Personal Injury Lawyer With many legal issues, the question itself may be simple and straightforward, but the answer seldom is. Unfortunately, such is the case with regard to the taxability of wrongful death damages. Federal Taxation In general, the Internal Revenue Service, per IRS Rule 1.104-1, exempts wrongful death damages from federal taxation. Why? Because it sees them as resulting from a claim for personal injury. This general rule has several exceptions that could make portions of your wrongful death damages taxable at the federal level, though. For instance, the following portions of your settlement or jury award could be considered income and therefore taxable: The portion you receive for reimbursement of your loved one’s medical bills and expenses that
There is big news for children born opioid dependent. The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that opioid manufacturers can be sued under the state’s Drug Dealer Liability Act, as first reported by U.S. News. This is significant for several reasons. First, it means Tennessee’s highest court acknowledges the responsibility Big Pharma has had in creating America’s opioid crisis. Second, it means more children born addicted to opioids can seek the compensation they rightfully deserve for their drug injury. Children born opioid dependent can develop NAS. While much has been written about the opioid epidemic in the United States, most of the news coverage has been about adult addicts. But there are lesser-known victims who are also suffering. Each year, thousands
The Covid-19 Pandemic hasn’t curbed debt collectors. The global pandemic has created a worldwide health and financial crisis. You would think debt collectors would give consumers a break during this unprecedented time, but sadly that’s not the case. While temporary measures have been put in place that prevent lenders from going after current debts, those protections do not cover longer, pre-existing ones. This is bad news for many Americans. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 25% of Americans had a debt in collections in 2018, well before the pandemic. As a matter of fact, 2020 was an amazing year for major debt collection agencies. According to ProPublica, in August of 2020, Encore Capital, the largest debt buyer in the country,
Trucking is a vital part of our economy. Trucking plays an important role in Tennessee’s economy. With the Covid-19 pandemic keeping so many of us at home, big rigs transporting goods for delivery are on the road day and night. But with so many trucks on the road to try to meet demand, it can mean fatigued or inexperienced drivers behind the wheel. Unfortunately, truck accidents are more common than you think. They’re also more fatal. Commercial trucks are about 20 times larger than standard passenger cars, giving them the power to cause significantly more property damage and more serious injuries than an accident involving two cars. In 2017 alone, more than 4,000 people were killed in truck accidents nationwide.
When you sustain injuries in an accident or other catastrophic event caused by someone else’s negligence of wrongdoing, you have the right to sue that person for personal injury. This is a civil suit, meaning that you can recover money damages from the defendant if you win your suit. How much money you likely will receive, however, depends on numerous factors. Some of these, like damage caps, vary from state to state. Also, if you live in a comparative or contributory negligence state and the jury determines that you were partially responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, you likely will receive a lower amount of damages than you otherwise would have. Factors Involved Many factors, including the following,
Auto Accident Attorney As most people would attest, getting into a car accident can be incredibly stressful. Frankly, it’s enough to ruin the entire day, and for many weeks to come. The victim is left with new problems to deal with, such as figuring out how they’ll get to work as their car is in the shop, how they’re going to pay for medical bills that keep piling up, and so on. For those who were not at-fault for a car accident, don’t forget the importance of protecting your best interest. Here are tips to keep in mind if you find yourself the victim of another driver’s thoughtlessness: Never Admit To At-Fault, Even If You Think You Are Statements you
If your new year’s resolution is to get out of debt, you’ve made a wonderful decision. As a Tennessee bankruptcy attorney, one of the best parts of my job is helping people get out of debt. I’ve spent more than three decades helping individuals and families, and I’ve seen it thousands of times: the beauty of a clean slate offers the chance to rebuild your finances stronger than ever before. The start of a new year is a natural time to take stock of what’s worked and what hasn’t in the past year. For many, it’s disheartening to realize they’re trapped in a debt spiral, when making payments barely offsets the rising interest costs each month. If this sounds familiar
Even during the pandemic, the rate of car accident fatalities is up. As a car accident lawyer TN has turned to for more than three decades, I want to make it clear that car accidents — including drunk driving — are still major problems during the Covid-19 pandemic. While there are less people on the road in general and the number of car crashes is down, the rate of accidents and fatalities are up. According to some figures, more drivers are speeding on the roads than before. In some cases and states, vehicles are reaching speeds up to 75% higher than before. So, it seems that with quieter roads, drivers are becoming more reckless with their driving. New Year’s Eve has
The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Increased the Risk of Using Some Drugs As a TN drug injury lawyer who has been fighting for families for more than three decades, I want to talk about the current risk of dangerous drugs among the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a recent article from Harvard Medical School, the health care system is overloaded with Covid-19 cases, which means emergency room doctors are overwhelmed and first responders may arrive more slowly. Because of this, many Americans are choosing to treat themselves at home for ailments they would normally get treated at an urgent care clinic or the hospital. But there are risks associated with using both over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs alike.
When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it’s easy to fall behind on regular car payments. And when you’re living in the midst of a global pandemic with an uncertain economy and record-high unemployment rates, paying your bills is more stressful than ever. Unfortunately, car lenders aren’t understanding. Worse, the bank is legally justified in threatening to seize your vehicle if you fall behind on your car note. As a bankruptcy lawyer TN has relied for over thirty years, I know that repossession is devastating. For those who rely on their cars to get to work, it can create a spiraling financial nightmare. Bankruptcy Offers a Way Out Thankfully, there is a way to stop car repossession, and all the stress