Charlotte North Carolina Legal Blog

Now that May has arrived, many high school students in the Charlotte area will celebrate the end of their school year by attending their school's prom. Likewise, this is the season for graduation parties and other celebrations that young people love.

Unfortunately, many teens choose to drink alcohol or use drugs on these occasions, even though doing so is illegal under North Carolina law. According to one study, around one in three teenagers will either drink alcohol or use drugs on the night of their prom.

According to those in charge, the trust fund that helps cover Social Security disability payments to injured and ill North Carolina workers has experienced a new lease on its life. Experts now say that the fund will run out of money by 2052. Last year, they predicted the fund would be depleted in 2032, or in less than 15 years from now. While this is not wonderful news, it does mean there is more breathing room for lawmakers and others to resolve the funding issues which have recently affected the Social Security Disability program.

Although there are about 10 million workers across the country receiving SSDI, the number of new applicants for benefits has been trending downward since 2010. Moreover, there has been a push, at least since 2014, to trim the roles of already existing beneficiaries who may no longer want the payments or who may no longer be eligible for them.

When you suffer an injury and become disabled, you may want to look into obtaining Social Security Disability benefits. SSD benefits bring in a monthly income, allowing you to provide for yourself despite being unable to work. In addition to SSD, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income, which pays benefits if you have the financial need.

Whenever you're hurt and suffer a disability, it's best to apply for SSD as soon as possible. It can take many months for an application to be approved. Working with your attorney on your application will give you a better chance of having an approval on your first application. If you do not get approved, then you will need to appeal the denial, which can take months or years.

There are many ways workers in Charlotte can get hurt while on the job. However, statistics show that there are some common causes of workplace injury accidents. While an insurance carrier compiled these statistics, the information comes from a variety of sources, including the federal government and a think tank. According to these statistics, the primary source of workers' compensation and related costs involve accidents with lifting or otherwise moving objects. These claims cost over $13 billion a year.

The second costliest type of workplace accidents, in terms of dollars, include falling. Although these types of falls are from the same ground level, they still cost over $10 billion per year. Incidentally, falls from a height, like from a ladder or scaffolding, cost an additional $5 billion a year. To round out the top three costliest types of accidents, getting hit from above by a heavy object that falls costs an average of $5.2 billion a year.