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DEC 2017
LEGAL INJURY GUIDE
327 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, GA 30117
STRIVING TO BE BETTER
Because You Deserve It The second most common complaint I heard was that lawyers talked down to people. I think it’s a common habit for people who get professional degrees. You go to law school or medical school, and you’re told you’re the smartest person in the room, and when you get out in the real world, you continue to treat people through that lens.
“I decided then that I wanted to be a part of a law firm so I could create systems and procedures that are client-centered. “
What do you do when you see people being mistreated? I listened to these complaints and thought, “People deserve better. There has to be a better way to represent people.” I decided then that I wanted to be a part of a law firm so I could create systems and procedures that are client-centered. That took me to law school and brought me to my current role with Smith, Wallis, & Scott. I became a reluctant lawyer, and for as long as I resisted it, I realized this is where I was meant to be. Our firm exists to provide a better way, to provide better opportunities for our clients, and to give better representation to families that’ve been hurt. One of the first steps we took to make your experience better was adding a one-week call. Within one week of filing a case with us, we’ll give you a call, even if it’s just to say hello. People don’t just need a lawyer; they need a good lawyer. My favorite part of what I do is connecting people with a lawyer who will fight for them. I get the satisfaction of improving their situation, and I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to do so. I still identify with people who are struggling, because I didn’t grow up with a lot, and it’s one of the things that drives me to keep getting better at what we do. And the more people who demand better, the better our community will be.
You might find it hard to believe, but I never wanted to be a lawyer. For a long time, I resisted, but nonetheless, life guided me toward the profession. Even as a kid, my dad often told me, “One day, you’re going to be a lawyer because you’re good at arguing.” Despite my stubborn nature, I was more interested in business than law. I grew up in a lower-income environment, and we didn’t know any lawyers. That was a distant world for us. If my family had suffered legal troubles, we wouldn’t have known where to go. When I started with Smith, Wallis & Scott as an intern and then a paralegal, becoming a lawyer was still not my goal. My dream was to own a business, but it was during this time that I developed a passion for creating a client- centered experience. One of the biggest complaints I heard from people when I started working in the legal field was that they couldn’t get in touch with their lawyer. Once they were hired, they disappeared. Clients would try calling them, but they were never available. The attorney never gave updates on their case.
-Luis Scott, Jr.
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THE ORIGIN OF SANTA CLAUS
Santa Claus wasn’t always a husky, omniscient gift-giver who circumnavigates the world once a year, propelled by flying caribou and backed by an army of friendly elves. Though the historical St. Nicholas had many of the same generous tendencies as our contemporary “King in the North,” he lacked a high-tech sleigh that could exceed the speed of light. To be exact, St. Nicholas was a renowned Bishop of Myra — an old Roman town near modern-day Demre, Turkey — way back around A.D. 300.
was known for his generosity. The most famous tale of his charity involved a poor man who could not afford a proper dowry to marry off his three daughters. In those days, this generally meant the daughters would remain unmarried, making it likely that they’d fall into prostitution. Wanting to help, but also wanting to spare the family embarrassment, St. Nicholas traveled to the house at night and threw three purses packed with gold coins through the window. After his death, St. Nicholas became a beloved patron saint, but during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, the respect that many Catholic saints received diminished, and his popularity dwindled across Europe. One area where he remained popular was the Netherlands. There, he lived on as “Sinterklaas,” a mythical figure who went house to house on the eve of St. Nicholas’s nameday, December 5, leaving treats and gifts for children. Sinterklaas traditionally wore red bishop’s clothes and employed elves, and he traveled with horses that could walk across rooftops. When the Dutch emigrated in droves to America during the 17th and 18th centuries, they brought this kindly icon to the new colonies. Over time, notably through Clement Moore’s 1822 poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and a famous 1930s depiction by Coca-Cola ad illustrator Haddon Sundblom, Santa evolved into the figure we see today.
Even before he became the bishop, St. Nicholas
WHO PAYS When You’re in an Accident?
Have you ever been in an accident? If not, you can only imagine the thoughts that race through your head an instant after it happens. You wonder if you’re okay, if the other person is okay, and, once the dust settles, who will pay for it all. Because you abide by the rules and have insurance, it makes sense that the other person does, too, right? Unfortunately, this is not the reality of all accidents. We’d like to believe that other people are responsible, too. But there are plenty of reasons someone chooses to drive uninsured or underinsured. We’ve seen many cases where the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover the victim’s losses. What can you do? If you’ve been injured in a car accident and someone else is at fault, you have a right to ask for compensation. Time is a priority in these cases. Not only will an attorney want to collect evidence to make your case, you also must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of the collision. Don’t wait to bring your case to an attorney. An attorney is helpful in this process because, after helping you file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they can guide you through the rest of the process to help you get the compensation you deserve. If your
claim is not settled, an attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the driver. If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, you deserve to be compensated. Contact us today.
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These Strategies May Help SUFFERING FROM A BACK INJURY?
A staggering 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Sources of back pain include weakened muscles and bones as well as disease. But it’s especially frustrating when the pain is caused by a workplace accident. Fortunately, there are strategies you can implement now to relieve your pain, though the first step should always be speaking with your doctor. RETHINK BED REST It’s tempting to rest it off when you are in pain, but studies are finding that bed rest may not be the best prescription for a back injury. Musculoskeletal expert Dr. Chris Maher explains, “What we’ve learned is that most tissues recover more quickly from injury or trauma if they’re gently loaded [used].” Maher’s advice is backed up by other experts. Instead of going straight to bed when your back pain flares up, you might try a restorative yoga class at your local YMCA or taking a short walk each day. Movement may make a
world of difference in managing your pain. If nothing else, the endorphins you stimulate during exercise can act as nature’s painkillers. Resting between exercises can be helpful, but keep it to short breaks instead of full days of bed rest. WORK WITH A PHYSICAL THERAPIST Meet your new best friend: your physical therapist! Regular appointments with a physical therapist will likely be a key part of your recovery. They will show you how to modify your everyday movements to reduce pain and pressure on your back. They can also prescribe workouts that you can do at home. Checking in with them about your progress is an important step of recovery. While you focus on getting better, let Smith, Wallis & Scott handle the legal aspects of your workers’ compensation. Call us at 770-214-2500 to schedule a free, confidential evaluation of your case.
EASY HOLIDAY PARTY Cheese Fondue
Scrambling to find something for the holiday potluck? This fondue is sure to impress!
INGREDIENTS
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¾ cup dry white wine
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1 clove garlic
www.swslawfirm.com (770) 214-2500 (ask for lilly) facebook.com/smithwallandscott
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1 tablespoon cornstarch
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Salt to taste
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1 (8-ounce) package sliced Swiss cheese
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Foods to dip (apple slices, bread cubes, roasted vegetables, etc.)
DIRECTIONS
HAVE A LAUGH
1. In a large bowl, whisk together wine and cornstarch. 2. Chop cheese slices into small, uniform pieces. 3. Rub clove of garlic all over the
some cheese and slowly whisk. When nearly smooth, add more cheese and whisk gently. Repeat until all cheese is melted. If mixture seems too tight, add 1 tablespoon wine.
sides and bottom of a heavy- bottomed pot, then discard.
5. Season with salt and serve
immediately. Keep pot on low heat to keep the fondue dippable.
4. Heat wine mixture over
medium-low heat in the pot until thick and bubbling. Add
Recipe inspired by PinchofYum.com
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770-214-2500 swslawfirm.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
327 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton, GA 30117
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How I Became a Reluctant Lawyer
The Origin of Santa Claus
Personal Injury Explained
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Strategies to Relieve Back Pain
Easy Holiday Party Cheese Fondue
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Santa Tracking Goes High-Tech
of sorts, where buildings around Santa’s village “thaw out” and reveal a host of fun games and activities. There’s even a section titled “Santa Tracker for Educators,” which includes kid-friendly coding games, information on international holiday traditions, and a translation app to “learn the Santa lingo from around the world.” When the eve of the big day finally comes, Google promises a showcase of Santa’s “dashboard, the technology that powers his sleigh during his around-the-world journey.” Featuring “the latest and greatest … in sleigh engineering,” the app displays a Google Maps window that tracks each of Santa’s stops, gives status updates from Old Saint Nick, and tells kids how far he is from their city. It’s a colorful, fun adventure for the whole family. Of course, Google’s not the only kid on the Santa-tracking block. There’s also NORAD Tracks Santa , operated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the same organization that tracks nuclear missiles for the government. Similar to Google, noradsanta.org includes a variety of fun games and activities leading up to Christmas. But unlike Google, NORAD has a dedicated Santa-tracking app for your phone, where you can see a 3-D view of Santa’s location during his trip. The app also features videos, so you and your little ones can see clips of Santa flying around major landmarks and world cities. Just don’t stay up too late watching them. You don’t want Santa to skip over your house! SANTA TRACKING Goes High-Tech
It’s almost Christmas, and if you have small kids, you know what that means: prepping for the arrival of a jolly man in a red suit and his confusingly named reindeer. Some of us may remember spending Christmas Eve curled on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa as radio reports tracked Santa’s trip around the globe. But these days, kiddos have gotten a little more high-tech in their search for up-to-date, GPS-driven Kringle updates. First, there’s the Google Santa Tracker (santatracker.google.com), a full-fledged holiday hub for your browser powered by Google Maps, including, of course, an up-to-the-minute GPS tracker for the big man. The application arrived in 2004, and it’s been updated every year since. During the countdown to Christmas, there’s a colorfully animated advent calendar
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