A great weekend to be a Kentuckian!  They don't call it the most exciting 2 minutes in sports for nothing.  This year's race is shaping up to be another memorable contest, as California Chrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Chrome) brings his hot streak to the Bluegrass to face the ultimate thoroughbred test. 

Whether you're going to the iconic track (http://www.churchilldowns.com/) or attending a friendly gathering, get to and from safely.  Take it slow and easy…to better avoid the fast and dangerous.  Don't let a reckless driver ruin your Derby weekend.  Be safe…and bet to win (or win, place & show)!

Good Luck from all of us at http://www.moriartylawoffice.com/!

If you’ve been in a car accident, the other driver’s insurance company owes you compensation: for property damage, time missed from work, out-of-pocket expenses, and pain and suffering.

If at all possible, use your smartphone to take pictures immediately after the accident.  You can document your property damage, the final resting place of the vehicles, skid marks (if any), the weather conditions, the exact location of the collision, and the condition of the vehicles after the collision.  A police report will provide only basic information of how the accident occurred. 

This is extremely important, as the other driver’s insurance company will usually cast doubt on who was really at fault and whether were you really injured.

Even more importantly, have a health care professional check you out (whether it’s an EMS technician, an emergency room physician, or your family doctor).  Many, many injuries are not immediately apparent and only become noticeable after the adrenaline in your body subsides.  Wait too long to get medical treatment and the insurance company will downplay the extent of your injuries.  They may even refuse to pay for your treatment. 

After you get checked out, it is also very important that you follow your doctor’s recommendations.  This may be very inconvenient and cost you a lot of time, but if you do not follow your doctor’s orders, the insurance company will claim that you were not seriously injured. 

It’s bad enough to suffer injuries and property loss through no fault of your own without having to also fight an insurance company for just compensation.  Unfortunately, that is usually the reality.  

You can significantly improve your chances of receiving just compensation by having an experienced attorney present your claim to the insurance company. 

Remember: immediately following an accident, assess your injuries, those of your passengers, and anyone else involved.  Call 911.  And take pictures, if you can do so without jeopardizing anyone’s safety-including your own. 

Let an experienced professional handle your claim to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.  Call http://www.moriartylawoffice.com/ today!

INJURED AT WORK?  DID YOU KNOW YOU

      HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE YOUR DOCTOR?

            Accidents happen.  If they happen at work and you are injured, you have rights under Kentucky’s Workers Compensation laws.  In most cases you will deal with an insurance claims adjuster to receive workers compensation benefits.  There are things that the claims adjuster will usually not tell you.  I have had the privilege of representing injured workers in Kentucky for 26 years and most of my clients come to me because they are confused about their rights.

 Sadly, these rights are not generally known to the injured worker who so desperately just wants to get better.

            The claims adjuster will seldom tell you of your right to select the doctor who will treat your work injury.  If you are not happy with the treatment or the speed of your recovery you have the right to switch to a different doctor.

            Your employer’s insurance company is required to pay for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment including doctor visits, physical therapy, chiropractic care, surgery, and prescription medicine.  You are also entitled to be reimbursed for your mileage expense going back and forth for your medical treatment.

            Every injured worker has the right to receive medical treatment for at least two years from the date of the injury.  That time deadline can be extended if you are unable to work and you receive lost wage benefits (known as temporary total disability or “TTD” benefits).  If you receive TTD benefits then your right to receive medical treatment is extended for up to two years from the date those lost wage benefits stopped. 

            If your work injury is considered permanent then you may be entitled to future medical treatment of the work injury, including treatment for chronic pain.  This right to future medical treatment follows you even if you change jobs or move to a different state.

            Most people are unaware of the fact that you waive your rights to future medical treatment if you do not negotiate a settlement agreement with the claims adjuster or file a claim with the Department of Workers’ claims in Frankfort before the expiration of the two year deadline.  In addition to waiving the right to future medical treatment, you also waive your right to be compensated for your injury.

            There’s nothing harder for an attorney than explaining to someone who is in obvious need of medical treatment that he or she waited too long to learn their rights and that they have waived their right to receive medical treatment and fair compensation for the work injury.  Even if you decide not to retain an attorney, it is of the utmost importance that you seek legal advice as soon as possible after being hurt on the job.

            Call me today for a free explanation of ALL of your rights.  Or, visit my website at www.moriartylawoffice.com.

The Moriarty Law Office does no television advertising.  We rely to a large extent on referrals from our prior clients.  We have found that by giving every client the attention, respect and service that we would expect from a law office if we were in thier shoes results in referrals from those same clients who are pleased with not only the outcome of thier case but how they were treated along the way.  If you have a legal problem with an insurance company, call us, come in for a cup of coffee and we'll be happy to talk to you.  The advice and the coffee are free.  You can reach us at 859-233-0705 or visit moriartylawoffice.com. 

Ah, the holidays.  More cars on the road, nightfall at 6:00 PM and rain/snow/sleet on the pavement.  A tried and true recipe for car accidents.  But, it doesn't have to be that way.  What can you do to avoid the bad drivers that cannot grasp simple physics?  Easy…avoid them.  If someone is tailgating you in such conditions, slow down so they can pass.  It's all you can do.  Plus, you'll avoid the hassle, expense and maybe injury of being rear-ended.

More importantly, you must…absolutely must…increase the distance between you and the car in FRONT of you.  No matter why the car in front of you stops suddenly, if you rear end another car, YOU ARE AT FAULT for failing to control your vehicle.

Leave tailgating and drafting to the NASCAR pros so you can enjoy your holidays with friends and family. 

But if you have the misfortune of being hit by someone who couldn't understand why speed+moisture=longer stopping distance, then give http://www.moriartylawoffice.com/ a call.  We have been helping vicitms of bad drivers negotiate the maze of insurance claims for over 25 years.  Yeah, we've kinda got it down. 

Call http://www.moriartylawoffice.com/ today for a FREE EXPLANATION OF YOUR RIGHTS. 

If you have been injured in an auto accident, you should remember the following steps:

1) Don't Admit Fault

Do not admit fault for the accident―not to the other party, your passengers, the police, witnesses, or your auto insurance agent. Even if you suspect you may have been at least partially to blame for the accident, do not admit wrongdoing.

Your perception of the event could easily be altered by your emotional state, so it's best not to settle claims until you're able to think clearly. Focus on getting the medical treatment you need and let your car insurance company handle the other details.

2) Seek Medical Attention

See a doctor immediately. Although you may feel fine now or think your injuries aren't very serious, symptoms such as pain, discomfort, dizziness, or numbness may appear in the days following the accident.

It is best to get checked by a medical professional immediately. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, it will be harder to prove that your injuries are the result of the car crash. Work with your doctor to evaluate your injuries.

3) Take Pictures

Ask a friend to take pictures of your injuries. If you have trouble getting a settlement from the insurance company or you decide to hire a personal injury attorney, photos will be valuable evidence for your case. Cuts, bruises, and scrapes heal quickly, so getting photos immediately is a smart move. If you don't have access to a regular digital camera, snap a few pictures with your cell phone.

4) Take Notes

Take detailed notes regarding your medical treatment. This information may be necessary for you to get full reimbursement from the insurance company.

Jot down the names and addresses of any chiropractors, physical therapists, or other professionals you were referred to after the accident. Keep receipts for medications you were prescribed or any assistive devices such as crutches that were needed.

5) Get the Police Report

Obtain a copy of the police report to verify that all facts regarding the accident are correct. Errors or omissions in the police report could delay your injury claim.

6) Talk With a Lawyer

If you are asked to sign any documents you don't understand, talk to a personal injury lawyer. Having representation is the best way to make sure your rights are protected, especially if the accident is very serious and you may be at least partially at fault.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all!  As we enjoy great food, football and time with family today, please keep the service men and women of this great nation in your thoughts.  While we humbly enjoy our cozy Thanksgiving day, they are doing the often thankless job of protecting our country, thousands of miles from family and friends. 

Hug a veteran today.

A tip of the brass hat to two-time Breeders Cup champion Groupie Doll from everyone at http://www.moriartylawoffice.com/.

Being Frankfort natives and acquaintances of the extended Bradley family (owners and trainer), we are proud to see this champion thoroughbred bring home a Breeders Cup trophy for the second year in a row.

Congratulations to the entire Groupie Doll team!

There is an excellent article in yesterday’s local Lexington newspaper that the Moriarty Law Office found especially compelling.  Contributing columnist and former Lexington resident Ann Marie van der Hurk discusses the importance of community for any organization.  She focuses on NASA and how the agency was affected by the recent government shutdown.  In particular, she reveals how NASA’s “community” kept the organization alive while while the government went dark.

This kind of voluntary active participation in the continuity of an organization reflects the attitude held by the participants toward that particular organization.  An active community for any organization begins with simple word of mouth discussion.  As a positive attitude toward the organization grows, so in turn does the size and fervor of the community.

We found this subject compelling becuase of this firm’s long history of word of mouth referrals.  We take great pride in the fact that a large number of our clients come to us because of the favorable reveiws they received from friends, family and acquaintences.  We don’t use billboards or slick TV commercials to state our case…we are proud to say that our community does it for us.

Visit www.moriartylawoffice.com to see why we are recommended more often than most other law firms in the Bluegrass.

The Eastern District Court of Kentucky has announced it will remain open until October 17, 2013  in spite of the government shutdown, at which time it will re-assess its position.