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 April
2008
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Why Are You Getting This Newsletter?
This free e-mail newsletter is sent to current and
former clients of our law firm, to those who
have specifically asked to receive it, and to
those who have contacted our firm for legal
advice in the past.
If the newsletter is being sent to you
in error, please follow the instructions at
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Kraft & Associates will never sell or give
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The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has just published a Web site that allows citizens to compare relative patient satisfaction with various hospitals. Here is the description from the Web site:Welcome to Hospital Compare. This tool provides you with information on how well the hospitals care for all their adult patients with certain conditions or procedures. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. Talk to your doctor about this information to help you, your family and your friends make your best hospital care decisions. Hospital Compare was created through the efforts of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services, and other members of the Hospital Quality Alliance: Improving Care Through Information (HQA). The information on this website has been provided primarily by hospitals that have agreed to submit quality information for Hospital Compare to make public.
Free Legal Advice?
Yes, at Kraft &
Associates we are glad to provide our clients
and friends with free information on a variety
of subjects. If you want details about how to
lower your automobile insurance rates,
Texas Workers' Compensation law or
Social Security Disability claims, please
contact us and we will send you any of these
brochures without charge or obligation. |
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Suite 1300
2777 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 999-9999
(817) 999-9999
(800) 989-9999
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FOR THE RECORD |
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Have
you
received
an
e-mail
saying
that
the
Texas
Department
of
Public
Safety
offers
free
roadside
assistance
and
that
the
phone
number
is
on
the
back
of
your
Texas
driver
license?
That's
sort
of
true,
but
not
exactly.
If
you
have
a
roadside
problem
(NOT
an
emergency
like
a
major
car
wreck),
you
can
call
that
number
on
the
driver
license
and
DPS
will
pass
along
your
information
to
the
nearest
local
authorities,
who
may
or
may
not
offer
roadside
assistance.
The
motorist
will
be
responsible
for
any
charges
for
towing,
repairing
a
flat
tire,
or
other
services.
Here
is
the
information
from
the
DPS
Web
site:
The public needs to be aware that an erroneous e-mail is being circulated about the Texas Department of Public Safety Roadside Assistance Hotline.
The toll-free line has been operated by DPS since 1989 for motorists to use when reporting non-life-threatening situations on Texas roads and highways. DPS then passes the information along to the appropriate local police agency or DPS office.
If a tow truck is ultimately dispatched, the motorist is responsible for any costs incurred. Some cities and agencies do have courtesy patrols and roadside trucks to provide non-towing services and they may be dispatched by the local agencies when appropriate. These two points are misrepresented in the widely-circulated e-mail that has led to an increase in inquiries to the Roadside Assistance Hotline.
The number, 1-800-525-5555, is printed on the back of virtually all Texas driver licenses and identification cards. Customers of participating wireless companies - ALLTEL, Nextel, Cingular Wireless, Houston Cellular and Verizon Wireless - can dial *DPS (*377) free of airtime charges anywhere in Texas.
Examples of when a motorist should call the Roadside Assistance Hotline include: stranded with car problems, hazardous road conditions, debris in the roadway, suspicious activity at a rest area, and obviously intoxicated or dangerous drivers.
The Roadside Assistance Hotline is not intended to replace 911 as an emergency number; 911 should still be the first option for emergency situations.
To better assist our communications operators please have the following information ready:
- Your name, cell phone number (and vehicle description if applicable);
- Highway location (mile marker would be helpful); and
- County location, or city location if inside city limits.
While
this
service,
provided
by
the
State
of
Texas,
is
certainly
useful,
our
firm
recommends
that
every
motorist
sign
up
for
a
private
roadside
assistance
program,
if
it
fits
in
the
household
budget.
This
is
especially
important
for
people
who
frequently
travel
at
night,
or
in
remote
areas,
and
of
course
is
even
more
important
for
females
who
travel
alone
or
with
children.
Always
keep
a
cell
phone
with
you,
and
make
sure
it
is
fully-charged
before
beginning
a
trip.
Even
better,
use
a
car
charger
so
the
phone
will
maintain
full
power
while
you
drive.
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| FOR
YOUR INFORMATION |
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Many people have back pain. According to the American Chiropractic Center at least 80% of people will suffer from some sort of back pain.
Back problems are generally covered by Social Security Listing 1.04 for “Disorders of the Spine.” The listing covers three causes of back pain. The first requires evidence of nerve root compression and “neuro-anatomic distribution of pain” along with limitations in range of movement, muscle strength, and sensory loss. Generally, if a person has the type and severity of back pain suggested by this portion of the listing, that person is probably on the way to the hospital!
The second type of back pain considered by Social Security is Spinal Arachnoiditis. Spinal Arachnoiditis is an inflammation of the arachnoid, which is a thin layer of tissue covering the spinal cord. This inflammation can be caused by injury, infection, surgery, or even injections into the spine. Since spinal arachnoiditis does not usually show up on MRIs, it can be hard to prove. The best evidence of arachnoiditis is a biopsy of the tissue itself.
The most commonly addressed form of back pain is Spinal Stenosis, which is covered by section C of the listing. Spinal Stenosis can be shown by MRI, CT scan, or myelogram. Stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal, which eventually, presses the spinal column onto the nerve roots causing severe and unremitting pain. Depending on where the stenosis is occurring in the spine (Cervical, Thoracic, or Lumbar), an individual can have symptoms such as numbness in the fingers, hands, legs, or feet, and difficultly walking.
It is not enough for a claimant to simply allege “back pain” as a reason for disability. Social Security needs objective medical evidence. This evidence can be in the form of tests and laboratory findings, as discussed previously, or objective physical reviews from physicians, preferably physicians specializing in Disorders of the Spine. Those treating physicians should also provide the potential claimant with an evaluation of physical limitations and work related restrictions.
If you have become disabled due to back pain, the first step should be meeting with and discussing your back pain with a doctor. Once you have undergone a thorough examination by the doctor, and the doctor suggests that your spine disorder is severe, you may want to apply for Social Security Benefits. For more information on this subject, please call our office at 214-999-9999 or 817-999-9999.
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| FEATURED
EMPLOYEE |
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 Nita
Maki
Office Administrator
E-mail:
nmaki@kraftlaw.com
Ms. Maki joined our law firm in 1985.
She has considerable
experience as a personal injury law firm employee,
both with this firm and with other local personal
injury law firms. Ms. Maki serves as our firm's
Office Administrator, and is responsible for most
office operations, including secretarial and staff
recruitment and training, marketing, personnel
management, and many, many
other law firm administrative functions.
Ms. Maki is a long-time member of
the Association of Legal Administrators.
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| FEATURED
CASE |
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April 1st Deadline
For Filing H-1B Visa Applications Has Passed
As of
the
writing
of this
newsletter,
we're
keeping
our
fingers
crossed,
hoping
that all
the H-1B
visa
applications
we filed
for our
clients
are
selected
in the
random
lottery
drawing,
and that
the
applications
are then
approved
by the
government.
It's a
crazy
system
-- one
we hope
the next
administration,
Democratic
or
Republican,
will
fix.
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| HOW
CAN WE HELP YOU? |
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Our law firm has helped thousands of clients
over the years. Sometimes clients who use
our firm for one type of case may not
realize that there are other legal problems
we could help them solve.
We handle
most types of injury claims — including
automobile collisions, "slip and fall"
cases, injuries suffered as a result of
defective products, injuries resulting from
inadequate security, medical malpractice
claims, nursing home negligence claims,
prescription drug injuries and many others.
We invite you to call us about any
serious injury to see how we can help you.
Kraft & Associates also represents people
who have been denied their Social Security
Disability benefits. We can help at the
Initial stage, the Reconsideration stage or
the Hearing stage. We can help you, your
family or friends with any Immigration question.
Our law firm represents people who have immigration
problems of any kind, whether family-based
immigration or employment-based immigration.
We also help people who have problems
regarding family issues, such as divorce, child
support, adoption, modifications, enforcements,
attorney general disputes, paternity and other similar
matters. We also represent clients who have been
arrested or charged with committing a crime.
Please feel free to call us with any
legal questions you may have. If we cannot
represent you, we will attempt to refer you
to another attorney or to a government
agency that can help you. There is never any
charge or obligation for our initial
consultation. |
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Copyright
© 1997- 2008 Kraft & Associates : Injury &
Disability Lawyers, P.C. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Personal Injury,
Automobile Accident, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Negligence,
Social Security Disability.
DISCLAIMER:
This newsletter is presented by Kraft & Associates for
informational purposes only, and not as legal advice.
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