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JULY 2018
LEGAL INJURY GUIDE
327 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, GA 30117
TALENTWORKING HARD
What It Means to Be an Attorney
As I got to the end of law school, I did something most people thought was crazy: I graduated from school, took the bar, and married my husband two weeks later. As I finished my last year of law school, I simultaneously planned my wedding. That being said, I was completely focused on law school while I was in it and completely focused on the bar while I was studying for it. After I took the bar, I turned my focus to my wedding, and we had a beautiful day before going on our honeymoon. It was a wonderful whirlwind of life- changing events. Time didn’t slow down afterward. Four days after I got back, I interviewed with a firm and landed my first job. It’s where I fell in love with personal injury law. I saw how clients’ lives are vastly altered by injuries they endure through no fault of their own — they can’t work, continue their normal jobs, or take care of their families. It’s gratifying when we can use our knowledge of the law to help them. I feel fortunate that I found my path so early. I’ve also come to enjoy the strategy that comes with talking to insurance adjusters. I end up spending a lot of my time talking to them, because they hold the purse strings. I enjoy going back and forth with them, because I’m negotiating for my client. It’s not necessarily fun to have these conversations, but it’s a necessary part of fighting for what’s right. I like being a strong advocate for my clients by having frank conversations with insurance agents about why what they’re doing is unfair. I recently had a conversation with an insurance agent about how what they were offering wasn’t enough. The agent acknowledged that they weren’t offering enough and said they understood, but because of their company’s policy, they couldn’t offer any more money. After our discussion, I filed an offer of judgment, and we ended up getting what we’d requested for my client. It was a good day. My job is to make my clients aware of all the possible outcomes for their case and to let them know what choices they have. I’m there to provide advice, and I’m grateful to carry out this role as I fight for the justice my clients deserve.
My brother has a shirt that says, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Law school is talent working hard — with bright students studying for 12 hours a day and all their time focused on one goal. To be a successful lawyer, you have to bring both talent and hard work to the table. I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was a kid. It was something I thought my personality was well-suited for, and people around me seemed to agree. There’s a story from when I was about 3 that shows the tenacious spirit I had from a young age. We were at Disneyland, and after a long day on the rides, my dad was ready to leave. But apparently I wasn’t. I told him, “Children were put on this world to be happy. We can’t leave.” It worked — we stayed in the theme park. I barely remember it, but to my parents, this episode was one of the first signs that I would have a future in the legal field. Since then, I’ve worked hard to hone my legal skills. As it turns out, not every insurance adjuster is as easy to convince as my dad was. Law school was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was also rewarding. I can’t say enough good things about Georgia Law. The professors are passionate and want their students to succeed. The Socratic method they used was intimidating, but it prepared us to practice law. It taught me to think on my feet, and that leads me to overprepare, which is always a good thing.
–Isabel Aidun
1 (770) 214-2500
FOR TEENAGERS: FAMILY DINNER PARTY Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural understanding, following directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own. FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way. LEARNING THAT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE SCHOOL Mentally Stimulating Activities for Summer
Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun. FOR LITTLE ONES: HOMEMADE BUBBLES Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting by blowing different types of bubbles? The formula is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water. Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios, and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
3 STORIES OF HOPE How They Rose Above Their Circumstances
These three stories demonstrate that even in the darkest circumstances, there is hope.
A BROKEN BODY ISN’T THE END. As a world-class cross-country skier, Janine Shepherd was a contender for a medal in the 1986 Olympic winter games when an accident halted her dreams. After she was hit by a truck during a training ride, she was left a paraplegic. Doctors told her she would have no feeling from the waist down. Today, Shepherd has risen above the confines of her diagnosis. She has learned to walk again, and she earned her commercial pilot license, becoming the youngest and only female director of Australia’s Civil Aviation Society. LOVE ALWAYS WINS. After being hit by a drunk driver, Anna Claire and her fiance’s lives were changed forever. Anna Claire became a quadriplegic as a result of the collision, with months of recovery ahead of her. Rather than moving their wedding, the childhood sweethearts drew on each other’s strength and married on the originally planned date. Anna Claire’s husband says that going through that life-altering experience made their relationship “a thousand times stronger.”
ADVERSITY IS NOT A BRICK WALL. When Aimee Mullins looked up synonyms for the word “disabled” in a thesaurus, she was appalled by the negative attributes given to this commonly used label. “I was born into a world that perceived that I had nothing positive going for me,” she realized. Today, Mullins is celebrated for the opportunities and adventures she’s taken advantage of, but it hasn’t always been an easy path — the record-breaking runner was born without shin bones. Thanks to her intrepid spirit, great doctors, and overcoming what people perceived to be her “disability,” Mullins has achieved success. She attributes her attitude to being the key in overcoming what others saw as limitations. “The only real and consistent disability I’ve had to confront is the world thinking I could be described by that definition,” Mullins says. These stories remind us of another message Mullins shared — that it’s not about whether you will meet adversity, but how you will face it when you do. Adversity is just change we haven’t adapted to yet.
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HOW TO CREATE THE LIFE YOU DESERVE
After an accident, it can be challenging to return to the normal you once knew. As you work to get back to that point, other things, like healthy habits, can fall by the wayside. But it’s more important than ever to maintain a healthy lifestyle so you can have the life you deserve. Focusing on healthy habits will help strengthen you on your road to recovery and will likely improve your quality of life each day. FIND HEALTHY, SIMPLE MEALS THAT YOU ENJOY. Cooking might be a challenge, but you don’t have to become the next Iron Chef to have tasty, wholesome meals. Look for simple recipes that utilize healthy and affordable ingredients, like whole grains, beans, lettuce, and carrots. Farmers markets have good deals on fruits and vegetables, and if you are able, consider the benefits of starting your own garden. You might try following blogs or social media accounts that feature healthy eating to keep it at the forefront of your mind when you are preparing meals. You may even find you enjoy adding this new hobby to your life as you find your new normal. LOOK FOR PUZZLES OR GAMES THAT STIMULATE YOU. When you’ve been at home with an injury, boredom and loneliness are two of the least welcome and most frequent visitors. Games like crossword
puzzles, sudoku, trivia, boggle, and other logic and mental games can be good distractions from the pain and discomfort you may be experiencing. Another great option is to lose yourself in an inspiring book. Try “Endurance,” which involves an incredible tale of survival in the Antarctic after a shipwreck, or “The Emerald Mile,” by Kevin Fedarko, a story of adventure and courage in the Grand Canyon. REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT. As you begin to feel more comfortable, reach out to friends and family who want to help. You may not need constant caregiving, but you will most likely benefit from social interaction and the boost that a conversation and good laugh with old friends can give you. It’s understandable to want some time alone, but try not to isolate yourself. Even if it’s hard at first, reaching out to loved ones and people who care can help create the support network you need during this time. As you create the life you deserve, look to Smith, Wallis & Scott, LLP for legal support. You can count on our talented team for exceptional representation every step of the way. Call (770) 214-2500 today.
TAKE A BREAK
BLUE CHEESE BUFFALO DOGS AND CELERY SLAW
No matter where you stand on the great ketchup versus mustard debate, you’ll love these spicy, tangy, easy-to-make buffalo dogs. They’re the perfect way to elevate your Fourth of July cookout.
INGREDIENTS
For Celery Slaw •
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1 package of your favorite hot dogs
4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced
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1 package hot dog buns
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1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
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1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce
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2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
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4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
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1 teaspoon olive oil
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Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns.
3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve. 3 (770) 214-2500
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(770) 214-2500 swslawfirm.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
327 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton, GA 30117
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What It Means to Be an Attorney
Summer-Worthy Learning Opportunities
Stories of Courage
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Create the Life You Deserve
Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw
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The History of Hot Dogs and Burgers
HOW HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS BECAME NATIONAL TREASURES This American Grub
If your plans for this Independence Day involve firing up the barbecue, you’ll probably be cooking two American classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. Come the Fourth of July, families will be grilling up burgers and dogs from sea to shining sea, but it wasn’t always this way. The story of how beef patties and sausages became culinary symbols of our nation will give you plenty of food for thought.
a tight budget. By the 1930s, hot dogs had become so unquestionably American that Franklin Roosevelt famously served them to King George VI during his royal visit in 1939.
THE BURGER Like the hot dog, the exact origin of the beef patty’s eventual “sandwiching” is lost to history. Once again, it was German immigrants who brought their recipes for “Hamburg steak” with them across the Atlantic, but reports vary as to who first sold the meat patty inside a bun.
THE HOT DOG It was German immigrants who brought the “frankfurter” and the “wienerwurst” to American soil in the 1800s. There is much debate over who first decided to place one of these franks in a bun, but by the opening of the 20th century, hot dog stands had popped up all over the Eastern Seaboard. We do know the identity of the man who took the hot dog’s popularity to a national level: Nathan Handwerker.
Multiple diners and fairgrounds across America claim to be the home of the first hamburger. All of these claims date to the turn of the 20th century, a time when our nation was faced with feeding a growing working class quickly and cheaply. By the 1950s, the burger had become a symbol of the American everyman. Both the hot dog and hamburger embody the history of our nation. Immigrant traditions merged with blue-collar needs to create two uniquely American foods. It’s fitting that we celebrate America’s birthday with the grub that has grown along with it.
A Jewish immigrant from Poland, Nathan sliced buns for a hot dog stand on Coney Island. After scraping together enough money, he quit his job and opened a stand of his own, undercutting his former employer’s prices by half. Not only did Nathan’s hot dogs outsell the competition, the Great Depression made them the perfect food for a nation suddenly living on
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