Author Archives: Daniel Boone

Congrats on passing your road test! Now that you have your driver’s license, you might think that you’re ready to hit the roadways and drive all across your town. Pump the breaks both literally and figuratively, however, because there are a few more important things you’ll need to do before you’re ready to be behind the wheel. Here are a few things you should do as soon as you can if you are a new driver.

Be defensive
Even if you feel confident behind the wheel, you need to recognize that accidents often involve multiple cars. In other words, you can do everything right and still be hit. For this reason, it is important to drive defensively. Anticipating what other drivers will do is a great way to start. With practice, you can start to expect the unexpected. It is important to have a contingency plan in all situations so that you can avoid an accident.

Learn Everything Driving
Although you passed your road test, there is still plenty for you to learn before you get behind the wheel on a consistent basis. You may know the actual laws of the road, but you also need to educate yourself on what to do in the event of an emergency. You have to learn how to deal with road rage, what to look for on the road, and how you should handle all the various situations that will occur over your driving career. Talk to experienced drivers and ask any questions you might have and pay attention to how other, more experienced, drivers handle each situation.

Stop Relying So Much On Technology
At any given daylight moment in the United States, approximately 660,000 drivers are on their cell phones or some other electronic device. It’s essential to your safety and the safety of others that you stop relying on your technological devices so much. Sure, you can use your cell phone as much as you want when you’re not behind the wheel, but if you are constantly using your phone, you’ll have the urge to use it while you’re driving, which is an absolute no-no.

Make sure to think defensively, cut back on using your cell phone, and educate yourself on every aspect of driving before you start your driving career.

Are you in the midst of choosing a lawyer for a car accident case? If you’re choosing a lawyer in Lexington KY, contact the Golden Law Office today.

Parenting is extremely difficult and one of the most important responsibilities you have is preparing your kids to be responsible adults. Although you’ll teach them to be respectful, one of the most important aspects of teaching your kids is driving and the rules of the road.

Car crashes, unfortunately, happen far too often in the United States. In the U.S., over 37,000 people die in a crash on the road every year and an additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled. In addition to showing your kids how to parallel park, properly change lanes, and abide by the roadway laws, you should also teach your children how to handle themselves in the event of a vehicle accident.

Far too many kids (and adults) are unaware of what is required of them in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Not knowing what to do can lead to serious legal issues down the line, so it’s essential that your kids learn exactly what they should do after a crash. Here is what you should teach your kids regarding car accidents.

Seek Medical Attention

Emphasize to your kids the importance of getting professional medical help after an accident. Serious car accidents can result in a severe head injury or other bodily injury. Your kids should know to call 911 right away following a car crash, but they’re going to have to ensure that they are okay before any other moves are made.

Pay Attention to Everything Going On

The next thing you should teach your children to do in the event of a car crash is to clear their head, take a look at everything going on, and try their best to store every single detail into their memory. Buy your kids a small notepad and a pack of pens and have them keep those items in their glove compartment at all times. Being able to write down everything will ensure they will remember important details of the accident. These details will come in handy later on down the line, especially once your kids move on to the next step.

Contact Their Car Accident Attorney

The final thing your kids should do after a car crash is call their personal injury attorney (This is where the information comes in handy). Aside from law enforcement and medical professionals, the only other person your child should talk to after an accident is their attorney. Make sure they have the number and know how important contacting their attorney really is.

If you or your kids are in need of a personal injury attorney after a car accident, contact the Golden Law Office today.

We trust our school systems to provide our children with quality education, fair opportunities, and safe spaces for learning. But what happens when the system falls short?

School law attorneys can help you and your family when your child suffers mistreatment or injustice while at school. Although civil lawsuits are said to cost the U.S. economy $239 billion every year, in many cases those costs ensure that the rights of citizens everywhere remain well protected. Here are some of the most important times to consult a legal professional when it comes to your child’s education.

• Discrimination
  All children in the United States have the right to an education, no matter their race, gender, religion, or country of origin. If you are experiencing issues of discrimination from a school, you should contact a school law attorney to help you take the necessary actions to make the situation right.

• Abuse
  Physical, mental, or emotional abuse against a child is unthinkable for many, but it does unfortunately happen, sometimes even from teachers. Any use of corporal punishment, restrictions on freedom of speech, or cruel and unusual punishments should be dealt with immediately. Call the police if you suspect immediate danger, but consider hiring an education lawyer to help hold those responsible accountable.

• Special Education and Disability
  The Disabilities Education Act is a federal law that requires schools in all states to provide necessary accommodations for students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, or other special needs care. Failure to address those needs could face serious consequences.

• Standards of Education
  While many people have their own opinions about the school standards and regulations from state to state, there are good reasons to have them in place. They help ensure that our schools adequately deliver the education our children need to learn, grow, and become citizens of the world. Denying a child the right to quality education is simply unacceptable.

Nearly everyone understands that there are few things more important in the life of a child than a proper education. If you feel that your family’s rights have been compromised, you may want to seek legal counsel with a professional school law attorney to learn what you can do. Not only will you be protecting your own children, but the children of the future as well.

A head injury is a serious trauma that could have a lasting impact on both your medical and financial future. If you or a loved one has suffered bodily injury to the head as a result of a slip, fall, car accident, or other incident, you may be entitled to legal compensation in order to help pay for your recovery and plan for your future.

From concussions to traumatic brain injury (TBI), here’s what you need to know about your legal rights as an injury victim and how to get help from a brain injury lawyer for your case.

• Identifying Your Legal Claim
  Negligence is the most common legal basis for most head injury claims. In this type of situation, you will need to provide evidence that another party was at fault for your injury because of a failure to provide adequate safety measures or assume reasonable responsibility for their actions. A drunk driver, for example, could be said to be negligent; in fact, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of TBI-related deaths, especially among 20- to 24-year-olds.

• Finding a Specialized Lawyer
  Head injuries involve complex medical issues and legal arguments. It is not enough to simply show that head trauma occurred — you also need evidence that such injuries were directly tied to the accident at hand. For this reason, it’s important to work with a lawyer who has extensive experience in head or brain injury cases, whether your accident happened at work, on the road, or while using a faulty product.

• Preparing Your Case
  Unlike blatant bodily injuries such as a broken bone or laceration, damage to the brain can be difficult to identify with the naked eye. You and your brain injury lawyer will need to work together to provide extensive evidence about the nature of your injuries and their relation to your accident. The more information you can provide about the details of your case, the better chance you have of creating an effective legal argument that will earn you the compensation you deserve to help put your life back on track.

Don’t let something as serious and life-altering as a head injury go unresolved. After speaking with your doctor, find an attorney who can help you build your case and make sure that you have the tools and resources you need to make amends and secure the safety of your future.

Did you know that wholly 30% of all injury deaths can be attributed to traumatic brain injuries? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 138 people in the U.S. die every day as a result of injuries that include TBIs.

But what causes a traumatic brain injury? And if you sustain one, should you enlist the services of a brain injury attorney? Typically, if you’ve sustained a TBI in a circumstance where your company or another party was at fault, you should at least consider hiring a brain injury lawyer. We’ve highlighted four common causes of traumatic brain injuries. If you’ve sustained a TBI as a result of one of these causes, seek legal help from a brain injury attorney right away.

1. Slips and falls
It might surprise you to learn that falls are actually the greatest cause of ER visits and hospitalizations for TBI-related injuries. They account for approximately 523,043 emergency room visits and 62,334 hospitalizations every year. And of all the causes of TBIs, they account for more than 40% of all cases. Whether you fall in the bathtub, while getting out of bed at home, slip on a wet floor, or fall from a height at work, the result from fall accidents can be highly serious. If you sustained a fall injury at work, at school, or as a result of someone else’s negligence, a brain injury attorney can help you to fight for your rights and your future in court.

2. Car accidents
Motor vehicle crashes are the third-leading cause of TBIs in the United States. If you’ve been involved in a collision as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian that has resulted in a brain injury, you should seek legal help. A family may need a wrongful death lawyer in these cases because motor vehicle accidents that result in TBIs often prove fatal.

3. Sports injuries
There are a great many sports that often result in traumatic brain injuries. Football, boxing, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, skateboarding, and other extreme sports pose a particular risk for youth participants. If you play on a team, make sure your coaches are following regulations to prevent these injuries and follow proper protocol when they occur. Repetitive head trauma can easily turn serious.

4. Assault
Physical assault and violence are common causes of brain injuries, too. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 20% of TBIs are caused by violence like child abuse, gunshot wounds, and domestic violence. Whether intentional or unintentional, the person(s) who cause these TBIs need to be brought to justice. If you or a loved one has sustained a massive head injury due to violence, seek out help from a personal injury attorney to take the steps necessary to protect yourself and bring the perpetrators to justice.

If you’ve sustained a brain injury attorney as a result of a slip and fall accident, a car accident, or a violent head injury, contact us today. Because if you need a brain injury lawyer in Lexington, KY, we can help you fight your case in court and receive the compensation you need to cover your medical care.

We rely on our vehicles to get us from point A to point B and everywhere in between. However, car crashes happen far too often, and our vehicles aren’t always well-equipped to keep us 100% safe. In fact, over 37,000 people die in car accidents every year, and 2.35 million more are injured or disabled as a result of collisions. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to notify police and contact a qualified car accident attorney. But there are also some common mistakes that you should avoid making immediately following a crash.

After a car accident, don’t…

• Refuse medical treatment
  After an accident, your adrenaline and emotions are running high. You likely won’t be able to recognize the extent of your injuries if you have, in fact, sustained any. You may be in shock and may be inclined to think you don’t need medical treatment. But it’s important for you to get a thorough examination following a crash. You’ll be glad you did so if you later decide to pursue a personal injury case.

• Forget to exchange info and take photos
  Exchanging information with the other driver(s) involved in the crash is an absolute must. Even if you can’t find any vehicular damage or think you’re physically fine, don’t neglect to obtain the driver’s name, home address, telephone number, license plate number, vehicle make and model, and insurance info. If you decide to file a personal injury claim, your attorney will need these details to proceed.

• Give too much info to an insurance company
  Understand that insurance claim adjusters are not on your side. Their main objective is to safe their company money. While you are required to give basic, relevant information to the insurance company that’s involved in your claim, don’t volunteer extra details that you don’t need to provide. In addition, you should not give them a recorded statement. If you have questions about interacting with an insurance company, be sure to work with a car accident lawyer; he or she can tell you exactly what you are required to tell them and what you aren’t.

• Neglect to hire legal help
  When you’ve been hurt in a crash, you need someone knowledgeable and experienced to fight on your behalf. A lawyer will protect your rights and can help you get the compensation you deserve. An attorney can determine whether or not it’s a good idea to file a claim and when to do so. It’s the best way to obtain financial compensation for expensive medical bills, loss of property, or missed work wages.

If you need help after a car crash, our Lexington KY lawyers can help you. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Golden Law Office today.

There are over 214 million licensed drivers on the roadways in the United States. Driving for the first time is such a great feeling; you finally have the freedom to go where you want, you feel in control, and you see yourself as an adult for the first time in your life. It’s essential, however, that every single driver knows what an important responsibility driving is. Here are a few things that every driver must be aware of.

Never Operate a Vehicle After Taking Any Illegal Substance

No matter how many times someone hears that they shouldn’t drive under the influence, it can never be said enough. Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is the most dangerous thing you can do as a motor vehicle operator. Over the course of 2013, roughly 9.9 million people admitted to driving under the influence of illicit drugs. People make the mistake of driving under the influence of alcohol even more frequently.

You have to realize that doing any of these crimes can result in serious injury or death for yourself, other drivers, and anyone else in your area. Even after a “little bit” of alcohol or other substances, if you think that you’re “fine,” you’re most likely not and should, under no circumstances, get behind the wheel if you’ve had anything to drink or have taken another substance. Don’t ruin your life or someone else’s because of your bad decisions — drive responsibly.

What to Do in the Event of an Accident

Knowing what to do and who to contact immediately after an injury is one of the most important aspects of driving. After any accident, the first thing every driver should do is call an ambulance and have everyone inspected. There could be serious bodily injury and brain injury present in anyone involved, which could require immediate medical attention. After making sure everyone is safe, the next thing you should do is contact your car accident attorney. Experienced car accident attorneys can help provide legal counsel for you and get you out of trouble if the accident wasn’t your fault.

Following the Rules of the Road

Driving laws aren’t put in place just to annoy you. They are there to keep you and everyone else on the roads as safe as possible. Don’t think that just because you are a good driver that you can go as fast as you want, stop when you want, and drive how you want. If you want to avoid crashing, causing harm, or potentially killing yourself or someone else, drive safe and follow the rules of the road.

As long as you follow the rules of the road, know when to call an ambulance and your car accident attorney, and never,ever drive under the influence, you should have a great time on the road. Drive safe out there!

Being involved in a car accident can be one of the most terrifying experiences of a person’s life. Even if the crash is minor, there could always be serious problems resulting from the crash. It’s important that every driver on the road knows exactly what to do in the event of a car accident.

First: Make Sure Everyone (Including You) Is Safe
After any accident, you should immediately call an ambulance and have professional health workers inspect you and everyone else involved in the crash. Because motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) deaths (especially for 20 to 24-year-olds where TBI-related death rates are the highest), the medical issues you or anyone else involved could be even more severe that you originally thought. Getting the necessary medical attention will ensure that you’re okay, and then you will be able to move onto the next step.

Second: Make Note and Take Pictures of Everything
The second thing you should do in the event of any car accident, is to document every second of the aftermath. Provided that you’re not in too much harm, you should take out a pad and pen or your phone and start writing down everything that’s happening. Make a note of when the crash happened, how fast you were going, your statement of what happened, what witnesses are around, when the ambulance arrived, and anything else that might help you in court should you eventually go to trial. You should also take pictures of everything so you have photographic evidence to show later on. Most importantly, take pictures of your vehicle and the other vehicles involved in the crash.

Third: Call Your Law Firm
The next thing you should do in the event of any accident is to contact your personal injury lawyer. You should provide your lawyer with every single detail of the situation you have (keeping notes will help with this process) and show them all the photos you have as well. Telling them exactly what happened is essential because they will need any and all necessary information in order to properly handle your case.

Although vehicle accidents can be terrifying, if you remain calm, make sure everyone is okay, document everything, and call your lawyer, you won’t have as much to worry about.

Selecting a personal injury lawyer can be easy, but if you want to ensure that you’re working with a high-quality law firm, you should do a little research before you make your final decision. Obviously, every situation is different, and you might need to speak with a personal injury lawyer immediately after something like a car accident, but at least knowing these important aspects can help.

It’s Best to Work With Lawyers Who Exclusively Work On Personal Injury Cases
Because personal injury is a wide sector of the law, personal injury cases are often complicated and involve specialized rules and practices that only an experienced personal injury lawyer can handle. Sure, attorneys can be good and have experience with other kinds of law, but you’re going to want to work with someone who knows the ins and outs of personal injury law.

Provide Necessary Information During Your Consultation
One thing you should remember before hiring a personal injury lawyer is that initial consultations are usually free of charge. During these consultations, however, you have to be upfront and transparent with all details surrounding your case because in order for the lawyer to do their job properly. If you aren’t providing your lawyer with all the details of your case, are embellishing or lying in any way, that’s only going to worsen your chance at having a successful outcome.

If you need legal assistance and want to speak to an experienced law firm that focuses on personal injury, contact Golden Law Office today.

Where would our nation’s children and schools be without their teachers? Few careers are more important for encouraging a bright and better future than teaching, and yet few workers are taken for granted as much as our educators.

That’s part of the reason why teachers have so many legal rights to protect their jobs, ideas, and practices from undue interference. Here are some of the areas where having an education attorney might be useful when it comes to protecting and serving teachers’ rights.

Academic Freedom: In many ways, public school teachers often have to work with the material and curriculum they’re given. But within that, they also reserve the right to teach materials or promote discussions without any undue restrictions.

Freedom of Speech: Academic freedom also aligns closely with First Amendment rights to freedom of speech for all Americans. Though public school teachers are not supposed to promote any political, religious, or personal agenda in their lessons, they can freely speak up about important issues of the day — so long as it doesn’t interfere with curriculum or job duties. Generally, university professors have much more academic freedom — in theory.

Tenure and Dismissal: Unlike many jobs where employees can be fired at will, most states give tenure security to public school teachers. This means that the school must show just cause in the event of a termination or dismissal. If not, a teacher may file for a wrongful termination case on any of some 20-plus different legal bases. Between 50% to 70% of wrongful dismissal cases are won by the former employee.

Right to Organize: Teachers unions are some of the strongest and largest in the country, and with good reason. Teachers reserve the right to freely associate with labor unions and professional organizations in order to better negotiate with school boards and advocate for their terms of contract.

Unfortunately, teachers may routinely experience situations where their rights are being undermined, challenged, or outright violated. If you have a case of discrimination in the workplace, wrongful termination, union-breaking, or have had your freedoms of speech infringed upon, it may be time to talk with an education attorney about your legal rights and options.

Call our experienced team of Lexington attorneys at Golden Law Office to help you get started on the path to justice.