Obiorah Fields, LLC - February 2021

Obiorah Fields, LLC - February 2021

OBIORAHFIELDS.COM | 404-994-6218 | FEBRUARY 2021

No One Else Will Do It for You Take Responsibility for Your Own Fulfillment If there’s one lesson that I’ve learned at several different times in my life, through several different instances, it’s that I can’t wait for anyone to do my work for me. Don’t get me wrong: There will always be people who care about us and people we can lean on, but at the end of the day, the responsibility for moving forward is up to us. That’s why Feb. 1, also known as National Get Up Day, is worth observing. I’ve experienced enough failures in my life to know that no one has the sole responsibility of picking me up and dusting me off. That task ultimately falls to me. That said, though, being responsible for ourselves and our direction in life doesn’t have to be a disappointing or scary thing. In fact, I can personally say that taking control of your own life can actually lead to some pretty big blessings. Taking control of my own life, instead of waiting around for an easy fix, led me to meet my husband. Before I met him, I decided to just totally accept the fact that I might never get married. I had totally resigned from that pursuit, and I decided not to let my singleness dictate how good or bad my life would be. I found ways to have fun and spend time by myself. I wouldn’t waste time moping over what I didn’t have.

The somewhat ironic effect of making the decision to pick myself up and live my best life, regardless of what I didn’t have, was that it made me ready for when I finally did meet my husband. After all, no one wants to spend time with someone who’s down all the time. Plus, if I hadn’t been willing to pick myself up when I was single, I don’t know that I would have been willing to give dating someone another shot. Since February is also the month of Valentine’s Day, I just want to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am for my husband. I wouldn’t trade him for the world. That said, I know from experience that being single doesn’t have to mean you can’t be positive and enjoy life. So, if that’s where you find yourself this Valentine’s Day, don’t worry! Things happen when you’re able to pick yourself up and treasure each day. Refusing to wait for others to take responsibility for your well‑being applies to more than just relationships. It’s good advice to keep in mind for any area of your life! By following that advice, I started this firm with Danielle and employed myself. I wouldn’t wait around for the perfect job to find me — I put in the work and made it happen for myself. Is there something you need to push forward from? If there’s anything you need to take responsibility for in your life, remember that you have the power to make it happen.

There will always be people who care about us and people we can lean on, but at the end of the day, the responsibility for moving forward is up to us.

–Teri Fields

404-994-6218 | 1

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH COULD BE THE KEY TO THE COVID-19 VACCINE Vaccines have been the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel we call the COVID-19 pandemic, but scientists don’t yet have a full picture of the virus or its treatments. In an effort to better understand the coronavirus, researchers are looking at how medical professionals can better treat our most vulnerable populations or prevent them from ever contracting COVID-19. Experts have long feared that a COVID-19 vaccine may not help the older adults who need it most, as these individuals are often more at risk of contracting the disease and having a weakened immune system. However, some researchers hypothesize that anti-aging medications may boost the effectiveness of the vaccine for older adults, and there are some promising results from early studies. One study published in Nature found that a drug that limited the creation of the protein mTOR lengthened the lifespan of fruit flies and mice. Anti-aging expert Jan Mannick explains that researchers think mTOR may contribute to failing immune systems in humans, so blocking the production of this

If you’re trying to recover damages for an auto accident in the Atlanta area, one thing you need to understand is that Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state. That’s a lot of legalese, but it essentially means that so long as one party involved in an accident is less than half responsible for the accident, they could still successfully recover damages from the other party. While in some states the courts can hold both the plaintiff and the defendant as equally responsible for an auto accident, and therefore award both parties damages, in Georgia, only the party with 49% or less of the fault can recover damages. As an example, say you accidentally run a stop sign, where the traffic running perpendicular to you has the right of way, and another vehicle slams into your side. But it turns out they were driving 30 mph over the speed limit, causing much more damage than would have been the case otherwise. You could argue that the speeding car is much more at fault for the damage than you are — even though some of it is your fault. Now, at this point, you may be asking yourself: How do you quantify damage in an accident so precisely? Auto accidents are chaotic, so how can anyone know exactly how much fault they share? Well, that’s why it’s important to gather as much information and evidence as possible immediately following an accident. The more evidence you have of what happened during the accident, the easier it will be for the jury to determine who was more at fault. If you’re unsure of what types of evidence will strengthen your case to recover damages, it’s best to call an experienced personal injury legal team, such as the team at Obiorah Fields, as soon as you can. We’ll be able to help you sort through the evidence and build a case that will ensure you recover damages — even if you’re partially to blame for the accident. Give us a call today at 404-698-4938 for a free case evaluation. WHAT IS COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE? AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY COMPENSATION IN AN ACCIDENT?

protein could drastically improve the success rate of a COVID-19 vaccine in older adults.

As promising as these results and many other

studies are, medical experts are quick to remind the public that more research is needed to understand the possible link between anti-aging medications and their

effects on the efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine in older adults. These medications include treatments that indirectly affect aging like some diabetes medication. The good news is that you don’t have to wait for researchers to find a “miracle pill” to boost your immunity. Incorporate natural remedies into your routine instead! Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other foods rich in vitamin D that boost your immune system — like salmon, mushrooms, and greens — and remember to drink plenty of water. While you’re at it, wear sunscreen to prevent the sun from aging your skin prematurely and increasing your chance of having other health issues. It’s important to stay optimistic and do what we can with what we know now while researchers work toward an effective vaccine.

2 | ObiorahFields.com | Your Rights, Our Fight

APPEALING WORKERS’ COMP CLAIMS IN GEORGIA What to Do if Your Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied

In the last edition of our newsletter, we listed some of the different reasons why your workers’ compensation claim might get denied. But what do you do after your claim is denied? We wanted to provide you with a series of steps you can take, with the help of an experienced workers’ comp attorney, to appeal your claim. Find out why your claim was denied. When you receive the letter that indicates your claim was denied, it will usually list a reason, or reasons, why your employer or your employer’s insurance company did so. If the reason isn’t clear in the letter, you can inquire with your employer or their insurer about it directly as well. Sometimes, the reason is little more than a missing document or a misunderstanding that can be resolved quickly, so it’s worth asking around. Begin the appeal process in earnest. If the matter cannot be resolved quickly or easily, then it’s time to move on to the appeal process. The letter you receive may include instructions as to how to appeal your claim. Typically, this means that you must request a hearing before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation and send copies of the request form to

your employer, your company’s insurance carrier, and the board. Then you will be assigned a judge and a hearing date.

Mediation Before the hearing, you’ll be required to go through the mediation process. Mediation is a more informal meeting, where a mediator will meet with you, your attorney, and your employer or the insurance company. The goal is to settle the dispute before the hearing if possible, but if that doesn’t happen, then the case will return to the judge for a hearing. The Hearing Hearings are much like trials, where you present evidence of your position, your employer presents evidence for their position, and a judge decides whether to grant your appeal. You must present live witness testimonies, as opposed to written statements, and you should plan to have your doctors and any eyewitnesses to your injury testify in the courtroom. Your claim denial could be reversed at any one of these steps, and we at Obiorah Fields want to help you for as long as it takes to get your just compensation. Call us today at 404-531-1591.

At Obiorah Fields, LLC, we’re not your standard, run-of-the-mill law office. We don’t just do what’s required of us — we go the extra mile to make sure justice is served in every case we take on. If you’ve worked with us before and know somebody who could benefit from taking us on as their legal team, please don’t hesitate to give them this newsletter and show them who we are! We want to help as many people as we can. We’re just one phone call away from new potential clients. If they contact us through our website and give us their name, contact info, and a brief description of their situation, we will give them a free case evaluation and report. Don’t hesitate to refer us! DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS OUR HELP? GIVE THEM THIS NEWSLETTER!

NEED A SPEAKER? If you are interested in having Teri Fields speak to your organization about legal issues, please contact us at 404-994-6218.

404-994-6218 | 3

157 South McDonough St. Jonesboro, GA 30236 404-994-6218 OBIORAHFIELDS.COM

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Taking Responsibility for Your Own Fulfillment Anti-Aging Medication and the COVID-19 Vaccine Comparative Negligence and Atlanta Auto Accidents What to Do if Your Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied Do You Know Someone Who Needs Our Help? What’s the Deal With Valentine’s Day Cards? 1 2 3

4

This may be the first year in a long time that kids don’t pass out Valentine’s Day cards at school. Going in to the new year, the seasonal section of most stores is lined with cards featuring fun characters from superheroes to unicorns. Handing out cards is now a well-loved tradition, but have you ever wondered how Valentine’s Day became one of the biggest card-giving holidays of the year? IT’S IN THE CARDS

WHY VALENTINE’S DAY IS THE ULTIMATE CARD HOLIDAY

stories that go back even further. There are legends that the originator of this holiday tradition was Saint Valentine himself. One story says that on the night before he was set to be executed, Valentine wrote a small letter to a jailer’s daughter. He ended the note with “Your Valentine.” It’s unknown whether that story is true, but to 18th century Europeans and Americans, it was inspiring! So inspiring, in fact, that the entire Valentine’s Day industry began

Like many holiday traditions, the convention of handing out Valentine’s Day cards goes back centuries. During the 1700s, it became fashionable to trade Valentine’s Day cards with a short poem or verse. The popularity of swapping cards only increased throughout the 1800s. Sometimes, people would go as far as to paint or draw spring-like images on the cards. They were much more elaborate than what we typically see today, though they were still usually very small.

to gain traction. A guidebook called “The Young Man’s Valentine” was published in 1797 to help suitors garner the attention of their love interests through the written word. Eventually, books aimed at women were also published, including “The Lady’s Own Valentine Writer,” which served much the same goal. These publications, along with young people writing notes to one another every February, have made Valentine’s Day cards an ingrained tradition, and now people can’t get enough of them!

But where did those folks get the idea? People of that era were likely inspired by

4 | ObiorahFields.com | Your Rights, Our Fight

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com