
Mind your manners
No matter how rudely an Immigration Officer treats you, or how poorly he or she understands you, never lose your cool or your patience with any USCIS official. You need to make a good impression at all times, no matter what else occurs.
Be early
Be early for everything. Plan to submit all forms and petitions ahead of the deadline, which will give you a chance to find any missing documentation. Arrive for any appointments or interviews with at least thirty minutes to spare—you do not want to risk missing an appointment or irritating a USCIS official.
Always tell the truth
Even if it seems like the truth will work against you or USCIS will never find out about it, tell the truth. The consequences for lying on any immigration-related documents include deportation and bans on reentering the country—better to deal with whatever it is up front. If you do not know the answer to a question or do not remember, be honest with the Immigration Officer about that as well. Never guess.
Work with a skilled Orange County immigration lawyer
Seasoned immigration lawyers can ensure that you never miss deadlines, never accidentally omit required forms or fail to pay required fees, and that the Immigration Officer understands your story and works with you.
Respected Orange County immigration lawyers working for you
The skilled immigration lawyers at Wilner & O’Reilly, APLC have dedicated their professional lives to helping immigrants of all stripes fulfill their goals, whether that means a brief stay as a working professional or permanent immigration and naturalization. With conveniently-located offices in Cerritos, Santa Ana, and Riverside as well as Salt Lake City, Utah, they are available to help you address any immigration issue you may face.
Contact us today by phone at 888.862.5905 or through our website to arrange an initial consultation about your cased with a dedicated, caring Orange County immigration attorney.

23Jan/120

Asbestos Litigation in Rochester

Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos. The most common place of exposure is the workplace or on ships. Most cancer patients sue asbestos companies that made the products that exposed them to asbestos as part of their strategy for coping with their diagnosis and to get compensation to help defray the cost of treatment. If you live in Rochester and have mesothelioma or lung cancer, you should contact a Rochester asbestos lawyer as soon as possible.

It's important that you contact a Rochester mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after your diagnosis so that you can determine what your options are for proceeding with your case. Your attorney can help you figure out how you were exposed to asbestos and can also contact experts on your behalf to strengthen your case.

If at all possible, you want to pursue litigation while you are still alive rather than leaving the case to your heirs after your death. If a mesothelioma patient is still alive at the beginning of his Rochester asbestos lawsuit, his attorneys can often accelerate the case on the grounds that the patient doesn't have much time left and should be allowed to get the compensation he deserves so that he can enjoy what is left of his life. Most cases take less than a year to settle, and may be settled in less time if the case is accelerated.

There are three reasons to pursue litigation. One reason is that you may be angry about your diagnosis, and with good reason—if you hadn't been exposed to asbestos, you wouldn't have developed mesothelioma. Pursuing litigation is a constructive use of your anger because it brings awareness to the issue and discourages other companies from exposing people to asbestos in the future. The other reason to pursue litigation is that you may have large doctor's bills related to your mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, and some of these costs may not be covered by insurance. If you can settle a Rochester mesothelioma lawsuit while you are still alive, you can use the compensation you receive to pay doctor's bills or pay for living expenses that were previously covered by your job. Finally, you can protect your family.

If you have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma and are ready to pursue legal action, contact a Rochester mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options so that you have the best chance of getting compensation while you're still alive.

Contact a Rochester Mesothelioma Law Firm Today

The attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP have helped victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers recover over $500 million in compensation from responsible parties. Contact the Rochester Mesothelioma Lawyers at Belluck & Fox, LLP online or at (585)200-5562.