Holland & Usry - May 2021

Holland & Usry - May 2021

FEEL THAT SPRING ENERGY? As Hope Returns, So Do Personal Risks

We aren’t out of the woods yet, but can you feel it in the air? This spring, we’re watching more than just dark, wet winter disappear. It has become clear that we’re at a turning point in this pandemic. In fact, I think we’re actually turning the corner on it. With that, it’ll mean a return to business as usual, even if some of that “usual” won’t look like it used to. I have a few thoughts on that — and some words of caution as well.

otherwise. Even if you’ve been working this whole time, you may find yourself surrounded by more people than you’re used to.

Depending on what you do for work, they could be employees, team members, or even non-company workers, like subcontractors. Keep an eye on these folks, for their safety and your own. Many hands may make light work, but they also mean more opportunities for accidents and injuries. I’ve seen people get hurt doing almost every kind of work imaginable. Please, don’t let yourself or a coworker be one of them.

For starters, we do expect court to remain slow for a while, even after everything else seems all right. South Carolina’s court system never truly shut down during the pandemic, but

things sure slowed, and we’re not through the backlog of cases and won’t be for a while yet. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that we have always been able to move certain cases to resolution. However, certain cases have stalled because of the suspension of some jury and non-jury trials. As courts resume live trials, litigants will have to settle — or put their money where their mouths are — and let a judge or jury decide. I consider this the great motivator of our legal system: If parties can’t settle, the courts will settle it for them, and it may be better or worse. All of that said, I’d say that our state weathered things as hoped, and the justice system did fairly well, especially compared to other court systems in the region. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our private sector, which was shuttered and hindered by a combination of regulations and caution on the part of business owners and consumers alike. As that caution slowly recedes, people will start doing more. And that’s something I want all of my readers to keep an eye out for. Like the court system, some trades have been open for reduced business, and a few have been quite busy, doing the work that nobody else can. But with a downturned economy and relatively high unemployment rates, fewer people are at work than in the past. That will change, and as it does we all need to do a little “refresh” when it comes to things like workplace and job safety. More people at work also means more injuries, in general or

These words of caution don’t suddenly become irrelevant once you clock out for the day, either. Summer is a great time to travel, visit family and

friends, go camping, and just generally enjoy the weather that we all know is coming. And after being cooped up for longer than they would in a normal winter, there will be more people on the roads than ever these next few months. Just like at work, that means more chances for something to go wrong, and that’s before you add alcohol into the mix — because there are more places to drink again as well. I know too many people who have been injured by a drunken, or even just tired, driver. May is a good month to retrain your brain to look out for these hazards on the road and their telltale signs like swerving, inability to maintain speed, not having the headlights on at night, having the brights on in the city, and so on. Overall, I am very excited about the turn things are taking, and I hope we will all have a full and joyous summer. But there’s nothing fun about accidents and injuries, and if I can help a few people avoid them, then this is time well-spent. Of course, if something does happen in a car, at work, or in any other circumstance, we are here to help you sort through the confusion and shoulder some of the stress so that you’re not in it alone. Lastly, as we enjoy the resumption of life as we used to know it, let us not forget those we lost or those who lost loved ones. For many life will be marked by this pandemic, and we will need to be mindful and responsive to the needs of those who are suffering.

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5 COVID-SAFE GIFTS FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

When parents first came up with the idea of sending their children to school with an apple as a teacher’s gift, they weren’t counting on a pandemic. In many places, schools are still operating online or using a mix of virtual and in-person learning, and even kids attending in person don’t want to get within 6 feet of their teacher to hand over fruit! So, what are your options for Teacher Appreciation Month? There are more than you might think. If you have the resources, consider gifting one of these pandemic-friendly items that teachers will love. 1. Virtual Gift Card: These days, you can easily send gift cards by email, and your options include everything from Amazon to DoorDash. Does your child’s teacher have a coffee addiction or a passion for dinosaurs? You can find the perfect gift card with a Google search. 2. Thank-You Yard Signs: If you live in a small town or have access to your child’s teacher’s address, consider “gratitude bombing” their front yard with signs! You can use a professional sign company like Sign Gypsies or make your own. 3. Quarantine Kit: Teachers working in person put themselves at risk every day, and a quarantine kit is the perfect gift in case the worst happens. You can include helpful items like hand sanitizer or personalized masks along with goodies like adult coloring books, novels, and more. Simply email the teacher to find out how to get your gift to them.

markers, glue sticks, and more comes out of the teacher’s pocket. Buying items like this for when they’re back at school will really brighten their day.

5. A Note From You and Your Child: According to a teacher survey done by The Strategist, handwritten notes are one of the best gifts a teacher can receive. To really make an impact, sit down with your child and write a note from both of you, thanking the teacher for their hard work. Then, send it via snail mail or scan it and email it their way!

4. Sanitizer and Other Learning Tools for the Classroom: Many school districts are underfunded, and the money for sanitary supplies, pencils,

Testimonials

THANKS TO THE HOLLAND & USRY LAW FIRM

I had a workers’ compensation case, and I didn’t know how to find an experienced attorney I could trust to work in my best interest. I started my Google search and found Rob Usry. What I was first impressed with was the website, which has a wealth of information regarding what to expect from a workers’ compensation case. For example, not feeling guilty about the whole process. You’ve been injured and you

should be compensated. In addition, I was always kept in the loop regarding where my case was in the process and always given the opportunity to express myself regarding whether I was happy with how my case was being handled. I really appreciate how professional the entire staff was from start to finish. Thanks, Rob, Rose, and Pam. –Sherry M.

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CAN’T GET MUCH BIGGER Semitrucks Are Monster-Sized — and Legally Protected

legally, the most important name is a commercial motor vehicle . That means it’s governed by federal safety regulations.

As the weather improves, the country reopens, and travel increases, we’re more likely to encounter the largest vehicle roaming our highways: the semitruck.

The semitruck goes by many names — including semi-trailer, big rig, and 18-wheeler — but they’re all names for the same vehicle, and “tractor-trailer” may be the best way to describe it. The tractor is the engine and the cab where the trucker sits. The trailer carries the cargo and is attached to the tractor. But

Shockingly, there are no height limits under federal law. It’s set by states. Most limits range from 13 ½ to 14 feet. Federal law sets width at just over 102 inches, which is about 8 ½ feet. This measurement excludes safety equipment, such as mirrors. States can individually set the minimum required length of a trailer, but the absolute minimum is 48 feet. For a double trailer, meaning two trailers connected to the cab or tractor, the minimum length is 28 to 28 ½ feet. Weight is governed by a federal definition called the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), and it’s the maximum amount for the vehicle to carry set by the manufacturer. To be considered a commercial motor vehicle, a truck must have a (GVWR) of at least 10,000 pounds. Tractor-trailers easily meet that definition, as most of them can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. As you can imagine, and may know from unfortunate personal experience, the size of semitrucks combined with highway speeds can cause horrific crashes with devastating impacts, resulting in severe injuries or even death. Worse for victims, these cases are extremely complicated — and from a legal standpoint, you may be under a supreme disadvantage almost from the moment of impact. To help understand that disadvantage AND start turning the tables in your favor, please call us at 888-230-1841.

Good News

THAI MINCED PORK SALAD

Inspired by EatingThaiFood.com

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. –Romans 8:25 Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. –Psalms 30:5

Ingredients

Directions 1. First, make toasted rice powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes. 2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside.

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5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice 1 lb ground pork 1/2 tbsp chili flakes

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1/8 tsp sugar

1/2 tbsp fish sauce Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste 4 small shallots, thinly sliced 4 green onions, thinly sliced Cilantro leaves, to taste Mint leaves, to taste

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3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, fry pork,

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breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked.

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4. Remove from heat and add 1

heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.

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INSIDE this issue Harness the Spring Energy 5 COVID-Safe Gifts for Your Child’s Teacher Testimonial Semitrucks: Monster-Sized, Legally Protected Thai Minced Pork Salad

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Australian Wombats Are Saving the Day!

If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email [email protected] .

AustralianWombats in Charge SAVING LIVES ONE HOLE AT A TIME

Remember the Australian wildfires of 2019– 2020? These fires ravaged large areas of the country, displacing and leaving countless animals to fight for survival. To make matters worse, swaths of the country have been dealing with drought. It’s one challenge after another for humans and animals alike. But one species has taken matters into its own “hands.” Numerous wombats have been discovered digging holes in search of water — and they found it! According to Australia’s ABC News, one group of wombats was discovered on a farm in New South Wales, which was situated over a large underground reservoir. So, the wombats went to work. One farmer, Ted Finnie, reported that wombats dug a hole roughly 4 meters deep by 20 meters wide (or about 65 feet). Their incredible work made this source of water remarkably accessible.

At this particular watering hole, Finnie captured all sorts of creatures on camera — birds, emus, possums, echidnas, and monitor lizards — congregating around the wombats’ creation. What isn’t known is how, exactly, the wombats discovered the water, but they surmise the animals likely picked up on environmental clues and dug until they found what they were looking for. Interestingly enough, wombats have been known to help other animals in the past. During the Australian fires, countless animals were left searching for refuge, and they found it in wombat burrows. While the wombats weren’t exactly welcoming other species into their homes with open arms, they seemed to “tolerate” the visitors, as one ecologist with the University of Adelaide noted. It was a case of accidental heroism, much like their search for water, but it was heroism nonetheless.

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