Check out our December newsletter!
Serving ALL of Virginia with offices in
Injured? Call us 24/7!
Richmond Tidewater
Richmond: (804) 250-5050 Tidewater: (757) 250-5000 Toll Free: (800) 840-0705
Petersburg Chesterfield
www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com
December 2022
RINGING IN 2023 WITH PURPOSE
supply drive to support RPS, and a toy drive to support a local Richmond elementary school.
As we move into 2023, we do so with purpose for our clients, our team, and community. Damon and I never became attorneys “for the money.” We do what we do because we genuinely care about our clients and bring justice for our clients in a system riddled with injustice. Money can certainly be a helpful tool in solving problems and making life easier, but it is important to recognize that it is not a solution to all life’s issues. In many cases, the root causes of problems are much deeper and more complex than a simple lack of financial resources. For example, money might help to alleviate the immediate financial stress of a car accident, but we recognize it cannot bring someone back who has passed or heal someone completely from their injuries. With this in mind, we are dedicating the next year to focus on community programs and initiatives that will improve road safety and hopefully prevent anyone from needing our law firm to begin with. The last couple of years have been difficult for many. We have witnessed many people lose loved ones to health-related issues such as COVID-19, mental illness, substance abuse, and cancer … but the ones that really stick with us are the people we know who have lost their lives to accidents because many of these could have been prevented. Many of the car accidents we see could have been avoided if people weren’t distracted, were well- rested when they got behind the wheel, and weren’t intoxicated while driving. We hope you will join us in bringing awareness and encouraging our family, friends, and community members to drive safely and ring in the new year with safety and purpose in mind.
Every year, we look back and wonder, “Where did the time go?” with all the hustle and bustle of helping our clients, growing our law firm, and of course, the kids getting bigger and smarter every year. 2022 is no exception, although this year was incredibly unique in that Damon and I have been traveling with our oldest, Jordan, and “The Lion King” Broadway musical, which had its unique challenges but is incredibly rewarding at the same time. We went into 2022 with the mission and vision of growth. We’ve been able to accomplish this because of our incredible leadership team, attorneys, managers, and staff. In the last year, we’ve been able to secure over $25 million in settlements for our clients, we opened a new office in Norfolk, and our staff has expanded to over 50 employees. Our firm provided brand-new job opportunities for positions that didn’t exist in 2021. We have celebrated a wedding and the birth of babies born this year and supported our team in times of personal grief and loss. Our team gathered numerous times to enjoy each other’s company through team building events, and our firm was named a Top Workplace from Richmond Times Dispatch again for the second year in a row. We also led several initiatives to give back to the community through speaking at a career fair at a local elementary school, an auction to support a local Richmond public school (RPS), a school
So while we do what we do to help our clients, we also are committed to safety and preventing these accidents.
May your holidays be merry and bright, and may you never need our firm — but if you do, we’re ready to fight.
–Christina Pendleton
www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Melanie Shaha is currently fighting her third brain cancer battle. For 15 years, she’s been suffering from a benign tumor on her pituitary gland. Although she doesn’t mind being sick, going to her appointments, focusing on her treatment, and talking to loved ones about her cancer, she doesn’t like looking sick. If you didn’t know Shaha, you wouldn’t realize she was battling cancer. But this suddenly changed once she lost all of her hair. She had two surgeries, in 2003 and 2006, in hopes of removing the tumor on her pituitary gland, but they weren’t successful. Then, when she began radiation therapy in 2017, the treatment caused her hair to fall out. “Not having hair [makes] you stick out like a sore thumb, and well- meaning people can say things that break your heart,” Shaha told TODAY. She didn’t like all the attention and the looks people gave her in public. So, her 27-year-old son Matt had an idea. At first, Matt joked about cutting all of his hair off to make his mother a wig. But the joke soon became a plan, and Matt followed through in 2018. Locks of Love Son Makes a Wig for His Mother
him from cutting it, but Matt wanted to help her feel confident and comfortable in her skin. So, he chopped it off and sent his locks to Compassionate Creations, a hair company in Newport Beach, California, that created a wig for his mother. Now, Shaha has a piece of her son to take everywhere with her beautiful new tresses. “The color is spectacular, and we had it cut and styled with a hairdresser. Matt said it looked great on me. It sure fills your emotional cup,” Shaha says. If you — or someone you know — would like to donate your hair to cancer patients, you can donate to Locks of Love, Wigs For Kids, Chai Lifeline, and Children With Hair Loss. Research donation centers in your area if you would like to give back locally. Holiday Shopping Scams Businesses boom during the holiday season because more people buy their products and services. But this means potential scams can also increase, but you can do a few things to ensure your personal information and banking details are safe. You may see products online or advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok that pique your interest. But before you click “buy,” ensure the website is legitimate. Search for the product on a search engine to see if the same links appear. Carefully read reviews, look for website security credentials, and research unknown retailers before purchasing. It’s better to take extra precautions to ensure your information isn’t compromised. In addition, never use public Wi-Fi when purchasing items online. You’re more likely to be hacked when the Wi-Fi connection isn’t protected or in a secure network. Hackers tap into public internet sources and intercept your data through techniques like eavesdropping. Although it’s appealing to use public Wi-Fi because you think it’s free, it’s not. You pay with your personal information and data. If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357. For more information on scams, fraud, and identity theft, go to USA.gov/scams-and-frauds to learn how to protect yourself better.
After graduating from college, Matt began growing his hair out. In no time, he had long and luscious hair. His mother tried to dissuade
... continued from Page 4
emails like these are all too common; unfortunately, millions of people’s data is compromised as a result. Understandably, when you first receive these scam emails, you panic because you think they are legitimate. But remember, USPS, UPS, Amazon, and FedEx won’t ask for personal information over email. A good rule of thumb is never to click on links in emails — even from the actual company. Scammers are very good at making their emails look authentic. Instead, go to the delivery company’s website and log in to your account. If action is required, you should see a notification in your portal. Alternatively, you can call the business’s customer service line to check if their email is authentic.
2 | 804-250-5050
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
TAKE A BREAK
We’ve all felt anxious, guilty, fearful, and sad — it’s a part of life. Perhaps you’ve tried to avoid or suppress these emotions, but you’re not a rock. As humans, we experience these feelings all the time. Trying to control them may only make matters worse. So, instead, focus on something you can control — your actions. That’s the central premise of Mark Freeman’s mental health book “You Are Not a Rock.” He aims to teach readers how to build emotional fitness and overcome their struggles and hardships with different techniques. The book is divided into two sections titled “The Basics” and “The Transformation.” The first half is about learning basic mental health skills and unlearning ways of thinking about mental health that cause us challenges. The second half focuses on how to create and build what you want to see in your life instead of trying to avoid and control what you can’t see. As you read, you’ll learn how to recognize your problems, practice mindfulness, prioritize and follow your values, and understand your fears. The strategies in “You Are Not a Rock” are the same tactics Freeman used in his personal life, and he shares some of those stories in the book. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that Freeman highly encourages you to complete. By TIRED OF FEELING ANXIOUS AND FEARFUL? Read ‘You Are Not a Rock’ by Mark Freeman
WINTER VEGETABLE SHEPHERD’S PIE
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
performing these exercises, you can
Ingredients
better understand the book’s contents and implement Freeman’s tactics in your life. Before Freeman helps readers begin their journey, he states that strengthening your mental health is like working on your physical health — you won’t see instant results. “Changing your brain takes time
• 6 1/2 cups potatoes, cut into large chunks • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 onions, sliced • 1 tbsp flour • 2 large carrots, cut into rounds • 1/2 cauliflower, broken into florets
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 sprig rosemary • 15-oz can diced tomatoes plus liquid • 1/2 cup water • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas • Milk, to desired consistency
Directions
1. In a pot, boil potatoes until tender. 2. In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add carrots, cauliflower, garlic, and rosemary and stir until softened. 3. Pour tomatoes into mix and add water. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, then remove lid and cook for 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in peas and simmer. 4. Drain and mash potatoes. Stir in milk to desired consistency. 5. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spoon hot vegetable mix into pie dish, then top with mashed potatoes. Bake until top is golden brown.
and effort … I’m not going to share with you any magical supplements or special mantras. This is simply a book about actions,” Freeman says in his introduction. If you’re interested in reading “You Are Not a Rock,” you can purchase your copy wherever books are sold online or in bookstores.
www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1506 Staples Mill Rd., Ste. 101 Richmond, VA 23230 www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A Purpose-Driven Firm
1
What Started as a Joke Became Reality
2
3
Winter Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie Tired of Feeling Anxious and Fearful?
Protect Your Personal Data From Scammers
4
We get busy shopping for Christmas gifts online and in-store during the holiday season. It’s the season that keeps on giving — but not for all. Scammers will devise clever ways to con you out of your hard-earned money. Some will take advantage of your generosity. So, as you scroll through shopping websites and wait for your gifts to come in the mail, be sure to protect yourself from scammers. Here are some tips. Holiday Mail Scams Shipping companies will give you updates and status on your items when you order something online or ship a package off. Although this tool is excellent for tracking where your orders are, scammers will send phishing emails pretending to be these shipping companies. These emails claim your package is lost or more information is needed to process your order or shipment. Some may have a webpage link for you to submit personal information. Phishing How to Avoid Holiday Scams ’Tis the Season for Giving — Not Stealing
Continued on Page 2 ...
4 | 804-250-5050
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator