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Kissimmee Florida Personal Injury Law Blog

What information do you need to seek disability benefits?

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in Social Security Disability on Friday, October 18, 2019.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are a necessity in America. They're there to cover the needs of those who are injured, have a disability or a severe illness that is expected to last a year or longer or result in death. There is a very strict definition of a disability based on federal law, which makes it challenging to obtain SSDI benefits.

To start with, if you plan on filing an application for SSDI benefits, you will need to collect some information for the Social Security Administration (SSA). This information includes your:

  • Birth certificate
  • Social Security number
  • Medical records for therapists, doctors, clinics, caseworkers and others who have worked with you on this specific injury
  • Test and laboratory results
  • Copies of your most recent W-2 forms. If you're self-employed, then you'll need your previous year's tax return
  • Dosages and names for all the medications you take
  • A summary describing where you worked and what kind of work you did there

Teen airlifted after bicycling accident in Kissimmee

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in personal injury on Thursday, October 10, 2019.

Bicycle crashes are fairly common in areas where cyclists share space with vehicles. Even with bike lanes, drivers may not notice cyclists or could make mistakes that result in a crash.

Take, for example, a case of a teen who was struck in Florida. A teenager in Kissimmee had to be airlifted to the hospital after being struck on his bike by a vehicle. The Oct. 7 report stated that the teen was traveling on Fortune Avenue when he was struck. The boy, around 15 years old, was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for serious injuries.

No two recoveries are alike when it comes to brain injuries

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in personal injury on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

Brain injuries are devastating. Even a mild injury can take a week or two to resolve, changing your daily life in the meantime. These injuries can range significantly in their severity, and no two people will have exactly the same recovery.

One of the biggest issues with brain injuries is that there is a risk of secondary complications. When the brain swells, it doesn't have anywhere to go. The pressure put on the brain by the skull can end up causing more severe damage than the initial injury. That's why it's always important to seek out care for a head injury earlier rather than later. Once damage is done, it could be difficult to reverse it.

The SSA may expedite your disability application

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

Deciding to seek financial assistance through the Social Security Administration is not an easy choice. It involves coming to the realization that your condition is severe enough that you can no longer work and that you may be dealing with the symptoms for at least a year, perhaps for the rest of your life. However, if you are already unable to work and have accumulated a pile of medical bills, you certainly can use the assistance SSA disability benefits offer.

Like any government program, qualifying and receiving your payments is a notoriously long process. The approval process can take months, and if the SSA denies your application — which they often do on the first try — you will have an even longer wait while you appeal. After approval, there is a mandatory five-month waiting period before your payments begin. However, under certain circumstances, you may qualify to have your approval fast tracked.

Should you report a laceration that happens at work?

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in workers' compensation on Monday, September 23, 2019.

Of the injuries you can suffer on the job, some of the most common are lacerations. Lacerations can happen almost anywhere. A clerk filing paperwork could get cut on a filing cabinet, a person in a factory could suffer an accidental amputation from a sharp blade on a piece of machinery or a driver could get into an accident and cut themselves on the glass.

There are so many ways that you could suffer from these wounds, but if they occur on the job, they should be covered by your workers' compensation insurance.

Get help if you suffer a head injury on the job

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

There are many ways that you could suffer a head injury when working as a construction worker. Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) haS estimated that 1.7 million people, on average, suffer a brain injury each year? On top of that, around 125,000 end up with permanent disabilities.

The good news is that it's easy to take precautions against workplace injuries. Here are a few tips that could help prevent head injuries on the job.

Report your injuries from amusement park rides

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in personal injury on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

In Florida, summer never seems to end, and theme parks stay open most of the year. With that comes risk, though, since injuries can still happen in these happy venues.

Roller coaster injuries are personal injuries that aren't often discussed because they are not part of the image of going to an amusement park. Instead, what people would like you to think is that these injuries are rare and that they're not worth talking about. The reality is that they're more common than you may think.

What is a head injury, and how will you recognize it?

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in personal injury on Friday, September 6, 2019.

In a car crash, one of the injuries that you may suffer is a head injury. A head injury may lead to a brain injury, which can have devastating consequences. Head injuries may be minor, like contusions or lacerations, or they can involve the brain, skull fractures or other major concerns.

Head injuries are defined as any injuries to the brain, scalp or head, so there is going to be a wide range of conditions that fall under those terms. Some common head injuries include:

  • Concussions
  • Hemorrhages
  • Hematomas
  • Edema
  • Diffuse axonal injuries

Getting back to work after a work accident may not be easy

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

Did you suffer an injury in a work accident that required you take time off to recover? If so, you are probably also dealing with extensive pain, medical bills and other complications that affected multiple areas of your life. Even so, after a long period of recovery, you may be finally ready to return to work.

Getting back to work is not as easy as maybe you thought it would be. Perhaps you have new limitations that will affect what you can and cannot do, or maybe you will not be able to return to your same job. This can be overwhelming, but fortunately, there may be help available to you. Through your Florida employer's workers' compensation insurance, you may be able to get the support you need to return to the workforce.

UPS workers speak out after suffering heat-related illnesses

On behalf of The Lawrence Law Firm posted in workers' compensation on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

Working in the heat is a problem for many workers. The sun is beating down, and exertion only puts more strain on your body. Combined with humidity and the inability to sweat to cool down, many people suffer from heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses in the summer months.

The workers who have been reporting more than their fair share of issues are UPS workers. Sixteen employees from UPS reached out to NBC news to discuss their illnesses and the hazards that they face on the job.