Brauns Law October 2018

404-418-8244 OCT 2018 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

Heart of the Firm How We Deal With Fear

When I first started in law, I worked for the insurance companies. I started as a defense attorney because I knew I wanted become an injury lawyer, and the best way to help my future clients win cases was to know all the tricks the other side would pull. But when I did flip sides, I discovered my job couldn’t start and end with the case. If I wanted to truly help my clients, I needed to be there for them. I needed to approach each situation with empathy, provide emotional support where I could, and learn how to deal with fear. There are all these ads from certain kinds of lawyers who boast about how they can get their clients a “big check.” They frame it like getting paid is the only thing that matters in a case. Yes, being awarded a settlement is why we take the case to court, and that check really helps clients who are in bad situations, but the money comes at the end. There are so many other problems clients will deal with between the time they are hurt and when their case is over six months, 12 months, or even two years later! Most people live paycheck to paycheck. The slightest disturbance can set off a domino effect that turns their whole life upside down. If they get hurt and suddenly aren’t able to go to work, or their injury forces them to take a lower-paying job, things start to fall apart. Sure, in 12 months they might get a big check, but that doesn’t help when they aren’t getting paid this month or they aren’t getting the medical treatment they need to recover.

“When people walk into the office, they’re scared.”

The real focus of this firm is to fix problems first and get money later. That’s the heart of what we do. When people walk into the office, they’re scared. They’re afraid of being homeless because they can’t pay rent. They’re afraid of having their car repossessed and not being able to get around on their own. They’re afraid of not being able to buy groceries to feed their families. They’re afraid they may never get better after their injury because they don’t have the right medical insurance. These are all very serious and very real fears people experience after an accident. The good news is that we’ve been doing this long enough that we have seen most fears people experience and have a plan for dealing with them. We can help clients get through the health care system and enjoy phenomenal medical care. We can work with landlords to get rent put off until the settlement comes in. We can figure out how to take care of a client’s family when they aren’t able to work for a while.

Each client we’ve helped over the years has given us the skills to better help the next client who walks through the door. Most of my days are spent helping clients address their problems, overcome their fears, and create a more stable foundation until they are able to go out and enjoy their lives again. It’s not easy, but when you see the fear leave a person’s eyes because they realize they don’t have to worry anymore, it’s worth every ounce of work. -David Brauns

WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM | 1

A Lovely Night for a Run Should You Go for a Run After Dark?

Have you ever been driving home after dark and seen someone jogging on the side of the road? You might have thought they were crazy for waiting until so late in the day to go for a run, but there is actually research that suggests running in the evening is better than going for a run at any other time of day. Here are a few reasons why you should save your run until you can join all the things that go bump in the night.

push yourself harder and see greater improvement.

You sleep better.

You will obviously feel tired after a good run, so why not time it right and use this to your advantage? Research from the University of South Carolina found that people who ran before bedtime enjoyed a better night of sleep and increased energy levels when they woke up, meaning they felt more awake and better rested throughout the following day.

You can hit the snooze button.

The best time to run is honestly whenever you have time to run, but if it works with your schedule, nighttime running might provide your best workout ever. Just remember that if you do decide to save your run for after sunset, you should stay safe by wearing bright, reflective clothing, sticking to the left side of the road, and running only in well-lit, populated areas.

You can push yourself harder.

Many people who run first thing in the morning find themselves pressed for time. Hitting the snooze button is not an option, and with so little time, breakfast is usually a banana on the way out the door. Moving your run to the evening means you can enjoy a more leisurely morning. Not feeling stressed out first thing in the morning can also lead to a more relaxed day.

It can be hard to get a good workout in the morning after your muscles have been still for eight hours during sleep. A study at the University of North Texas found that your body is better prepared to exercise in the evenings, since your muscles have been warming up all day. With improved muscular function and strength, you can

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

Testimonials

“Great experience — no complaints at all. Very helpful, responsive, and answered all of my questions during a very uncertain time. Very pleased with the outcome. Thank you, Brauns Law!” –Angie B. “Great office to work with. You are treated like family by the staff of Brauns Law, and they show they truly care about you as a person, not just a number. Helpful staff willing to answer all your questions and give you guidance during the stressful time after an accident. I highly recommend Brauns Law if you need an accident attorney.” –Tiffany M.

“Very professional but personable firm. David is great to have on your side!” –Cathie B.

2 | 404-418-8244

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Drivers A herd of kids running from house to house can be stressful even for the best drivers. Driving carefully on the main roads and cautiously through neighborhoods can be one of the more vital choices you make that evening. Kids’ spirits are high, and it might be difficult for them to contain their excitement. Be extra vigilant for kids who might jump out in front of you by accident, and make eye contact with parents, kids, and teens before proceeding from a stop. Do not text and drive. Distracted driving can be dangerous, and it’s better to avoid any distractions while you’re behind the wheel. Also, exercising patience can be beneficial for you, other drivers, and pedestrians. Don’t pass stopped cars in the street, and make sure to use your turn signals.

Soon you’ll have witches, princesses, superheroes, and goblins roaming your streets. Whether you’re in a neighborhood or out on a main road, safety is critically important. There will be more pedestrians and drivers out on Halloween, so being extra attentive can help keep the night fun and entertaining for everyone. Trick or Treat! It’s important to know and understand the basic rules when you’re out on the street. Make sure that your trick-or-treater knows to look both ways before crossing the street and to use crosswalks and traffic signals. It can also help your family if you plan out where everyone will be throughout the night. If someone were to become separated, they can easily find you again, or, in case of an emergency, you’ll have a quick way to reach each other. Another essential factor is costume safety. Whether you’re buying or making the costume, make sure that it fits correctly on the child. A tight or loose outfit can impact movement and cause your child to trip and fall. It’s also a good idea to add reflective tape to the costume in order to stand out to passing cars.

With these tips in mind, everyone is sure to have a wonderfully spooky Halloween!

WORD SEARCH October

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

Ingredients • 3 packages unflavored gelatin • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 1 cup light corn syrup • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract • Powdered sugar, to coat

Directions 1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve. Inspired by foodnetwork.com

CAULDRON COSTUME DRACULA GHOST

HALLOWEEN HALLOWS EVE

SCARY STORIES SPOOKY TRICK-OR-TREAT ZOMBIE

HAUNTED PUMPKIN

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

What Are You Afraid Of?

Page 2

Running at Witching Hour

Page 2

What Some of Our Clients Are Saying

Page 3

Halloween Safety Tips

Page 3

Homemade Marshmallows

Page 4

The Birthplace of Halloween

County Meath, Ireland, Where Halloween Began The Real Halloween Town

Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland.

customs carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today.

Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival starts with the lighting of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky, the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all-ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’-lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit Discoverboynevalley.ie/whats-on/spirits- meath-halloween-festival-2018.

Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw

a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here date back to ancient times. The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these

4 | 404-418-8244