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THE SLG ADVISOR
FEB 2023 WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH Those Aren’t Hollow Words at Spada Law
Whenever something unfortunate and unexpected happens in life, friends and family often say, “I know what you’re going through.” We tend to think that there’s no way this individual can truly understand our unique situation, but in some cases, they have experienced a similar tragedy and can help us through a difficult time. That’s exactly what I try to do for our clients here at Spada Law Group. For those of you who I haven’t met, my name is Tomas Lopez, and I have been the Intake Manager at Spada Law Group for the past five months. Before moving to the Boston area, I lived just outside of Atlanta in a small town with my parents, brother, and sister. When tragedy strikes, nobody expects it. Everything can seem perfectly normal right up until a particular moment, and then everything changes forever. I experienced one of these tragedies firsthand when I was only 19 years old. My brother, who was recently married, came over to eat at my parent’s house one day. Like most brothers, we were always playfighting with each other. I remember jokingly asking him, “Don’t you have food at your own house?” It had been raining on and off all day. My brother headed out to take care of some things in his brand-new Ford Mustang Mach 1, and I decided to play soccer until the rain returned.
Within 20 minutes, my parents called to let me know there was an accident, and they couldn’t get a hold of my brother. I desperately tried to call him to no avail. I had a friend whose sister worked for 911, and they came to pick me up and stated that I needed to go with them. At this moment, I was freaking out. We arrived at the scene and quickly figured out what had happened. My brother had tragically lost his life in a car accident. At the time, people were telling us we could file a personal injury lawsuit to help offset the costs of the funeral, but our family was so grief-stricken and unaware of the legal process that we ended up doing nothing. The financial burden wasn’t too much, but the stress and grief were sometimes unbearable. My brother’s passing has allowed me to better connect with others who have experienced something similar. Shortly after the accident, I began working at a large personal injury firm in Atlanta, where I had a conversation with a client who had just lost her son in an accident. I spoke with her for over an hour to help calm her down. Her life had drastically changed, and it helped to have someone to talk to who had experienced a similar situation.
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I WAS INJURED SKIER ON THE S Every year, skiers and snowboarders are hurt while participating in their favorite winter hobby. Suppose you were injured while skiing or snowboarding on the slopes. If the injury occurred because of another skier or snowboarder, you might have a valid personal injury claim against them if they acted negligently.
5 THINGS YOU MUST DO AT THE SCENE AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
Nobody expects to get in car accidents, but it happens to thousands of people every day. If you’re involved in a car accident, it’s so important to know what to do at the scene. Since we have represented thousands of people who were involved in car accidents over the years we’ve put together the list of some of the most important things you should do at the scene of the crash if possible. Call 911. If someone appears hurt, immediately get medical attention to the scene by dialing 911. Even if there are no injuries, police may be needed to keep the peace if tempers flare and to ensure road safety. Use that fancy camera phone. If it’s safe to take pictures of the vehicles, do so after they come to rest, but BEFORE they’re moved off the road. We have had many cases where clients took good photographs that saved the case and allowed us to prove our clients were NOT at fault. Be sure to take pictures of the damage to both vehicles. Exchange information and ask questions. Use your camera and take a picture of the other driver’s
license, registration, and license plate. If possible, get a cellphone number for the other driver so you or your lawyer can reach them if needed. Make sure the name on the registration matches the one on the license, and if not, ask about the relationship the driver has with the listed owner. Lastly, ask if the driver was working or delivering (pizza, Uber Eats, Instacart, GrubHub etc.) during the accident. Get witness info. I can’t tell you how many times a client has told me witnesses stopped, but no one asked for their names or phone numbers, not even the police on the scene. If you see witnesses, try to get their info before they leave. Otherwise, you may lose the only witness that can corroborate your version of how the accident occurred. Make sure the police get your version of events. Police sometimes only get one driver’s version of the accident. This can happen due to a language barrier, injuries, or the hectic environment at the crash scene. If you can, be sure the responding officer notes your version of the accident so that your record of events is more likely to make it into their report.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that a person’s Homeowner’s or Renter’s insurance often provides coverage to them if they cause injuries to someone in a skiing accident, just like our car insurance covers us if we cause a car accident If another skier or
snowboarder injures you on the slopes due to their careless behavior, you could sue them and recover damages that will cover medical bills, time lost from work, pain and suffering and their insurance will likely cover them for these damages.
Review of the Month
“I had a great experience with the Spada team and I highly recommend them as they are professional, passionate and respectful. I personally want to thank my caseworker Joan who is a great attorney. She is extremely knowledgeable at what she does and was great at keeping me informed about my case! Again thank you for helping me through my case, and for ensuring the best possible outcome on my behalf.” –Mkaym A.
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BY ANOTHER SLOPES WHAT SHOULD I DO? The Homeowner’s or Renter’s insurance policy covers all family members in the household, so if you’re injured by a minor, their parents’ insurance will step in. If a skier or snowboarder injures you, you should make every effort to get their name and contact information. Getting this information is essential for filing an injury claim. Without this information, they’ll remain anonymous, and you could be out of luck. My family and I are avid
INGREDIENTS • 1 lb elbow macaroni • 1/4 cup butter, divided • 1 lb medium cheddar cheese, grated • 1/2 lb Muenster cheese, grated • 3 eggs • 16 oz heavy whipping cream • Salt and black pepper DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Cook macaroni for 4 minutes in boiling salted water, then drain. 3. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a casserole dish in the preheating oven 4. Place half of the macaroni in the casserole dish and top with half of the cheddar cheese and Muenster cheese. Repeat with remaining macaroni and cheeses. 5. Mix eggs, heavy whipping cream, and remaining butter together. Pour over the top of the casserole. 6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy! and Cheese As we progress through winter, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to make delicious home-cooked meals like this amazing macaroni and cheese dish. Your family will absolutely love this recipe. Magnificent Macaroni
skiers (that’s us in the photo) and we have
witnessed some reckless skiers during our time on the slopes so that is how my interest in this area of law was born. We have successfully represented injured skiers and boarders who have been injured by other skiers, so if you need our help, please give us a call right away.
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Helping people in this manner eventually led me north to Spada Law Group. I was amazed by their dedication to helping their clients with whatever they needed. They want nothing more than to help their clients heal so they can return to their regular routines. Since I’ve been here, I’ve witnessed so much kindness and compassion toward our clients from Len and his team. Everyone is always willing to go above and beyond to help, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this team. When you or your loved one are involved in an accident, your life will change in some aspect. Understand that some people have gone through something similar that will help you with whatever you need. Our team is ready to help if you need representation or just someone to talk to about your grief. We aren’t just saying words to make you feel better. We genuinely understand the situation and what you’re going through.
-Tomas Lopez
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617.889.5000 | SPADALAWGROUP.COM
111 Everett Ave., #1F Chelsea, MA 02150 INSIDE Understanding Our Clients’ Unique Situations on a Deeper Level
What to Do After a Car Accident
Your Options After a Ski or Snowboard Accident
Testimonial
Magnificent Macaroni and Cheese
A Cinematic Cure for Seasonal Depression
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5 Feel-Good Movies TO CHASE AWAY THE BLUES
film, parents Alison and Carlos go along with their kids’ wildest desires and watch family bonding magic unfold. The Raising Children Network recommends this movie for adults and older kids only. 3. ‘Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness’ — The plot of this animated movie is as creative as its title! It follows a cartoon hero named Chickenhare, who is 50% rabbit, 50% bird, and 100% confused about his place in the world. He’s also on a quest with friends to defeat his evil uncle before it’s too late. Think of the film as a funny, adventurous, family-friendly take on the classic tale “The Ugly Duckling.” 4. ‘Dumplin’’ — Mashable called “Dumplin’” “the definition of sweet.” The movie stars Rosie (played by Jennifer Aniston) as a
Are you stuck in a TV rut and starting to feel down in the dumps? (Thanks, seasonal depression.) If so, check out one of these heartwarming movies for a pick-me-up. 1. ‘Rescued by Ruby’ — If your family loves dogs, this kid-friendly flick will be a real crowd-pleaser. It stars a pup named Ruby, who starts life as a shelter dog. After a state trooper rescues her, she becomes a search-and-rescue worker who finds and saves people. A true story inspired the uplifting tale, and according to some reviews, you may want to have tissues ready. 2. ‘Yes Day’ — Imagine spending an entire day saying “yes” to everything your kids requested. Congratulations: You’ve stepped into the plot of “Yes Day”! In this
pageant-obsessed former beauty queen whose daughter, Willowdean, doesn’t fit conventional beauty standards. When Willowdean enters her mom’s pageant in a protest complete with dancing and Dolly Parton tunes, she sparks a small-town revolution. This movie is recommended for children ages 13 and up. 5. ‘We Can Be Heroes’ — Since its release in 2020, this superhero movie has quickly become a family favorite. The story opens with an aliens-versus- superheroes showdown, and when the aliens win and take the heroes hostage, their kids come to the rescue. As the title implies, the film will leave you feeling like you can be a hero, too.
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