OBIORAHFIELDS.COM | 404-994-6218 | FEBRUARY 2020
WHEN TOMORROW IS DIFFERENT FROM TODAY LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM ‘GROUNDHOG DAY’
“Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray is one of my favorite movies of all time. I’ve seen it a million times, but it never fails to make me laugh. Watching Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connors, try and fail over and over again to escape Feb. 2, or win the heart of his producer Rita Hanson, will always be funny. As many times Phil Connors can live the same day over and over again, I can watch the movie “Groundhog Day” over and over again. I’ve sometimes wondered if I would enjoy the opportunity to live the same day over and over again — not forever, but at least for a little while. There are definitely days I wish I could do over, and mistakes I wouldn’t mind forgetting ever happened. For all the laughs “Groundhog Day” induces, however, I think it also gives us quite a few poignant lessons about why trying to correct every little error we make — trying to be perfect — might not be the best idea.
and fix, sometimes we’re just at the mercy of how things are supposed to turn out. All we can do is take the good experiences we’re blessed with and cherish them.
“ “WHILE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND FIX, SOMETIMES WE’RE JUST AT THE MERCY OF HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO TURN OUT.”
For starters, if we could go back and correct (or at least try to correct) some of our mistakes, I think we would miss out on the lessons we learn from all the uncomfortable, painful moments we endure in life. More often than not, we can use what we learned in those moments and finally become better, wiser, more mature people. Each time we make a mistake and learn from it, we increase the likelihood of getting it right the next time. That’s what Bill Murray’s character gets to
Similarly, I think there’s a lesson in “Groundhog Day” about the inevitability of mistakes, struggles, and challenges. One major plot point of the movie is that no matter how many times he tries, Phil can’t save a homeless man from dying. While his death isn’t Phil’s fault, the fact that he can’t save this man causes Phil quite a bit of distress. But sometimes, in the wake of hard things, all we can do is move forward.
do in the movie, but only in repeating the same day over and over again. Thankfully, we get to move on to the next day and practice his newfound wisdom in new experiences. Another great lesson from “Groundhog Day” is that sometimes, the moment has passed and there’s no getting it back. While there are some things that we can go back
Most likely, none of us will ever have the fortune (or misfortune) of living through the same day more than once. We’ve made our mistakes, our good moments have passed, and the unknown is in front of us. Every day has lessons for us if we’re willing to learn them.
–Teri Fields
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Getting compensation after a car accident isn’t instantaneous, but you shouldn’t allow insurance companies to confuse you out of getting it. After you’ve made a claim with the other driver’s car insurance carrier and been released from medical care, you and your attorney can work to claim your compensation. The first step is writing the demand letter. First, it’s important to list the facts: circumstances that led up to the crash, the direction you and the at-fault driver were headed, weather conditions, and defensive maneuvers taken by you to avoid collision. Support your perspective with the police report and any available witness statements. You should clearly establish the fault of the other driver in this letter, then provide all the information relating to injuries you’ve sustained. Use medical terminology when explaining your diagnosis and treatment, and don’t forget to list your physicians and clinics with dates and explanations of each visit. Itemizing a list of your medical bills will give a full scope of the damages at a glance as well. Don’t hesitate to include your lost wages and other losses, such as missing family or work events due to medical recovery. Once you’ve established that, make a specific demand for money as compensation. Start high to leave room for negotiation. GET YOUR INSURANCE COMPENSATION TO FOLLOW THROUGH COMPONENTS TO A GOOD DEMAND LETTER If you don’t get a response, then make sure to contact them again — your letter could’ve been misplaced. However, keep in mind that insurance companies ultimately want to pay as little as possible. If you know they’ve received the letter but seem evasive when you ask about a response time frame, then they’re trying to avoid you. You and your attorney can craft a final letter of demand, giving them seven days (more or less, if desired) to respond before you file a lawsuit. If they still don’t respond, then sue. More often than not, they’ll offer a settlement before possibly going into court and paying more. Consult your attorney on the best course of action from there. A well-written demand letter initiates constructive negotiation, and that can be hard to do if the injury victim is tackling the insurance company alone. Get a free consultation with Obiorah Fields so we can fight for you! MEETING DEMANDS NAVIGATING AN UNRESPONSIVE CARRIER
TIME TO GET BACK OUT THERE! EXPERT ADVICE TO BEAT THE STIGMA OF SENIOR DATING
Getting back into dating can be hard when you’ve been out of the game for a few decades. In fact, some would-be romantics are so self-conscious about their age that they never even try! In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve rounded up some expert advice on dating at any age.
DON’T FEAR ONLINE DATING.
Online dating is a great way to meet people outside of your social circle, and there are many dating sites and apps specifically for singles over 50 who are ready to mingle. Julie Spira, a relationship expert with senior dating app OurTime, says that “Authentic dating profiles get the best results.” Basically, don’t lie on your profile. Use a picture of you from this year and be proud of your age. That’s the best way to find people who will love the real you. Prefer to meet people in person? Lisa Copeland, a dating coach who works exclusively with women over 50, recommends creating a list of 26 different places in your area, one for each letter of the alphabet, then going to those places. While you’re out, Copeland says, “You want to smile. Make eye contact. Ask a question. Give a compliment and put a question behind it.” Dating as a senior means coming to the table with a lot of baggage. Dating is when people get acquainted, so be careful about sharing that baggage right out of the gate. This doesn’t mean you should never talk about heavy topics, but remember this advice from the popular dating site, eHarmony: “Early on, focus on enjoying each other’s company here and now.” It doesn’t matter if you’re 26 or 62, dating is always hard. You have to step outside your comfort zone and trudge through a series of terrible first dates. But in the end, it’s all worth it when you find that special someone with whom you can spend your golden years. Just remember, you’ll never meet that person if you don’t make the leap. BE PRESENT WHEN MEETING NEW PEOPLE. GO TO 26 DIFFERENT PLACES.
2 | ObiorahFields.com | Your Rights, Our Fight
DO YOU QUALIFY FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT? A FEW FACTORS TO CONSIDER
YOU MUST APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS.
If you’re a federal employee with good benefits, a good retirement plan, and plenty of room for advancement, then you’re probably not planning on leaving your agency anytime soon. Unfortunately, that’s not always up to you. If you suffer a workplace injury while going about routine responsibilities, you might be forced to file for disability retirement through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). However, ensure you meet the following requirements before you make the decision to file.
with accommodations, or that you cannot hold any other position.
THE DISABILITY MUST LAST FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR.
If you are under the age of 62, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will require you to file for Social Security Disability benefits. This application is a separate part of the complete application for disability retirement, and failing to file will lead to a denial of your entire application.
You’ll need to gather as much evidence about your injuries and conditions as you can. If it can be determined from the evidence that your injuries will put you out of work for more than one year, you may be eligible for disability retirement.
Even with these stipulations in mind, applying for disability retirement through FERS is still a tedious and complicated process. For more information or to start the application, give Obiorah Fields, LLC a call at (404) 495-5258 for a free case evaluation.
YOUR SUPERVISOR MUST CERTIFY THE APPLICATION.
ALL ALTERNATIVES MUST BE EXHAUSTED BEFORE FILING.
It’s not enough that you gather evidence and prove you can no longer work in your agency in any capacity. Your supervisor has to sign off on your disability retirement application as well.
Not being able to complete your previous work responsibilities isn’t enough to qualify you for disability retirement. You must determine that your responsibilities are impossible for you to complete even
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 you 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.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Lessons We Can Learn From ‘Groundhog Day’
1
Too Old for Love? No Such Thing!
2
Writing a Good Demand Letter
Do You Qualify for Disability Retirement?
3
Do You Know Someone Who Needs Our Help?
Meet the Dog Who Helped Take Down al-Baghdadi
4
MEET CONAN THE DOG WHO HELPED TAKE DOWN AL-BAGHDADI
On Oct. 28 last year, President Donald Trump tweeted a photo that quickly went viral. It showed an adorable snapshot of a bright-eyed Belgian Malinois, tongue lolling, still wearing its camo military vest. In the caption, President Trump explained that the pup, Conan, was a national hero who was instrumental in taking down ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. With four years in special operations forces and roughly 50 missions under his collar, Conan was selected to be part of the team that pursued al-Baghdadi through a network of underground tunnels in northwest Syria, where the terrorist ultimately died. It’s unclear whether Conan was there to track al-Baghdadi or to spot improvised explosive devices that may have been planted on the route, but either way, he performed well. According to NBC News, Conan was injured by some live electrical cables during the mission, but he recovered quickly and was back on duty within the week. Meanwhile, President Trump invited the brave pup to the White House and tweeted out a doctored
photo that showed him awarding Conan a Medal of Honor.
President Trump captioned the photo “AMERICAN HERO!” and he’s not alone in his appreciation for the hardworking dogs that have been helping our military since World War II.
“To me, they’re the first line of defense,” United States War Dogs Association President Ron Aiello told Vox after the news about Conan came out. “They’re such a great asset to our military today.” Military dogs are put up for adoption after 6–8 years in the service, which means a lucky civilian could take Conan in as early as 2022! Meanwhile, dozens of other smart canine heroes are looking for homes. To learn more about military and other working dog adoptions, visit MissionK9Rescue.org.
4 | ObiorahFields.com | Your Rights, Our Fight
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