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THE SLG ADVISOR
617.889.5000 | SPADALAWGROUP.COM
NOVEMBER 2019
Can’t Change It
Letting Go of What We Can’t Control
W e are all guilty of wasting so much emotional energy resisting the things in life that cannot be resisted. hile we’d like to believe we have complete control over our fate, there are some things we simply cannot prepare for that will throw our lives off course. When this happens, what we can control is how we respond to the new circumstances we find ourselves in. Earlier this fall, I attended a seminar in Atlanta where the keynote speaker was a man named Hal Elrod. Elrod is the author of the bestselling book “The Miracle Morning” and the greatest motivational speaker I’ve ever heard. This guy has been on an incredible journey. When he was a young man, Elrod was in a horrific car accident that broke him into pieces. The doctors told him he would never walk again. Understandably, he was depressed and angry, but over time, he realized that while he couldn’t change the fact that he had been in a car accident, he could change how he dealt with it. He was in control of his mindset. His favorite phrase became “Can’t change it.” He vowed never to spend more than five minutes wasting emotional energy on a situation he could not change. Once he came to accept that there were things he couldn’t change, he could focus his energy on moving forward. And forward he moved indeed! I know this sounds corny. Easier said than done, right? But I find Elrod inspiring because he proves that it’s possible to overcome the
things from our past. He doesn’t claim that it’s easy — in fact, his entire philosophy was challenged when years after his horrific car accident, he was diagnosed with a very lethal type of cancer. That was the ultimate test of his mindset. But even in the darkest times, Elrod held onto his mantra of “Can’t change it,” and it brought him to the other side. Being able to have this kind of optimism and acceptance about life is amazing. I related to Elrod’s story because I, too, was diagnosed with cancer. At the time, I certainly languished for much longer than five minutes,
There’s a man I recently represented who truly embodies this idea that we control our mindset.
adamant about standing when the judge walked into the courtroom just like everybody else. “All rise” to him meant “ALL RISE, EVEN ME.” John would grasp his walker and pull himself out of his wheelchair. His spirit was not broken. John emits this sense of gratitude and acceptance of life. I don’t think he realizes what an inspiration he is to me and the people at my firm. My job is to teach my clients about the law, but the truth is that they often teach me about life. I’m proud to work with people like John. He’s a pretty special guy who reminds us all how we can approach life when we have the right mindset. -Len Spada
resisting things I couldn’t change. Eventually, I learned to change my mindset, and it made a huge difference in my life. There’s a man I recently represented who truly embodies this idea that we control our mindset. This man — we’ll call him John — was hit by a car while crossing the street. He sustained an almost-fatal brain injury, has memory problems, and can no longer walk unassisted. If anyone has the right to be mad at the world, it’s John. Instead, whenever he comes into the office, I always hear him laughing and joking with the rest of the team. John always has a smile on his face. He smiles freely and often. When we meet, he’s always interested in how my life is going. When we were in court, on his case he was
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S pada L aw G roup on E ducating the P ublic
These resources will come in the form of videos, books, podcasts, and blog posts all geared toward educating the public about their rights. We must all follow the law, but you shouldn’t have to go to law school just to understand how the law impacts you. Our team has created an extensive library covering a number of topics, including the following:
The personal injury market is a crowded space. Firms advertise with billboards and TV ads, all blasting the same message: me, me, me.
We have 25 years of experience!
Our results history is unbeatable!
● What questions should I ask a lawyer I am thinking of hiring? ● How do accident lawyers get paid?
Hire us!
● What happens after I hire an accident lawyer? ● How long does it take to get my case resolved? ● What is my case worth?
Far too many personal injury firms are self-focused, boasting how great they are instead of using their space to help clients wherever they can. At Spada Law Group, our marketing style and our firm’s focus is, and always has been, how can we help our clients make great legal decisions. We have a platform, and we intend to use it to provide education and resources so we
At Spada Law Group, we believe we have an ethical obligation to provide people with the knowledge they need to make smart decisions, ask the right questions, and understand how the process works. This is a much better use of time than placing our frozen smiles on a billboard or yelling at people in a TV ad. We know we provide a great service, and the best way to prove it isn’t by bragging about ourselves; it’s by educating our clients. If you or a loved one has a legal question or is thinking about hiring a lawyer, visit KnowTheLawFirst.com and get a free copy of Attorney Len Spada’s latest book. Or visit our website at SpadaLawGroup.com and take a look at our free resources.
can start helping potential clients before they hire us or anyone else. We want prospective clients to be as educated as they can be before they hire a lawyer. We are confident that the more a potential client knows about their situation, the better position they are in to make good decisions. And yes, we are confident that many will come to the conclusion that hiring us is a great decision.
review of the month
“Attorney Len Spada and his staff were very compassionate and professional. All correspondence/emails were responded to promptly and thoroughly. They helped us navigate through unfamiliar waters and put our minds at ease when we needed it.” –Tammy Aug. 29, 2019
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Personal Injury FAQs Word Search
How and When to Talk to the Insurance Company After an Accident After an accident, injured victims should be able to focus on healing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things they have to worry about. One of the biggest concerns that can distract from recovery is dealing with the insurance company. Insurance companies remain profitable by not paying out too much in damages to accident victims. It’s in their best interest to pay you as little as possible after your accident. While the people who work for insurance companies are not bad people, their job is to find any piece of information they can use to reject or diminish your claim. That’s just a fact. This is why you must be incredibly careful when speaking to an insurance adjuster. Here are some common questions we get about dealing with insurance companies after an accident. In Massachusetts, you are legally obligated to cooperate with your own insurance company. This could include giving a statement under oath. That said, you cannot be forced to give a statement before you have the chance to talk to a personal injury attorney about your accident or injuries. If in doubt, call us and we will advise you regardless if you are a client or not. Only discuss property damage issues with your insurance adjuster, such as getting your car fixed or paid for. If the conversation turns to your injuries or how the accident happened, be very careful. The insurance adjuster is not your friend. If you are contacted by your insurance company and they ask to take a statement from you, tell them you want to speak to your attorney first and that you will get back to them promptly. Then call your attorney right away. What can I talk to my insurance company about? After an accident, you may be contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Don’t speak to them. Instead, direct them to contact your attorney, who should handle all dealings with the other driver’s insurance. There are a lot of concerns after a car accident. We’ve created a new series of short videos to address these frequently asked questions. Find them at SpadaLawGroup.com/video and get the answers to your pressing questions today. Should I talk to my insurance company? What if the other driver’s insurance company calls me?
APPLES PIE
CROPS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY FALL
SCARECROW CHILLY SWEATER
PUMPKIN HARVEST
Tiramisu Local Chef’s Corner
Inspired by foodnetwork.com
This dessert is an Italian favorite that can make any meal special. Why not try it tonight?
INGREDIENTS • 6 egg yolks • 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons dark rum • 24 packaged ladyfingers • 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish
• 1 pound mascarpone cheese • 1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to beat together egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. 2. Add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth. 3. Fold in 1 tablespoon of espresso. 4. In a small, shallow dish, combine remaining espresso with rum. Dip each ladyfinger into mixture for 5 seconds. Place soaked ladyfingers at the bottom of a walled baking dish. 5. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture on top of the first layer of ladyfingers. Top with another layer of ladyfingers and another layer of mascarpone. 6. Cover and refrigerate 2–8 hours. 7. Remove from fridge, sprinkle with chocolate shavings, and serve.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
111 Everett Ave #1F Chelsea, MA 02150 617.889.5000 SpadaLawGroup.com
Inside This Issue
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A True Inspiration
Your Questions Answered
Review of the Month
3
Tiramisu
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company?
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The Legend of Sergeant Reckless
The Greatest American War Horse T he L egend of S ergeant R eckless Animals have acted as companions to
Sergeant Reckless’ greatest achievement occurred during the final stages of the Battle for Outpost Vegas. During the bloody five-day campaign, Reckless made 51 trips to resupply guns over the course of a single day. By the end of the battle, she had carried 386 rounds of ammunition by walking 35 miles through rice paddies and mountain trails. After dropping off the ammunition, Reckless would then bring wounded soldiers back to safety. Reckless was trained to lie down when under fire and avoid barbed wire, and her ability to do so without needing human command saved many lives during the battle. Reckless would close out her war career with two Purple Hearts and the rank of staff sergeant. She spent the rest of her years at Camp Pendleton in California. To learn more about this legendary mare, be sure to check out “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse” by Robin Hutton.
humankind for thousands of years. They’re a near-constant source of companionship, comfort, and aid. Unfortunately, military animals don’t often get the recognition they deserve. One horse, in particular, was essential to the success of her regiment during the Korean War. Meet Sergeant Reckless. Bought for $250 in 1952 by a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant at a Seoul racetrack, Sergeant Reckless was trained to carry ammunition for the 5th Marine Regiment. Her name was a play on the “recoilless” rifle ammunition she carried and a nod to the daredevil attitude of the soldiers who used them. Reckless was pivotal for her regiment in more ways than one. As Robin Hutton notes in her book “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse,” “Because horses are ‘herd’ animals, the Marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family.”
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