Smith Wallis & Scott December 2018

UGLY SWEATER PARTIES

A Fun Trend You Can Easily Follow!

It’s speculated that the first ugly sweater party took place in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2001. Since then, the trend has become one of the most popular holiday party themes. Come Thanksgiving, you’ll start to see racks in all types of clothing stores lined with hideous sweaters. If you’re ready to jump on the ugly-sweater-party bandwagon this Christmas season, here are a few things to keep in mind.

YOUR VERY OWN

themed games that should be on the agenda include an ugly gift exchange, which is similar to the white elephant exchange, except with the gaudiest gifts you can find; an ugly photo booth, complete with terrible, tacky props; and, of course, an ugly sweater contest.

UGLY SWEATER Ugly sweaters come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You can head to H&M or a local thrift store to pick one up. However, if you have a sweater that’s been cozied up for years in the

This is the only time of year when slipping into a lurid red sweater with a stuffed Santa sewn on the front is considered

back of your closet or a drawer, now’s your chance to give it new life. Arm yourself with a hot glue gun, thread, and needle, and patch Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty on it. And let it be known that an ugly sweater isn’t complete without sparkles, beads, and sequins galore. WHAT EXACTLY IS AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY? It’s rather simple — slip on your favorite Christmas sweater, gather all your friends and family members, make sure there are plenty of refreshments and games, and you’re guaranteed to have a top-tier party. A few ugly-sweater- DAVID VS. GOLIATH Insurance Companies’Tactics to Get You to Settle Workers’ comp cases can feel like a David-versus-Goliath battle. The insurance company often tries to get an injured worker to settle, using scare tactics and aggressive phone calls. In some cases, employers or insurance companies hire private investigators to collect evidence against your claim. While it sounds excessive, it’s just one of the ways companies try to get out of paying you what you’re owed for an injury sustained on the job. This is the last thing you want to worry about after your injury. Here are more tactics that insurance companies use to get people to settle — and how to protect yourself from them. THE TACTIC: Hiring a PI to Follow You Insurance companies and sometimes employers will go to extreme measures to discredit you and prove your case is fraudulent, even when it’s not. They often even go to the extreme of hiring someone to investigate you. How to Protect Yourself Don’t let your guard down while you are receiving compensation. Pay close attention to your surroundings, and ask your neighbors if they’ve noticed anyone strange around your house. Don’t hesitate to call the police if you feel threatened. While being a PI isn’t illegal, harassment is. THE TACTIC: Using the Words of Others Against You In one case, an ambulance driver’s report stating that the injured passenger was texting was later used as evidence to discredit her injury

trendy. So adorn yourself in the frumpiest, tackiest sweater you can find, and have some fun this December!

claim. In others, insurance companies use harmless comments from friends and family to attempt to show a judge that you aren’t really hurt.

How to Protect Yourself Be cautious about your social-media presence and anything you share in text or verbally, as these can be used as evidence. Ask family and friends not to share any information about you or your case. In both situations, follow your doctor’s recommendations and don’t engage in activities they advise against. This is for your own safety and to avoid anyone collecting evidence to suggest that you aren’t hurt. Next, contact an attorney to help you stand up against an insurance company that has taken on the role of a bully. Our attorneys stand up to the insurance companies who try to push people around. When you’re in need of help against Goliath, call the number at the bottom of the page to enlist the help of the attorneys at Smith, Wallis & Scott.

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