Personal Injury and Social Security Disability Blog

Link of the Day - Halloween.com

What other site could I feature today but Halloween.com? This one has everything you could ever want to know about Halloween.

Link of the Day - Who Contributed How Much To Whom?

Do you wonder who's contributing money to the various Texas political candidates? You can find out anything you want to know at the Web site of the Texas Ethics Commission. Here is the explanation from the site about how to use the database search tools:

Search Campaign Finance Reports

For Cash On Hand" run search and click on "View Reported Totals

The Texas Ethics Commission database contains data from campaign finance reports filed electronically with the Ethics Commission since July 2000. You may search the database for specific information, and you may also view, in PDF format, campaign finance reports filed electronically.

INTERNET AVAILABILITY: As a general rule, a campaign finance report that is filed electronically is available on the Internet within two business days after it is filed.

PAPER REPORTS: The database contains certain totals from reports filed on paper since July 2000. It does not contain detailed information about contributions and expenditures reported on paper reports. You should contact the Ethics Commission if you would like to obtain a copy of a paper report.

SIMPLE SEARCH: Use the simple search if you want to do a search based on a single criterion. For example, a search by filer name will produce a list of reports filed by the filer since July 2000. A search by contributor name will produce a list showing each time the name occurs as a contributor in a report filed electronically any time since July 2000.

ADVANCED SEARCHES: Use one of the advanced searches if you want to combine criteria in your search. For example, the Advanced Filer Search would allow you to generate a list of all judicial candidates and officeholders who filed the January 2003 semiannual report on paper.

SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A SPECIFIC CANDIDATE OR OFFICEHOLDER: Although a candidate or officeholder is not required to set up a specific-purpose committee, many candidates and officeholders do so. In order to make sure that a search produces reports filed by an individual as well as reports filed by a committee supporting or opposing the individual, you should search by last name only.

Go Right For Sirens And Lights

As drivers, we all share the responsibility of knowing and practicing correct driving behaviors. One of the most important rules of the road deals with yielding the right of way to emergency vehicles. When driving, you must yield the right-of-way to police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles that are sounding sirens or flashing lights. To do this:

• Remain calm and move your vehicle appropriately.

• Safely pull your vehicle to the right edge of the roadway and stop.

• If you are in the left lane, pull over into the right lane as the traffic in the lane to your right moves over.

• If you cannot move to the right because of stopped vehicles, simply move as far to the right as possible, stop and leave a clear path for the emergency vehicle.

• Remain stopped until the emergency vehicles have passed.

• If an emergency vehicle approaches while your vehicle is stopped at an intersection, do not move unless you can move to the right without blocking the intersection.

• Once the emergency vehicle has passed, you must not follow within 500 feet of that vehicle.

By practicing these correct driving behaviors, seconds, and even minutes, can be dropped from the time it takes an emergency vehicle to reach its destination. Drive safely and be aware.

Link of the Day - Compare The Candidates For Texas Governor

The Dallas Morning News has a comparison of the Texas Gubernatorial candidates' positions on selected issues.

Here are the Web sites of each of the candidates for Texas governor:

Democrat Chris Bell

Republican Rick Perry

Independent Carol Keeton Strayhorn

Independent Kinky Friedman

Libertarian James Werner

Link of the Day - Your Texas Voter Registration Card Explained

A Texas voter registration card can be confusing. The Dallas Morning News has a clear explanation of the various sections of your voter registration card on their Web site.

Link of the Day - Friday Fun

YouTube is fertile ground for Friday Fun posts. The White and Nerdy Rap is great fun.

Link of the Day - Who Represents Me?

Please vote in the 2006 election. Texans can vote now, or wait until election day November 7, 2006. To learn who your current political representatives are, visit this Web site.

Link of the Day - North Texas Polling Places

Early voting has already begun in Texas. Here are Web sites that show polling places in North Texas:

Dallas County Elections: www.dalcoelections.org

Collin County Elections: www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/

Denton County Elections: http://elections.dentoncounty.com

Ellis County Elections: www.co.ellis.tx.us/elections.htm

Kaufman County Elections: www.kaufmancounty.net

Rockwall County: www.rockwallcountytexas.com/ea.htm

Tarrant County Elections: www.tarrantcounty.com/eVote/site

You Can Receive Disability Benefits Even Though You’ve Been Able To Return To Work

Suppose you suffer a back injury that requires two surgeries and rehabilitation over the time span of a year and a half.  After completing the prescribed course of treatment you return to work.  You have recovered enough to no longer have a “severe impairment” and, therefore, are no longer disabled according to the Social Security Administration’s definition of “disability.”

What about the year and a half that you were unable to work?  Can you receive benefits even though your condition has improved and you’ve been able to return to work? 

You bet - and it is fairly common to do so. 

If an illness or condition has lasted a continuous period of at least 12 months you may be eligible for a “closed period of disability.”  In our example, the “closed period” would be the year and a half spent recovering from back surgery and completing rehabilitation.

If you were unable to work for at least a year because of a physical or mental impairment you might be eligible for disability benefits even if you returned to work. 

Also, remember that if you are expected to be unable to work for at least a year because of a physical or mental condition you might be eligible for disability benefits.

Call us today to see if you may be eligible for a “closed period of disability.”

Link of the Day - Answers To Voters' Questions

The Dallas Morning News has an informative article about answers to voters' questions. Quoting from the article:

When and where do I vote?

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Dallas Morning News will publish a list of polling places that day.

Can I still register to vote in this election?

No. The deadline was Oct. 10. Applications postmarked by Oct. 10 are accepted.

I will be out of town Nov. 7. Can I vote early?

Early voting starts Monday at early voting locations. All mail-in ballots returned by 7 p.m. Election Day will be counted, regardless of when they were postmarked.

If I voted for one party’s candidate in the primary, can I vote for his or her opponent in the general election?

Yes. You are not locked into one party’s candidates for the general election.

Are all the races being contested?

No. Some races drew only one contender, meaning the unopposed candidate wins automatically.

Do I need to take my registration card to the polls?

Although it is not necessary, election officials urge voters to bring their registration cards to save time and avoid confusion. Voters are required to present identification. Under the Help America Vote Act, a person who shows some sort of identification is allowed to vote — even if that person is not listed on the voter registration list or is outside his or her precinct. The registrar determines whether the provisional voter is registered, and a ballot board makes the final determination of eligibility. They both have seven days after the election to tell interested parties whether provisional ballots will be counted.

Can I take a voter’s guide or other printed materials into the voting booth?

Yes. Voters may carry notes, campaign leaflets or other printed materials with them into the booth. However, voters may not distribute campaign materials to other voters within 100 feet of polling places.