Coronavirus Employment Law: What You Should Know

April 29, 2020 Helpful Tips 0Comment

During the present COVID-19 health crisis, many employees are facing a tough balancing act between keeping their jobs and staying healthy. They’re being asked to work in conditions that may expose them to the coronavirus, but they need to work in order to pay their bills and support their families. In this blog, we will talk about how employment law relates to COVID-19.

It’s a difficult situation, but our workers’ compensation lawyers in Philadelphia are aware of two important federal employment laws that may protect employees who find themselves facing health concerns in the workplace.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

This law, enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees who have chronic health conditions that interfere with one or more major life activities. Once provided with those reasonable accommodations, the employee must be able to perform the essential duties of the job.

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The Real Cost of Social Security Cuts — and How Silver & Silver Can Help

February 19, 2020 Disability Law 0Comment

With more than 130,000 Philadelphia residents relying on Social Security benefits to either supplement their income or as their sole source of income, any changes that might put these benefits in jeopardy are cause for concern.

At Silver & Silver, our West Philly Social Security Disability attorneys have been keeping close watch over the headlines regarding this issue. A recent government proposal would make it more difficult for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries in our area and across the country to continue receiving the benefits that they deserve.

These changes, outlined in late 2019, would potentially cut off SSDI and SSI benefits for hundreds of thousands of Americans, including the elderly and children. Under this proposal, individuals who have qualified for SSDI or SSI benefits in the past would be subjected to a review every twenty-four months, whereby the government would consider anew whether they continue to qualify for these benefits. This shortening of the period before continuing benefits claims are reconsidered would mean that individuals who have in many cases waited years to prove their eligibility for these benefits would be in a state of perpetually proving their impairments are disabling.

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A New Year is a Perfect Time to Register to Vote!

January 14, 2020 Disability Law, Legal Resources 0Comment

There’s a feeling of optimism and hope in the air every time the calendar turns from one year to the next, and we all set goals and resolve to make positive changes in our lives.

This year is particularly special for those who want to see changes in our country; 2020 is an election year! On Nov. 3, registered voters can have their voices heard and show their support for the national, state, and local government leaders they feel will best represent their interests.

At Silver & Silver, the decisions of lawmakers greatly impact all our clients, whether they’re pursuing Social Security disability, personal injury, workers’ compensation, or other employment-related cases. Our Social Security attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, are especially concerned about recent rule changes proposed by the current administration that would alter the way the Social Security Administration determines eligibility. These changes are projected to cut off benefits to hundreds of thousands of disabled Americans, including seniors and children.

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Silver & Silver’s 2019 List of Unsafe Medications and Appliances

December 22, 2019 Uncategorized 0Comment

Auto Defects

Ford Models faulty airbags
Volkswagen faulty anti-lock brake
GM faulty ignition switches
Hyundai/Kia engine fires

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Changes in Work Requirements for Food Stamps: What Are They, and Do They Affect You?

December 17, 2019 Uncategorized 0Comment

The federal government recently announced changes to the work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP, that could cause nearly 700,000 Americans to lose access to food stamps.

Many individuals who cannot work due to disability rely on food stamps to help feed their families. At Silver & Silver, our Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware County workers’ compensation and Social Security lawyers represent disabled workers who need help fighting for the benefits they deserve, and we’re concerned as to how these food stamp changes might affect members of our community.

Zantac Lawsuits: Has Your Heartburn Medication Harmed Your Health? Our Team Can Help!

November 26, 2019 Uncategorized 0Comment

If you’ve been taking Zantac to treat heartburn or acid reflux, you may or may not have heard that this drug has been in the news.

If you weren’t aware, the popular drug is under fire — and for a good reason. In September, the Food and Drug Administration announced that Zantac medications being prescribed by doctors and sold over-the-counter could contain unsafe levels of a cancer-causing agent called N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. This potentially dangerous substance can be found in ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac and other heartburn medications.

As drug makers initiated Zantac recalls, and pharmacy chains pulled products containing ranitidine from their shelves over the past month, we began to see a growing wave of class-action lawsuits being filed against the drug’s manufacturers. These claims allege that the drug makers understood the dangers of Zantac, which has been on the market since the 1980s, and did not inform the public.

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Tailgating Dangers: What to Do When Other Motorists Don’t Follow the Rules of the Road

November 5, 2019 Uncategorized 0Comment

Most motorists have been guilty of tailgating out on the road at one point or another. Maybe you have, too. Whether it’s because you’re in a hurry, feeling impatient, or you’re just not paying close enough attention, you end up following too closely behind the car in front of you and breaking those “rules of the road” you learned back in drivers’ education class.

It doesn’t matter if tailgating happens on purpose or is just an act of carelessness. It’s always potentially dangerous, and it often results in accidents and injuries. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-third of all car crashes involve rear-end collisions.

At Silver & Silver, home to some of the leading personal injury lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, we see the negative consequences of tailgating firsthand, every day. No matter what season it is, there is always a threat of inclement weather. It’s more important than ever for Pennsylvania drivers to be vigilant about their following distance.

We’re here to help if you are rear-ended by another driver and need an attorney to fight for the compensation you need to treat your injuries. Let’s take a closer look at how “safe following distance” is defined and how you can protect yourself.

What is Safe Following Distance?

Pennsylvania law stipulates that drivers should be “reasonable and prudent” regarding how closely they follow the car in front of them, taking into account road conditions and speed of travel. But let’s face it, people sometimes throw judgment out the window when they get behind the wheel.

There is an actual equation for calculating safe following distance, and it looks like this: Reaction Distance + Braking Distance = Stopping Distance.

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Silver & Silver Co-Founder Mike Silver, Esq., Honored for His Leadership and Vision at Annual Conference

October 2, 2019 Disability Law 0Comment

Every day clients come to Silver & Silver seeking guidance from a leading Social Security disability attorney in the Philadelphia County region and see firsthand the passion, dedication, time, and energy that co-founder Mike Silver, Esq. and his firm put into every case.

But you might not know the true extent of Mike’s devotion to Social Security disability claimants in this vital area of U.S. law. He is considered a pioneer in his field, and earlier this month, he was recognized for his leadership at a national conference attended by more than a thousand disability attorneys.

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) celebrated its 40th anniversary at its annual conference, held Sept.11-14, 2019, in New Orleans. The prestigious professional organization took time at the conference to honor Mike for his role as one of the earliest Social Security disability law practitioners in the country and as a past president of NOSSCR.

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4 Things You Might Not Know About Social Security Benefits

August 26, 2019 Disability Law 0Comment

At Silver & Silver, we take pride in serving as Social Security Disability attorneys for clients in West Chester, PA and other nearby areas. We help people secure social security benefits they need to pay their bills and support their families.

While the average American probably thinks of Social Security as “money for the elderly,” there’s quite a bit more to the program than its function as a retirement fund. Here are four interesting facts about Social Security benefits that you might not be aware of — but should be!

1. Social Security Benefits are Not Just for Seniors

Millions of workers across the country contribute to Social Security. They contribute through payroll taxes that are regularly deducted from their paychecks. While most of that money goes to providing financial support for senior citizens in retirement, it also serves as disability insurance for people who can’t work. This may be due to illness or injury. Yes, Social Security is an important resource for younger people, too! We see this all the time in our practice: Workers suffer an accident or experience a health crisis that puts their ability to support their family in jeopardy. For these people, Social Security Disability is a vital lifeline.

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