Take a look at our newsletter this month.
November/December 2019
THE HARMAN HEADLINE
HARMAN LAW
Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Employment Lawyers
FAMILY, FOOTBALL, AND FEELING GRATEFUL
The Harmans Hit the Road for the Holidays
I don’t know about you, but even this early in November, I already have Thanksgiving on my mind. Last year when the triplets were just coming up on a year old, my wife Jen and I suspended our usual Thanksgiving travel plans in order to stay home with them. Instead of taking off to visit relatives, our family came to us, and our house practically had a revolving door through the holidays with so many loved ones coming and going. While I appreciated seeing everyone without having to leave home, I’m really looking forward to getting back to normal this year — or as normal as things can be with three adorable almost-2-year-olds in tow. Our plan is threefold.
“Looking around, I’ve realized that I couldn’t be a luckier man. I have a loving partner, three beautiful children, a supportive extended family, dedicated staff, and incredible clients who are willing to trust me with their troubles during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”
First, the week before Thanksgiving we’re going to fly to Iowa to visit Jen’s in-laws and catch a local football game in person. It’s our own little tradition to see a game while we’re there each November, and I can’t wait to climb back into the stands and cheer on our team in the crisp air. Next, for the actual Thanksgiving holiday, we’ll spend the day with my family here in North Carolina and do the classic turkey dinner. I don’t have a favorite Thanksgiving food — I just like to eat, so I eat whatever is there and, like most people, really overdo it! For me and Jen, the holiday is really all about the football. We block the whole weekend off to watch the games, and, if we didn’t have to get up and chase the kids from room to room, we might just camp out on the couch for the duration. Finally, the weekend after Thanksgiving we’ll hop in the car to visit Jen’s aunt and uncle, who live about 45 minutes away. All in all, there will be a good amount of time spent on the road and in the air this month, though the whole family has decided to come to our house for Christmas, so we won’t have to make the rounds a second time. Between both sets of grandparents,
Jen’s and my siblings, their kids, and Jen’s aunt and uncle, we’ll have a full house when it comes time to open presents. Do you have any advice for traveling with three 2-year- olds? If you do, I’d love to hear it. We’ll take any help we can get! Travel plans and football-related excitement aside, I’ve also been reflecting this month on the more serious meaning of Thanksgiving (and Christmas, too, for that matter): giving thanks for what we have. Looking around, I’ve realized that I couldn’t be a luckier man. I have a loving partner, three beautiful children, a supportive extended family, dedicated staff, and incredible clients who are willing to trust me with their troubles during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Without contributions from all of those people, I’d never have been able to fulfill my dream of running my own firm. In particular, I have to credit Harman Law’s success to my clients. If they — if you — didn’t trust in my experience and legal acumen, I wouldn’t be able to help nearly as many people as I do today. Know you’ll be in my thoughts this Thanksgiving, and, if there’s anything I can do to help you the way you’ve helped me, don’t hesitate to ask!
–Michael Harman
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-885-5550
Celebrating GivingTuesday
SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE YOU BELIEVE IN
November is usually all about Thanksgiving, but it isn’t the only holiday that encourages generosity. Giving Tuesday is a phenomenal celebration in which millions of people from across the globe are inspired to spend 24 hours giving back to the communities they love. Origin and Goal Giving Tuesday is celebrated every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and this year, the holiday lands on Dec. 3! It was established in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation and New York’s 92nd Street Y as a response to consumer-driven holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The purpose of the holiday was to spread the spirit of giving, not only for the people in our nation but individuals across the world. The goal is “to create a massive wave of generosity
that lasts well beyond that day and touches every person on the planet.”
Technology at Its Best Through the use of social media and technology, the organization hopes to
encourage and spread generosity on a global scale using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. The website states that “... technology and social media could be used to make generosity go viral; that people fundamentally want to give and talk about giving.” Through massive social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the individuals and companies participating in Giving Tuesday can spread their missions and messages all over the world, encouraging others to do the same. HowYou Can Celebrate Now is the perfect opportunity to support your community and the causes you believe in. The
best part of this holiday is that “giving” doesn’t just refer to donating money. People can give back by volunteering their time to help a nonprofit business, donating goods and food, or just buying a stranger some lunch. Even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact. If you’re interested in participating in Giving Tuesday, get together with your friends, family, sports team members, or neighbors to brainstorm on how you can give back. To learn more about how you can participate, visit GivingTuesday.org . Asked what her favorite thing is about her job, Neidy says, “It feels good when I do something for a client, and they acknowledge how we as a team here at the office do everything we can for them. So, just going above and beyond for the clients — I like that.” Neidy was born and raised here in Charlotte and loves living here, particularly when the holidays roll around. This Halloween, she decorated her house and visited as many haunted spots around town as she could, and she’s already making plans to watch the local light shows, drink plenty of hot chocolate, and festoon her house with lights this Christmas. When she isn’t at the office, you can probably find Neidy hanging out at the park with her husband, Geovanny, and their 7-year-old pitbull, Phoenix, or curled up on the couch watching “Grey’s Anatomy” on Netflix. Next time you stop by, be sure to say hello!
Employee Spotlight: Neidy Aguilar
As far back as high school, Neidy Aguilar knew she wanted to become a paralegal. When she was still a teen, Neidy interned at the public defender’s office in Charlotte, and immediately decided she’d have a future in law. After high school, she went on to get her associates degree in paralegal studies and take on another internship at the local courthouse before pursuing paralegal work full time. “At first I thought I wanted to be a paralegal for criminal defense, and I did that for a while, but it just wasn’t for me,” she says. “So, now I do personal injury and workers’ compensation.” Neidy has been with Harman Law for almost a year now, and we consider ourselves extremely lucky to have her. Not only is she competent and efficient — she stays busy responding to client concerns, scheduling mediations, discussing cases with our attorneys, and communicating with insurance adjusters — but she genuinely cares about every one of our clients and puts in 110% on each case.
Meet Our Top-Notch Paralegal
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com
SUDOKU
Why Do I Need an Attorney After an Uber Accident?
3 Steps a Good Lawyer Can Take on Your Behalf
Rideshare companies like Uber may be the best innovation of the last 10 years. They help people who don’t have cars or can’t afford car insurance get around and can even prevent drunk driving (particularly during the holidays). That said, those conveniences come with a few cons, like inexperienced or overworked drivers. Many rideshare drivers are on the road so much that their risk of getting into an accident is higher than the average person’s — a frightening prospect for passengers. If you’re involved in an accident while riding with Uber, you may have no idea what caused the accident and be entirely at the mercy of the Uber driver. That’s why it’s a good idea to contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately after your crash. They’ll pursue the necessary parties to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Specifically, they’ll take these three steps on your behalf if necessary:
1. They’ll deal with your insurance company.
If you’re injured in an Uber accident, you’ll need to file an accident claim against the Uber driver’s policy. If their policy doesn’t cover all of your damages, you may have to file a claim against the corporate policy as well. You’ll receive a check quickly if it’s approved, but if it’s denied, you many need to file an appeal. A good lawyer can guide you through that process and ensure it goes smoothly.
Solution on Page 4
2. They’ll file suit.
Thanksgiving may be held on Thursday, but the food often lasts at least through the weekend. To make the best use of the excess, grill up some killer turkey sandwiches. The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich
If the Uber driver’s insurance company won’t pay your claim, you’ll have no choice but to file suit. Your lawyer can handle this for you, too. In order to prove the Uber driver was responsible, you’ll have to demonstrate that they were negligent. Because North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, if you were partially at fault, your damages could be reduced. Your attorney will take this into account when negotiating your settlement.
3. They’ll demand compensation.
INGREDIENTS:
If you were injured in the accident, your attorney will demand damages for your suffering and missed work, and ensure you’re reasonably compensated. If you’ve been in an Uber accident and need legal representation, Harman Law can help. Call us today at 704-885-5550 to summon an experienced attorney to your side.
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2 slices sourdough bread 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 slices Swiss cheese 1/3 cup shredded leftover turkey
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1/3 cup leftover dressing or stuffing
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2 tbsp leftover gravy 1 tbsp butter, room temperature
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3 tbsp leftover cranberry sauce
Note: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the leftovers required.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Coat inside of each bread slice with mustard and a slice of cheese. Place turkey and cranberry sauce on one slice and dressing and gravy on the other. 2. Combine sandwich and spread butter on both sides. 3. In a panini maker or large skillet, grill until crispy and golden brown. 4. Slice and serve.
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-885-5550
8712 Lindholm Dr., Suite 300 Huntersville, NC 28078 Offices in Lake Norman, Charlotte, and Hickory 704-885-5550 HarmanLawNC.com
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Inside This Issue
The Harmans Hit the Road for the Holidays 1
Sudoku solution
The Gift of Giving
Meet Neidy Aguilar! 2
The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich Why Do I Need an Attorney After an Uber Accident? 3 The Madden Curse 4
ON THE TRAIL OF THE MADDEN CURSE Truth, Lies, and Superstition
There is no urban legend in the world of modern video games as well-documented as the so- called “Madden Curse.” The curse revolves around the highly sought-after cover spot of the popular NFL video game “Madden NFL,” formerly known as “John Madden Football.” While the games date back to 1988, the curse is said to originate with the 1999 version. Garrison Hearst, a popular running back at the time, broke his ankle shortly after being featured on the cover of the 1999 edition. This was the first in a long line of injuries and personal issues that resulted in the rumor gaining traction. Soon, the idea that the game’s seemingly innocent cover could have devastating effects on a player’s career was widespread. Once a substantial honor in the world of football, the Madden cover spot has become one of the sport’s most feared superstitions for fans. The players, however, seem to find the correlation more amusing than scary. Most of the athletes in contention for the spot still consider it to be a great honor, choosing to brush off the rumors as
coincidence. Despite the ambivalence of many players, there does seem to be a correlation between the cover and player issues. Of the 22 players who have been featured on the cover, 16 of them have suffered from significant issues in the season that followed. While the causes varied, with severe injuries, contract disputes, and personal issues all afflicting different players, something about the spotlight appears to have disturbed the powers that be. In fact, sometimes these issues occur shortly after the game is released in stores. Whatever the true cause, the curse seems to have taken a dip in recent years. Only one of the last five players have been affected, a stat that bodes well for this year’s star: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The real answer probably lies somewhere between fact and fiction. The increased pressure of national attention is bound to make players tense up every once in a while, and in a game as physical as football, any distraction can end in disaster.
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com
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