Oregon Injury Attorney Blog

In 2007, Social Security launched the "Wounded Warriors" program, an outreach effort for service members returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress recently asked the Government Accountability Office ("GAO") to assess the program, and measure its success.

VA data, the report explains, shows that out of 200,000 potentially eligible Vets, only 10,000 have applied for Social Security disability. Another fact: 92% of fully disabled Vets receive VA disability only. There are many possible reasons cited for this disparity.

The Department of Defense estimates there are about 34,000 wounded Veterans potentially eligible for benefits, but VA numbers the GAO reviewed estimate 500,000 Veterans. One out of every three suffers from a mental or cognitive based problem, which may explain troubles navigating through Social Security's phone system, and its forms. This makes even more sense when comparing the percentage of Vets suffering mental impairments compared to civilians seeking disability benefits. According to the report, 60% of disabled Vets suffer from mental or cognitive disabilities, whereas 23% of the civilian population include those with mental issues.

Other Links:

Wounded Warrior Project

Social Security: Wounded Warrior Information

Oregon Department of Veteran's Affairs Wounded Warrior Resources

I occasionally get calls from families that were injured in a wreck while on vacation on the Oregon Coast. It's a hard way to start a vacation, but that may just be the beginning of the tragedy. Often times, there may not be enough insurance proceeds to fix everyone's harms suffered in the collision.

For the lawyer, the first concern is the potential for a conflict of interest. Although it may sound a bit strange (which happens in the law) it is possible that family members may be competing against each for limited insurance proceeds to fix the harms suffered in the wreck. A lawyer cannot represent more than one person where there is such a conflict, and the Oregon State Bar Rules of Professional Responsibility make sure that we notify potential clients of potential conflicts.

For our clients, we look at the options. Is there underinsured motorist coverage? Does the negligent driver have an umbrella policy, or another car that may offer coverage? Sometimes the negligent driver is on a business trip, and his or her employer may have insurance to cover the loss. This is something we do all the time, and you can consult without charge to know your options.