Champion Firm, P.C. - January 2020
2675 PACES FERRY ROAD SE, SUITE 260 ATLANTA, GA 30339
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys hampion Firm, P.C.
WWW.THECHAMPIONFIRM.COM 404-596-8044
JANUARY 2020
WHAT’S CHANGED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS? WELCOME TO A NEW DECADE
Ten years ago, I was working in a job I didn’t really care for. After graduating from law school in 2007, I spent two years clerking for a federal judge before taking a job at a law firm that focused on defense work. It was the exact opposite of what I do today. I started with that firm in August 2009, and by January 2010, I knew it wasn’t a good fit. I just wasn’t proud of the work I was doing. Though I already knew I wanted to work in personal injury, I started in defense to get some foundational experience. When you’re in personal injury, it helps to know the other side’s tricks. The trouble was that I couldn’t stand working at that defense firm! Back then, I focused on starting my career and getting out of that job. I was married, but my wife and I didn’t have any kids yet. In 2010, my life was completely different than it is today. It’s pretty wild to look back at all the changes over the last decade. I spent just six months at that defense firm before a better opportunity presented itself to me. I got pretty lucky and was able to switch to a really good law firm where I learned so much about the field. Almost midway through the decade, I was ready to start my own firm in 2014. I’ve always wanted to own my own business, but there was a point when I felt like it was never going to happen. When I finally opened the doors of my firm, I felt a mix of great pride and a lot of nerves. I didn’t just want to run my own business — I wanted to run the best personal injury firm in Georgia! That meant learning how to find the right employees to help run things, take care of our clients, and get them great results. Looking back over the last six years, I can confidently say we’re very successful in those areas. At home, things have also changed a lot. To start, my wife and I are homeowners! We were renting back in 2010, so being able to buy a house to raise our family was a big deal. We’ve also welcomed our kids into the world. It feels great to come home after a long day and be greeted by my kids who are so happy to see me. I didn’t know I could love
“IN 2010, MY LIFE WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TODAY. IT’S PRETTY WILD TO LOOK BACK AT ALL THE CHANGES OVER THE LAST DECADE.”
anyone as much as I love my children. They’re my world and the best thing this decade has given me.
Reflecting on the last 10 years forces me to look ahead at what the next 10 years may bring. Where will I be in January 2030? That’s a scary thought. My sweet little children will be so much older. I’ll have a junior in high school! I don’t know anything about raising high schoolers. Thankfully, I have a few more years to figure that out. When it comes to the firm, my plan is to continue providing excellent representation for our clients. We’re pretty great today, but we can certainly continue to come up with ways to improve what we do. Over the course of the next decade, I vow to keep getting better every day. When I reach January 2030, I want to look around and be proud of what we’ve achieved.
Here’s to a bright new year and a great new decade. May you spend the next 10 years doing something that makes you proud.
–Darl Champion
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HELP YOUR KIDS ACHIEVE MORE THIS YEAR
WITH SIMPLE, ACTIONABLE GOALS
With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self-improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very
broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.
Fast Facts About Slip-and-Fall Accidents Who’s to Blame?
“didn’t look where they were going.” However, in the State of Georgia, property owners have a responsibility to ensure that visitors to that location can move safely on their property. This includes:
Michael was picking up sandwiches for himself and his wife at a local deli when he slipped on a puddle of water. When he fell, Michael knocked his head on the ground and broke his femur. The pain was so immense, Michael couldn’t get back up again, and he had to be rushed to the hospital, where he faced mounting medical bills. To make matters worse, the deli tried to deny any responsibility for Michael’s accident. Fortunately, Michael called The Champion Firm, and we were able to get him compensation for his injuries. Slip-and-fall accidents can be extremely damaging. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that falls account for 40% of job site fatalities, making it the leading cause of death in workplace injuries. A bad fall can lead to broken bones, severe cuts or lacerations, organ damage, spinal cord damage, and even traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can result in heavy medical bills and time missed from work, which is why it’s important that the person responsible for the fall be held accountable. But if you fall in a public place, who’s to blame?
• Putting up signs indicating wet, slick, or dangerous areas • Making sure their property is free of common hazards that could cause slip-and-fall accidents, like ice or uneven flooring • Providing handrails when needed • Regularly checking that their property is safe and providing maintenance when needed If you fell and hurt yourself in a public place, like a grocery store, restaurant, or hotel, because the property owner or manager failed to take necessary precautions, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Keep in mind that the insurance company may fight your claim or even give you a quick, lowball settlement. Make sure you’re working with a personal injury attorney who is prepared to fight for your fair share. The team at The Champion Firm have experience handling complex slip-and-fall cases. If you’ve been injured in a fall, call 404-596-8044 and talk about your options today.
Some property owners may attempt to dodge responsibility by insisting that the fall victim was being “reckless” or that they
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4 SNOW REMOVAL SAFETY TIPS Snowmageddon 2020?
Warm up before shoveling. If we do get some snowfall, be ready to move it out of the way. Snow can freeze into sheets of uneven ice, which might cause someone to slip and fall on your property. Just take care not to hurt yourself while shoveling the snow away! Shoveling is a workout, so do some stretches and warm up before you get started. Don’t make snow piles. When shoveling, throw the snow as far away from the walkway as possible, preferably into your yard. Never pile snow on the sides of your sidewalk or driveway. The piles can melt as the temperature warms up and flood back into the walkway. When the temperatures drop again in the evening, you’ll have a new sheet of ice to deal with. Though snow and ice aren’t usually a big problem in Georgia, it’s always smart to be prepared. You never know when Jack Frost might pay us a visit.
One of the best parts about living in the South is that our winters are pretty mild. We might not get a white Christmas, but one look at the snowstorms in Massachusetts and you can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. The last full-fledged blizzard to hit Georgia was in March 1993. However, because snowfall is so rare, Georgians aren’t always prepared to deal with it when it appears. This can cause some serious accidents. In Georgia, property owners are expected to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. This includes removing snow and ice in a timely manner. Here are some tips for dealing with snow and ice before someone gets hurt. Break out the salt. While we probably won’t see heavy snowfall that traps us indoors, ice can be a problem during the winter. Be prepared to remove any ice that freezes on your sidewalk or driveway. Sprinkle rock salt evenly and shovel melted ice off walkways before it can freeze again. Add a little sand (or kitty litter). A cheap, effective way to add traction to slippery surfaces is to apply sand or cat litter. Pouring some cat litter on your front steps can help guests keep their balance as they come in and out of your home.
THE CHAMPION POP QUIZ
HOPPIN’ JOHN
Inspired by Epicurious
Ingredients
Win a Little Extra Help in 2020 Need a little extra help around the house? Get yourself an assistant — a virtual assistant, that is! This month, we’re giving
• 1 cup dried black- eyed peas • 5–6 cups water • 1 smoked ham hock • 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup long-grain white rice • 1 dried hot pepper,
optional (arbol and Calabrian are great options)
away a brand-new Amazon Echo Show 8 , the latest in Amazon’s smart virtual assistants. Enter for a chance to win by answering this month’s trivia question: What’s the most popular New Year’s resolution in the United States? Email your answer to tamsie@thechampionfirm.com for a chance to win. Submissions must be received by Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, to qualify. Congratulations to our November pop quiz champion, Judith K., who scored tickets to a Hawks home game.
Directions
1. Wash and sort peas. 2. In a saucepan, cover peas with water,
cups of liquid remaining.
4. Add rice, cover, drop heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes, undisturbed. 5. Remove from heat and let steam for an additional 10 minutes, still covered. 6. Remove lid, fluff with a fork, and serve.
discarding any that float.
3. Add pepper, ham hock, and onion.
Gently boil and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until peas are just tender, about 90 minutes. At this point, you should have about 2
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Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys hampion Firm, P.C.
2675 PACES FERRY ROAD SE, SUITE 260 ATLANTA, GA 30339
WWW.THECHAMPIONFIRM.COM 404-596-8044
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
10 Years of Change 1
2 2 3 3 4
Helping Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions
What You Need to Know After a Fall
Am I Responsible if Someone Slips on Ice?
Hoppin’ John
Real Winter Wonderlands
TITLE WILL GO HERE ESCAPE TO A WINTER WONDERLAND CHILL OUT IN THESE FROSTY DESTINATIONS
THE DOLOMITES, SOUTH TYROL, ITALY If you want the feel of a ski trip to the Alps without the packed slopes and ritzy resorts, the Dolomites are just for you. Located in northeastern Italy, this stunning mountain range is home to some of the best skiing in Europe, as well as many historical sites. The secluded villages that dot the mountain valleys are an attraction in their own right, especially for the rustic cuisine you’ll find there. Don’t expect pasta though. This region is a melting pot of flavors from Austria, northern Italy, and the local Ladin people. Ricotta and sauerkraut pancakes, anyone? THE ANTARCTIC This is the one entry on this list that is best enjoyed during the summer months, which is December–February in the Southern Hemisphere, because that’s when the freezing temperatures of the southernmost continent are at their most hospitable. The Antarctic has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, with cruises taking adventure seekers through the vast, untouched beauty of this far-flung destination. Some tourists even enjoy kayaking or cross- country skiing through this icy paradise.
Snow is magical and gorgeous — unless you have to commute in it. If you want to enjoy all the wonder that winter has to offer without the hassle, why not turn it
into a vacation? Here are a few breathtaking, snow- covered destinations that any
winter lover can enjoy.
BULGUKSA TEMPLE, SOUTH KOREA Above the city of Gyeongju, this ancient Buddhist temple has stood on the slopes of Tohamsan Mountain since the eighth century. Bulguksa, or “Temple of the Buddha Land,” is South Korea’s No. 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a popular attraction for domestic and international tourism. The crowds and school tours die down during the winter, however, which also happens to be when Bulguksa is at its most pristine. The iced-over lotus ponds and snow-dusted pagodas add to the sense of tranquility this site naturally exudes.
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