Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos, & Newlin - November 2020

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November 2020

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One of my favorite books is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. He is probably most famous as the author of The Three Musketeers . The historical setting is a fundamental element of his books that are adventure stories primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness. For example, The Count of Monte Cristo centers on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. Growing up, I was fascinated with it. As I got older, one of the quotes from The Count of Monte Cristo really resonated with me. I think it’s meaning is even more important as we are navigating the treacherous year that is 2020. At one point, the main character, Edmond, states: “Life is a storm. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes.” Now, I think that quote can help a lot of us as we move through this year. This month, many people are celebrating Thanksgiving, though the

celebration will be a lot different this year, of course. It may be taking place through Zoom or some other virtual platform. Families may not be gathering like they have in the past. My family usually has over 100 people gathered in a basement. Unfortunately, we will not be able to get together and celebrate this year due to the pandemic. Thanksgiving is also a time to celebrate what you should be thankful for. There are many things that we can be thankful for, even though it has been a rough year. At the beginning of the year, I lost my grandfather. He was my best friend and my hero. Although it has been difficult since he passed, I still celebrate the time that we were able to spend together and the unconditional love that he showed me.

I’m also thankful that throughout this year of hardship, my family and friends have stayed safe and healthy. Some of you who are reading this may not be able to say the same. There are no words that I can share or express with you to make you feel better. Trust me I’ve been there. Unfortunately, life is a storm. There are rough times, times that are not fair, and times that really bring us down. One minute everything can be fine and happy, and then it changes in an instant. We cannot control that. The only thing that we can control is what we do when that storm comes. As Alexandre Dumas wrote, what makes us who we are is what we do when that storm comes. Another quote in that book is the following: “All human wisdom is contained in these two words —Wait and Hope.” Hope can be a very powerful thing. It shows us and teaches us that something better is on the horizon. I encourage everyone to not give up hope. There will be better days. Hope will get us through the storm. Until then, please stay safe and healthy, and don’t forget to mask up. From all of us here at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.

“As Alexandre Dumas wrote, what makes us who we are is what we do when that storm comes.”

Our referrals continue to be one of the best ways clients find us, and we deeply appreciate it! for your trust and confidence. Thank you

– Caleb Fleschner

1 (812) 232-2000

Published by The Newsletter Pro . www.NewsletterPro.com

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POSTS THAT CONTRADICT YOUR COMPENSATION CLAIM Avoid any mention of specifics around the accident, such as time, place, speed, and so on. And if you aren’t sure, never make a guess. You could accidentally end up contradicting an earlier statement or piece of evidence. ANGRY COMMENTS ABOUT THE AT-FAULT PARTY If you spend a lot of time on social media making disparaging comments about the at-fault party, the defense may try to argue that the primary cause of your compensation claim isn’t getting fair compensation but is actually to get revenge. HowYou Can Reduce Your Risk Although they aren’t foolproof, these steps can help protect you from many of the tricks insurance companies may try to pull: • Set all your social media accounts to private, and if possible, prevent others from sharing or commenting on your posts. • While your claim is ongoing, do not accept any new friend requests — especially from people you don’t know. • Speak to friends and family offline and request they do not post anything about you, and especially don’t post about your accident on their own accounts. • Avoid mentioning your settlement even after your claim is resolved. If your settlement involves a confidentiality agreement, posting about it could result in you losing your settlement after the fact. However, even if you don’t post a single thing about your accident and neither do your friends and family members, the insurance company may try to argue that if your posting habits don’t change, that you are unaffected by your accident. The best method to protect yourself is to use social media as little as possible until your claim is resolved.

Most of us enjoy sharing our thoughts and daily updates through at least one social media platform, and probably more than one, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or another. However, you have to be extremely cautious about what you post and how you post if you’ve been in an accident and you plan on filing a compensation claim because your social media habits could harm your chances of getting compensation in ways you wouldn’t expect. It is very difficult to assign context to a photo without having been there when it was taken, so while you may go out with friends to try to take your mind off the stress and pain your accident caused you, the defense may later point to photos of you smiling in a bar or restaurant as proof that your injuries and emotional distress aren’t serious. This goes not just for photos you post on your own account, but photos you are in on your friends’ and family members’ accounts as well.

HowYour Posts (and Others’) Could HarmYour Claim

STATEMENTS THAT MINIMIZE YOUR INJURIES Posting “I’m okay” after the accident or “I’m feeling a lot better today” during your recovery could cause the insurance company to argue that your injuries are not as serious as they really are. APOLOGIES OR ADMISSIONS OF GUILT These types of statements, even something as vague as “I wish I left the party earlier,” or “I feel so bad about the whole thing,” could be seen as an admission of fault in the accident. COMMENTS THAT SUGGEST YOU CONTRIBUTED TOYOUR OWN ACCIDENT Joking or chiding comments by friends and family on your accident-related posts such as “you always were a speed demon” or “I told you to stay off your phone in the car” could lead the insurance company to decide you caused or contributed to your own accident and get your payment reduced or denied.

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Our Clients Say It Best

Congratulations to Michelle Bailey! Our November Employee of the Month

Michelle has been with the law firm for three and a half years. She is a hearing department case manager, which means she prepares the clients’ files for disability hearings to help give clients the best chance to win their cases. When asked about her favorite part of her job, she said this, “The best part is the happiness and positive feedback from my clients when they are approved for their disability. It makes all the hard work so worth it to hear them be so happy and thankful for something that so many people take for granted.” People who nominated Michelle said this: “She is ready to tackle any task thrown at her, is certainly dependable, and treats her clients with respect. Any time I speak with a client, they have nothing but wonderful things to say about her!”

“I give this firm 20 stars. It met all of my expectations!!! Won my case!!! Kept all communication with me referring to my case. I will refer them anytime. Thanks so much!” –Chante R. “Absolutely professional, kind, compassionate, and respectful law firm. My attorney, Mr. Tanoos, has done a wonderful job representing me,especially during my hearing. He’s a true credit to his field, and I highly recommend this law firm to anyone needing high quality representation for disability claims.” –Eddie Q. We Handle Case Types Did You Know We Handle All of These Types of Cases?

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Inspired by WellPlated.com

Making chocolate mousse with avocados may sound strange, but we promise it’s a match made in heaven! This sinfully delicious recipe is a great holiday treat.

Ingredients

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1/4 cup almond milk

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4 oz vegan dark chocolate, chopped 2 large avocados, pitted and skinned

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1 tsp vanilla extract

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1–3 tsp maple syrup, to taste

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Fresh berries, for garnish

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3 tbsp cocoa powder

• Bicycle crashes • Car accidents

• Medical malpractice • Wrongful death • Social Security disability • Family law

Directions 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate. Heat in 15-second intervals, then stir and repeat until melted. Set aside to cool. 2. In a food processor or blender, combine the cooled chocolate and other ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding additional sweetener as desired. 3. Scoop into glasses and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with berries and serve!

• Pedestrian injuries • Slips, trips, and falls • Brain injuries

3 (812) 232-2000

Facebook.com/FleschnerLaw

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Twitter.com/FleschnerLaw

201 Ohio Street Terre Haute, IN 47807

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A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

How Social Media Posts Can Reduce Your Compensation

Michelle Bailey is the Employee of the Month! Luxurious Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Our Clients Say it Best!

Clear Your Mind in a Different Way

Meditation Alternatives FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE TO MEDITATE

Meditation is lauded for its health benefits and is often suggested as an effective way to clear the mind, organize thoughts, and reduce stress. Realistically, however, it’s not for everyone. In fact, some people don’t experience any benefits at all from meditating. In a recent study published in New Scientist about the effectiveness of meditation, researchers confirmed that some people do not benefit from meditation and that about 8% of people who try meditation experience an “unwanted effect,” such as an increase in anxiety. If you’re not interested in meditation, or it just doesn’t work for you, here are some alternative ways to clear your mind and reduce stress. Get serious about physical activity. Aerobic exercises — like walking, jogging, running, cycling, and swimming — are great for clearing your mind

and getting your body moving. Really, any exercise that gets the heart pumping and increases your respiratory rate will do. Research supports that aerobic exercise is a great alternative to meditation that yields many of the same benefits. Exercising outdoors or in nature — especially in new places — enhances these benefits. Because your surroundings are going to be unfamiliar, your mind is more focused, which can help if you’re searching for clarity. Stay mentally engaged. Many people achieve clarity, focus, and stress reduction through simple but engaging tasks, such as immersing themselves in an adult coloring book, doing brain teasers, or assembling LEGO sets, which proves they can be effective therapeutic tools or alternatives to meditation. The LEGO Company has actually been developing more products for adults with this sort of research in mind.

But why LEGO products specifically? In addition to being objects you touch and push together, LEGO products come with clear, step-by-step instructions, which make them easy to put together and allow you to focus more on the task at hand. Even if you don’t complete the piece in one sitting, working on a project a few minutes a day can be a beneficial way to find a little clarity.