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S pada L aw G roup INJURY LAW LLC
THE SLG ADVISOR
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FEBRUARY 2019
With Each Step HELPING STRANGERS CONQUER THEIR MOUNTAIN
T he day after Thanksgiving, my such an activity the retail equivalent of waterboarding torture, so I chose instead to go for an early morning hike up to the summit of Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire. It was a glorious day with the temperatures around 10 degrees. At 8 a.m., the sun was shining and there was fresh snow from the previous two days. As Jimmy Buffett sings, “It was a beautiful day, the kind you want to toast.” I’m often reluctant to winter hike alone given the multitude of calamities that can befall a solo hiker in subfreezing temperatures, but I was feeling it this day. I packed up my backpack, got my snowshoes, and headed to the mountain. The hike up to the summit takes about an hour and a half when there’s no snow, so I assumed it would take me closer to two hours to get to the summit on that day. I’m a relative newcomer to winter hiking, but to say I love it would be an understatement — I live for it! When I got to the trailhead, there wasn’t a single car in the parking lot which meant I would not encounter another human for the next several hours. As I began my hike, it was apparent that I would be breaking trail all the way up. That meant there were no footprints or tracks for me to follow. I would need to pay very close attention to trail markers so I would not get lost. It also meant I would be working much harder than normal since each step into the snow would require more effort on my part. I strapped on my snowshoes and I headed up. daughter and my wife decided to go Black Friday shopping. I consider
Despite the cold, the natural beauty was breathtaking. The early morning sun peeked through the forest trees, and icicles dangled on every branch like Christmas ornaments. I was in heaven! Each step was a beautiful winter ballet for this old man. I enjoyed every step up the mountain and even had a chance to spend 20 minutes in complete solitude on the summit before the biting cold forced me to head back down. Unlike the hike up, the trip down was much easier. I simply needed to follow my footsteps back. There was no chance of getting lost. Given my age, I’ve always hated the descent as it often wreaks havoc on my 50-plus-year-old knees, but on that day, the deep snow acted as a natural shock absorber. I was making effortless — and painless — time down the mountain. It was during my trip down that I became mesmerized by my footprints that I was following. I realized with each step I took packing down the weeks’ worth of snowfall, I was making the trip up for the next hiker immeasurably easier. This struck me. No longer was my descent a meaningless and uninteresting endeavor to get back to my truck. I suddenly felt an obligation to ensure that each step I took down had purpose. My purpose was to compress snow that had not been previously compressed by me on the way up. My goal was to make a beautifully compact trail available for the next hiker coming up the mountain, whenever that may be. I thought about this obligation. It would have been easier for me to simply step in my prior tracks, but I wanted to do better. I wanted to help a future stranger. I wanted to make sure that somebody else’s journey up “their mountain” was a little easier.
I thought about who this unknown hiker might be. Maybe it was a mom carrying a young child on her back. Maybe it was someone older than me with knees worse than mine who needed the comfort and security of a well-trodden path. Whoever they were, I wanted to help them. That was my mission and because I had a clear mission, my steps became meaningful. Then it hit me! The steps that I was taking down the mountain and the satisfaction I felt knowing I was helping a stranger — it was exactly what I’ve been doing with my law career for the last 27 years. In our practice, we help people who come to us as injured strangers. We not only provide them with excellent legal services, but we make their next steps up “their mountain” less strenuous and stressful. We try to ensure everything we do for our clients eases their journey during the pendency of their case. Our mission at Spada Law Group — and my mission on this hike — were very similar. I find joy in helping someone who is struggling and needs an easier path, whether that means fighting for them in court or packing down an unbroken trail for them. Make each of your steps meaningful, no matter where you choose to step. -Len Spada
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Why Do We Need a Leap Year? T he C alculations T hat L eave U s in N eed of an E xtra D ay
problem in 1582 by creating the Gregorian Calendar. Now, a leap year occurs every four years except for the years that are evenly divisible by 100 and not 400. For instance, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years because they were divisible by 100. A LEAP DAY BIRTHDAY The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are about 1 in 1,500, which leaves approximately 187,000 people in the U.S. and 4 million people around the world celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1. People born on a Leap Day are faced with dilemmas such as which date they should receive their driver’s license. Although it varies from state to state, most consider March 1 the appropriate day for leap-year 16-year-olds — who are celebrating their fourth “official” birthday — to receive their license.
A Chilling Threat How to Stay Warm and Safe in Winter It is common for winter weather in Massachusetts to dip below freezing, and our attempts to keep warm can make the second half of winter incredibly dangerous. Some of the biggest safety threats are carbon monoxide poisoning and improper use of electric space heaters. BEWARE OF THE SILENT KILLER — CARBON MONOXIDE Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that can build up in enclosed spaces. People and animals who breathe in this gas for too long can die from CO poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control report that 50,000 people in the United States visit the emergency room for CO poisoning each year. Half of all accidental CO deaths occur in January, February, and March. This is due to the increased use of portable generators and wood-burning fireplaces. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, confusion, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. However, most accidental CO deaths occur when the victim is sleeping, before they experience any of the symptoms. For this reason, it’s important to equip your home with a CO detector and change the batteries in your detector every six months. Never run a generator in an enclosed space, even if the doors and windows are open. If you have a wood-burning fireplace in your home, make sure to get it serviced annually so the flue is clear and safe to use. Lastly, if you suspect CO poisoning, get out of the building, call 911, and seek medical attention right away. Every four years, February gains an extra day at the end of the month. But what does this contribute to the year as a whole? You might be surprised by what this one day does for us! The 365 days in each year represent the time it takes for the Earth to circle the sun. However, the orbit actually takes nearly a quarter of a day longer than that. The additional 0.2421 of a day might not seem like it would make a significant impact, but after a few decades, it adds up. To ensure the calendar and seasons stay on the right timeline, the leap day was created. THE START OF THE LEAP YEAR The Egyptians were the first to officially calculate how many days it takes to orbit the sun, revealing the need for a leap year. Europeans at the time used a calendar that followed a lunar model, which needed an entire month added to retain consistency. The leap year wasn’t introduced into Europe until the reign of Julius Caesar. With the help of astronomer Sosigenes, Caesar created the Julian Calendar, which included 12 months and 365 days, with a single day added every fourth year. However, the Julian Calendar wasn’t perfect, because 0.2421 of a day can’t be rounded to a multiple of five, so it caused the calendar to have an extra 11 minutes every four years. Pope Gregory XIII fixed the
With all the changes the calendar has undergone, it still isn’t quite perfect. Experts say that in about 10,000 years, it will need to be changed yet again.
BE CAREFUL WITH SPACE HEATERS Never buy a secondhand space heater. Purchase only the newest models that include all available safety features and carry the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label. When you pull your space heater out of storage, check that it is still in good condition. If the cord is damaged or hot to the touch when plugged in, get rid of the unit right away. Do not leave your space heater running in an empty room or while you’re sleeping and keep the 3-foot perimeter around the unit clear. Don’t place your space heater near curtains, bedding, clothes, or paperwork — anything that could catch fire. Most importantly, never plug your space heater into an extension cord or power strip. These can overheat and start a fire. Only plug your space heater directly into an outlet. Fireplaces and space heaters can be a welcome sight during a winter storm, but it’s important to practice care. Warming your fingers shouldn’t come at the cost of your life.
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How Your Auto Insurance is Failing You In Massachusetts, drivers are legally required to obtain auto insurance before they can take to the streets. Massachusetts drivers must have insurance that covers the following minimum legal requirements: • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: $20,000 / $40,000 • Property Damage Liability Coverage: $5,000 • Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: $20,000 / $40,000 • Personal Injury Protection: $8,000 (can be waived for driver-owner but not passengers) However, just because this is the minimum required amount, drivers should not make the mistake of believing it is enough to cover their needs. At Spada Law Group, we have met many clients who suffered greatly because their auto insurance was lacking. There are drivers on the road without insurance even though it is legally required. Even more tragically, there are MANY that have the minimum required coverage but may cause an accident that results in far more damage and expenses than their insurance is obligated to cover. If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you could be looking at tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills that you will have to cover on your own if you are injured. This is why we strongly urge people to take a second look at their uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. If you or your family are the victims of someone else’s negligence, you want to have your best bet at recovery. It is possible to increase that $20,000 in minimum coverage to $100,000, $250,000, and sometimes even $500,000 just by talking to your insurance agent. You’d be surprised at how little extra it costs to do so. How much is enough in terms of car insurance? This is a personal decision, but we encourage you to buy as much liability and uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage as you can afford. A modest increment in your premiums can provide substantial peace of mind. In Massachusetts, it’s important to remember that you cannot have more coverage to protect yourself than you have to protect others. If you want to increase your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you will also have to increase your liability coverage. Our advice: Put down this newsletter and call your insurance agent now! Make sure you and your loved ones are protected before you get back on the road. If you have ANY questions, give us a call. We have staff on hand that are former insurance claim adjustors who would be more than willing to help.
AQUARIUS ARROW CANDY CHOCOLATE CUPID DATE
FEBRUARY FLOWERS HEART
ROSES SWEET VALENTINE YEAR
LEAP LOVE PISCES
Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards Local Chef’s Corner Inspired by Food & Wine magazine.
INGREDIENTS • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 large egg yolks • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • Royal icing, sprinkles, and edible markers, for decorating
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. 3. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer to low, and mix until dough congeals. 4. Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16-inch thick and cut into 4x6- inch cards. 5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. 6. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute.
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S pada L aw G roup INJURY LAW LLC
111 Everett Ave #1F Chelsea, MA 02150 617.889.5000 SpadaLawGroup.com
Inside This Issue
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My Mission
Why Do We Need a Leap Year? Are Space Heaters Safe?
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Recipe: Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards Stop Leaving Your Family Unprotected
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3 Cheers for Chi Chi!
Chi Chi the Rescue Dog In our darkest moments, it can be hard to believe joy can be found again. But one amazing dog proves that no matter what happens, through love and patience, we can make the world a better place. A QUADRUPLE AMPUTEE WHO INSPIRES THE WORLD
Chi Chi is a golden retriever who was found in a dumpster by an animal rescue group in South Korea. Badly injured and left in a garbage bag with her legs bound together, the only way to save Chi Chi’s life was to amputate all four of her legs. As she recovered, the call went out to find a family who could care for a dog with serious medical needs. As a quadruple amputee, just getting Chi Chi’s prosthetics on so she could go outside in the morning would be time-consuming. Fortunately, Elizabeth Howell from Arizona saw a video about Chi Chi’s plight online. “She stole my heart,” Howell said, taken by how Chi Chi was still wagging her tail despite her injuries. After seeing Chi Chi’s perseverance and her will to live, Elizabeth and her family took on the challenge. There were struggles as Chi Chi learned to trust people again, but with time, Chi Chi found peace and joy with her new family. “She exemplifies resilience and forgiveness and willingly shares her love and compassion in abundance,” Howell has said. “Her sweet-tempered and gentle spirit opens people’s hearts and her perceptive spirit senses where her love is needed.”
Chi Chi’s vet has called her a “miracle dog,” referring both to the fact that she survived losing all her legs and to the joy she brings to the world. Today, Chi Chi is a registered therapy dog, offering strength, love, and support to those who need it most. She visits VA hospitals, assisted living facilities, and children with disabilities. To celebrate her journey of survival, courage, and love, Chi Chi was honored with the American Humane Hero Dog Award in 2018. You can follow the adventures of this brave, loving canine at Facebook. com/ChiChiRescueDog.
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