In the wake of an auto accident, there’s a number of things to consider when it comes to guessing how long it may take for you to recover—the severity of your injuries, the costs of paying them, and when you’re going to be able to get back to work. One major item may not be at the forefront of your mind, but it’s also an important factor—your car. Did it sustain significant or minor damage? How has it been damaged and what can you do about it? In some cases, the car is damaged beyond the point where it would make financial sense to fix it. When this happens, the insurance company will say the car is totaled.

This decision has advantages and disadvantages for you. You may have been hoping for the car to be totaled. This way, you don’t have to get the car repaired and then drive a car that’s underwent major work. However, sometimes you may not want the car to be totaled for a number of reasons. Buying a new car may not be a viable option for you. There’s also the possibility that you just don’t want to get a new car and would rather repair your vehicle.

When you’ve been in an accident and you decide to file a claim with your insurance company, you’ll need to provide strong evidence that connects your injuries and losses to the incident. At some point in time, the insurance adjuster may ask for documentation about your injuries and medical treatment. One of the documents you could be requested to sign is called a medical authorization form. In general, a medical authorization form will give the adjuster access to your medical records.

It’s important to understand what a medical authorization for is, what your insurance company will do with it, what they will see, and how they will use that information in regard to your claim before you sign anything. Speaking with a lawyer is always a good idea before signing any official documentation from your insurance company, so you don’t run into trouble later. Let’s go over the ins and outs of medical authorization forms and how they could affect your chances of receiving the compensation you need to recover from your accident.

It’s no secret that understaffing in nursing homes is a serious issue in the United States. Understaffing happens for a number of reasons, including a high employee turnover rate and facilities trying to save money. There, however, is never any reason that excuses poor care. If your loved one’s nursing home facility is understaffed, there are steps you can take to ensure they receive the care they need.

Putting the care of our loved ones in the hands of others is a big step requiring a lot of trust. Even though nursing homes are supposed to nurture residents, not all facilities provide high-quality care and unfortunately Kentucky’s best facilities have waiting lists for admittance. But that shouldn’t keep your loved one from getting attentive, adequate care. No facility should neglect its residents.

No matter where you’re driving, it can be frustrating when someone speeds up behind you, tailgates your car, and illegally passes you. It can be equally as frustrating when someone on a highway is driving considerably faster than the flow of traffic and decides to weave in and out of traffic to get ahead. But what about when you get stuck behind a driver who is driving much slower than the posted limit? Some may find this surprising, but driving too slowly can be just as dangerous as speeding.

When a nursing home fails to care for their residents, that negligence can result in injuries and illness. Because senior citizens typically have more compromised immune systems and it’s harder for them to recover, negligence can also cause death. One of these types of injuries that can severely affect a senior’s life is pressure sores, which are also called bedsores.

If you find that your loved one has suffered from these injuries, they need to get treatment immediately. How and when do bedsores commonly develop? Let’s take look at the causes and risk factors of developing pressure sores in a nursing home:

If you’ve been in an auto accident, it’s likely that you will have sustained injuries. If the accident was caused by a driver or group that was negligent, it’s possible that you may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. Doing so may also be the best course of action if you’re facing an unfair insurance settlement offer.

When deciding whether to file a claim or not, one of the issues that will come up with your attorney is the issue of determining the amount of compensation, or damages, you are owed. Determining compensation is complex and you want to make sure that you’re not getting less than you deserve.

Nursing home abuse is a serious and underreported issue. According to the National Council on Aging, one in 10 seniors is abused every year; however, it’s estimated that only every one in 23 cases is reported. The lack of reporting happens because victims often refrain from reporting incidents out of feelings of fear or guilt.

In order to stop instances of nursing home abuse, the government has a number of nursing home regulations in place. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has a number of programs that strive to identify nursing home abuse and protect elders. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it’s important to understand what the government is doing to protect them, so you can take legal action in the event their rights are violated.

Depending on where you live, walking may be a means of exercise, relaxation, or transportation. As a pedestrian, you can save money on gas, help the environment, and improve your own health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can cause accidents that seriously injure or even kill those on foot. No matter how often you walk to get where you’re going, it’s crucial to know where pedestrian accidents occur most often.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 129,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency room departments for non-fatal accident-related injuries in 2015. The following year, 5,987 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes. Nearly 20 percent of the fatally injured were over the age of 65. Additionally, one in five children under the age of 15 who were killed in traffic accidents were pedestrians. Understanding where pedestrian accidents tend to occur can help you avoid a dangerous or potentially deadly situation.

When a car accident causes painful injuries, you’re most likely worried about ones that will have permanent consequences. You may be surprised at the injuries that can cause chronic issues. Soft tissue injuries are often difficult to see and also can have ongoing complications long after the accident. It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible for these types of injuries.

Even if the symptoms start out minor or in a delayed fashion, it may be possible for soft tissue injuries to be long-lasting or permanent. Here’s what you need to know about soft tissue damage: