 Did the recent storms involved you in a wreck after someone hydroplaned?
Have you recently been involved in an accident in which the other person has blamed 'hydroplaning' for losing control of their vehicle? Hydroplaning is a term describing the sliding of tires across a wet surface. These incidents often cause a chain reaction crash, often resulting in injuries. While some hydroplaning incidents may be determined as unavoidable, a great number can be prevented with proper driving techniques. Hydroplaning can be caused by multiple negligent actions:
If you believe that you or a loved one have fallen victim to someone who was careless while driving, you may have a case that proves their actions were negligent and any pain or suffering you endured or continue to endure could result in a potential lawsuit. Contact us for a case review. At the law offices of T. Verner Smith, we represent clients who have suffered personal injury due to the negligence of another. These types of lawsuits not only provide necessary compensation for those who were wrongfully hurt in an accident, but also creates an environment of caution leading to higher safety standards for all. Call us for a free consultation at (731) 423-1888, (901) 730-4567, or (615) 371-6136. 
Tennessee kills $12 minimum wage bill. A bill came before the Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee this week that would've raised the minimum wage in the state to $12 an hour by 2025. As the bill stated, the increase for 2022 would be to $9.25 an hour, followed by annual adjustments until the $12 per hour rate was achieved on or after January 1, 2025. However, on Tuesday of this week, the bill was brought before the committee and failed to achieve a second. You can watch video of one of the co-sponsors of the bill, Senator Sara Kyle of Memphis, as she asked the committee for the increase here. Tennessee abides by the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour and hasn't made a change since 2008. Currently, a full time minimum wage worker in Tennessee (at 40 hours a week), will earn $290 per week. That's right at $15,000 per year. Note that the national poverty line for a family of two is $16,000 per year. As a result, there are thousands of Tennessee families, with one wage earner, even while working full time, living under the poverty line. In fact, almost 14% of Tennessee's population qualifies as living below the poverty line. EVEN MORE DISTURBING, all of these numbers are PRE-COVID. New unemployment claims more than double from a year ago. New unemployment claims for Tennessee last week topped 7,500. That number is up slightly from the previous week, and is more than double this same time last year (March 2020: 2,700 new claims). The number of continued claims in Tennessee totaled 44,428. Still no stimulus check? You're not alone. While 90 million Americans have already received their $1,400 stimulus checks, millions more are still wondering why they haven't received theirs. According to the IRS and Treasury Department, millions more payments are going to be dispensed in the next couple of weeks by direct deposit, mailed paper checks, or pre-paid debit cards. If you haven't received a payment, or a smaller check than you expected, there are a few steps you can take:
If you have found yourself in a difficult financial situation, and realize waiting for government help isn't the ultimate answer, reach out to us for advice. Our office has helped thousands of Tennesseans with financial problems, with counseling, debt resolution, and legal remedies such as bankruptcy if necessary. Call our office at (731) 423-1888, or visit our website for more information at www.vernersmith.com  Debate will continue this morning (Friday March 5, 2021) over the latest stimulus bill.
What we know, as of now: It appears some last minute tweaking is still underway, but a payment of $1,400 for many Americans is still in the plan. There are some changes, however. The latest information suggests the cut-off for individuals will be $75,000 and $150,000 for married couples who file jointly. Previously the cut-offs were set to be $80,000 and $200,000 respectfully. While President Biden promised $2,000 payments, the White House is now saying that it does total to $2,000 when you combine this one with the previous one. Obviously some folks are a bit perturbed by that answer. When will it be distributed? The current timeline suggests March 14th. Families with children should be receiving additional stimulus checks for them as well. The current package suggests $1,400 for every child on their tax returns, including adult children (like college students) and those with permanent disabilities. So a typical family of four with household income under $150,000 would receive $5,600. What if your income went down last year? Then you need to hurry and file your taxes. IF the IRS processes your new return by the time the payments go out, THAT's the income your payment would be based on. If you don't file right away, it would be based on your 2019 income. What if your in come went up last year? Then it may be wiser to wait until after the payments, as again, it's based on 2019's tax returns unless they receive this year's prior to the disbursement. For more information, click here. While most everyone can appreciate the stimulus benefits that are being doled out. It is still wise to realize this is still a band-aid on a serious financial wound. The financial difficulties don't go away with occasional government payments. They just don't. If you have found yourself in a difficult financial situation, and realize waiting for government help isn't the ultimate answer, reach out to us for advice. Our office has helped thousands of Tennesseans with financial problems, with counseling, debt resolution, and legal remedies such as bankruptcy if necessary. Call our office at (731) 423-1888, or visit our website for more information at www.vernersmith.com |
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