Herrman & Herrman's online newsletter for January 2018
january 2018
www.herrmanandherrman.com • 844.567.6399 1201 3rd St, Corpus Christi, TX 78404 • 801 E. Fern Ave. #155, McAllen, TX 78501
Easing Your Burdens
Neely Balko on Making a Difference
When I was young, I made the decision to pursue a career in law. As I worked my way through school, I never lost my focus. I didn’t have any specific
When you’re hurt, you don’t want to worry about hospital bills. We all know how much anxiety the cost of recovery can cause, and when you’re dealing with an unfair insurance company, the stress only becomes compounded. Then there’s the additional layer of pressure when kids are involved. No one wants to see a child put in a position where their future medical costs become a vital concern of the family. No parent needs that, and certainly, no child. I do what I can to carry these kinds of burdens. We want each of our clients to have a chance to move on with their lives and get back to the way things were — or as close as possible. When I’m not practicing law, I turn my attention to one of my other big passions: basketball. I’m a big Spurs fan, and as an A&M grad, you can be sure I follow the Aggies. I already have my tickets to the Final Four at the end of March. This year, they will play out in San Antonio, and I’m beyond excited! But as I look forward to the new year, basketball isn’t the only thing on my mind. As an attorney, so much of my life is immersed in law and client work. My main focus is doing everything I can for the people who come to rely on my experience and expertise. I look forward to doing more good work, continuing to grow with the firm, and simply being there for people who find themselves in need of a little help.
inspiration, I was merely interested in the process and the way law worked. I knew it would be a natural fit for me personally and professionally. Long story short, it’s worked out well!
I’ve been an attorney now for about five years total, and I’ve been
with Herrman & Herrman for a year. Having a career in law can be tough, but it has many perks, including being in a place where I can help people every day. This is why we’re all here. I love being able to assist people in any way I can. As a lawyer, I can help people in ways that go past the ordinary. Continually learning about the various aspects of law gives us knowledge and insight useful in making a serious difference. There are a lot of people who need legal assistance to get their lives back on track after an accident. I’m here to relieve as much of the worry as I can. When you’ve been in an accident, there is much more on your mind beyond the actions of the insurance company. You’re thinking about the injuries, your job, and your loved ones.
Neely Balko
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Want to See Better Report Cards in 2018?
Every parent wants to see their child do well in school, and there’s one fun activity that benefits students of all ages: reading. In a world with so much stimulation, however, it can be difficult to motivate kids to put down a screen and pick up a book. New Year’s resolutions are the perfect opportunity to make reading a priority. Here are a few tips to make 2018 the There’s no better motivator than solidarity! Plus, we’re guessing everyone in your household could stand to read a little more. You don’t have to read the same books or set identical goals, but it’s a lot more fun when everyone participates. Schedule weekly reading discussions so everyone can share the cool stories they’ve read. Stack your completed books in your house somewhere as a monument to all the knowledge your family has gained. SET REWARD MILESTONES Positive reinforcement will propel your kids to keep reading long after the calendars have turned. For a certain number of books completed or hours spent reading, offer them a prize. You can even create a big end goal to really cement those reading habits. Better yet, set a combined goal that the entire family can work toward. Don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops. If your kids know that reading one book per week through June means an extra-special summer year your kids become bookworms. MAKE IT A FAMILY RESOLUTION
vacation, their enthusiasm won’t wane come spring. USE READING APPS Goodreads is a social network for bibliophiles. You can find recommendations,
share ratings, and create lists of both
completed and to-be- read books. Users also
create reading lists based on topic, genre, decade, and more. With over 2 billion books added, you’ll never run out of
inspiration. Biblionasium offers the same services, but it’s designed specifically for children. Talk to other parents and create a network of friends and classmates. After all, nothing is cooler to a kid than what their friends are doing. Avid readers tend to do better academically from kindergarten through college. In fact, a study from the Journal of Education and Practice found that reading comprehension predicted success in other subjects more than any other factor. If you want to see improved report cards, make a reading resolution for your entire household.
“Great customer service. Office staff is friendly and extremely helpful. William and Gayle were great and helped get a great outcome in our case. I would definitely recommend all family and friends to this office for assistance.” -Lisa G. “Will and Gayle were excellent! I recommend Herrman and Herrman to anyone who needs help with a personal injury case!” -Martin H. “They did a great job representing me. Especially with the help from Eddie Mejia and Sandy. They made this process very smooth and swift, and with class. I would highly recommend this office to anybody I know.” -Gabriel H.
“Steven Stratso was my attorney. He was amazing and did an awesome job. I was definitely satisfied with the outcome working with him. I am definitely recommending him to all my friends and family.” -Alexis M. “A five-star law firm. I recommend them to everyone needing legal services. Professionalism at its finest is worthy of emulation. You will not be disappointed. Your case will be handled in a prompt and efficient manner. They will make every effort possible to maximize your settlement proceeds. Have questions? Give them a call!” -David G.
testimonials
don’t just take our word for it
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On Your Behalf
What to Expect From Your Personal Injury Attorney
You’ve been injured in an accident and the insurance company isn’t playing ball, so you hire an attorney to handle your case. Once you hire an attorney to represent you and your interests in a personal injury claim, there are several steps your attorney will take on your behalf in order to maximize your compensation. While every case is different, generally speaking, a good personal injury attorney will do the following: * Conduct initial background searches and investigatory measures to identify all parties and issues * Conduct in-depth interviews with the client and witnesses * Send out letters of representation to all involved parties * Send out spoliation letters to involved parties, so all evidence related to your injury is preserved and protected * Send out Freedom of Information Act Requests (FOIA) on your behalf * Gather all medical records and billing associated with your injuries * Work with an accident reconstructionist, if necessary, to reconstruct the collision using state-of-the-art imagery technology * Capture downloads from the vehicle that caused your injuries, so
we can determine what the adverse party was doing prior to and after the collision * Gather photographs, diagrams, and any other relevant physical evidence that will assist with your claim * Analyze insurance coverage to determine what compensation may be available * Contact experts to conduct studies that will help present your claim favorably * Craft a demand package which carefully analyzes and evaluates your injury claim * Negotiate with the insurance company and their representation * Draft a Plaintiff’s Original Petition and all related litigation documents in reference to the claim, if necessary * Perfect service of lawsuit and associated discovery * Conduct depositions of relevant parties to the claim * Prep client for giving deposition * Prepare and attend pre-trial mediations, if necessary * Formulate and perfect trial strategy * Prep client for trial * Negotiate all subrogation and liens filed by third parties in reference to client’s injuries
Slow Cooker Raspberry White Hot Chocolate
There’s nothing like curling up under a blanket with a warm mug and a novel that finally came out in paperback. Break out the slow cooker and let the sweet aroma waft through your living room as your start Chapter 1.
INGREDIENTS
* *
1 cup white chocolate chips
* * *
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
* *
2 cups heavy cream, divided 3 cups milk (any variety will do)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. 3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
(Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.)
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1201 3rd St Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Inside This ISSUE
Easing Your Burdens With Neely Balko Page1
The Resolution That Leads to Better Grades January Testimonials Page2 What to Expect From Your Personal Injury Attorney Recipe of the Month and Memes Page3
What Music Does Your Dog Love? Page4
Don’t Stop Retrievin’
Looking for new ways to spend time with your dog? Is fetch just a little too overdone? Is your furry friend’s anxiety getting the better of them? Try putting on some Bob Marley. Studies have shown that classical music calms canine nerves, but did you know Rover may actually have his own taste in music? Recently, a study from the Scottish SPCA and the University of Glasgow, published in the
significantly lower, which indicates a reduction in stress. And, even though the dogs specifically enjoyed different music genres, their physiological and behavioral changes remained constant over the five-day study. Professor Neil Evans at the University of Glasgow suggested that this study may not represent the musical tastes of all dogs. “Overall,” he writes, “the response to different genres was mixed, highlighting the possibility that, like humans, our canine friends have their own individual music preferences.”
journal Physiology and Behavior, concluded that dogs may have their own music preferences. And while pups tend to enjoy many genres, the most popular seem to be soft rock and reggae.
In 2015, the University of Glasgow conducted a separate study that examined the effects classical music has on our canine friends. They originally found that, while the music was calming at first, after a week of listening to classical music, the dogs seemed to become disinterested in the tunes and their stress levels eventually increased. So, based on these newer findings, it seems as though a variety of music can keep your dog both interested and relaxed while they are kenneled. So, the next time it’s too rainy to go to the dog park, put on a doggie-friendly playlist for them to enjoy. Who knows? Maybe your dog has the same taste in music as you!
The study, which evaluated kenneled dogs’ preferences for soft rock, Motown, pop, reggae, and classical music, revealed that dogs spend significantly more time lying down and less time standing when any music plays. And while music didn’t seem to persuade the dogs to quit barking, the pups were significantly more likely to bark once the music stopped. Researchers also measured the dogs’ heart rates during each tune. When dogs listened to reggae and soft rock, their heart rates were
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