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Justice MONTHLY
229-888-0888 • www.puttingpeoplefirst.law
JANUARY 2019
Partnering for the Community HOW I USE MY EXPERTISE TO INFLUENCE YOUNG STUDENTS IN ALBANY I ’m proud to call Georgia home. It’s a gorgeous state full of hardworking and down-to-earth residents, and I’ve always wanted to give back to it. The recent terror and subsequent efforts to restore balance back to our community after Hurricane Michael have inspired me to dive into this ambition more. Unfortunately, our community is facing a dire crisis. The poverty rate in Albany was last recorded at just over 33 percent, according to 2016 census data. That total is more than double the national average of just over 12 percent. Feeding America also reports that poverty disproportionately affects African Americans more than any other race in the U.S., and Albany’s residents are no exception to this. Between 70–80 percent of our residents are African American, and given Albany’s high rate of poverty, we can’t ignore the effects of this link. Recently, I was asked to join the board of directors at an organization that is actively fighting to help the youth of our region obtain the best resources for a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. LIFE Educational Services is the brainchild of retired math educator Connie Leggett and is comprised of local education, business, military, and medical professionals looking to give students the best chance of success — regardless of their socioeconomic status. The organization’s first program, the Young Doctors and Health Professionals Program, is catered to fifth grade students in Dougherty County schools and provides a seven-month immersion course in health sciences. Partnering hospitals are paired with students as they learn about blood pressure tests, overall wellness,
my growing team, but I’m struggling to find one that is a good fit for our firm. A program like LIFE Educational Services just might provide the proper basis for an education to help students of all ages, races, class, and genders succeed and obtain jobs in our local community. But as a resident of Albany, I want to give hope to our residents and parents. I was asked to join the board this fall after various directors noted a need for a legal opinion as they continued to flesh out their first program. A couple of the tasks I’m helping with involve protecting patients’ rights to privacy and navigating legal jargon in this organization’s quest to find and lease a building. As a lawyer and the son of a lawyer, this is something that’s easy for me. I understand the basis of a contract, and in my work with personal injuries, I’m often confronted with Health Insurance Portability Protection Act (HIPPA) laws and rules. These are daily occurrences for me, but much like how the basics of human anatomy and calculating differentials are foreign to me, so is law to these board members. I ammore than happy to offer my services and make legal matters clearer for this worthy organization. LIFE Educational Services and its students are in good hands. We have a colonel from the local Marine base, some medical professionals, university educators, and math experts. I feel empowered to learn more about my community through them, and I’mmotivated by what we’ve been able to accomplish so far. Our first group of students will begin in the program this month, and 20 years from now, I can’t wait to see what kind of impact they’ve made on our resilient community.
and pulse readings while simultaneously improving their communication, math, problem-solving, and science skills.
-William F. “Trey” Underwood, III
As a business owner, this is a mission I want to fully support. I’m currently in the process of looking for another lawyer to add to
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TIME TO EXERCISE YOUR MENTAL FITNESS NOT HITTING ANY PRS LATELY?
Sports psychology has helped athletes, like Michael Jordan, and golf pros, like Greg Norman, become legends. “What separates the good from the great is between the ears, the way they talk to themselves, their inside communication,” says Dr. Sylvain Guimond, a sports psychologist. World-class athletes stay mentally tough and visualize their victories to propel them past competitors. This same strategy can help you take your training to the next level. Outside of the professional sphere, mental exercises based on sports psychology can help you hit new PRs by changing the way you think about your performance. Psychologists have found that believing you can succeed — whether it’s scoring a goal or stealing a base — is key to actually succeeding. One of the newer techniques to enter the sports psychology scene, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), aims to instill this belief in athletes. While the subjective nature of NLP makes its effectiveness hard to verify, NLP reportedly increases confidence in athletes, as Rhonda Cohen notes in “Sport Psychology: The Basics: Optimising Human Performance.” It focuses on building confidence through visualization and speech patterns to help athletes tune into a winning mindset. While the name might sound complex, NLP is anything but — it can
be as simple as choosing a song that you associate with confidence
and playing it on repeat for 10 minutes as you visualize yourself getting a PR for squats. Before your next workout, play the song as an audio cue to go into that confident state of mind. Mindfulness exercises can also be extremely effective at improving athletic performance. These exercises, like yoga and meditation, build a strong foundation for mental fitness. By learning how to ease your thoughts and calm your mind, you’ll be better prepared to call on techniques like positive thinking and mantras during your workouts so you can, as one NLP expert says, “consciously enter a state of peak performance.” Even as you’re incorporating sports psychology techniques into your routine, remember that they’re only going to be effective if you put in the work when you’re training. As Cohen says, “It is one thing to think about or want to change; it is another thing to go ahead and actually do it.”
TO LAWYER UP OR NOT TO LAWYER UP
THAT IS NOT MUCH OF A QUESTION
Do you really need a lawyer after sustaining an injury? Your insurance adjuster
Additionally, the insurance company has their own lawyers whose entire livelihood is dependent on making sure their company doesn’t pay out. Your lawyer understands their thinking, questioning, and tactics. They’ve studied and worked with people just like them and are experts at thinking, speaking, and writing legal jargon. Granted, some injuries are small and will take up little of your time. Maybe you tripped over a chair in the break room at work and need to be out for a few days with a sprained ankle. There’s a good chance you and your employer can work out an understanding that is fair to both parties, and workers’ compensation may not even factor in. But if your injury keeps you in the hospital, makes you miss work, costs you heaps of money, or involves insurances and claims, it’s time to inquire about a lawyer. Don’t go at this alone. The legal experts at Law Office of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can help you get the compensation you’re owed with minimal headache and stress. Find out how by calling 229-888-0888.
is telling you that you don’t need one. You don’t want to be too much of a hassle, and you feel pretty confident in your abilities to handle this on your own.
Think again.
There’s no doubt that you’re an expert at your job, whether you’re a truck driver, teacher, or doctor. Lawyers are specialized professionals who are required to earn a bachelor’s degree, pass an exam to enter law school, earn a Juris Doctor degree, get state bar approval and licensure, and develop their abilities with years of experience — all to do exactly what you’re going to try to do in a one-off situation with your personal injury case. Lawyers are deeply invested in their field, and they spend thousands of hours each year reading, researching, and sometimes even writing laws. It’s impossible to expect someone who isn’t a lawyer to be able to accurately dissect and analyze legal jargon and insurance claims.
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NOW WHAT? Navigating Work-Related Neck and Back Injuries
When you injure your back or neck at work, the path forward may not be clear. Spinal injuries are tricky, and the effects these impairments can have on your overall health can range from minor to severe — and sometimes this isn’t apparent until weeks or months later. Below are some steps you should take both before and after a back and neck injury and important hindrances to avoid in order to get the claim you deserve. Before You’re Injured First, provide your employer with your medical history. You don’t have to include information you’re uncomfortable sharing, but offering this overview before you’re injured will make the process smoother if you come to any further harm. Next, take time to understand your rights. For example, most workplaces in Georgia have a list of physicians who will treat their employees after work-related accidents. If there isn’t a list, an employee can choose their physician. The injured party can also change physicians once throughout their case. After an Injury When reporting an injury, your memory is best right after the event happens. Waiting to report the incident will not only look suspicious, but it will also hinder your ability to remember what happened. After you report an injury, consult a lawyer even if the event seems minor. They’re the expert in helping you seek and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Actions to Avoid Most employers want to know when you’re injured, so don’t ignore or play off your pain to avoid embarrassment or cause any trouble. On the opposite side, don’t flip between multiple doctors or ignore treatment to get an answer that will pad your case more. Sticking to one or two physicians will make you appear more credible and serve your case better. Most importantly, never talk to an insurance adjuster before talking to an attorney. Adjusters determine what happened and the payout that is allowed as a result, but their loyalties align with the insurance company, not with you.
Don’t live with a neck or back injury without proper compensation. Find out how the
Law Office of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can help you by calling 229-888-0888.
Have a Laugh!
Peanut Butter and Berry French Toast
Ingredients •
8 slices brioche, 1/2-inch thick 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• • • • •
2 cups cornflakes
• • • •
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large eggs
2 cups mixed berries
1/8 cup heavy cream 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, to sprinkle Maple syrup, for serving
Directions 1. On a large baking sheet lined with wax paper, place 4 slices of brioche and spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each. Cover with remaining slices, creating sandwiches. 2. In a pie plate, beat eggs with cream and vanilla. In another, coarsely crush the cornflakes. 3. Lightly soak sandwiches in the egg mixture, then dredge in cornflakes, pressing to adhere. Return to baking sheet. 4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted and up to temperature, add sandwiches, cooking on one side until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. 5. Return sandwiches to baking sheet, add remaining butter, and repeat on other side. 6. Top sandwiches with berries, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with maple syrup.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
229-888-0888 www.puttingpeoplefirst.law
1918 DAWSON RD. ALBANY, GA 31707
inside Helping My Community PAGE 1 Tapping Into Sports Psychology to Optimize Performance PAGE 2 Do You Need a Lawyer? PAGE 2 Before and After Your Work Injury PAGE 3 Peanut Butter and Berry French Toast PAGE 3 My Favorite Podcast PAGE 4
LISTEN TO SOMETHING NEW
The Best Podcasts to Start in 2019
Though podcasts have been around for over a decade, they have only recently found their stride in popular culture. And they don’t all feature nerds talking about “Game of Thrones.” In this form of audio entertainment, there really is something for everyone. A number of podcasts have broken into mainstream pop culture, like “My Favorite Murder,” “This American Life,” and NPR’s “Planet Money.” But these are only the tip of the iceberg. Here are a few lesser-known podcasts that are seriously worth your time. START SOMETHING FUN: ‘SPIRITS’ The title “Spirits” is a play on the stories told and drinks enjoyed on this podcast. Co-hosts Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini offer a fresh take on myths, legends, and folklore. From Greek classics to the tale of the Javanese Mermaid Queen, these lifelong friends and mythology enthusiasts examine what the stories we tell say about our culture, traditions, and values. If you’re eager to fill your year with something kinda creepy and kinda cool, you can’t go wrong with “Spirits.” Start listening at SpiritsPodcast.com . GO ON AN ADVENTURE: ‘THE FAR MERIDIAN’ Audio dramas are back and thriving in the world of podcasts. “The Far Meridian” explores the story of Peri, a lighthouse keeper whose brother disappeared long
ago. Peri is terrified of leaving her home, so she’s never discovered what happened to him. That changes when her lighthouse begins to appear in a new location every morning,
initiating her search for her brother. Fantastically fun and painfully real, this is a story about the courage it takes to leave home behind. Join the girl in the lighthouse at TheFarMeridian.com . TACKLE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: ‘THE MARIE FORLEO PODCAST’ We all need some advice. Why not get it from someone who knows what they’re talking about? Marie Forleo is an entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist. And according to Oprah, she’s a thought leader for the next generation. Her mission is to help you become the person you most want to be. On the podcast, Marie and her guests discuss business, relationships, fear, love, and so much more. Get inspired at MarieForleo.com/marietv . This list is just a start to the wealth of amazing, diverse podcasts out there. News recaps, sports history, true crime, pop-culture throwbacks, and plenty more fantastic audio entertainment awaits on your phone’s podcast app. Start listening to your new obsession! today!
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