Louisville Kentucky Legal Blog

What traits can make people more likely to be bitten by a dog?

On behalf of Barber Law posted in personal injury on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Most anyone who has a dog will tell you that their beloved pooch knows when they're sad and is there to comfort them and also picks up on their fear and nervousness. Dogs are great at sensing all sorts of cues about how people are feeling.

It shouldn't be surprising then that one study found that people who are generally anxious and insecure are more likely to be bitten by a dog. The study, conducted by researchers at England's University of Liverpool, surveyed people in the town of Cheshire about their experience with dog bites. Part of the survey included giving respondents a brief personality test.

4 things to do if you fall at a shopping center

On behalf of Barber Law on Friday, February 8, 2019.

Spending an afternoon at one of Louisville’s shopping malls is an excellent way to get through cold winter months. Not only can you get some exercise walking between stores, but you may also find a bargain. You should not, however, have to worry about your personal safety. After all, shopping center owners have a duty to provide a safe place for you to visit.

If you slip and fall at the mall, you may need to act quickly to recover from your injuries and assert your legal rights. How you behave during and after the incident, though, may affect your ability to receive compensation from the shopping center’s owner. Here are four things you should do if you fall at a mall in the Louisville area:

Minimizing conflict in your co-parenting relationship

On behalf of Barber Law posted in family law on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

No co-parenting relationship should have nearly constant conflict. However, many people who go through high-conflict divorces find that their co-parenting relationships get off to rocky starts.

Other separated or divorced couples may have amicable, positive co-parenting relationships — until something changes. Perhaps a new significant other enters the picture or one of the kids goes through a difficult period. This can cause considerable conflict.

Be wary of emergency room errors: They happen all too often

On behalf of Barber Law posted in personal injury on Friday, January 18, 2019.

Emergency rooms are hectic, crowded places -- and doctors have to think on their feet, often after working long hours under strenuous conditions.

It turns out that might be a recipe for disaster more often than people realize. An estimated 250,000 people every year die from medical mistakes -- and untold numbers are injured. Anybody who finds themselves in an emergency room is always well-advised to take some basic precautions to avoid becoming part of those statistics, like:

Carrying a list of medications and dosages
Having a complete list of medical conditions and medical history, including surgeries
Keeping a primary care physician's name and number on hand
Taking a friend or relative with them to the emergency room, when possible, to help watch for issues and act as an advocate

What's a 'reasonable' search of your electronics at the airport?

On behalf of Barber Law posted in civil litigation on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Air travel seems to be getting more stressful every year -- even before you board the plane. If you're returning to the U.S. from overseas, you'll have some interaction with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers. They take a greater interest in some travelers than others for a host of reasons. However, if you are asked to hand over your phone, tablet, laptop or other devices to a CBP or other government employee, it's important to know what your rights are.

In most cases, agents are allowed to search a person's cellphone and other electronic devices without a search warrant. However, that search must be reasonable in the eye of the law. The U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts throughout the country have ruled in cases challenging the reasonableness and constitutionality of searches.

Supreme Court ruling good news for medical malpractice victims

On behalf of Barber Law posted in civil litigation on Monday, December 17, 2018.

A November ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court brought good news for those who have been injured due to medical malpractice in Kentucky.

A 2017 law required people first to submit their medical malpractice claims to a review panel before filing a lawsuit. This requirement resulted in a significant backlog of claims before the panel, delaying plaintiffs from seeking relief through the court system. The November ruling struck down the law.

How to gather information after a vehicle wreck

On behalf of Barber Law on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

When two cars collide, it can result in disaster. At best, the people involved disrupt public utilities, such as one recent example in Kentucky where a crash resulted in damage to a Symsonia gas line. At worst, these collisions can result in serious injuries or death.

Provided you have not become incapacitated, you need to collect evidence at the scene of the wreck. Insurance cases are not always straightforward, and there is a possibility you will need to go to court to get compensation. Protect your case by doing the following if you ever become involved in a car wreck.

Kentuckians caring for relatives' children don't get foster pay

On behalf of Barber Law posted in family law on Monday, December 3, 2018.

Nine percent of children in Kentucky are being raised by relatives other than their parents -- often by grandparents who are living on fixed incomes. That's more than double the nationwide rate. Part of the reason is that Kentucky has more parents in prison than nearly any other state.

Over 15,000 Kentucky children have been placed in a relative's care by the state. However, in most cases, the living arrangements aren't codified by any court order or legal agreement.

What's the job of a parenting coordinator?

On behalf of Barber Law posted in family law on Friday, November 23, 2018.

Often, couples who go through high-conflict divorces have a difficult time co-parenting their children. Their personal disputes often spill over into disagreements about parenting -- even when you have a detailed child custody agreement and parenting plan in place.

Parenting coordinators can help parents resolve disputes and work together to focus on what's best for their children. By working with a parenting coordinator, couples can often resolve their disagreements without having to return to court. These professionals can also give parents the tools they need to work out problems on their own in the future and to better communicate with one another.

How can you ensure your co-parent's sobriety over the holidays?

On behalf of Barber Law posted in child custody on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

If you have a co-parent who's in recovery and seems to have put their problems with alcohol behind them, you likely have begun to trust that your kids are safe with them. However, with the holiday season fast approaching, you may have renewed concerns about unsupervised visits.

The holidays can be difficult for people in recovery. It's not just that every social event seems to involve alcohol, and liquor is featured prominently and glamorously in television and print ads. When people are lonely and depressed, as many divorced parents are during the holidays, the chance of relapse is very real.