Take a look at this month's edition of the Shuttlesworth Sentinel!
THE SHUTTLESWORTH SENTINEL
201 Vulcan Road, Suite 210 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 322-1411 ShuttlesworthLasseter.com
Personal Injury Product Liability Wrongful Death
Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Assisted Living Abuse/Neglect
12 .2020
If you remember reading my newsletter last December, you might recall that I’m not too fond of the more commercial aspects of the Christmas season. For me, Christmas is all about time with family and spending time up in the mountains in nature, getting away from it all. I don’t like immersing myself in all the shopping, presents, and hustle and bustle of it all — unless it’s for a worthy cause. Years ago, my sisters and I had the tradition of buying gifts for someone else’s Christmas — usually a family with a child in the local children’s hospital. We would always exchange gifts with one another and with our families on Christmas Eve, and while none of that was bad, it just started feeling a little hollow. I don’t know if I can explain that feeling any further, except to say that maybe because my sisters and I had a lot of tough times growing up (with Christmas being particularly difficult), those experiences might have influenced my feelings. Whatever the case, we all wanted to try something different to reinvigorate our joy for the holiday season. We found that “something different” through a woman named Rosalie. She was my best friend’s mom growing up, and in a lot of ways, she kind of raised me, too. She was a sweet, wonderful Italian woman who had one of the most giving hearts of anyone I’ve ever met. In addition to raising four Making Another Family’s Christmas Merry and Bright SOME OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORIES
of her own children, she fostered around 40 kids over the years, many of whom were children with disabilities.
For years, Rosalie also volunteered at the children’s hospital. When my sisters and I decided to buy presents for a family with a child in the hospital every year, she was the first person to get us connected to those families. Those Christmases that we gave gifts to a family in need helped us remember what the holiday season is really all about. Our family usually did most of our Christmas traditions on Christmas Eve, leaving our Christmas Day free to spend helping someone else’s family. These families at the children’s hospital had, in most cases, faced worry and anxiety for months or even years. Getting to be with them as their child opened presents and watching the brief moments of relief and joy that followed are some of my favorite Christmas memories. One of my sisters passed away a few years ago, and we’ve all moved to different parts of the country, so that tradition, unfortunately, went away. However, in a difficult year like this one, it might be time to resurrect that experience with a new cast. I can’t say for sure whether that will be something my daughters and I do this upcoming Christmas Day, but it sure would be nice to make some of those memories again.
“THOSE CHRISTMASES THAT WE GAVE GIFTS TO A FAMILY IN NEED HELPED US REMEMBER WHAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.”
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
–Perry Shuttlesworth
(205) 322-1411 • 1
3 REASONS WHY SLIP-AND-FALL CASES
CAN’T AFFORD THAT NEW LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS? THERE’S STILL HOPE!
Are More Serious Than You Think
HOW BUYING SECONDHAND CAN SAVE YOUR WALLET AND THE PLANET
If your spouse wants a new tablet for Christmas, your daughter wants an iPhone, and your son is dying for a laptop, odds are it won’t be long before your gift budget runs out. High-tech presents add up fast, particularly this year when so many have fallen on hard times. Luckily, there is a way to get all of the gadgets you need without breaking the bank: refurbished or secondhand tech. Refurbished electronics are an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to the shiny new models. When something is labeled “refurbished,” it was returned to the manufacturer, fixed, and put back on the market. Sometimes these products are restored to like-new condition — Apple and Samsung, for example, will go so far as to include batteries and put their products in brand-new boxes — while other times, they’re fully functional but without the bells and whistles, like charging cables. While refurbished technology isn’t brand-new, it’s pretty darn close. You can find almost any piece of everyday technology refurbished or secondhand, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, PCs, TVs, and digital cameras. According to Money Crashers, these gently used electronics are often discounted up to 50%, helping your Christmas budget stretch further. The best place to shop for refurbished products is directly from the manufacturer. Amazon, Apple, Walmart, and Best Buy all have sections for refurbished products on their websites. Overstock.com is another great place to check, and you can buy or sell secondhand items on sites like Decluttr.com, BuyBackWorld.com, and Gazelle.com.
When most people picture a slip-and-fall accident in their head, they might think of an elderly person slipping in the tub or falling down the stairs. However, slip-and-fall cases can be incredibly dangerous and costly for anyone. So, before you write them off as no big deal, or at least not something that warrants legal action, here are a few sobering facts about slip- and-fall cases.
THEY CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES.
You might have slipped and fallen before, and been lucky enough to get away with a few bruises, or maybe a scrape or two. However, they can also lead to much more traumatic injuries to much more delicate parts of the body, like the brain or the spine. In fact, according to one 2018 study, 27% of subjects with traumatic brain injuries got them from a fall. Injuries like that can lead to some serious medical bills, so you’ll no doubt want to seek compensation.
THEY DON’T JUST HAPPEN TO THE ELDERLY.
All that said, saving money isn’t the only perk of refurbished and secondhand electronics. These devices are also better for the planet! By buying pre-owned tech, you can rescue an old device from the landfill and save the resources that would have been used to make a new one. This is a bigger deal than you might think. Mother Jones reports that a United Nations study found “the manufacture of one desktop computer requires 48 pounds of
Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you’ll avoid injuries in a slip-and-fall case. A poorly maintained playground or an icy sidewalk outside your office can be just as hazardous as a senior’s bathtub. Unintentional falls were the leading cause of nonfatal injury in almost every age group, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So, if you think your youth will make you resilient in case you slip and fall, think again.
THEY COME WITH UNFORESEEN COMPLICATIONS.
Slip-and-fall cases can become complicated quickly. They’re often intertwined with premises liability laws, and whomever you peg as the liable party for your injuries might want to fight your claim in a court of law. Don’t go into your case thinking it will be simple. Instead, hire an attorney who can help you navigate the case. Call Perry Shuttlesworth today at (205) 322-1411.
chemicals, 1.7 tons of water, and 529 pounds of fossil fuels — about 10 times the weight of the computer itself.” By shopping secondhand this Christmas, you can save money and be both Santa and an eco‑warrior. It doesn’t get much better than that!
2 • SHUTTLESWORTHLASSETER.COM
2 KINDS OF ATTORNEYS YOU NEVER WANT REPRESENTING YOUR CASE
From all the advertisements you see for attorneys and law offices plastered throughout the city, it might seem like the choices for whom you should choose to represent your case are endless. However, not all legal practices are created equal. While some attorneys earnestly seek to help their clients get the compensation they deserve, others represent clients for their own financial gain. In order to tell the good from the bad, avoid the following two kinds of attorneys in particular.
do it, take their fee, and leave you without enough of a settlement to pay your medical bills and make up for lost work time. When you’re looking for a good attorney, find one who’s not afraid to take your case to court and get the settlement you deserve.
AMBULANCE CHASERS
The above term used to refer to attorneys who would literally chase down ambulances, find patients in their hospital beds and pressure injured people into hiring them to represent their case. Luckily, because of HIPAA laws, no one can show up at your hospital bed uninvited anymore. However, many attorneys will still find ways to reach out to potential clients without warning, asking them if they can represent their case. Lawyers who are actually good at their jobs won’t have to do
that. They can just let their quality service, and a large group of satisfied clients, speak for themselves. If you’re looking for an attorney who’s willing to fight for your case to the very end, and who has a wealth of experience dealing with cases just like yours, contact Shuttlesworth Law Firm today, whether through ShuttlesworthLasseter.com or by calling our office at (205) 322-1411.
HIGH VOLUME/QUICK SETTLEMENT SCHEMERS
While some attorneys are willing to take your case to court and fight for justice, others take cases just to settle them quickly and quietly out of court. While settling out of court may take a lot less time, you’ll also likely receive a lot less in terms of compensation. Attorneys who take on high volumes of cases and settle them quickly know this, but they continue to
FACTOID STRANGE How Does Santa Travel So Fast on Christmas Eve? By Using Relativity Clouds, of Course!
TAKE A BREAK
Did you know that for Santa to deliver presents to every child in the world on Christmas Eve, he would have to travel around 650 miles per second? Since that’s slower than the speed of light, it is technically possible for something to go that fast — though, for reindeer pulling a chubby guy in a sled, it would be pretty challenging. However, a college physics professor argued (as an academic exercise) that instead of traveling really fast, Santa actually uses his
knowledge of the space/time continuum (because that’s something Santa knows about, right?), to form “relativity clouds.” Within these clouds, Santa can stretch time like a rubber band, taking months to deliver presents in what we perceive as only a few minutes. So, next time your kiddo uses the speed argument to try and disprove Santa, you can tell them about relativity clouds — or, you know, just tell them you’re actually the one buying the presents. Whatever you want.
(205) 322-1411 • 3
201 Vulcan Road, Suite 210 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 322-1411 ShuttlesworthLasseter.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
THIS ISSUE INSIDE
1 2 2 3 3 4
Making Another Family’s Christmas Merry and Bright
How to Save Money on High-Tech Gifts This Christmas
Why Slip-and-Fall Cases Are More Serious Than You Think
2 Kinds of Attorneys You Should Never Hire
December’s Strange Factoid
3 New Board Games to Try This Winter
SNOWED IN FOR CHRISTMAS?
It’s Board Game Time!
3 NEW GAMES TO ENTERTAIN YOU THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
3 NEW GAMES TO ENTERTAIN YOU THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
2. HALF TRUTH: BRILLIANT MINDS MEET HERE
“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the games are so delightful …”
Those might not be the exact lyrics from the famous Christmas carol, but it’s true that decks of cards and various board games get many families through the holiday season. You can only rewatch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” so many times before the jokes grow stale. While new movie releases can be fun, many have been stalled this year because of the pandemic. Luckily, board games are still coming out on schedule. If you’re on the hunt for alternatives to Monopoly, Clue, and Scrabble, check out these fresh 2020 games, which all come recommended by the experts at Thrillist.
If you’re a fan of Trivial Pursuit, you’ll love Half Truth. At its heart, it’s a trivia game, but it ups the stakes by giving players the opportunity to bet on how many correct answers they’ll get. Really though, there’s only one thing you need to know about this game, and Thrillist said it best: “It’s the brainchild of legendary Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield and 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings.” What a pedigree! Everyone 12 and over will want a seat at the table.
3. GETCREWD: A PLAYGROUND FOR MOVIE BUFFS
getCrewd is a card game that comes in a retro-style film can, and that single trait speaks volumes. In this PG-13-rated game, you play a film producer in search of the perfect actor, director, and crew to make your movie happen. However, the deck will keep throwing obstacles in your way, including everything from flash floods to writers’ strikes. If you have a competitive side, you’ll love this mad scramble to the finish line.
1. THE ALPHA: A NATURE LOVER’S DREAM GAME
If your childhood dream was joining a wolf pack like Mowgli in “The Jungle Book,” this is the board game for you! The Alpha is a beautifully illustrated strategic game where players act as pack leaders and compete with other players to acquire territory and snag the best food. Gameplay is done in rounds that include four stages: stalk, chase, resolve, and advance. The game is rated for 3–6 players ages 10 and up.
With these games in your cabinet, you won’t even notice the snowbanks outside!
4 • SHUTTLESWORTHLASSETER.COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker