Deborah Nelson

Avoiding Temptation Over the Holidays

Posted on Monday, December 12th, 2016 at 8:37 pm    

christmas-cookies

Between holiday parties, family feasts, and gift baskets, it is really difficult to avoid temptation over the holidays. It seems like chocolate, cookies, and treats are everywhere. There is a tendency to think that a little treat here and there won’t hurt and that you can just shed whatever weight you gain in January. Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t work that way. New reports indicate that weight gained over the holidays typically takes four months – or more – to lose.

I find that shocking. A cookie binge in December could cause me to pack on three pounds now and those three pounds will still be around when Easter candy is making the rounds?! This information was enough to scare me into doubling down my efforts to avoid temptation around the holidays. Here are a few tips:

  1. Eat a snack or small meal before holiday parties.

I snack on cheese, smoked oysters, smoked salmon, or unsalted nuts before a party. These snacks are high in protein and healthy fats and low in carbs. They also diminish my desire for sweets.

  1. Increase your water intake.

Sometimes, when we think we are hungry, we are really just thirsty. Try drinking a glass of water and waiting 5 minutes before diving into the fudge. See if you are really, truly hungry after those 5 minutes.

  1. Limit your alcohol consumption.

As nice as a glass of wine or champagne is, it makes it difficult to maintain your weight. First, alcohol consists of empty calories that neither nourish your body nor sate your appetite. Second, alcohol impairs your body’s ability to lose weight. Third, consuming too much alcohol makes it more difficult for you to make wise food choices.

  1. Plan ahead.

The holidays are a busy time, but you can still plan ahead to make wise choices. Before the week starts, look at your schedule and determine when you will exercise, when you will cook, and what you will do on the days when healthy eating and exercise pose a challenge. Have a plan for every day and every party so you know ahead of time what you will do.

  1. Remember what matters.

Being with friends and family is the most important thing for many of us during the holiday season. Just being there is what matters. What you are eating doesn’t matter in the sense that eating a lower calorie meal and skipping dessert and wine doesn’t make you any less present. I hit on this realization in the middle of a 5 course meal at a fancy restaurant when my friends were drinking wine and enjoying rich entrees. Instead of feeling sorry for myself that I was eating a shrimp cocktail and drinking sparkling water, I focused on the fact that I was there, in a nice restaurant, surrounded by good friends, sharing time together. Once I got my head around what really mattered and that I was still a part of it, my shrimp cocktail tasted ever so much better!


What Your Lawyer Wishes You Knew: What You Do In Your Personal Life Might Be Relevant

Posted on Monday, December 12th, 2016 at 6:01 pm    

Snowboard

What You Do In Your Personal Life Might Be Relevant

People sometimes think that what they do in their personal life doesn’t matter when it comes to pursuing a claim for injuries. After all, if you were injured in a car wreck caused by a drunk driver, what does it matter if you like to snowboard on the weekends or if you regularly Tweet about your life? Depending on your case, it might matter – a lot.

Insurance companies routinely spy on people who make injury claims. They troll the Internet looking to see what you post on Facebook and Twitter. They hire people to follow you and video tape your activities. They look at you with suspicion just because you have filed a claim, even if you are only making a claim because someone else’s carelessness injured you.

If you continue to snowboard after you have been injured, an insurance company will likely assume that you aren’t injured and that you are just faking it. They won’t care that you can’t snowboard as often as you used to or that it hurts when you do it or that you can’t do it with the same degree of skill that you had before. All they care about is that you are continuing to snowboard. And, if they have videotape or Facebook posts or Tweets showing you doing it, then your case is really in trouble.

Likewise, if you blog or Tweet about things happening in your life and you comment on your injury and/or the claim you are making, insurance companies can use that against you too. Imagine an insurance adjuster finding a Tweet from you that says “got in another car wreck, my bad, shouldn’t have been texting.” You might have an explanation for that, but an insurance adjuster (and a jury) will conclude that the car wreck was your fault because you weren’t paying attention.

If you have been injured and are making a claim, it is important that you tell your lawyer about your activities and hobbies. It is important for them to know what you are missing out on. More importantly, never, ever do any physical activity that is inconsistent with your injury. If a doctor tells you not to do something or if it hurts (even a little) to do something, don’t do it!

Also, be very, very careful about anything you put on the Internet. Do NOT comment on your injury, your medical treatment, your lawyer, or your claim. If you do, it will almost certainly harm your case.

If you’re in need of a lawyer, call Nelson Boyd at 206-971-7601.


Fatal Crashes Increase – Don’t Let This Be You

Posted on Friday, December 9th, 2016 at 6:11 pm    

Click here to read our article.


MYTH: Hiring an Attorney Will Just Cost Me Money

Posted on Monday, December 5th, 2016 at 10:00 am    

HANDSHAKE

Some people say they don’t want to hire an attorney because the attorney gets a percentage of the total amount collected “which will just cost me money I would get to keep if I didn’t hire an attorney.” WRONG.

Think about it – if this were the case, no one would ever hire an attorney. Instead, attorneys bring value to the case and make your case larger than it would be if you handled it yourself. We know how to prepare and present your claim. We know how to value it properly. And we know how to negotiate with insurance companies and how to file lawsuits.

Insurance companies won’t take you seriously if you don’t have a lawyer. They know the system. You don’t. They know they can lie to you, take advantage of you, and undervalue your claim. However, if you hire an attorney, you usually will end up with more compensation which means that the attorney pays for themselves, usually several times over.

If you’re in need of a lawyer, call Nelson Boyd at 206-971-7601.


Deborah Nelson: How Being an Athlete Makes Her a Better Lawyer

Posted on Sunday, December 4th, 2016 at 10:00 am    

finish-line

1. How many racing events have you participated in and which kind?

More than I can count!!
In 2016 alone, I have completed the following events:
7 triathlons
2 metric centuries on my bike
1 trail running half marathon
2 10k runs
1 duathlon

2. How long have you been participating in these events?

I bought my first road bike in 2004 and have been riding every since, but didn’t start doing endurance events until 2008.

3. Are they more of a hobby or a competition to you?

That’s hard to say. I take it seriously and always try to do my best. I was fortunate to get on the podium at 3 of the events this year where I placed in the top 3 for my age group. Once I figured out that I could actually compete closer to the front of the pack, that became my goal.

4. What are your training methods?

“It takes a village!” I belong to a gym and I’m a member of a triathlon team. I also work out 3 days a week with a personal trainer, I have a private triathlon coach, and I have a sports dietician that I work with. I am ordinarily a very disciplined person and I like the comfort of a schedule and predictability, plus the accountability of having to show up really helps. Still, I think it is entirely possible for people to stay healthy, remain active, and participate in athletic events without hiring private trainers. I’d recommend joining a running group or a gym.

5. How do you find time to train with such a busy career?

Because I am so disciplined with my career, the discipline that I bring to sports dovetails nicely. I think they complement each other. I get to the gym before work 3 days a week, swim and do yoga in the evenings, and try to get a long bike ride and/or run in on the weekends. Even if I don’t want to get off the couch for a work out, I ALWAYS feel better after I do. I actually started running partly because I was traveling so much for work and knew that taking running shoes along would be easier than trying to find a bike to ride.

6. How does the sport benefit your physical and mental health?

In more ways than you can possibly imagine. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight are easier to manage when I’m consistent with clean eating and regular exercise. I sleep better and am calmer when I exercise regularly. There isn’t one area of my life that isn’t improved by exercising regularly – and I like to think that I’m lengthening my life and staying young as a result too. I know that I’m in much better shape as a 52 year old than I was when I was 32. I expect to be even fitter when I’m 62!!

7. How does that contribute to your effectiveness as a lawyer?

The sports I do allow me to get outside in nature alone and think. I often come up with a great strategy on a case or think of some creative way to do something different when I’m on a long bike ride. When I run, I get in touch with the emotional side of a case and often think about my clients and how I can better serve them. The sports I do also require an intense focus and sheer determination to get through the tough parts. Practicing law is like that too. It all works together.

Keep Reading: Can you be a Serious Lawyer and a Serious Athlete?
Serious Lawyer Tri photo

Can I Change Insurance Companies if I Have a Pending Claim?

Posted on Sunday, November 13th, 2016 at 10:00 am    

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Many people who have been in a car wreck assume that they cannot change insurance companies while their claim is pending. This is especially frustrating to them if their own insurance company has treated them poorly and they have to fight just to receive the benefit they paid for.

The good news is that, “Yes, you CAN change insurance companies if you have a pending claim!” As long as you have insurance on the date of the collision, your insurance company must provide insurance coverage to you, even if you change insurance companies the very next day! It doesn’t matter who your insurance company is after the collision, it only matters who insured you on the date of the collision. Of course, none of the changes you make to either your insurance coverage or insurance company AFTER the collision will affect you as to the pending claim, but they will help you if you have another claim.

There are many reasons people want to change insurance companies after a collision, but the most common one is poor customer service from the insurance company. This happens more often than you might think – and more often than it should. Insurance companies forget that their policyholders are their “customers” and that they should treat them fairly. In fact, Washington law requires insurance companies to treat their customers “with an enhanced duty of good faith and fair dealing.”  

If your insurance company refuses to pay a valid claim, requires you to submit the same information over and over again, fails to pay your medical bills in a timely manner, or fails to return your phone calls or answer your letters, maybe you should switch!  What other business would you continue to give hundreds of dollars to when they treat you poorly?! And – if your insurance company is treating you this badly now, it seems pretty likely that it will do so again if you have another claim in the future.

It is just fine for you to “vote with your feet” and go to another insurance company, even when you have a pending claim.

If you’re in need of a lawyer, call Nelson Boyd at 206-971-7601.


5 Tips for Surviving the Holidays Healthy & Happy

Posted on Sunday, November 6th, 2016 at 8:00 am    

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Although the holiday season may be the happiest time of year, it is often among the more stressful times of year too. Unfortunately, this often results in the development of bad habits that can follow you long after the holidays are over. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on September 21, 2016, found that people are more likely to gain weight during the holidays and that it can take months to shed that weight gain. Here are some tips to help you survive and thrive during the holidays.

  1. Plan to Succeed.

Holiday parties and holiday meals are difficult. The food is so tempting and there is often champagne or wine. The calories add up before you know it and most people have several events during the holiday season that can derail their best intentions. Plan ahead. To the extent possible, figure out what will be served at the event and then scout out the health options like raw veggies, boiled shrimp, and unsalted nuts. Those are good, healthy options. Keep a healthy, calorie wise snack in your pocket or purse and nibble on that after the event or before. Eat a light snack or salad before the event so that you don’t arrive hungry. Instead of champagne, beer, or wine, have club soda with lime. Remember to keep your water intake up because it decreases your hunger.

  1. Reward Yourself in January.

Set your goals for the holiday season early and also set a reward for January to celebrate your holiday success. It can be anything, but preferably not food related. A weekend getaway, new ski equipment, a massage, or something simpler like a movie or a new pair of running socks.

  1. Be Thankful.

The holidays are a good time to be thankful. Each day, write down the things you are thankful for. Write them down at night in a journal and review them the next day in the morning. Remember that, regardless of what you are eating (or not eating) at family meals and holiday gatherings, the important thing is that you are there. The joy of spending time with people you care about is not enhanced by a piece of cake or diminished by eating healthy, lower calorie foods. The joy is in spending time together. Also, doing something nice for others is a great way to focus on what is really important during the holidays. Find a charity or an organization that can benefit from your time and/or money.

  1. Learn to Say No.

Say “no” to bad food that will sit on your hips far into the next year. Say “no” to spending time with people you don’t care for. Say “no” to taking on commitments and obligations that you don’t have to. Say “no” for spending your time in ways that don’t make you happy. The holidays are a time for joy, not dread and obligation. It is just fine for you to decide how to spend your time.

  1. Don’t Forget to Move.

Often, the first good healthy habit to go out the windows during the holidays is exercise. This will cause increased weight gain and will be more likely to lead to grumpy attitudes. Instead, incorporate exercise into the holidays. At the very least, find ways to incorporate walking into your holiday schedule. If you are going shopping, walk to the store, walk in the mall, go for a walk down the street. If you are going to a party or to friends’ homes, consider walking there, if possible. A walk before or after a meal is a nice idea and a good way to get everyone out of the house and into the fresh air. Turkey Trots and Jingle Bell runs are easy to find in November and December and often have the added benefit of raising funds for charities. Although it may be difficult to duck out of a family get together because you need a time out, I’ve found that saying “I’m going out for a run” is more acceptable. In fact, my running mileage often goes up during the holidays because I need some time to myself to exercise and breathe fresh air.

Planning ahead and deciding to do the holidays on your terms can help you reduce stress and cruise into the new year feeling happy, healthy, and fit. Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!


What your Lawyer Wishes you Knew: We Cannot Take Every Case

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2016 at 5:41 pm    

Files

We Cannot Take Every Case.

People contact us with a dilemma or a legal problem that is troubling them.  It may have resulted in a physical injury, a loss of money, or some other harm.  Unfortunately, we cannot take every potential client that contacts us.  There are many things we must consider when accepting a case:  

  • Is this an area of law in which we practice?  
  • Was someone harmed as a result of the negligence of another person or entity?  
  • Is there any money (or sufficient money) available to compensate the person?  
  • Is there enough time left in order to pursue their claim or has the time to do so expired?  
  • Is the harm large enough to merit the expense and risk of a lengthy lawsuit?  
  • Are we the right lawyers for the job for this potential client?  
  • Is the case going to be too risky and too expensive to pursue so that the potential client may not be fairly compensated or satisfied with the result?  

There are NO “open and shut cases.”  The law is far more complex than that.

Many lawyers might take your case, only to tell you much later that they can’t continue to represent you, often for a failure of one of the reasons above.  At Nelson Boyd, when we accept your case, we intend to remain with you until the end.  For that reason, we have to make sure that the cases we take are ones where we can make a positive and meaningful difference in people’s lives.  

Sadly, not every harm that a person suffers requires a lawyer or can benefit from a lawsuit.  It is our job to determine which ones do.


Top 5 Tips for Hiring an Attorney

Posted on Tuesday, September 6th, 2016 at 10:41 am    

Dollar Bills

Sometimes, the process of hiring an attorney is just as stressful as the situation that led you to seek an attorney in the first place.  There are so many attorneys.  How do you know who to hire?  Do you hire the attorney who advertises on the side of a bus or do you dig a bit deeper?  AND, what really matters and what should you really look for when hiring an attorney?

1. Know what type of attorney you need. 

Law, like medicine, is extremely specialized.  The days when one attorney could practice every type of law are gone.  The law changes too quickly and the stakes are too high for any one lawyer to know everything about every type of law.  As a result, most attorneys focus on just a few areas of the law (although the Washington State Bar Association prohibits lawyers from using the word “specialize” in their advertising to explain what areas of law they practice, most lawyer advertising does include the areas of law where they focus their practice). You should be very wary of any lawyer who promises too much or advertises for cases in nearly every field of law.  It is an indication that their skill level in any one particular area may not be sufficient to handle your case, especially if it falls in a practice area in which they have only dabbled.  Instead, search for attorneys who practice the type of law that is matched to your legal problem and who have experience in that area of law.

2. Check out social media sites. 

Fortunately, there are enough social media sites available to consumers that they can shop for attorneys before actually contacting one.  We think the following sites are helpful to people looking for lawyers:
       a.       Avvo
       b.      SuperLawyers
       c.       Facebook
       d.      LinkedIn
       e.      Google+

These sites indicate the lawyer’s field of practice, their experience, their credentials, and endorsements from colleagues and former clients.

3. Look at law firm websites. 

Nearly all law firms have websites now.  The quality and content vary significantly.  Some obviously have a larger amount of “puffery,” while others have more substantive content.  Although it is tempting to be swayed by the amount of settlements or verdicts posted on a website, potential clients need to keep in mind that each and every case is different and that it is those differences, as much as the lawyer’s skill, that determine the outcome of any given case.  More importantly, no lawyer can guarantee a specific outcome or dollar figure on a case.

When viewing a particular lawyer’s biography, pay particular attention to their professional activities and credentials.  Do they belong to any professional associations?  Are those associations relevant to your legal issue?  Have they held leadership roles in those organizations or have they just paid dues to become a member?  Have they lectured or written on areas of the law that are relevant to your legal issue?  Have they won awards for their work as attorneys?  Being an active participant in professional associations is a good indicator that the attorney is well versed in the latest trends and techniques applicable to your case, and that they care enough about their clients to go the extra mile.

4. Talk to your friends. 

Ask your friends if they have hired attorneys or have attorneys as friends.  Find out if they were pleased with their attorney.  Did their attorney communicate with them well and explain the various steps of the case?  Were they treated with respect?  Did their attorney work hard for them?  Did their attorney appear to be experienced in the particular area of law that matched their legal need?  Were they pleased with the outcome of the case?  A friend’s recommendation can’t necessarily substitute for doing your own investigation, but it can give you a place to focus your search.

 5. Contact the attorney and ask questions. 

Most law firm websites have a “web form” or a way for you to contact them.  Some of the social media sites also have an email link to the attorney.  Of course, you can also call and ask to speak to the attorney.  Although the attorney cannot give you legal advice or tell you the outcome or value of your case without reviewing all the materials related to your case in depth, the attorney should be able to answer some basic questions about the area of law that applies to you, explain the process involved in resolving your case, and tell you about their law firm and how they handle cases.  They should also be willing to explain their fee structure.  Their responses, and their responsiveness, should give you a better idea of whether this attorney would be a good fit for your case.  You can also meet with several attorneys before making your final decision.

If you need a lawyer, please contact Nelson Boyd, PLLC at (206) 971-7601 and see our website at www.nelsonboydlaw.com.  If we can’t help you, we’ll be happy to refer you to another lawyer who can.

Download Nelson Boyd Law’s “Top 5 Tips for Hiring an Attorney” Article as a PDF


Why is the Insurance Company Picking on Me?

Posted on Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 at 7:13 pm    

Clients sometimes tell me they feel like “the insurance company is picking on” them or that they don’t understand why the insurance company is “being so mean” and “putting me under a microscope.”  After all, you did nothing wrong.  Fair enough, but when was the last time you asked someone to give you money – that you felt you were entitled to, but that they absolutely refused to agree you were entitled to?  How did that go over?  Not so well, I bet.

Insurance companies are supposed to be in the business of paying legitimate claims.  They sell someone an insurance policy, for a fee, and in exchange are supposed to pay a legitimate claim if one occurs during the time when the policy is in effect.  Unfortunately, many injured people find that insurance companies only want to sell insurance policies and collect money.  They don’t want to pay claims.  They just want to keep the money for themselves (have you seen how much money insurance company executives are paid?!).

But what if you are really entitled to this money?  What if you lost money – or had to spend money – because someone injured you and you weren’t at fault?  After all, you are asking for something you deserve, right?  True enough, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy.

When you make a claim, you are immediately suspect.   Is your claim legitimate?  Are you asking for “too much money?”  Are you really entitled to what you seek?  Juries are notoriously suspicious of people filing lawsuits and often assume that people who pursue claims are filing “frivolous lawsuits” and looking for “jackpot justice.”  The cards are stacked against you.  Insurance companies know this (after all, they are the ones pushing the media to report about the “avalanche of frivolous lawsuits”) and take advantage of it.  They think that if they make the process of litigation so miserable, you will just go away and will stop asking them for money.  Some people do go away, which just reinforces the insurance company’s bad behavior.

So, what can you do about it?  First, realize the playing field you are on.  You are asking for money from an industry that doesn’t want you to get anything.  Accept that and move forward.  Understand that as the person filing a claim, you are the one who has the responsibility to prove your claim with evidence.  Just because you say you want something doesn’t mean that you will automatically receive it.  It is difficult work to prove a claim.  Recognize that the insurance company’s mean tactics are just an effort to make you go away.  Most importantly, hire an attorney who is tenacious, tough, and experienced in dealing with insurance companies.  Make sure that they are up to the fight and that they will guide you through the process and explain the steps as you go along.  Filing a claim for injuries is a battle, but it isn’t a battle you should go through alone.

The attorneys at Nelson Boyd have over 50 years of combined legal experience in representing injured people and fighting insurance companies.  If you have been injured, if you have an insurance claim, or if you just have questions about insurance coverage, please contact us at (206) 971-7601Nelson Boyd – We Care.  We Can Help.

www.nelsonboydlaw.com