Brauns Law June 2019

404-418-8244 JUNE 2019 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

Working Hard for the Summer FROM THE BOARDWALK TO THE COURTROOM

Back when I was a teenager, summer vacation meant summer jobs. I lived in Ocean City, Maryland, a small beach town that floods with tourists every year. My friends and I spent some time bodyboarding and hanging out on the sand and surf, but I was primarily working a summer job. The long summer months were the best time to earn money for gas, school clothes, and college. I started working at a relatively young age. When I was 14, I got a work permit so I could work at a boardwalk eatery called Alaska Stand. This place opened in 1933 and has served the best hot dogs and lemonade ever since. They hired me on as the fry guy, which meant I spent the whole summer standing in front of the fryer. Putting a teenager next to a greasy fryer was a recipe for pretty bad acne, but I was glad for the work. The year before, my family lost everything. I won’t trouble you with the details, but I went from mowing lawns door-to-door for extra cash to needing a stable income for necessities. From that point on, I was always working hard, and it was this experience to which I credit my strong work ethic. Today, my summers tend to be a bit more fun. My family is able to take a couple of extended vacations every summer. Of course, I can’t always be away from the office for a whole week, but I’ll usually meet my family wherever

little crazy when I don’t have work to do, especially when I know the work we do at the firm is so important. When someone walks into the firm, their future often depends on the work we’re able to do for them. They have bills to pay, injuries to treat, and a family to care for. I’m mindful of the fact that my clients are relying on me, and I believe it’s our ethical responsibility to help as many people as possible. I’m not working over a hot fryer anymore, but I’m still working hard over the summer. The difference is now I’m able to change people’s lives instead of just getting them fries. -David Brauns

“... it was this experience to

which I credit my strong work ethic.”

we’re escaping to for 3–4 days before I’m on a plane back to Atlanta.

Unlike other industries, work doesn’t slow down during the summer at a personal injury firm. Car accidents aren’t tied to a season, and people get hurt year-round. That’s why I don’t mind the shorter vacations — in fact, I prefer them! I get a

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By Taking a Break From Your Phone Enjoy Your Family Time

Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions. Siempo After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. Stay Focused Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully

before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out. Forest In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator? Besides Apps Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay. Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.

Testimonials DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

This client came to our firm almost three months after getting hurt. He had retained another law firm but wasn’t getting to speak with the attorneys or getting answers to his questions. After devouring our website material, he decided to come in for a free consultation. We spent a good hour with him going through how the process was supposed to work (and not like it had been happening for him). We caught a couple strategy mistakes, some of which we could fix and some of which were too late. He decided to terminate his prior attorney and hire our firm to pick up the pieces and move forward. We had his case put together, the demand drafted, and the case settled in less than a month and a half. If you haven’t worked with another firm before coming to us, it is hard to realize just how fast we move for clients. It is something we hear time and again, not just from clients who have been through the process before with other law firms but from medical providers and other businesses that routinely have to deal with personal injury firms.

“This is the most professional firm I have ever worked with. David answers my calls and emails quickly. I chose David because I learned more about the process of a claim from his website than I did from my former attorney. I knew every step along the way what to expect and felt totally prepared through the entire process. If you want great customer service and to be treated fairly and honestly, I suggest you call David Brauns.”

–D. Campbell

This led him to say…

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Do You Know CPR? 5 Important Pool Safety Rules

Sign Up for Swimming Lessons Children who receive adequate swimming instruction are less likely to suffer from a swimming-related injury or drown. Look up accredited swim instructors in your area and make sure your entire family knows how to swim.

Picture the perfect summer day. The sun is shining, you have a cold drink in hand, and you’re relaxing by the pool with your family. It’s a wonderful image — until disaster strikes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 800 children die in and around water each year, and 66 percent of those deaths occur between May and August. Protect your family this summer with these important pool safety tips.

WORD SEARCH June Swimming is a great summer activity. By following these tips, your family can safely enjoy the pool for years to come. June Word Search Learn CPR In an emergency, every second counts. Being able to start CPR before emergency services arrive could mean the difference between life and death. Find a CPR class near you at RedCross.org/ take-a-class/cpr. Be Extra Careful With Private Pools The CDC reports that 75 percent of drowning deaths in children younger than 15 occurred at a private pool. If you have a pool at home, keep it secure with a sturdy fence, self-closing and self-locking gates, a pool cover, and a pool alarm. And make a rule that no one is allowed to swim alone.

Pay Attention Countless children have lost their lives in the brief moments they were left unsupervised in a pool. You should never take your eyes off your child while they’re swimming. If you need to step away from the pool, bring your child with you. Remember, it only takes seconds to drown. Keep Away From Drains The suction from drains in swimming pools and hot tubs can potentially catch hold of hair and swimsuits, trapping a swimmer underwater. It’s important to teach children to never play around drains or suction outlets. If the drain covers are loose, broken, or missing, don’t enter the pool.

BLT DOGS

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S B R R B T Z B H A T T V

Is a hot dog a sandwich or not? We’re not here to weigh in on the ever-contentious debate, but when you combine a hot dog with a BLT, it definitely becomes more sandwich- like — and way more delicious.

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W I I M R V E F D Y W A Q H J G T M T R L A P N H M Z C N J A U H B A P K Z P U T A N H E S P R X S C X B J V S U M E D G O D K J V A U Y A L P S X I O V J B Y L N V T T N T M A S P O D B Q E E O H R U P H O T N M N N Z H H S D M F T O E U F L C U Y C B N E D V Q Q P O F K T D B W S J G V M N C A E B S M W A Y L G G G C B V X Y C D U D G U X F D X K D H Y A I Q G M I A G T R A V E L E H

Ingredients • 4 strips bacon • 4 hot dogs (ideally Boar’s

• 1 tbsp mayonnaise • 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced • Salt and pepper, to taste

Head Beef Frankfurters, but any all-beef variety will do)

• 4 hot dog buns

Directions 1. Heat a skillet to medium and fry bacon until rendered and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. 2. Fry hot dogs in bacon drippings, creating a crust, and cook until warmed through. 3. Using a dry skillet or oven, toast buns. 4. Spread mayonnaise on buns, place hot dog and bacon inside, and top with tomatoes and lettuce. Serve. IInspired by FoodNetwork.com

BEACH HOT PLAY TAN

BREAK JUNE SUMMER TRAVEL

FUN OUTSIDE SUN VACATION

BEACH

BREAK

FUN

HOT PLAY

JUNE

OUTSIDE

SUMMER TRAVEL

SUN

TAN

VACATION

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

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What Are Your Plans for the Summer?

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Take a Break From Your Smartphone

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What Some of Our Clients Are Saying

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Going for a Swim? Remember These Safety Rules!

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BLT Dogs

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Take a Deep Breath

Does meditation work? It depends on what you mean by “work.” Will meditation allow you to defy gravity and hover above the earth? Probably not. But there are so many benefits that will leave you feeling lighter in another way. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindful meditation lowers stress levels, and patients who habitually meditate report less chronic pain. Another study published in the same journal found that regular meditation also fights depression. How do I meditate? Meditating is as simple as sitting in a quiet place, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing for a few minutes. Whenever your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to your breath. You don’t need to climb a mountain or pay for a week-long retreat to start meditating. That said, there are plenty of resources that help beginners build a strong foundation for meditation. Popular apps like Calm or Headspace are available on any smartphone and offer guided courses you can start anywhere, anytime. You could also check online or at your local community center for group classes if you would like some in-person guidance. Meditation isn’t a magical ritual that will cure all that ails you, but plenty of research suggests meditation does provide tangible benefits to our mental and physical well-being. Maybe one day, meditation will be as commonplace as daily exercise.

An Ancient Solution to Modern Problems

The Truth About Meditation

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

This is the first step in every meditation session. Though often associated with the New Age metaphysical movement, meditation isn’t all about incense and healing crystals. Meditation is an ancient practice that strengthens your mental focus, and recent research suggests that it offers real solutions to modern problems. What is meditation? Meditation has strong roots in various religious and cultural traditions, but anyone can find value in practicing it. The purpose of meditation is to strengthen your mind by promoting mindfulness, focus, and awareness.

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