Are You Dreaming of a White Christmas?

The National Weather Service maintains a thorough record of snowfall for Wilmington going all the way back 150 years! This is the most complete snowfall history for any station in Eastern North Carolina.  With such a long period of data, many interesting snowfall statistics can be generated for Wilmington concerning a “white Christmas.”

Who among you remembers 1989? It was 31 years ago, but for some it may seem like yesterday. It was the largest snowfall in the history of the Southeast coast of the United States. Over TWO FEET of fresh powder fell on Wilmington! Now, this was not Aspen…we are talking about our good old seaside area.

I don’t know what Christmas 2020 may bring, but maybe it has one mere surprise in store for us. Maybe just a couple of inches would be just fine. If and when you need my services in 2021 please google aldenbcole.com and call my cell number or the one at the office. Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to all of my friends in the Wilmington area.

How Much Will This Cost?

It is a fair question. You may only file for Social Security Disability once in your life and you want to know the attorney’s bill up front if you can. I hope this helps…when you sign a fee agreement with a Social Security disability lawyer, the fee is limited to 25% of the past-due benefits you are awarded. That is a good rule of thumb.

The attorney will be paid only out of your past-due benefits, or "backpay." If no back-dated benefits are awarded, the attorney will not receive a fee unless he/she petitions Social Security. In other words, it doesn't usually cost you anything to hire a disability attorney; the fee will be paid out of the disability award you eventually receive.

That should allay any concerns you may have about calling me to review your case. As a North Carolina social security disability attorney for many years I have been helping citizens of The Tar Heel State receive the full amount due to them. Please call me, Alden Cole, at (910) 231-2042, and visit my website at aldenbcole.com.

Injured While Working at Home?

Stay-at-home and remote working have become our new reality in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic. An unexpected issue this raises for some remote workers is, what happens if you are injured while working from home? Does your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance still cover your injury, or is your private health insurance your only option?

Workers’ compensation is, by definition a no-fault system, which means that if you're injured in the "course and scope of employment," you are typically covered under your employer’s workers' comp insurance, regardless of whether your own negligence or someone else's played a part in the accident.

Was the employer benefiting from the employee’s actions when the injury occurred? Did the employer require the employee to engage in the injury-causing activity? Did the employer approve the off-site activity in advance? Check with Alden B. Cole. He may have the answers. Attorney Cole deals in workers’ comp cases throughout North Carolina. Call him today at his Wilmington office (910) 231-2042.

North Carolina has its Share of Construction Accidents.

Pretty much everyone agrees that construction sites can be dangerous places.  The work is physical.  Construction workers also are often required to use powerful machinery, climb to great heights, or work on roadsides where traffic collisions may occur.  Unfortunately, because of the inherent nature of the work, construction workers face a serious risk of injuries on the job.

Here are some types that we often encounter –

1.  A fall from a great height.

2.  A trench collapses causing a cut-off in oxygen.

3.  A scaffold collapses.

4.  Electric shock.

5.  Improper gear is being worn.

The list is myriad.  The answer is always the same.  If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to a construction accident in the state of North Carolina, you may be eligible for workers compensation.  Let’s find out.  Please call me, Alden Cole at The Cole Law firm located at 206th North 4th Street in Wilmington at (910) 231-2042.

Do I Qualify for SSDI?

It is a whole lot more than the proverbial “64 dollar question”.  Your entire future is at stake.  First, you must qualify under the very stringent guidelines the Social Security Administration has put forth.  The good news is that the process has improved over time and you can more easily navigate through it to better understand your qualifications.

Here are some things that we need to remember –

1.  Are you still working?

2.  How severe is your current condition?

3.  Is your condition recognized by the Social Security Administration?

4.  Are you capable of doing other types of work?

These are questions (among others) that we should sort out together.  I am North Carolina Social Security Disability Attorney Alden Cole.  From my office in Wilmington I help people of this area successfully apply for SSDI.  Please give me a call at (910) 231-2042 and we will sit down at my office located at 206 N. 4th Street Suite 9 in Wilmington.

What Happens When I Call a Disability Attorney?

I understand the angst, I really do.  You know just what to expect from a criminal or personal injury lawyer, but it is not so cut and dried when it pertains to disability.  When you contact my office, I will conduct an initial interview with you to gather the basic facts of the case.  These facts are used to help determine if I am able to help you.

Chances are I will request the medical records needed to win your claim and submit them to the Social Security Administration (SSA) at the appropriate time before your hearing.  Because Social Security frequently dictates the type of exam needed to win a claim for disability, I will review your medical records to determine whether you need to undergo additional testing.

Social Security Disability demands knowledge of how the system works.  Don’t make a foolish decision and NOT contact me for a free consultation.  My name is Alden Cole.  I represent the people of North Carolina from my office in Wilmington.  If you feel that you have a legitimate SSI claim please contact me, Alden Cole at (910) 231-2042.

Do I Qualify for Workers Compensation?

You’d like to think that you would never need it, then that moment comes that changes your life forever.  You have an accident at work and something on your body never works the same again.  So, how common is it?  Well, in the United States there are over two million work-related injuries every year!

Here are some examples of Workers Comp in North Carolina –

1.  First of all, did you become injured in the course of employment?

2.  What is the nature of the injury?

3.  Were you injured preforming an unusual task not normally a part of the job?

4.  Your employer should have coverage to begin with.

By no means does an accident at the workplace automatically qualify you for Workers Compensation!  To find out if you or a loved one qualify, call Wilmington NC Workers Comp attorney Alden B. Cole.  For more than two decades he has fought tirelessly for you.  Alden’s office is located at 206 N. 4th Street Suite 9 in Wilmington.  Call (910) 231-2042.

Filing for Social Security Disability.

When you seek an attorney to file on your behalf for social security disability look for one very important attribute.  Make sure that their sole mission in the process is the very same as yours…securing every dollar to which you are entitled.  It would be nice if the attorney would work with you personally and not hand you off to an underling.

Social security disability claims can (and often do) apply to kids as well.  So, if that is the nature of your claim, make sure that the lawyer you speak with has dealt with claims on behalf of children before.  There will be several points that include personal information about you and your family.  Prepare to answer honestly!

The right man for the job in Wilmington, NC may very well be social security disability attorney Alden Cole.  He has devoted the last two plus decades of his life fighting for your benefits with the state of North Carolina.  Give Alden a call and sit down for a one-on-one chat in his office located at 206 N. 4th St. Suite 9.  Call for an appointment at (910) 231-2042.

You Have Permanent Disability…Can you Apply for Social Security Disability as Well?

The short answer is maybe.  Yes, you MAY be able to collect disability benefits from social security.  Permanent partial disability, or PPD, is a term used by those who have recovered from their injury but are left with some level of impairment that is not expected to improve significantly. 

The workers' compensation definitions of disabled really don't carry any weight with Social Security.  If you currently receive PPD or if you settled with your worker's comp carrier for a lump-sum payment for PPD, you may wonder if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.  These are questions that will affect the rest of your life!

Let’s find out exactly what you are entitled to.  I am Alden Cole of the Cole Law Firm serving Wilmington North Carolina and the surrounding area.  When I began fighting for the financial compensation rights of North Carolinians over 20 years ago, I made it my mission to understand the Social Security system inside and out.  Please call me at (910) 231-2042 for a sit-down at my office located at 2016 N. 4th St. Suite 9 in Wilmington.

Choosing a Disability Lawyer.

Filing for disability in the Tar Heel state is one of the most important things you will ever do.  Two-thirds of the applicants in North Carolina are rejected at first.  From there, they will have to undergo an appeal.  Proper representation may help not only with the initial approval, but also the all-important appeal process.

Beware of what is lurking in the woods.  There are Non-attorney disability representatives all over the state.  Some of them actually work on BEHALF of the system!  The task of your attorney is to present, in specific and exact order, the events that have resulted in your permanent disability.

The top North Carolina disability attorneys know that time is paramount.  A slow pace runs the risk of losing your claim forever.  Wilmington attorney Alden B. Cole is an aggressive Disability Lawyer in the Tar Heel state.  Call him today to arrange an appointment at his office at 201 North Front Street in Wilmington at (910) 231-2042.