Brauns Law May 2019

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

IF YOU’RE NOT GROWING … The Many Ways We Grow in Life

Spring is a time of growth and rebirth. This month I wanted to talk about one of the phrases I live by: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. As children, we’re growing all the time, physically, mentally, and emotionally as we learn about the world and ourselves. As we get older and reach our 20s and 30s, we tend to slow down as there aren’t too many developmental changes for us to go through. We get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed — and repeat the next day. There’s nothing new to surprise us, so we stop growing. I believe this complacency is the worst thing we can do to ourselves. While we can’t do much to control the decline of our bodies as we age, we are usually in control of our minds. I may not be physically growing anymore, but I want to mentally grow throughout my life. Running the firm doesn’t leave me with a lot of free time, but when I have a moment to relax, I like to read. We have a library at the law firm with over 150 books. There are a number of legal books, but we also have books on self-help, time management, and skill building, like how to write software code. I’ve read all of them. Nonfiction books are my go-to, because I want to be learning something. When I read a book, if I walk away with just one new idea or observation, I call that a success. The importance of growth is something I incorporate at the firm. Atlanta is one of the most highly competitive cities in terms

This also translates into how we handle cases. Clients shouldn’t even feel like their attorney has forgotten about them. We should always be working on the cases we have, looking for ways to move it, feed it, and grow it. There’s no such thing as a guaranteed case. No matter how good a case looks, much like a garden, if we aren’t working on it, the case will fall apart and die. It’s our job to help each case grow to what it could be, so we can get the best possible outcome for our clients. No matter how old you are, there are a lot of ways you can keep growing in your life. Whether it’s personally or professionally, finding ways to grow and improve yourself is what keeps us thriving. -David Brauns

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

of personal injury practices. If we rest on our laurels, decide we’re “the best,” and take it easy, there is another practice willing to work hard and push past us. We can’t kick back and decide we’re the best; our goal is to always be better. As I have said many times in the past, it is our ethical obligation to help everyone. It would be a disservice to our community to do otherwise. We know how good we are, and when potential clients go to another firm that doesn’t offer the high quality of service that we provide, then it means we’ve failed them.

WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM | 1

What Parents Need to Know About This Media Platform Is Your Teen Watching Twitch?

Twitch Broadcasters Solicit Donations While Twitch is free to watch (with ads), the site allows viewers to donate to their favorite broadcasters directly or become paid subscribers. Many broadcasters offer subscriber-only streams, shoutouts, and other bonus content that can make it tempting for impressionable viewers to open their wallets (or those of their parents). It’s best to make sure your teen’s account isn’t tied to any bank information. Why Your Teen Watches Twitch There are many reasons teens watch Twitch streams. If they are into competitive video games like “Fortnite” or “Apex Legends,” they may want to watch skilled streamers to pick up tips and tricks. They could be a fan of an esports team and want to root them on during streamed tournaments, just like you would a football or basketball team. They may even just want to get a feel for what a game is like before they decide to spend their allowance on it. Talking to your teen about the kinds of streams they watch can help you better understand what they get from this new form of media.

For many parents, the idea of watching someone else play a video game sounds incredibly dull. But as the rise of the streaming site Twitch.tv has shown, young people love cheering on their favorite gaming broadcasters — to the tune of 140 million monthly viewers. Many of those tuning in are teenagers, and a survey by the Washington Post found that over half of the participants ages 14–20 watch at least some streamed video game content. If your teen is one of these viewers, here’s what you need to know. Twitch Is Live Twitch differs from video sites like YouTube because the content is being broadcast live. This means it can’t be filtered as reliably, and even the most family-friendly broadcasters might slip in the occasional swear word or make an inappropriate comment. There is also a live chat feature, meaning your teen can communicate with anyone watching the same stream. This feature can be switched off, but it’s still a good idea to talk to your teen about online safety and the importance of not revealing personal information to strangers.

Testimonials DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

“David and his team worked with me through everything and fought hard to make sure I was treated fairly. He always made sure to answer any of my questions and explained everything along the way.” –Mary Strother “Brauns Law was very professional with handling my case. Their entire team handled all phases of my case and relieved me of all the stress and worry in dealing with the insurance company. I will highly recommend David and his entire team to all my friends and family. Thank you so much!” –Myra

2 | 404-418-8244

Danger Underfoot

Is Your Deck on the Verge of Collapse?

Picture the perfect summer cookout: You’re out on your deck, burgers are sizzling on the grill, there’s a cold drink in your hand, and the kids are running around, playing tag in the yard. The weather is perfect, and it’s the kind of day that makes you happy to be alive. Then you hear a sickening creak. The wood beneath your feet jerks violently, and suddenly you’re falling as the deck gives way. Deck collapses are horrific events. This past December, a deck collapse in Atlanta sent six people to the hospital, including two with exposed-bone injuries who had to be

Other common reasons for a deck collapse include:

• • • • • •

Ledger board spitting

Board rot

Post and beam failures

Joist failures

Bad foundation

Hanger/toe nail failure

There are often many warning signs before a deck collapse, but most people aren’t trained to spot them. The best way to avoid a catastrophic

airlifted out. Deck collapses can happen any time of year, though we often see them in the spring and summer, when people are spending more time outside. One of the biggest reasons decks collapse is due to shoddy construction that’s not up to code. If the ledger board is nailed into the side of the house instead of bolted down at is should be, the deck can pull away from the house and collapse. If you have a deck, we urge you to check it right away and make sure a handful of nails aren’t the only thing standing between you and disaster.

collapse is to have your deck inspected regularly. If you suspected there’s any sort of problem, be sure to have it repaired by a certified contractor right away. If you’re planning the first big cookout of the year and expect to have a lot of people on your deck, take some time to inspect your deck before you start using it. A couple extra minutes could save you and your loved ones from tragedy.

WORD SEARCH May

SHRIMP SAUSAGE SKEWERS

Ingredients • 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined • 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes

Creole Seasoning Ingredients • 2 tablespoons paprika

• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder • 1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder • 1/4 tablespoon dried oregano • 1/4 tablespoon dried thyme

Directions 1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning. 3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover them with the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes). Inspired by PaleoLeap.com

GARDEN BLOOMING MAY DAY GEMINI MOTHER

MEMORIAL NIGHTINGALE

EMERALD MAY REMEMBER DAY

SPRING CINCO MAYO

WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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

Page 1

How to Grow at Any Age

Page 2

Is Your Teen Watching Twitch?

Page 2

What Some of Our Clients Are Saying

Page 3

7 Signs You Have a Dangerous Deck

Page 3

Shrimp Sausage Skewers

Page 4

How to Travel Sustainably

Go Green

Stay Green Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world. Do Green Man-made attractions like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.

Get Out There With These Eco-Tourism Tips

Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. Travel Green When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco-friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using “green” airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation!

Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.

4 | 404-418-8244