Matt Fendon Law Group Legal Blog

We normally talk about strictly legal issues and subjects in our blog here at the Fendon Law Firm website. However, today I wanted to share with the public why I love being a workers’ compensation lawyer here in Arizona. At the Fendon Law Firm, when an extraordinary event occurs such as a favorable decision on…

Many people ask us whether they have to pay taxes on Social Security disability benefits. We typically refer them to their accountant or CPA to answer this question. However, in reality, Social Security disability benefits are taxable to the extent that a person’s income exceeds $25,000 per year with the benefit. That is in the…

Most claimants that have gone through the Social Security Disability procedure realize that it is a very lengthy process. In Arizona, it can take at least two years from date of application until a claimant obtains a hearing. Typically, the disabled person will then have to wait even longer after the hearing to get a…

Normally, an employee who is injured while going to or from work is not entitled to workers’ compensation.[1] The rationale behind this rule is that employees do not actually begin work until they arrive on the employer’s premises. Any risk an employee is subjected to while driving to work is the same risk(s) faced by…

Alcoholism and drug addiction are not considered disabling impairments by the Social Security administration. It is important to note that alcoholics and people that are addicted to drugs may still be found disabled so long as those conditions are not “a contributing factor material to the determination of disability.” To simplify this, what this means…

Arizona, thankfully, is not a “directed care” state. A “directed care” state allows ALL workers’ compensation insurance carriers to choose injured workers’ doctors. This leaves many injured workers in the hands of doctors who do not care about their wellbeing, but instead want to push them back to work as quickly as they can before…

We frequently receive questions about whether scarring is compensable in Arizona workers’ compensation law. The answer is yes if it’s facial scarring and it is considered “disfigurement.” See ARS 23-1044(b)(22). Under Arizona law, for a facial scar to be considered “disfigurement,” it must cause “observable marring or impairment of natural appearance of his bearer” but…

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is on a mission to beat childhood cancer and our firm is proud to be able to partner alongside them. On June 26, we will be hosting a fundraiser to raise donations for this charity and invite you to join us! Our lemonade stand will be set up at Cityscape in…

Normally, an employee who is injured while going to or from work is not entitled to workers’ compensation.[1] The rationale behind this rule is that employees do not actually begin work until they arrive on the employer’s premises. Any risk an employee is subjected to while driving to work is the same risk(s) faced by…

Social Security Disability benefits and Social Security retirement benefits are two separate programs. If you are suffering from a disability that is severe enough that you cannot perform your usual work, and you cannot perform alternative work, then you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security pays disability benefits to people who are unable…