5 Defensive Driving Tips from a Car Accident Lawyer in Jackson, MS

As a responsible driver, you follow all of the rules of the road to keep you and others safe. Unfortunately, even the safest driver could become the victim of a serious car accident if others on the road do not exercise the same care and caution.

Although you cannot control the actions of other drivers, you can reduce the chances of getting into an accident by using defensive driving techniques and strategies. Defensive driving means remaining alert and prepared for whatever may happen on the road.

Although you can learn defensive driving in greater detail by taking a state-approved course, there are a few defensive driving tips that every driver should know and practice to help make the roads a safer place.

What Is Defensive Driving?

Defensive driving involves operating a motor vehicle in a way that uses safe driving strategies to allow you to anticipate and address hazards on the road. Defensive driving goes beyond simply following traffic laws and basic tips for operating a vehicle.

It includes developing skills that allow drivers to anticipate situations and make well-informed decisions, based on the road, traffic, and environmental conditions. Defensive driving allows a motorist to reduce their risk of getting into an accident in spite of the conditions and other drivers around them.

5 Essential Defensive Driving Tips

Drivers can learn about defensive driving by taking a defensive driving class. Classes are offered through various media, including in-person, through correspondence, or increasingly online. Completing a defensive driving class can have a number of benefits, including reduced insurance rates, guaranteed insurance rates that won’t increase, or a reduction of license points.

Below are some of the most important defensive driving tips you should remember any time you get behind the wheel:

  1. Plan Ahead

    • It can often seem natural for new and inexperienced drivers to simply look directly in front of their vehicle. However, proper defensive driving requires you to look as far ahead as possible down the road for details or other signs that indicate a hazard or a potential hazard that may develop.
    • You should also begin to think about where you are going and what maneuvers you will need to make, such as changing lanes, getting off a highway exit, or making a left or right turn, long before you are only mere feet from making that maneuver. This may mean, for example, shifting over into the lane you need to be in 2-3 miles before you need to be in that lane, simply because there is a safe opportunity to do so.
    • Finally, planning ahead also means having an escape plan at all times. What can you do and what maneuvers can you make if an emergency situation were to develop in front of your vehicle, like a pedestrian or animal running out in front of your car or another vehicle on the road spinning out of control?

  2. Watch Your Speed

    • It may seem like a cliché to say that “speed kills,” but experience often shows that accidents and serious injuries happen more frequently in accidents where at least one of the vehicles involved was speeding. The faster you go, the longer it will take your vehicle to stop, if necessary, and the greater the force of the impact if you do get into a collision.

       

    • Of course, you should also follow along with the flow of traffic, so long as it doesn’t exceed posted limits. Traveling slower than the flow of traffic, especially outside the rightmost lane, means you pose a risk of a rear-end collision or another accident as traffic traveling faster than you must move to avoid you.

  3. Maintain a Proper Following Distance

    • You should always ensure that you have sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to safely stop, even if the vehicle in front suddenly makes an emergency stop. You should keep in mind the type and size of your vehicle and the type and size of the vehicle in front of you. If you have a motorcycle in front of you, for example, you should remember that a motorcycle can stop in a much shorter distance for the same speed than a car, truck, or SUV can.

  4. Expect the Unexpected

    • Even when you are traveling down the highway in steady traffic, you should never let your guard down. You never know when an emergency may arise around you on the road. Another vehicle may experience a tire blowout. Another driver may suddenly try to merge or change lanes without signaling. An object may fall onto the roadway from a truck or other vehicle. A person or animal may run out into the road. You should always remain alert for any emergencies to arise and always have a plan of what you will do if those emergencies do arise.

  5. Avoid Distractions

    • Many of us are glued to our cell phones, even when we get behind the wheel. However, when you are driving, you need to avoid letting yourself be distracted by anything that may take your attention off the road and the operation of your vehicle, such as a text or phone call, using your car’s radio or infotainment system, eating, setting a destination into navigation, or interacting with other occupants of your vehicle.

       

    • Every moment you take your focus off the road is a moment when an emergency can arise, and you cannot respond to that emergency. By the time you do put your focus back on the road, it may be too late to safely respond.

Contact Derek L. Hall, P.C., an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a car accident in Mississippi through no fault of your own, contact the experienced attorneys at Derek L. Hall, P.C. to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Talk to us about your case and learn more about your legal rights and options and how our knowledgeable car accident lawyers can help you seek the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries and other losses. We can get you more.

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Derek L. Hall, P.C. Launches New Personal Injury Website

In an effort to make their services easily accessible to everyone in Mississippi who needs them, Derek L. Hall, P.C. has launched a new personal injury website! This new site allows people who have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness to connect directly with attorneys at the firm for experienced legal representation in Jackson and surrounding areas.

About Derek L. Hall, P.C.

Before Derek L. Hall founded his firm, he worked as a therapist helping youth with drug and alcohol addictions. He became a lawyer in order to assist people who need help in more direct ways. After he experienced a serious car wreck in 2017, Mr. Hall gained new, personal knowledge, of the pain and suffering negligent drivers cause their victims.

Over the past 25 years, he’s found that his work in personal injury law has an immediate positive effect on his clients and their families. When you’ve been hurt in a car crash, truck accident, or slip and fall accident that wasn’t your fault, you may have the right to pursue legal action against the person or business who caused your injury.

Beginning that process can be intimidating for some people. That’s why Derek L Hall, P.C. has worked so hard to make the law firm’s new website accessible, easy to understand, and comprehensive.

We want both existing and potential clients to think of us as a resource.

Injured people shouldn’t be required to read complicated insurance contracts or understand Mississippi state statutes. Instead, our personal injury attorneys can translate that legalese into plain English so that you understand how your case may work and what to expect.

We’ve even made a series of videos answering frequently asked questions.

Legal Services

Derek L. Hall, P.C. has built a reputation as a fierce fighter for injured Mississippians. If you’ve been hurt by someone due to negligence or recklessness, we’ll work hard to seek the compensation you need for your treatment, your lost wages or salary, and compensation for your pain and suffering.

We represent clients who’ve been hurt in cases involving, for example:

While our firm has extensive experience handling personal injury claims, we also represent clients in disability appeals, family law (including child support and divorce), and VA disability appeals and malpractice.

Case Results

The new website also features a section about the successful results we’ve gotten for our clients. Depending on the details of your injury, you may be owed significant financial compensation.

Some of the results from our dedicated personal injury attorneys include:

  • $6 million for a birth injury in a medical malpractice case
  • $1.56 million for wrongful death at a construction site
  • $1.5 million for a bad drug settlement in a product liability case
  • $1.26 million for a vehicle rollover product liability case
  • $700,000 for a fall from a defective railing for a premises liability case

Every case is different, so we can’t say how much you may be owed without a full evaluation of the facts. Our lawyers at Derek L. Hall, P.C. are prepared to do everything in our power to pursue a fair settlement or verdict for your injury

What Our Clients Say

You don’t have to take our word for it. Our clients are on the record about how happy they are with our representation and how Derek L. Hall helped them in their hour of need.

Justine Luzzi calls Mr. Hall “One of the best personal injury attorneys in Mississippi.” After her case, she says he’s “Highly recommended!”

Perry H., a veteran, used Derek L. Hall, P.C. to get the benefits he was owed for his service. After winning these “long overdue benefits,” he was “very happy with the work they did for me.” He recommends our firm “to anyone who needs assistance with their disability claim.”

Cassie needed help with her child custody case. She stated she was “very pleased with my results. I would recommend this guy to anyone.”

We strive to give all of our clients’ consistent service and open communication. In our experience, providing clients with a full picture helps them understand the personal injury claim process. With that understanding, our clients know what we need from them so that we can seek the results they deserve.

Ultimately, Derek L. Hall cares about his clients as whole people – people with families, jobs, and lives to get back to. A successful personal injury claim is all about that. An injury shouldn’t overtake the rest of your life.

As one of our clients said, “I would recommend Derek in a heartbeat. He is the man. He gave me a better outlook on the situation and how to overcome the whole, entire incident. You don’t have to worry about anything. You just let him know what happened, give it to him, and he’s got you from there.”

Contact Derek L. Hall, P.C.

Don’t wait until it is too late to seek the full and fair compensation that you deserve! You may not have much time before the statute of limitations – a deadline which can prevent you from obtaining the full, fair compensation you deserve – expires.

When you call the personal injury attorneys at Derek L. Hall, P.C., our conversations are always confidential and there’s no obligation to begin a case.

Contact Derek L. Hall, P.C. today to schedule a free initial consultation. Call us now or fill out our form for a case review.

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Mississippi Pileups

A seven-vehicle pileup in McComb claimed the lives of two people one September day, and sent several patients to nearby hospitals.  The effects of the tragedy will be long-lasting and costly for families who are faced with the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of the collision.  If you become the4 victim of such an accident, having a heavy hitting legal team fighting for your rights can improve outcomes significantly.

A Frequent and Persistent Issue in Mississippi

The fact of the matter is, Mississippi has more than its fair share of multi-vehicle accidents.  Consider just a handful of recent cases:

  • As emergency workers addressed a smoking vehicle in Blue Springs, a five-car pileup at the scene took their attention. Immediately thereafter, a six-vehicle pileup occurred in the same area, this one involving two big rigs. That led to yet another vehicle trying to avoid the whole mess, and driving down the median, ultimately crashing into the cable barrier.  Then an SUV and a semi-truck collided on the Blue Springs Bridge.  At the end of the day, fourteen vehicles were damaged,  and three people hospitalized.
  • One woman died early one morning in Pascagoula after being involved in a nine-vehicle pileup. Several others were injured.
  • One fatality and nearly 20 injuries resulted from a pileup in Prairieville one evening. The incident involved an 18-wheeler that careened into a line of stopped vehicles, causing a domino of crashes.

Causes of Pileups 

A number of issues can contribute to pile ups on Mississippi roadways, not the least of which is human error.  Drivers who take to the road when under the influence of debilitating prescriptions, illegal drugs, or alcohol have poor reasoning and slower reaction times than sober drivers.  On the other hand, even someone who hasn’t used mind-altering substances put others at risk when they are not fully focused on the road. It takes only an instant for a tragedy to occur.  Particular conditions make driver concentration particularly important:

  • Weather conditions that result in slick or icy roadways;
  • Poor visibility due to fog, precipitation, darkness, or smoke;
  • Emergency lights at the scene of a problem that causes traffic to slow as drivers eye the situation;
  • Reckless driving at speeds that challenge current conditions;
  • Following other drivers too closely, putting your front end at risk in the event of quick or unexpected brake lights.

Have you been Injured in a Pileup? 

If a careless or reckless driver has caused a pileup that has resulted in substantial injury to you or a loved one, the Jackson car accident attorneys at the office of Derek L. Hall, P.C., can help.  Contact our office to discuss your situation today.

 

Resource:

wbrz.com/news/pileup-on-interstate-55-in-south-mississippi-leaves-two-dead/

wtva.com/content/news/MHP-provides-update-on-Interstate-22-wrecks–512648561.html

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Conversations Worth Having Before Marriage To Ward off Divorce

Many couples undertake marriage with a certain degree of naiveté.  They anticipate a magnificent life together of wedded bliss, only to discover that marriage is complicated.  As a less-than-fairy-tale experience unfolds, some couples realize that they really are not meant to be together, and seek a way out of an unsatisfying relationship.  If this sounds familiar, a local divorce attorney may be worth visiting.

Preventing a Mismatch

Therapists suggest that many couples could avoid disappointment by endeavoring to have important conversations before making a marriage commitment.  It would help couples to enter matrimony with more realistic expectations, and without the hopes that one partner will be able to reshape the other into compliance. What are topics of high importance?  Anyone who’s already married will not be surprised by the list:

  1. Strategies to Handle Disagreements:  How do you, as a couple, deal with conflict?   If disagreements before the wedding are exhaustive and emotional, don’t expect things to change after you tie the knot.  If your partner engages in name-calling, blaming, leaving you feeling beaten down, it should be a real red flag.  On the other hand, those who avoid disagreements at all costs tend to allow issues to fester and poison the relationship. Or what if your partner is simply unable to accept constructive criticisms, and resorts to pouting, or, worse, listing all of your shortcomings dating back from the beginning of time?  Finally, if you have a partner who resorts to physical violence when frustrated, disappointed, or angry, things will not improve after the wedding. Developing healthy strategies to address conflict before marriage—such as listening, speaking in a calm tone, and working together as a team to resolve issues—can help you to tackle future problems  together.
  2. Money:  Finances are one of the most commonly fraught issues in a marriage.  It would behoove couples to have clear expectations about earnings, responsibilities, and spending practices.  Being on the same page about saving for big-ticket items, as well as regarding weekly expenditures, can be crucial.
  3. Intimacy:  Do you and your partner share similar feelings about sex and intimacy?  Problems in the bedroom can  lead to all kinds of issues between couples, so discussions about libido and compatibility are essential to a healthy relationship.
  4. Extended Family:  Those jokes about mothers-in-law are not very funny when the issues are in your own family.  Discussing the frequency and depth of interaction with extended family before you tie the knot can alleviate hurt feelings later.  Besides the day-to-day interactions, discussions about holidays and other key events need to be had.

If Things Just Aren’t Working

If, despite your best efforts, your marriage simply is not making you happy and you’ve decided on a split, having the Jackson divorce attorneys at the law office of Derek P. Hall, P.C. can help.  Schedule a free, confidential consultation in our office today.

https://www.dlhattorneys.com/ensure-protection-with-a-good-divorce-attorney/



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Extrication from a Vehicle following a Collision

The Jaws of Life: a dramatic name for a critical life-saving tool used when people suffer collisions and become trapped in their vehicles. First responders have been trained in the most safe and efficient manner to perform these rescue operations for good reason; minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Injuries Associated with Various Types of Collision 

It’s not difficult to imagine that when people are trapped in a wrecked vehicle, a variety of injuries may cause imminent danger.  This is one key factor that puts the pressure on rescue teams to get to victims quickly.  Any accident has the potential to cause a variety of damage to the human body. Nonetheless, particular types of injuries are frequently associated with certain kinds of accidents:

Front end Crashes

  • Fractures in the hips, legs, and feet;
  • Injuries to the abdominal region;
  • Chest injuries;
  • Damage to the spinal cord;
  • Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

Broadsides

  • Shoulder dislocations;
  • Breathing problems;
  • Injuries to the spine;
  • Internal injuries;
  • Fractured pelvis;
  • Blunt trauma;
  • Head injuries.

Rear end Collisions

  • Damage to the cervical spine;
  • Lacerations to the face and head;
  • Lumbar trauma;
  • Trauma to the chest of the driver;

Rollovers

  • Lacerations;
  • Trauma to the trunk;
  • Crushing wounds;
  • Unconsciousness;
  • Breathing issues.

Increased Risks 

The time element associated with a vehicle extraction is logically connected to a greater chance of negative outcomes in the aftermath of a serious accident.  The World Health Organization outlines key concerns after a serious collision:

  • Fire erupting following the crash;
  • Hazardous material leaks;
  • Delay in performing a thorough medical assessment and providing appropriate interventions;
  • Difficulties in stabilizing injuries before, during, and after extraction;
  • Potential impacts of drugs or alcohol on victims.

What to Expect in an Extrication

If you or a loved one is trapped in a vehicle, be assured that first responders have clear guidelines they follow in order to promote the safety of all involved:

They will stabilize the vehicle, and then disconnect the battery.  Airbags will be disengaged if they have not yet been deployed.  Then rescue workers will determine what structural issues are impacting the victim’s inability to be removed from the vehicle, and will work to create a path to the victim.  That may entail removing a door, cutting through a rooftop, or other maneuvers.  In the event a victim is pinned, more cutting, spreading, pushing and pulling may ensue. All of this commotion may be alarming to someone who is trapped, but it is an essential part of the rescue process. Ultimately, extrication will occur, and initial medical attention will be focused on stabilizing the patient until they reach a hospital.

Recovering from the Trauma

A serious accident that traps a person can be terrifying in ways other accidents are not.  If you or a loved one is struggling through the physical, emotional, and financial aftermath of such an accident, the Jackson auto accident attorneys at the office of Derek L. Hall, P.C. can help.  We will go after the negligent or reckless driver who put this scenario in motion.  Contact us in our Jackson office for a free, confidential consultation today.

 

Resource:

iuv.sdis86.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/vehicle-extrication-manual.pdf

https://www.dlhattorneys.com/distracted-driving-costs-lives/



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Protect your Marriage from Coronavirus

We’ve all heard the advice on how to protect ourselves from coronavirus:  wash hands for 20 seconds multiple times daily, cough into your elbow, avoid touching your face, participate in social distancing that limits your contacts with others.  But how many of us realize that there’s another front that needs a substantial defense:  our marriages!  That’s right!  If the statistics related to coronavirus and divorce in Mississippi in any way parallel those in China, where the first cases of coronavirus emerged, we could be looking at a sharp rise in divorce.

The Coronavirus-Divorce Connection

According to the Global Times, the number of requests for divorce since February have skyrocketed in China.  In one office alone, over 300 requests have been made.  Researchers wonder if time spent quarantined has impacted couples’ desire to stay together. As we all know, stress can bring out the worst in people.  The efforts of mitigating coronavirus have led to widespread fear and anxiety.  While here in Mississippi we haven’t experienced the level of draconian controls the Chinese have, we are nonetheless suffering substantial disruptions to our lives.  Social distancing, school and work closures, and cancellations related to sports and other large venues have had real impacts on our daily lives.  Stress levels are rising among many, and, if epidemiologists are right, things will get worse before they get better.  How can couples head off relationship issues when so much anxiety is upon us, especially if we find ourselves spending inordinate amounts of time together?

 Buffering the Stress 

It’s important to acknowledge that stress is contagious.  Nipping it early is key to preventing serious issues related to it.  The good news is, we know how to do this:

  • Pay attention to stress: Sometimes we don’t realize how stressed we are until we explode, or seek comfort from alcohol or food.  Check your feelings, and those of your spouse, before things get out of hand.
  • Handle things gently: If you have concerns about behaviors, approach your spouse lovingly to discuss what you’re seeing and how you’re feeling.
  • Be a good listener: You don’t have to solve everything, but you do have to listen attentively to worries and fears.
  • Provide comfort: Reinforce in your partner that you’ll handle problems as a team.
  • Look for solutions: When things are calmer, try to control the things you can, and make a plan for future issues.
  • Reduce stress: Plan time together doing things that bring you joy, like exercising, playing board games, or doing puzzles.
  • Find alone time: Give yourself permission to take that long bubble bath, meditate for a few minutes, or lose yourself in a book.
  • Monitor moods: Regularly check in with one another and provide reassurance as needed.
  • Be a caregiver: View your role as that of taking care of your spouse, rather than focusing on what they can do for you.  It will undoubtedly make you both feel better.

Sticking Together 

In troubling times, it becomes more important for couples, families, and communities to be able to rely on one another for compassion, love, and support.  As we face the challenges of coronavirus, our Jackson divorce attorneys at the law office of Derek L. Hall, P.C. wish good health and harmony to you and yours.

 

Resource:

businessinsider.com/covid-19-peak-divorce-rate-chinese-cities-2020-3

https://www.dlhattorneys.com/divorce-and-the-irs/



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Most Common Kinds of Collisions

If you drive more than a few minutes on any given route these days, it seems likely that at some point in your week, you’ll come across a traffic collision.  Hopefully, it’ll be a collision that doesn’t result in serious injuries or fatalities, and, more importantly, it’ll be a collision that doesn’t involve you in any way.  But in the event you are the one harmed by another driver’s carelessness or recklessness, one of the first things you should consider is getting an experienced local personal injury attorney to help you with the aftermath of the collision.

Collision Statistics

The tragic fact is, more than 2 million injuries and deaths occur annually due to motor vehicle collisions.  Here in Florida, over 400,000 collisions involved nearly 700,000 individuals in 2017 alone. That’s an average of over 1,000 collisions every single day!  The numbers related to those collisions are tragic:

  • 3,116 people lost their lives;
  • 254,310 people were hospitalized;
  • 20,380 people suffered incapacitating harm.

Sadly, many people who are injured in such wrecks were not at fault in the collisions.  What are the most likely types of collisions one might encounter?

Rear-Enders:  When another driver is distracted, it’s all too easy to crash into the rear of another vehicle. While this often occurs in heavy stop-and-go traffic, it can also happen on busy highways at high speeds.

T-Bone Collisions:  The most likely place to experience this type of crash is in an intersection.  Drivers who plow through red lights and stop signs are often at fault. It is important for motorists to take extra caution when approaching busy intersections.

Head-on Collisions:  The deadliest of collisions, direct crashes into other vehicles, objects, or animals occur with alarming frequency, and are often related to weather, distractions, or driver error.

Contact at Low Speeds:  All too often, people think that because they are moving slowly, nothing bad can happen. That makes neighborhood roads where speed limits are 25 mph a place where many allow themselves minor distractions, making the possibility of a collision a real threat.  Another danger zone can be parking lots.  These can be particularly treacherous because there are often a number of obstacles and other drivers maneuvering in tight places.  Additionally, many drivers neglect to wear seatbelts at these lower speeds, making the possibility of injury substantial.  The fact is, even at slow speeds, the human body is vulnerable to extreme trauma when confronted with another vehicle.

In the Aftermath…

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a collision due to no fault of your own, you want heavy hitting Jackson personal injury attorneys fighting for justice on your behalf.  At the office of Derek L. Hall, P.C., you’ll get nothing less.  Contact us to discuss an aggressive strategy to provide relief to you and your family today.

 

Resource:

allnationinsurance.com/common-types-car-crashes/

seminolechiropracticcenter.com/florida-car-crash-statistics-infographic

https://www.dlhattorneys.com/deadly-mississippi-collisions/



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Ensure Protection with a Good Divorce Attorney

Anyone thinking about filing for divorce has probably spent some time on the Internet looking at alternatives to hiring a local attorney.  They may be hoping to save a few bucks by avoiding attorney’s fees, but are actually being a bit shortsighted.  The fact of the matter is, a good divorce attorney can save you both money and time.

Benefits of Legal Counsel

There are scores of advantages to having your own divorce attorney, as opposed to representing yourself, but we’ll highlight some of the most important here:

Protection:    Your attorney has your best interests in mind.  That means the aim is to protect you: your assets, your custody rights, your future.  Without your own attorney, you can never know for sure if you are getting a fair settlement.

Time:  Divorce takes time, pure and simple.  But your attorney has negotiating skills, knowledge, and contacts that can expedite matters to your advantage.

Emotions:  Even the most stoic among us experiences some confusing emotions associated with a divorce.  Most people experience a concoction of rage, confusion, desperation, and sadness.  Many seesaw between feelings of extreme vengeance and total antipathy.  But your lawyer, although sympathetic to your emotional rollercoaster, is clear-headed with an eye toward getting you the best deal possible.  If you need to be dissuaded from pursuing a battle over some menial detail, or if you need to be psyched up to fight for your rights, your attorney is there for you.  With an understanding of the law as a lever, your heavy hitting attorney keeps an eye on the prize.

Options:  There are generally a plethora of issues that need to be resolved in the course of a divorce.  While Mississippi laws guide one on the basics, the details of every divorce can be negotiated.  Rather than battling it out with your ex on your own, your experienced attorney goes to the table with your interests in mind, and all the legal tools in the tool bag to devise the deal you need. There is more than one way to achieve your goals, and your attorney knows those routes.

Paperwork:  Why hassle with the many forms and deadlines that are required when your able attorney can take care of it on your behalf?  Remember, if you’re representing yourself in court, the expectations for your performance are no more lenient than they are for any attorney.  Honest mistakes might be regarded as simple carelessness or as efforts at deception.  Neither benefits you.

Get Things Moving

If it’s time to start thinking about divorce and get the ball rolling, having the Jackson divorce attorneys at Derek L. Hall, P.C. on your team is the first move you should make.  With experience and dexterity, we will fight aggressively to achieve your desired outcomes.  Contact our office today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

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Understanding Social Security Benefits in 2020

If you receive Social Security benefits, or if you’re about to, you’re in for some good news.  2020 looks brighter with the annual changes that have been announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for the coming year.  If you need help understanding your benefits, speaking to an attorney who focuses on such matters could be a great idea!

Rate Increase 

If you’re one of the 67 million recipients of Social Security, you’ll be happy to know that your monthly check will go up by nearly three percent in 2020.  That’s right, the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) rose by 2.8 percent, for an average increase of nearly $40 per month.  It’s no landslide, but every dollar helps, right?  For those collecting Social Security Disability benefits, there has also been an increase of between $40-$70 per month, depending on circumstances.

At What Age Should I Start Collecting Benefits?

When it comes to when to start collecting a Social Security check, there are a number of factors to consider.  Depending on the year in which you were born, the age at which you have the option to collect is different.  The absolute youngest some people can collect partial benefits is age 62.  For individuals living on a shoestring, that income is desperately needed and it may be a good idea to file for benefits immediately, even though the eligible amount will be less for the duration of the benefit (70 percent of the sum provided at full retirement age). Waiting until full retirement age will produce a significantly higher benefit.  It’s important to note that if you can afford to wait to collect benefits even longer, until age 70, the monthly benefits are over 75 percent higher.  It’s something to consider.

Currently, individuals who turned 62 during 2019 cannot fully retire until they become 66 and four months old. The retirement age increases by two months for every year after that, making retirement at age 67 for those born in 1960 or later.

Can I Continue to Work and Collect Social Security Benefits?

If you are just reaching full retirement age in 2019, and you are continuing to work, it’s worth noting the restrictions on earnings. While you can continue to be employed while collecting Social Security, there are limits on potential earnings. For individuals who earn just under $47,000, there is no penalty.  But for every $3 over the earnings limit that is earned prior to reaching full retirement age in that year, there is a corresponding $1 reduction in Social Security benefits.  After full retirement age, benefits will resume to the normal amount.

Are You Confused?

If thinking about Social Security gives you a headache, you’re not alone.  The SSA is a huge, unwieldy organization, and figuring out the best path forward can be a daunting task.  That’s why the Jackson Social Security benefits attorneys at the office of Derek L. Hall, P.C. are here to help.  Let us walk you through the maze of the SSA and get you the benefits you deserve.  Contact our Jackson office today for a free, confidential consultation.

 

Resource:

investopedia.com/retirement/social-security-changes/

https://www.dlhattorneys.com/are-you-facing-a-social-security-disability-denial/



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Divorce and the IRS

One of the last things that you might be thinking about as you contemplate divorce is the implication the split will have on your taxes.  But the truth of the matter is, things are going to change, and knowing the basics puts you in a much better position as you negotiate the terms of the divorce.  Having a savvy divorce attorney by your side will make the whole process much easier.  So what exactly are the tax issues of which you need to be aware?

How to File

You really don’t have a choice as to whether to file as single or married.  The IRS says it all depends on the date your divorce was finalized.  Anything prior to December 31st means you must file as single, even if you’ve been living as a couple for the majority of the year.  On the other hand, if the divorce becomes final on January 1st or later, you can still file as married, even if you lived separately the entire year!

Head of Household 

As a rule, the custodial parent gets to claim head of household. However, that status may be transferred to the noncustodial parent with form 8332.  Another option for couples whose divorce was finalized before the end of the calendar year would be for an individual to file as head of household if you physically separated before June 1 and continued to pay 51 percent of the expenses related to home maintenance.

Child Support

Whether you paid child support or received it, there is no impact on your tax burden.  It cannot be deducted by the payer, and needn’t be claimed by the recipient.

Spousal Support

The rules for alimony depend on when the divorce was finalized.  For anyone who divorced prior to the conclusion of 2018, the payer may deduct alimony, while the recipient must claim it.  For divorces that occurred after 2018, payments are neither deducted nor claimed.

Claiming Dependents

The important rule here is that no child can be claimed by both parents at the same time.  If you have a disagreement as to who gets to claim a child, and you both decide to do it, you are simply asking for an IRS audit. Unless otherwise specified in your divorce decree, the IRS will likely allow the custodial parent to claim the child, assuming one parent has the child for more than half of the time in a given year.

Think Ahead 

It really is essential to consider all of the tax repercussions on the divorce before signing on the dotted line.  The issues discussed here, and others, will impact your finances for years to come.  That’s just one reason it’s so important to have the experienced Jackson divorce attorneys at the office of Derek L. Hall, P.C. working on your behalf. Schedule a confidential consultation in our Jackson office today.

https://www.dlhattorneys.com/what-men-need-to-know-about-divorce/



from Divorce and the IRS https://www.dlhattorneys.com/divorce-and-the-irs/
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