If you are living with low vision or blindness, you could qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, the qualification requirements are strict and the procedure is lengthy, so it is helpful to have an experienced attorney in Baltimore to assist during the approval process. Here is what you need to know about applying for disability benefits for low vision or blindness.

How does the Social Security Administration define blindness?

In order to be considered blind under Social Security guidelines, you must not be able to correct your vision to better than 20/200 in your better eye for a period of at least 12 months or a period that is expected to last for at least 12 months. Alternatively, you can have a visual field of 20 degrees or less in your better for the same time period. If your vision doesn’t meet the definition of blindness but you have low vision that prevents you from working either alone or in conjunction with other health issues, then you still may be eligible for benefits.

What kind of disability benefits can I receive?

Two disability programs may provide benefits when you’re blind or have low vision: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is based on credits earned while working, so you are only eligible for it if you have ever had a job, or in some cases, based on your parents’ or spouse’s earnings. SSI is not based on past employment, so you are eligible for these benefits even if you don’t have any work history.

How do I apply for benefits?

Although you can apply for benefits by contacting the Social Security Administration on your own, having a lawyer guide you through the process is recommended. Many people are rejected for benefits on their first try, and having an attorney can help you avoid an initial rejection and the need to appeal. An experienced attorney knows how to avoid application errors and build your case effectively.

Being arrested for a DUI can have serious repercussions, but the steps you take in the immediate aftermath of your arrest can have important implications for your case. The first step is to call an attorney in Baltimore with experience in DUI cases. If you find yourself facing a DUI arrest, these do’s and don’ts will help you protect your rights and mitigate the fallout.

Don’t Discuss Your Case

After an arrest, most people know that they shouldn’t discuss their case with the police without an attorney present. What many people don’t realize is that you shouldn’t discuss your case with anyone except your lawyer until it has been settled. Giving details about the circumstance of your arrest and your actions leading up to it could end up being harmful to your case if you say something incriminating that is repeated to prosecutors or the police. Keep all of the details of your case between you and your attorney until it has concluded.

Do Work Closely with Your Attorney

You and your attorney will need to work hand-in-hand on preparing your defense. In the aftermath of your arrest, it can be helpful to write down everything you can remember about your arrest, including details about your interactions with the arresting officers, what kind of instructions they gave you, and how your sobriety test was conducted. This information will help your attorney determine if your arrest was legal and if your rights were violated in any way. Throughout your case preparation, provide your attorney with any information that is requested as quickly as possible, and attend all meetings and court dates.

Don’t Drive on a Suspended License

If your license is suspended after your DUI, do not drive. If you are caught, the consequences can be severe and may include significant fines, additional license suspension time, and incarceration. Your attorney can help you negotiate with the court to get permission to drive for necessary trips, such as to work or to pick up your children from school.

A car accident in the Baltimore area can leave survivors with serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), also known as concussions. If you sustained a concussion in a car accident, the most important step to take is to get plenty of physical and cognitive rest. There is no way to speed up the recovery process for this particular type of car accident injury . Healing takes time, especially for moderate to severe concussions, and trying to rush your recovery will only worsen your health.

Watch this video and consult your physician for more tips on recovering from this serious car accident injury. This expert explains that it’s important to refrain from stimulating activities, which include reading, texting, watching TV, and doing any other activities that involve screen time. She also explains what patients should do in the event they do return to activity too quickly.

Car accident injuries vary widely in their severity. In some cases, survivors are expected to suffer from permanent disabilities. If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident in Baltimore, it’s time to contact an injury lawyer. Your attorney will need access to your medical records and related documents. Then, your injury lawyer will explain your legal rights and discuss your options for securing compensation for your permanent disability.

Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit

After a car accident, it’s common for survivors to secure compensation by filing a claim against the other driver’s insurance carrier. In the case of catastrophic injuries that lead to permanent disabilities, the settlement offered by the insurance company may not be enough to fully compensate you for your current and future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, and other losses. Instead, your injury lawyer may recommend filing a car accident lawsuit. Your lawyer might ask that an independent evaluator calculate the total damages, based on your work and earnings history, your anticipated future medical needs, and similar factors. A successful jury award or out-of-court settlement can give you the money you need to support your family and provide for your medical needs despite your inability to work.

Filing a Social Security Claim

In addition to filing a car accident lawsuit, you may be eligible to pursue Social Security disability benefits . Since these claims are often initially denied, it’s a good idea to let your injury lawyer handle your Social Security case right from the start. First, your lawyer will consider whether you meet the definition of disability under the Social Security eligibility rules. You can only recover disability benefits if you have a total inability to work and your condition is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. If you meet this eligibility requirement, then your lawyer will consider whether your disability is on the list of disabling conditions and whether your disability interferes with basic work-related activities. These are all factors that will be considered when your disability claim is reviewed. Even if your claim is initially denied, you do have the right to file an appeal.

After being involved in a car accident in Baltimore , your health should be your priority. You can hire an injury lawyer to handle your case, which allows you to focus on your recovery. After reviewing your case, your injury lawyer will file a claim with the insurance carrier. This is not the same as a car accident lawsuit, although it may sometimes become necessary to file a lawsuit later. A claim is filed with the other driver’s auto insurance company. This begins the process of obtaining a settlement, which is money that compensates you for your medical bills, property damage, and other accident-related expenses.

Your injury lawyer will calculate your total monetary losses and may include this figure in the claim. The insurance carrier may then respond with a counteroffer. Your injury lawyer will continue to negotiate with the company until both parties agree to a settlement. If a fair settlement is not forthcoming or you do not agree with the amount the insurance company offers you, then you might consider filing a lawsuit.

In the aftermath of a crash, it’s important to carefully document your injuries and provide this information to an injury lawyer in Baltimore. All types of car accident injuries can occur during both low-and high-speed crashes. Leg injuries are particularly common, since the legs can strike against the interior of the car or be struck by flying objects. Car accident injuries can include knee damage such as knee joint dislocation, bone fractures, and tendon ruptures. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) may both become hyperextended and torn. Knee injuries can require weeks of recovery time and sometimes reconstructive surgery is required.

Other types of car accident injuries can include fractures. When the leg strikes the steering wheel or instrument panel, the large bone in the thigh called the femur may fracture. If not treated surgically, femur fractures may sometimes lead to long-term mobility problems. Other injuries can involve the feet and ankles, which may become broken or sprained.

After surviving a car accident in the Baltimore area, it may take weeks or even months to pick up the pieces. Enlisting the services of an injury lawyer will bring a powerful advocate to your side. Your injury attorney will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and may file a personal injury lawsuit if need be. To begin the process, your attorney will need plenty of information from you about the accident.

Did you file a police report and take photographs?

It’s essential to file a police report after an accident. Making a “gentleman’s agreement” with the other driver is a sure way for you to get stuck with the bill, especially if the other driver does not carry insurance. You will need to obtain a copy of the police report and share this with your injury attorney. The police report is an invaluable piece of evidence that may demonstrate that the other driver was at fault for the crash. In addition to the police report, your injury attorney will need any other evidence you have. This will ideally include photographs of the crash site and the vehicles, copies of your medical records, and copies of your receipts for expenses related to the accident.

Did you seek medical care?

Many people jeopardize their claims by failing to seek medical care in a timely manner after a car crash. Even if you feel you are not seriously injured, it’s essential to get to a doctor right away. Your injury attorney will ask whether you sought care immediately, where you were treated, and whether you underwent any medical tests such as imaging studies. The results of medical tests can be powerful evidence for substantiating your injury claims.

Have you sustained a permanent disability?

It’s important to keep your attorney updated about the progress of your recovery. At some point, it may become clear that you have sustained a permanent disability. Share this information with your lawyer immediately because it will significantly affect the amount of compensation he or she will seek on your behalf. If you have sustained a permanent disability, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your loss of earning capacity and your future medical expenses.

Car accident injuries range considerably in severity and type, but many of them have the potential to cause long-lasting or permanent disfiguration. If your doctor expects you to have permanent scars from your car accident injuries, be sure to inform your injury lawyer of this development. When filing an accident injury lawsuit in Baltimore, your lawyer may seek compensation for your permanent disfigurement.

After you recover, you might consult a cosmetic surgeon to discuss procedures that can help minimize your scarring. It’s important to keep track of all of your expenses pertaining to the disfigurement, including surgeon consultation fees and operating costs. Your lawyer may be able to recover compensation to cover these costs for you. Permanent disfigurement can also be a factor in seeking damages for psychological injuries. You might consider visiting a mental health counselor or psychologist. During a trial, these types of expert witnesses might testify regarding your psychological injuries that have resulted from your permanent disfigurement.

A car accident can cause virtually any type of injury ranging from minor to catastrophic. For the purposes of a personal injury claim, an accident attorney will generally define a catastrophic injury as one that is permanently disabling in some way. Some examples including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), limb amputation, and vision loss. When an auto accident survivor has sustained catastrophic injuries, a personal injury lawyer near Baltimore can seek considerable compensation for his or her permanent losses and lifetime care needs.

Calculating Economic Losses

Before filing a claim, the personal injury attorney must determine the amount of compensation to seek. Catastrophic injury victims can seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include hospital bills and expenses for physical therapy, in-home health aides, durable medical equipment, and similar expenses. Survivors can seek compensation for past, present, and future expenses. The attorney at law may need to consult with various experts such as rehabilitative nurses to determine the appropriate amount of compensation that would cover the victim’s future care needs.

Estimating Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses are those that are not tangible, such as mental anguish, and pain and suffering. Victims of minor car accidents aren’t as likely to successfully seek compensation for pain and suffering, but those who have sustained catastrophic injuries can often demand substantial sums for these non-economic losses. There are a few different methods of estimating non-economic losses. To help the attorney accomplish this, the client can fully disclose the extent to which the accident and the resulting injuries have affected his or her quality of life.

Identifying the Defendants

Another necessary step for seeking compensation after an auto accident is to identify the appropriate defendants. In many cases, the defendant is the other driver, who might be held liable for speeding, driving while distracted, or driving while intoxicated. In some cases, other parties may be held liable for catastrophic injuries. If the accident was a truck accident, the personal injury attorney might file a lawsuit against the truck driver’s employer or the truck leasing company. Another possible option is to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of defective vehicle parts or against a municipality if improperly maintained roadways were to blame for the crash. Once these steps are completed, the case may proceed to trial or the plaintiff might consider accepting a settlement deal.