18 DEC
Road to justice
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Car Accidents Aren’t Just About Insurance
Know Where to Look for Other Recovery Sources
When it comes to small fender benders and minor accidents, insurance usually covers everything with relative ease.
Maybe it’s a pain organizing all the paperwork and getting in touch with the at-fault party’s provider, but once you do, it’s usually a straightforward process. In more serious accidents, however, where the damage and injuries are severe, it’s
easy to exceed coverage limits. In those cases, you need to work with an attorney who will be thorough in investigating all possible sources for compensation. Without that, you’ll end up leaving money on the table. The first place we look when an at-fault party runs out of coverage is a clause in your insurance relating to underinsured motorists (UIM). UIM clauses are put in place specifically for such situations, but it’s important to check that you have this clause in your insurance. In South Carolina, an insurance carrier doesn’t need to automatically enroll you for UIM. Instead, they need to make what’s called a “meaningful offer” of this protection. As such, you may not know whether or not you’re enrolled in it. If that’s your case, it’s a great idea to check your policy and fix any holes within it. Now, every attorney worth their salt is going to bring up UIM as a possible resource for you, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to finding alternative ways to get you the settlement you deserve. Depending on the nature of your accident, our team will also look at the following four areas to see if they could benefit you. DRAMSHOP LAWS Dramshop is the colloquial name for laws that place liability on bars and restaurants in the event that they over-serve patients. These commercial liability policies routinely exceed the coverage you’ll find in personal auto insurance. If you’re hit by an intoxicated driver, we will do everything in our power to find out where that driver was served and hold the institution accountable. CLAIMS AGAINST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Recently, we had a case where a motorcyclist ran over a shovel that was left in the road by a construction crew. This crew was hired by a government agency to complete the road project, which means they are
held to certain safety guidelines. When those rules are broken, you have every right to go after the agency responsible.
THE OTHER DRIVER’S EMPLOYER If the driver you’ve been hit by is on the clock, their employer may be liable for the damages. The most obvious example of this type of case is when a truck driver has been asked to work extended hours beyond what’s legal, but it is just as applicable when a pizza delivery vehicle causes an accident. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS Some accidents are the result of faulty parts or vehicles that should’ve been recalled. The second we know which makes and models were involved in your case, we’ll check to ensure that those vehicles were safe to be driving. If not, the car company that produced them can be held responsible.
With so many sources that could help pay for your medical bills, vehicle damages, and other costs incurred in the aftermath of an accident, you’d be foolish to accept the limits of an insurance provider without doing a little more digging. Let us help you get the full amount you deserve by turning over every stone related to your case. Call us today to find out how we do it. –Jim Snell
www.SnellLaw.com | www.SnellInjuryLaw.com | F: 800-567-6249 | P: 803-753-1476 1
Multicultural Celebrations
Teach Your Kids About Winter Holidays
According to the Pew Research Center, Christmas is the most celebrated December holiday in the U.S. Yet, like the melting pot it is, the U.S. contains many cultures from across the globe, each with their own traditions. Teach your kids about some of the holiday celebrations from different cultures this season.
KWANZAA Created in 1966 by black studies professor Maulana Karenga during the Black Nationalist Movement, Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration and reflection period for African Americans. The week offers African Americans the opportunity to connect with African culture and history by celebrating the seven principles of African heritage, which include unity, self- determination, and creativity. HANUKKAH Hanukkah pays homage to a two-year Jewish rebellion against an oppressive Greek-Syrian government that took them captive in an attempt to eliminate Judaism. The tradition of the eight-day celebration and the lighting of the menorah candles comes from the story of a miracle that happened during the rebellion, when a one-day supply of oil burned for eight days in a temple. DIWALI Though celebrated in late fall, Diwali is a Hindu holiday that’s known as the festival of lights. Its main purpose is to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, and the five-day festival includes the lighting of candles or lamps,
feasting, and giving gifts to family and friends. Diwali also celebrates the Hindu new year and is the largest, most widely celebrated festival in India.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but educating your children about holiday practices other than Christmas will give them a broader worldview and inspire them to gain further knowledge about cultures outside their own. Your local library is a great resource for children’s literature on these holidays, and there are also TV programs from PBS that feature episodes on these traditions. Enjoy the winter holiday season, however you decide to celebrate!
Tammy Broome joined our practice in August as a legal secretary and receptionist, so consider this profile a long-overdue introduction. If you’ve been to our office recently, you’ve no doubt been greeted by Tammy’s friendly face. We’re so excited to have her on the team, and she’s already contributed a great deal in her short time here. “I was looking to change my career path when I stumbled across a posting from The Law Office of James R. Snell Jr.,” Tammy recalls.“It seemed like a perfect opportunity, so I went ahead and applied. I have to be honest; I wasn’t sure they’d even give me a call back, but I was very happy when they did.” For our part, we were impressed with Tammy from the moment we read her resume and cover letter. Once we met with her in person, we knew she’d be the first person we offered the position to. Luckily, we never had to send an offer to anyone else. During her time at the practice, Tammy has quickly understood what makes Snell Law different. “Jim is a brilliant attorney, but he’s also more than that,” Tammy says. “From the
first day I started, I was so impressed by how diligently everyone worked to make our clients feel comfortable. If you’re reticent or nervous, you’ll never be able to provide all the relevant information about your case. That’s why it’s so awesome that we strive to make people feel at home from the moment they walk through our doors.” How did Tammy manage to pick up a new career in a new industry and excel so quickly? Ever humble, she gives the credit to her coworkers. “Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming and friendly, helping me pick up the skills needed to do a great job,” Tammy notes. “Without them, the transition process would’ve been much rougher.” In addition to celebrating a new job, Tammy recently tied the knot with her now-husband, Derrill.“I also owe a thank-you to Derrill, my family, and our friends for being so supportive about my career change. It means the world to have the people closest to you encourage you on your new adventure,” she says.
Meet Tammy Broome OurFriendlyNew LegalSecretary
2 The Law Office of James R. Snell Jr., LLC | P: 803-753-1476
A Massive Black Friday Lawsuit Fake Discounts and Angry Shoppers Shoppers flock to retailers every Black Friday in hopes of securing the best deals on the year’s hottest products. There are many nasty aspects of Black Friday— the long lines, the overzealous shoppers, the limited stock of items — but phony pricing and fake sales shouldn’t be among them. But that’s exactly what happened to folks in Los Angeles during the 2016 holiday season, leading to the biggest Black Friday lawsuit in history. In December of 2016, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office sued J.C. Penney, Sears, Macy’s, and Kohl’s for a practice called “false reference pricing,” a nefarious tactic whereby retailers lie about the original price of an item to make a discount appear bigger than it actually is. For example, Sears sold a Kenmore washing machine at a “sale price” of $999.99, compared to a “regular price” of $1,179.99. The problem was the so-called sale price was actually the price that product was offered at every day. Therefore, it wasn’t actually on sale. Duping your customers is a bad business practice, but what makes it illegal? Well, California law requires that retailers post a retail price no higher than what the product was sold at within three months prior to the ad.“Families today … are striving to get the very most they can get from an extremely hard-earned holiday shopping dollar,” said LA City Attorney Mike Feuer.“They deserve to make an informed decision.” After the suit was brought against them, the retailers all quickly moved to settle, promising to never engage in false reference pricing again.
Most retailers offer discounts around the holidays to encourage shoppers to come into their stores or visit their websites. Promotions and sales are great tools in any business’s arsenal, provided they aren’t out to mislead customers. Big-box stores may try to manipulate innocent people, and it’s up to aggrieved customers to hold those corporations accountable. Nearly every year, you’ll read about a class-action lawsuit that develops in response to the shady tactics of businesses eager to secure those holiday shopping dollars. Are there great bargains to be had on Black Friday? Of course. But if something sounds too good to be true, it very well might be. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t let retailers trick you into a purchase you wouldn’t make otherwise.
trivia
Holiday Roast
What’s the name of the lawyer who defends Kris Kringle in the holiday classic
Prime Rib
INGREDIENTS
“Miracle on 34th Street”?
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1 bone-in prime rib (6–7 pounds)
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1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
Send your answers to Caitlyn (caitlyn@snelllaw.com).
•
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1. The first correct answer wins a $15 gift card to Starbucks.
•
2 cups red wine
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Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
•
4 cups beef stock
2. All other submissions are entered in a drawing to win a second $15 gift card to Starbucks.
INSTRUCTIONS
3. The funniest wrong answer will be chosen by Caitlyn and will also win a $15 gift card to Starbucks.
Inspired by Food Network 5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus. 1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare.
All entries must be sent to Caitlyn by Friday, Dec. 21,
and the winners will be announced in our next edition.
Last month’s winner: Kevin Leaphart
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Inside this Issue
How to Get More From Your Car Accident Claim PAGE 1
Teach Your Kids About Holidays Spotlight on Tammy Broome PAGE 2
The Biggest Black Friday Lawsuit in History Holiday Roast Prime Rib PAGE 3
Snell Law Adds a New Attorney PAGE 4
Over the past year, our firm has faced a good problem. Our case volume has been increasing, which means we’ve been working long hours to ensure that we devote the necessary amount of attention to each client. Eventually, we decided it was time to bring another attorney into the fold, before Jim and Vicki passed out from exhaustion. Luckily, we already had the perfect candidate in mind: Christopher Lusk. When we had the chance to add him to our team, we jumped at it. Christopher comes to us after years of experience working for the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and prosecuting DUI cases. “I had the chance to work with Jim Snell many times during that role,” Chistopher says.“Though he was technically my adversary, I always admired the diligence and care he put into every case he worked on. Once I realized that there was an opportunity to work alongside and learn from Jim, I knew it was too good to pass up.” Transitioning from state prosecution to private practice has included some surprises for Christopher, but most of them
have been pleasant.“It’s amazing to work for citizens who need your help,” he says. “It’s a lot more personal than working for an agency. I also quickly learned that working for a private practice involves expert time management. Before I started here, I didn’t realize how many places an attorney has to be when they’re working on multiple cases. It’s a fun challenge.” When he’s not working, Christopher loves spending time with his wife, Brittany, and their two rescue dogs, Reggie and Riley. He also helps run the Columbia Adult Men’s Baseball League, making him most assuredly the best athlete on our staff. We’d also like to add that while we didn’t hire Christopher knowing about this skill, we were happy to find out that he’s quite handy. He’s already fixed a bathroom window for us. Welcome aboard, Christopher. We’re honored to have you as part of the Snell Law team.
A New Attorney Joins the Team Introducing Christopher Lusk
4 The Law Office of James R. Snell Jr., LLC | P: 803-753-1476
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