July 2017
The Advocates Injury Attorneys • www.UtahAdvocates.com • (801) 783-3555
When the Work Is Its Own Reward My Move From Insurance Defense to Personal Injury
A few years back, my family and I were standing atop the Eiffel Tower, mesmerized by the Parisian cityscape stretched out below us, when my phone went off. I begrudgingly got the thing out of my pocket and took a look at the screen. It was work. This was weird — obviously, my colleagues knew that I was on vacation in France. I knew they wouldn’t ring me up unless it was absolutely crucial, so, to my wife’s slight dismay, I answered. “Sorry, Steve,” the voice on the other end of the line said, “but we’ve got one of your clients calling in, totally panicked about her case. Do you think you could talk to her?”
when you’re making a difference in real people’s lives and helping the injured regain their footing, it’s easy to put the client’s needs above your own. It’s just a great example of The Advocates’ philosophy and the very real connections we form with our clients — and the degree to which we truly care about their well-being. It’s infinitely more fulfilling working as a personal injury attorney from this side of the fence. Fourteen years ago, I was working in insurance defense, going through the motions
of the work long after it had soured for me. I understand the insurance company’s perspective — they’re just trying to save money — but it was still frustrating to see many of the practices they had in place. They’d nickel and dime their attorneys, bill for hours every tenth of an hour, and pay us half time while traveling. It may seem arbitrary, but these little grievances pile up, especially when coupled with the uncomfortable feeling you
Since I joined The Advocates 13 years ago, I haven’t looked back. Though it’s certainly true that a personal injury attorney’s job is more difficult than that of their defense counterparts, I welcome the challenge. Helping people who can’t do it themselves is much more satisfying. A client’s gratitude — when you turn a case where they’re on the hook for $100,000 into a $50,000 surplus in their bank account — is difficult to put into words. I feel privileged to help each and every one of our clients — to help them rise above their impossible situations and get their lives back. That sense of purpose is what has kept me coming into work with The Advocates for over 13 years. – Steve Linton
“A client’s gratitude —when you turn a case where they’re on the hook for $100,000 into a $50,000 surplus in their bank account — is difficult to put into words. ”
So there I was, at the peak of one of the most beloved and recognizable towers in the world, carefully assuring my client that everything was going to be okay. By the time I hung up the phone, my client was calm again. I returned the phone to my pocket and looked over the Champs de Mars.
get when pitting yourself against the regular folks who are simply trying to hold a company accountable for the service they provide.
It occurred to me that at my old job with a large insurance defense firm I never would have gone to such lengths for my clients. But the fact is,
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Put Down the Scissors and Step Away From the Newspaper We Do the Math on Coupon Clipping
If it wasn’t for coupons, you wouldn’t be able to afford everything you need, right? Well, there are two ways to look at it. Coupons can
— like rice, beans, oats, and salt — that you’ll use eventually and won’t go bad. If you’ve wanted something for a long time and it goes on sale, it makes sense to buy. But don’t let the coupon section dictate your desires! The second question is, “How much is my time worth, and how much time do I spend hunting down the best deals and clipping coupons?” If you’re saving $25 a week on stuff you actually need, but it takes 4 hours a week to get those savings, you’re losing money — even if you make minimum wage. That’s time you could be spending with family, picking up a half-shift at work, or finding innovative ways to make money. We won’t deny that there are great deals that are now more available than ever thanks to apps like Groupon. But remember: Coupons come from businesses trying to trick your brain into buying more stuff. Use them wisely, but don’t let them rule you.
be a way to put food on the table that you otherwise
couldn’t afford. But they can also trick money-
conscious consumers into buying stuff they normally wouldn’t. To find out which option describes your situation, answer two questions. The first question is, “Do I need — and will I use — everything that I buy with coupons?” Coupons affect you psychologically; the same part of your brain that governs basic instincts (like hunger and pleasure) also loves a screaming good deal. That means you may spend money on things that you normally wouldn’t, because you have a coupon for them. Instead, stick to the staples
Client Testimonials Don’t just take our word for it!
“Such a big help! Getting in an accident leaves you feeling lost in a maze of paperwork and bills. They have made every step so easy. I appreciate every member of their staff. I was so unsure of what to expect or what I should be doing. They take all those fears from you and handle just about everything, even some things I hadn’t thought of. If you need help, call them and they will help.”
this process so easy for me that all I needed to worry about was getting back to my old self. I couldn’t have done this without them, and I will recommend them to anyone I can!”
–Madison P.
“My husband and I were involved in a major, life-changing car accident. Fortunately, we knew Cayson and called him from the hospital. We worked with Dave Tullis and his staff through a long and complicated process. Dave was willing to answer my constant questions and concerns, and we relied on his expertise and years of experience in choosing caregivers, managing medical bills, wisely navigating the insurance, and just supporting us emotionally through the pain and trauma. Our case was not easy at all, but he handled the details for us so we could concentrate on our healing. Thanks!”
–Staci B.
“Great firm and professional staff — what more could I expect? I was impressed with Mark Stewart, who was attentive to our needs and quick to respond to any question my brother-in-law had. If you need an Advocate, I would highly recommend him!”
–Josh S.
“Awesome customer service! Every employee I talked to knew about my case and showed genuine concern for my well-being. They made
–Stephanni M.
If you would refer our services to a friend or family member, please leave a review on our Google or Yelp pages. 2 • (801) 783-3555
Who Should Pay? Handling Medical Bills After a Car Accident
When you’re in a car accident, there are many things you need to take care of. You have to exchange information with the other driver, file a police report, and deal with car insurance. The adrenaline rushing through your body can put you in survival mode and mask a medical injury. If you are experiencing any pain in your neck or back after your accident, visit a hospital as soon as possible. In addition to helping you medically, visiting a doctor in these situations can also assist your legal claim. Just as it’s important to have official documentation of the incident like a police report, a medical report from your doctor is equally valuable to your lawyer. When it comes to paying for treatment after an injury, insurance can be confusing when you’re not sure which party’s
insurance should pay. In Utah, drivers are required to have liability insurance and personal injury protection. The at-fault driver’s insurance provides the liability coverage. For example, if you are rear- ended, the driver that hit you is liable, and their insurance should pay as part of their liability insurance. When you are in an accident, it’s good to keep a medical journal of all of your injuries and their progression. Having this information along with your medical records can be extremely helpful if you decide to pursue a personal injury case because it provides your attorney with additional information about your experience after your accident.
the process. Whether you are dealing with an insurance company or a lawsuit, call us at 801-326-0809. We can be your Advocates along the way!
Even in incidents that seem minor, seeking legal assistance can help you streamline
One-Pan Mexican Quinoa
Ingredients
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1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced
canned, or roasted
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1 teaspoon chili powder
1 jalapeno, minced
½ teaspoon cumin
1 cup quinoa
Salt and pepper to taste 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and diced
1 cup vegetable broth
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire- roasted diced tomatoes 1 cup corn kernels, frozen,
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Juice of 1 lime
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
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Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and jalapeno and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. 2. Stir in quinoa, vegetable broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Stir in avocado, lime juice, and cilantro. 3. Serve immediately. Recipe adapted from DamnDelicious.net.
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Inside This Issue
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When the Work Is Its Own Reward
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We Do the Math on Coupon Clipping Testimonials How You Should Handle Medical Bills After an Accident One-Pan Mexican Quinoa
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The Neuroscience Behind Meditation
Sit Down and Shut Up
New Age mystics have been busy promising everything to the self-help hungry masses, popularizing pseudoscientific approaches that fall in and out of vogue faster than fashion trends. But one practice has moved back into the public spotlight in recent years that bears scientific examination, a method that’s been practiced across the world for over 2,000 years: meditation.
cause their thoughts to cease their aimless darting, developing focus and impulse resistance.
Though it’s often lumped in with the other New-Agey self-help ideas, neurological evidence indicates that meditation deserves a closer look. Take one trial reported on by Newsweek and conducted by a computer scientist and neuroscientist at the University of Arizona, for instance. In the trial, 45 participants were split into three groups. One group took eight weeks of body relaxation training, one group had no training whatsoever, and one group took “mindfulness- based meditation training.” Then they were tested with stressful multitasking before and after the eight-week period. The individuals in the meditation group were able to sustain their focus longer and reported feeling less stressed than both of the other groups.
So what’s actually happening here? Well, to put it simply, the meditators were actively changing the way their minds form connections. Our brains are constantly being molded and reshaped by our surroundings, often by things we are completely unaware of. Each time we impulsively follow a habit pattern, that reaction is etched into our brains more deeply. But when a person sits down to meditate, they begin to consciously reject these knee-jerk impulses. As Newsweek writer Zoe Schlanger puts it, “Learning how to interrupt one’s reaction pattern — and then doing that over and over — can reshape behavior.” It’s just like any other thing we practice over and over. As we repeat the process, we get better at it. It’s just that with meditation, practitioners are specifically working on their ability to deliberately
Research indicates that this “stillness of mind” can result in better attention, reduced susceptibility to addiction, and even “reduce the cognitive decline associated with normal aging,” according to one study published in the Neurobiology of Aging journal. “What you attend to drives your behavior and it determines your happiness,” writes London School of Economics scholar Paul Dolan. It just makes sense that learning to actively direct your attention should improve your quality of life — and the science backs it up. If you’re intrigued, check out apps like calm.com or buddhify or read “A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation” by Rod Meade Sperry — an excellent primer covering many approaches and philosophies.
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