GA Injury Advocates - March 2022

GA Injury Advocates - March 2022

Auto Injury T R I B U N E

March 2022

Don’t Leave Your Fate Up to Chance You could say I was born lucky. My birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day, which may be the luckiest day of the year. Now, I’m not Irish, but it still might have been an omen. I have indeed been lucky in life. In many ways, I feel like the American success story. But the difference between many unlucky people and me is that I don’t give up. Once I have a goal in mind, I’m like a dog with a bone — I’m not letting go. In my view, I have good luck because I keep trying. You can’t be lucky if you don’t put yourself in situations where luck can find you. When we see someone repeatedly succeed, we’re prone to thinking of how lucky they are. But what we don’t usually see is just how many times that same person failed before they happened to get “lucky.” In truth, many people who encounter bad luck aren’t willing to go through the repeated heartache and rejection that success takes. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins has a blog post on his website titled “Why do I have bad luck?” It concedes that some people experience pure misfortune — they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time and encounter adversity or injury through pure chance. I know he’s right because we meet many of those people in our office. And we fight for them precisely because they are not to blame for the losses they’ve endured. But the article also argues that most people who focus on their bad luck aren’t doing so after a freak accident. They’re usually facing far more mundane problems, like financial setbacks, a missed job opportunity, or an unsuccessful relationship.

Team Tony, people who feel stagnant in life should ask themselves, “How do my own actions and beliefs affect my so-called luck? What can I do differently to create the life I desire and deserve?” They lay out nine steps all of us can take to turn our luck around. I don’t have space to recount them all, so you should check out the article for yourself. But the general idea is that people who dwell on their bad luck need a change of mindset. We all control our own luck much more than we give ourselves credit for, and by embracing our power and need for growth, we generally start to live much happier lives. Specifically, stop giving too much weight to your setbacks. None of us succeed all the time — that’s life. But from every experience, we can learn something. “Every problem is a gift — without problems, we would not grow,” Robbins says. Once you start asking yourself what you can learn from your so-called failures, you’ll start finding new opportunities. And more likely, you’ll turn your luck around.

So, am I actually lucky? I prefer to call it hard work. Throughout my life, I’ve done my best to make my own luck — no four-leaf clover needed.

These are things almost all of us will experience at some point in our lives, so wondering why we have bad luck is the wrong question. According to

El Abogado Ramiro (El Abogado Amigo) y su equipo hablan español

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(770) 233-7400

Make a 4-Leaf Clover Keepsake But Find

SPRING FEVER

ENJOY WARM WEATHER WHILE STUCK INDOORS

the Elusive Good-Luck Charm First

The weather is warming up, the sun is out — and you’re trapped inside. Most of us have jobs that leave us stuck indoors during spring’s prime midday hours, and it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on the season’s best parts. Unfortunately, your boss probably won’t give you the day off just because of the gorgeous weather. So, we’ve compiled the next best thing — some tips to enjoy the season as much as you can while also getting your job done. BRING THE OUTDOORS IN. When the weather is nice, open as many curtains and blinds as possible. The natural light will warm up the room and brighten your mood. While you’re at it, try opening the windows and positioning yourself near one. If you can’t be outside, the spring breeze on your face is the next best thing. Plants decrease stress, and having them on your desk might also trick your brain into feeling less cooped up. TAKE A BREAK. You’ve still got to work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a few minutes outdoors. Use your break for an outdoor stroll; if possible, you can also walk or bike to work. At the very least, park farther away to give yourself time to enjoy the weather. Volunteer to do a coffee run, pick up lunch, or take out the mail — you’ll be an office hero while catching some rays at the same time. TRY WORKING OUTSIDE. If your boss will allow it, there’s probably some opportunity to do a bit of work outdoors. Meetings and conference calls might offer your best option. For in-person meetings, your coworkers will also likely relish a chance to take it outdoors. In the event of a conference call, you won’t need to convince anyone else — grab your laptop and go! It’s not the same as enjoying the weather while you’re off the clock, but it’s a lot better than being cooped up inside.

One of St. Patrick’s Day’s most popular symbols is a four-leaf clover. In Ireland, these clovers represent luck and good fortune. Each leaf on the clover has a different meaning — faith, hope, love, and success. It’s a tradition to find a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick’s Day and do activities involving this lucky leaf. So, how do you find these good-luck charms, and what can you do with them?

HOW TO FIND A 4-LEAF CLOVER

Although it may seem difficult, it’s easier than you might think. First, find a dense patch of white clover — near it is where four- leaf clovers reside. They are different from the rest and are often smaller, so keep that in mind when you look for the lucky green clovers. Instead of staring at the patch in close detail and counting leaves, search the patch without focusing on the tiny details. This increases the odds of eyeing a four-leaf clover because the different patterns, shapes, and sizes of these clovers will jump out at you. If you find one, keep looking! There’s a chance another one might be nearby.

CLOVER CRAFT

Once you find your clover, preserve the luck in it all year by placing it in a picture frame. First, gently press the clover leaves between the pages of a large book for several days to flatten them out. After pressing, you can add green food coloring to your clover to enhance its color. Once it’s dry, clean it and let it sit overnight. Then, place your clover onto acid-free paper, cut to fit the size of a picture frame of your choice. Next, use acid-free glue to keep your clover in place, and finally, seal your frame shut. You now have your personal good luck charm! Searching for a four-leaf clover and creating a keepsake will be a great bonding experience for you and your family. We wish you luck! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

With any luck, these tips will help you make it to Friday with your sanity intact. And luckily, the weekend is always just around the corner.

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Learn the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments WHAT IS WHIPLASH?

You’ve probably heard that an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Car accident victims often experience Newton’s first law much too personally when they suffer from whiplash injuries. Seat belts are a wonderful invention, saving countless lives every year. If you’re not wearing one during an accident, you’re likely to experience more severe injuries from being thrown about the car or even into the windshield. There are clear benefits to staying in your seat during a collision, but a seat belt can’t protect you against every injury. Your body will still try to move forward, despite the restraint. When your head and neck can’t go further than the seat belt will allow, they snap quickly back into place, causing whiplash.

Whiplash most often occurs during a rear- end collision due to the quick acceleration and deceleration it causes. But someone can experience whiplash in any car accident or even from sports injuries, falls, or violence. Though not as severe as many other possible injuries, whiplash is still very unpleasant. Its primary symptom is neck pain and stiffness, and victims often suffer from headaches, fatigue, dizziness, shoulder pain, and irritability. The symptoms may occur immediately or take up to 24 hours to appear. If you believe you’re suffering from whiplash, you should seek the attention of a doctor immediately. A doctor can diagnose the condition and rule out more serious ailments. The visit also creates a paper trail, which you could need later.

Thankfully, most people recover from whiplash within a few weeks without lasting damage. Treatment may include a neck brace, pain medication, or physical therapy. For some people, however, whiplash can last for months or longer. Women, older people, and those who experience intense pain at the time of the accident are more likely to show extended whiplash symptoms. A severe whiplash injury can significantly impair your quality of life and keep you from doing the things you love. If you or someone you know is suffering from extended whiplash, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. GA Injury Advocates will be glad to review your case — give us a call today for a free consultation.

SIMPLE BOK CHOY CHICKEN SOUP

SUDOKU

RECIPE:

Is the chill of winter lingering? A hot bowl of this Asian-inspired soup will warm you right up! Our recipe makes 4–5 servings.

Ingredients

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3 cups chicken broth

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1 tsp red pepper flakes

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2 tsp soy sauce

Directions

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2 tsp sesame oil

1. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil.

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1 garlic clove, chopped

2. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic.

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10 leaves bok choy, thinly sliced 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

3. Add bok choy leaves and rotisserie chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the bok choy is dark green and tender.

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4. Enjoy with slices of your favorite whole-wheat bread!

Solution on Page 4

(770) 233-7400 3 If you or a loved one has been injured, call our office today for a free consultation.

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Solution from Page 3

Inside

Good Luck Doesn’t Happen By Chance

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Create a Keepsake for Good Luck Year Round

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Enjoy Spring Weather — Even From Work

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What Is Whiplash?

Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup

Understanding Post-Accident Insurance Increases

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GOING UP?

You’ve been in an accident, but no one was seriously injured. From there, most people’s minds jump straight to the financial fallout. How much will it take to get their car repaired? And how much will their insurance premium go up? After an accident, people automatically assume their insurance carrier will increase their rates. While this is often the case, it is not always true. Insurance companies will assess several factors when determining the effect of an accident on a driver’s premium. Considerations include who was at fault for the accident, the severity of the collision, and the driver’s record. Some insurers offer accident forgiveness programs, but they often cost an extra fee or require loyalty to the insurer for several years. It’s worth looking into your insurer’s offering

and finding out what’s available to you. Under this type of program, your insurer will generally forgive one accident every few years without a

the risk of every individual they insure and determine a premium accordingly. Being in an accident makes you a higher risk to insurers, who will need to pay out for your mistakes — nothing personal. Though a rate increase is a setback, it thankfully won’t last forever. Most accidents only stay on your record for 3–5 years. If you’ve been a safe driver during that time, your rate should go back down. Higher insurance premiums are one of the many risks we assume by getting behind the wheel of a car. Remember this: Driving is a privilege, a vehicle is not a toy, and there are far worse accident outcomes.

rate increase. But beware — while your current insurance company has decided to disregard the accident, future providers may not. When rates after an accident increase, Bankrate.com found the average annual amount is $637. Though that’s not peanuts, an extra $50 a month may not be as bad as you feared. You can also try to mitigate your losses by shopping around to other insurance providers, researching additional discounts, or considering a higher deductible on your policy.

While a rate increase can feel punitive, it’s just good business. Insurance carriers assess

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