Safe, Happy Holidays

    Safe, Happy Holidays 

      From our Daggett Shuler families to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season.  The holidays should be the happiest times with family and friends, but drinking and driving can turn them into an instant tragedy.  So, please join us in encouraging family and friends to be safe this holiday season.

      Please enjoy this Christmas message from our firm:

        Additionally, we encourage you to enter our Drunk Driving Awareness Campaign for a chance to win a Flip Video Camera. Just click on the "Sweepstakes" tab on the www.facebook.com/DaggettShulerLaw  page to enter the contest anchored by our new video "There Are No Extra Lives When You Drink and Drive":

        Let's make the holidays safe for everyone!

** Moravian Christmas Lovefeast Photos posted here**

Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse

                Recent stories in the news have many of us on red alert for any sexual abuse in our own communities.  Certainly, the health and wellbeing of our children is always a top concern.

                It’s disturbing to think about, but many children and young adults are sexually abused within environments we all think are safe, and many times by the very people they trust.  It can happen in schools, churches, community organizations, or any other place where an offender sees they can establish a relationship with a victim.

Sex abuse victims are often hesitant to report the crime of sexual abuse and assault or sexual exploitation out of a sense of shame.  After an assault, young victims are often confused about what to do. Many teenagers and young children are scared and feel alone. Parents may trust the perpetrator and sometimes children are told that their parents won’t believe them if they tell. This is the start of how sexual abuse becomes a secret. Predators groom children to trust them, and then they attack.

So what can we do?  First, we all have to commit to reporting any reports or suspicions to law enforcement.  Although we may be hesitant to do so, our police and sheriff’s departments are better trained to investigate and analyze the situation.  Many cases get worse simply because we fail to report early suspicions. 

Next, we need to educate and teach our children at a young age about healthy, positive relationships with adults.  We also need to make sure our children understand what sexual abuse is and let them know we support and believe them.  This needs to start at a very young age and should be a continuing conversation. 

The most important preventative measure is good parent/child relationships and non-judgmental open communication. Evidence shows that many child victims' lack of good parental relationships made them vulnerable to the interest shown by an adult who later becomes their abuser.

It is Important to know your children's teachers, coaches, friends' parents and older siblings, etc. Ask questions and listen and observe without becoming a helicopter parent. Be involved.  Use your intuition and train your children to do the same. Things that “just do not seem right" should always be discussed with parents.

We simply cannot risk, or tolerate, the tremendous damage that can be done to our young people. Child Sexual Abuse is not something that is easily overcome. Victims often become perpetrators themselves as adults. We must prevent the abuse to stop the cycle.

Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving Traditions

What Thanksgiving traditions are important to you and your family?  This past week we discussed some of the Thanksgiving traditions some members of our Daggett Shuler team and our families, and thought we would share some of them with you.

First, let’s remember to have a safe Thanksgiving.  We previously discussed some tips at Giving Thanks Safely.  Of course, we also need to remember to be thankful which we previously reviewed in Are We Thankful?

In discussing Thanksgiving traditions with members of our Daggett Shuler team we found that the traditions generally fell in the categories of family, food,  games, and of course watching the Thanksgiving Day parades.

Family was the most common theme when discussing Thanksgiving traditions.  Families included immediate families, grandparents and grandchildren, as well as aunts, uncles, and the extended family.  While we are all getting together, let us also be thankful for friends and co-workers.  Celebrating with family can also include travel.  We have members of our team traveling around the Triad and beyond to visit family, friends, and relatives.

Family and family traditions is the most repeated theme for Thanksgiving.  One of our colleagues also reminded us that when you are spending time with your families, don’t forget to take a deep breath.  A calming effect is often needed when extended families get together.

Food is another common theme for Thanksgiving traditions, and the most often mentioned is “Mom’s cooking!”  One interesting tradition with a large family gathering is to have each person make one of their grandmother’s recipes to share.  That way, the traditions are passed from family to family and generation to generation, as well as not burdening one person with all the work.

In other families part of the tradition is having a different person or family be responsible for the menu over the extended Thanksgiving weekend.  Apparently the food is as varied as the attendees.  Another family tradition is playing Thanksgiving games.  The games included Trivial Pursuit, Mexican Train Dominoes, Monopoly, and Pictionary.

Many families enjoy the traditions of going to or watching Thanksgiving Day parades.  Parades are great family fun and can pass traditions on from generation to generation.  Everyone likes a parade!

All these Thanksgiving traditions are great for family fun.  From our Daggett Shuler family to yours have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Keeping ‘em Honest

Keeping ‘em Honest

         Many times people who have never been through a fight with an insurance company may wonder why we are needed . . . once you've been through it you probably understand.  People who are wrongfully injured, disabled, or hurt at work probably ought to be able to assume they will be treated fairly.  The truth is that most times the insurance claim is handled by trained personnel whose job it is to save the company money, not treat you fairly.

        Our firm believes that you are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, to be told the truth (even if it is tough), and to be treated fairly in obtaining a just result.  Unfortunately, many folks simply don’t get treated that way when they have a claim.  That is where we come in - our job to is work hard so you can be treated fairly.

        Anderson Cooper 360 broadcast a program on some of the underhanded tactics of the multi-billion dollar insurance industry. These tactics attempt to keep you from getting the medical payments and benefits that you deserve following an automobile accident or injury. The report also mentions one particular insurance company that is known to fight virtually all claims.

        Building on their previous story revealing the “Three Ds” of insurance tactics to deny auto accident victims due compensation, CNN reported on a bill recently passed that would require insurance companies who refused to pay a claim and lost in court to pay up to three times the initial claim value and attorney’s fees.  Insurance companies immediately started a nationwide advertising campaign to try to defeat any limitations on their practices. Watch the report here

         Unfortunately, dealing with an insurance company usually is not on a level playing field.  We do our best to help even out your side of the equation, treat you fairly, and make sure someone is on your side.

Home Fire Safety

Home Fire Safety

October is fire safety month.  Our  kids enjoy visiting local fire stations for fun and  to learn fire safety tips.  We always enjoy our visits.  The local captain and crew always take time for us, give us tours,  and give us important tips for fire safety at home.

The firefighters are always very encouraging to children, give them a full tour of the firehouse and trucks, and invite the children to come back anytime.  They are very impressive and professional.

The tours naturally include instruction on fire safety.  The firefighters typically ask, “What is the first thing to do in case of a fire or emergency.”  They are surprised and pleased when all of the children immediately, and in unison, yell “Call 9-1-1!”

The firefighters also give the most important tips for fire saftey at home. The firefighters emphasize that it is important for families to discuss and plan their fire safety strategies.   Interestingly their top two things for families to remember is to always have two routes to exit the house, and to have a place to meet once out of the house.  The meeting place should be as simple as at the big oak tree, or the mail box.

Family fire safety tips include: • Having smoke alarms on every floor and outside all sleeping areas, • Practice home fire escape plans and routes, • Safely store and dispose of all smoking materials, • Take extra care with all hazardous materials including paint and gasoline, • Take great care with all flammable materials, • Practice safe operation of heaters and fire places, • And make sure home wiring is safe and updated.

Home fire safety is important to review with your family.  Please take time to learn and practice these basic safety principles.  Involve your children and you may be surprised how much they enjoy learning and helping.  Lastly, stop by and get to know your local firefighters.  They are very impressive and very welcoming, and help us all be more safety conscious.

No Shortcut to Hard Work

No Shortcut to Hard Work

       Hard work usually ends up with positive results, and, as we all know, there is rarely a shortcut to hard work.  The exciting thing about hard work is how good and rewarding it always feels when the results are reached and the benefits gained.

      This past weekend Daggett Shuler partner Doug Nauman and I went on a little bicycle ride that included a long climb up to over 3000 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  There was no easy way up.  Here is a photo we took of ourselves using the cell phone camera at the end my extended arm:

      Doug and I have worked together for about 16 years, and have known each other for more than 20 years.  Climbing to the top of the mountain was hard, but the reward of the view and  the long downhill seemed to make it all worthwhile.  That’s just the way it works - you have to put in the hard work in order to enjoy the benefits and enjoy the positive results.

      Hard work certainly applies to working on cases in our office.  At Daggett Shuler hard work comes in many forms including accident investigation, legal research, obtaining and assembling documentation, case presentation, negotiations, and in court hearings when needed.  Add to this mix a strong desire to help plus a strong dose of client service and we have the ingredients for positive results.

      We believe that hard work is necessary in order to properly do our jobs.  It gives us the opportunity to strive for the best possible results and the most favorable representation.  We take these obligations very seriously and will always strive to work hard to fulfill the confidence entrusted to us.

School Safety Reminders

School Safety Reminders

More than 50 million children returned to school this fall, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington, D.C. That means more traffic, busier rush hours, and a greater need for patience while driving.

At this time of year drivers are likely to encounter things like stopped school buses, children on bicycles and scooters, and more pedestrian traffic. Unfortunately, this may sometimes translate into more accidents involving our young people.

In light of our continuing emphasis on safety issues, we thought that this month it may be a good reminder to review some important back to school safety tips!

School Bus Safety:

• Make sure your child has a safe place to wait for the bus.
• Instruct your child to stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop.
• Upon exiting the bus it is important that the child move to a sidewalk or other area that is away from traffic and out of the street.
• Your child needs to understand that the bus driver will not be able to see him/her if he/she bends over in front of the bus to pick something up.

Bicycle Safety:

• Make sure that your child wears a helmet when riding a bike or scooter.
• In addition to wearing a helmet, we recommend elbow and knee pads when riding a scooter.

Play Safety:

• Do not buy children's clothing that uses drawstrings - they are a strangulation hazard as they can catch on playground equipment and other items.
• Anchor and secure movable soccer goals to prevent injury to children who climb on them.

Car Safety:

• Seatbelts are not optional. They are mandatory if in a car.
• Remember to properly use and secure car seats and booster seats.

After School and General Safety:

• Help your child map out a walking or biking route that is direct and safe for him/her if he/she travels to and from school this way.
• If your child walks or bikes to school we suggest that you have him/her wear reflective material that will make him/her more visible to traffic.
• Make sure your child knows his/her phone number, address and how to reach you during the day if necessary.
• Teach your child not to talk to strangers or accept a ride from a stranger.
• If you child is home alone after school, you need a set of rules that will ensure his/her safety.
• Be sure your child knows how to use 9-1-1 in case of emergency.

Please remember that our Daggett Shuler Team is always available to answer your legal questions and talk with you personally should you or someone you know be the victim of an accident or injury that occurred through no fault of your own.