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NOVEMBER 2019
HARMONSON HEADLINES
YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND
COUNTING MY BLESSINGS
With November comes Thanksgiving — a time to give thanks for all our blessings. With the recent tragedy in El Paso, however, I am finding it difficult to reflect on my own blessings when there are many others who are still struggling and mourning. I keep a journal, and some of the things I jot down in it are my daily blessings, whether they are about
to reach the highest levels of success. I am a product of the American school system and owe much of my success to the rights and opportunities afforded to me as an American. No doubt, we need to do more to ensure that all people in our country have the same opportunities I had, but we can affect that change through the democratic process guaranteed to us in the Constitution. I am also grateful for my family. I am so blessed to have a loving wife and healthy children. My mom lives here in El Paso, as well, and I’m happy we get to spend time with her every single day. We are surrounded by love from the rest of our family here in El Paso and elsewhere. I am also grateful for our clients and for the opportunity to serve each and every one of them in their times of need. When I started Harmonson Law Firm in late 2012, I did not have a single client. Since then, we have had the opportunity to help hundreds of El Pasoans when they weren’t sure where to turn. When I started the firm, I was a solo lawyer with no employees. Today, we have two lawyers, excellent referral partners, and a full support staff. That growth would not have been possible without our clients trusting us with their cases. We have been fortunate to help all sorts of people, from those facing catastrophic injuries to families of those killed in fatal accidents and people suffering from minor but nevertheless impactful injuries. I am truly grateful for those of you who are our clients and extend a heartfelt thank-you for letting us help you! I hope all of you have a wonderful November and a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the cooler weather that fall brings — it’s my favorite season! Most importantly, though, cherish your time with family as we all look back and give thanks for our blessings. – Clark Harmonson
a person, an event, or something special in my life. While it has been hard to keep up with this gratitude journal lately, I know there are so many things I am grateful for. For one, I feel lucky to live in El Paso, the greatest city in Texas. The fine people of El Paso have always been the reason this city holds such a soft spot in my heart. Instead of tearing us down, the Walmart shooting has only made us stronger as a community. The outpouring of love, comfort, help, and solidarity has been tremendous. I am also proud of our politicians and leaders who are standing up for our community and against racism in any form. In El Paso, we are better not despite our diversity but because of it. Thank you, Beto O’Rourke, Veronica Escobar, Joe Moody, and others for letting the world know who we El Pasoans are. We are setting an example for what our country should aspire to be. I am also proud and grateful to be an American. In my lifetime, there has never been such effort to divide us as a country. We all have our own political ideologies, and I am not immune to my own partisan affiliation. Despite our problems, I can think of no other country in which I would want to live.
America is, by and large, still a meritocracy. I believe that America affords people with enough skill and imagination
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Every Minute C
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AFTER A CAR A
When you’re hit by a negligent driver, it can be difficult to think straight or focus, especially if you suffer a serious injury. However, what you do immediately after a car accident is important. Saying and doing the wrong thing can unfairly put liability on your shoulders, reducing your odds of recovering necessary damages. To improve your chances, keep these steps in mind. Check on everyone. If it is safe to do so, exit your vehicle and ensure everyone is okay. Try to stand off the road and away from your car. Sometimes other drivers can become distracted by the sight of your accident and crash into your vehicle. Call for emergency responders. If anyone is seriously injured or if there is significant damage to your vehicle, call 911. Emergency responders can extract trapped motorists, provide first aid, and redirect traffic away from the accident site. Never say sorry. Your polite instincts probably tell you to say you are sorry, but you need to resist the urge. Apologies of any sort are often misconstrued by insurance companies as admissions of guilt. Collect identifying information. Talk with all parties involved in the accident to get their identifying information, including driver’s licenses and insurance. Do not leave the scene until you have also provided your information to all other drivers. Otherwise, you could be arrested for a hit-and-run.
With Disney+ launching this November, you’ll get access to tons of great classics as well as new original series and movies, like the live-action “Lady and the Tramp” remake. While Disney fans are excited about this, the original film is still perfect for the whole family and has some great life lessons for your kids. Here are some of the best takeaways. Explore the world around you. “There is a great big hunk of world down there with no fence around it.” This underrated quote, said by Tramp, perfectly encompasses one of the main lessons of the film: explore! Life is all about seeing what’s out there and testing your limits. Without Tramp’s ambition to explore, Lady would never have discovered her love of spaghetti or the joy of running carefree through the city. Celebrate your differences. This film celebrates differences and encourages viewers to do the same. Tramp rouses hen houses and avoids dog catchers. Lady was pampered with a fancy dog collar and cushy places to sleep. Despite coming from different ends of the dog park, they find a shared love for adventure and, of course, Italian cuisine. Embrace change. Early on in the movie, Lady’s comfortable life slips away from her as Jim and Darling Dear welcome their new baby into the household. Jim starts to refer to Lady as “That Dog” shortly after the baby’s arrival. After getting lost and meeting Tramp, she gains a new life partner and creates a family of her own, showing children that, while change can be a daunting thing to face, it’s often for the best and comes with a silver lining. These are only a few of the lessons highlighted in this Disney classic. Gather the whole family for a fun night in and see what other lessons you can learn. The original film was such a cult classic, but the remake is sure to deliver. It’s expected to release on Nov. 12, 2019, so mark your calendars.
Take pictures. Use your smartphone to photograph the scene around you. Document visible damage and indicators as to why the crash happened. Take
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CIDENT
Back injuries are a big deal. They can lead to significant pain, trips to the doctor, missed work, and the inability to perform many normal, everyday activities. Back injuries can even lead to a lifetime of aches and pains. They don’t just happen to people who regularly perform heavy lifting. A back injury can occur during any activity, strenuous or not. It can all come down to poor posture and moving the spine out of its natural S alignment while lifting even the lightest of objects. How can you avoid poor lifting posture? Start by using your back strength to your advantage. When you lift, maintain the natural S curve as much as possible. You may have heard the phrase, “Bend with your knees, not your back.” This is advice to live (and lift) by. When you bend at the waist to pick up an object, the shape of your spine shifts. At the same time, weaker muscles end up doing the work to raise both the object and the person, returning them to the upright position. That’s a lot of work. People also injure their backs while bending to reach low or high locations. When you are forced to reach for an object, you shift your center of gravity, which causes additional stress on the spine and back muscles. Avoid reaching forward while lifting, and opt to keep frequently used items somewhere easy to access. SAVE YOUR BACK! Back Safety Basics When possible, rely on mechanical lift equipment, both manual and motorized. If a job is better suited to a forklift, hand truck, dolly, pallet jack, package lifter, or hoist, use one of those or any other assistive device rather than risking injury. Lifting Tips: • When standing in front of an object, keep your feet shoulder-width apart. • Shift one foot slightly forward for added balance. • Bend at the knees, and tighten your stomach muscles. • Use both hands to firmly grip the object. • Pull the object close to your body. • Stand up straight, pushing with your knees. • To turn while walking, do a full body turn rather than twisting at your waist.
snapshots of cars, injuries, weather conditions, road conditions, and more.
Request testimonies and reports. Don’t be surprised if other drivers
and passersby stop to try to help. Speak with them to see if they saw anything that could assist your case. Also, ask emergency responders to send you a copy of their reports. See a doctor. Arrange to see a doctor as soon as possible after being in a crash. Even if you feel fine, you should head to urgent care in order to catch subtle injuries early. This can also reduce your liability in case an injury worsens later. Call an attorney. Lastly, call a car accident lawyer for legal help. The negligent driver who caused your crash likely called their insurance company and blamed you. With an injury attorney on your side, you can fight for your rights and prove your side of the story.
This article comes direct from the blog at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com/blog. Be sure to visit the blog for more insight from Clark!
THE BEST LEFTOVER TURKEY SANDWICH
INSPIRED BY FOODNETWORK.COM
Thanksgiving may be held on Thursday, but the food often lasts at least through the weekend. To make the best use of the excess, grill up some killer turkey sandwiches.
INGREDIENTS
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2 slices sourdough bread 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
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2 tbsp leftover gravy
1 tbsp butter, room temperature
2 slices Swiss cheese
Note: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the leftovers required.
1/3 cup shredded leftover turkey 3 tbsp leftover cranberry sauce 1/3 cup leftover dressing or stuffing
DIRECTIONS
1. Coat inside of each bread slice with mustard and a slice of cheese. Place turkey and cranberry sauce on one slice and dressing and gravy on the other. 2. Combine sandwich and spread butter on both sides. 3. In a panini maker or large skillet, grill until crispy and golden brown. 4. Slice and serve.
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The Season of Giving Thanks
Life Lessons From ‘Lady and the Tramp’
What You Need to Do After a Car Accident
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The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Give Your Back the Support It Needs
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The Legend of Sergeant Reckless
THE GREATEST AMERICAN WAR HORSE The Legend of Sergeant Reckless
Animals have acted as companions to humankind for thousands of years. They’re a near-constant source of companionship, comfort, and aid. Unfortunately, military animals don’t often get the recognition they deserve. One horse, in particular, was essential to the success of her regiment during the Korean War. Meet Sergeant Reckless. Bought for $250 in 1952 by a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant at a Seoul racetrack, Sergeant Reckless was trained to carry ammunition for the 5th Marine Regiment. Her name was a play on the “recoilless” rifle ammunition she carried and a nod to the daredevil attitude of the soldiers who used them. Reckless was pivotal for her regiment in more ways than one. As Robin Hutton notes in her book “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse,” “Because horses are ‘herd’
animals, the Marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family.” Sergeant Reckless’ greatest achievement occurred during the final stages of the Battle for Outpost Vegas. During the bloody five-day campaign, Reckless made 51 trips to resupply guns over the course of a single day. By the end of the battle, she had carried 386 rounds of ammunition by walking 35 miles through rice paddies and mountain trails. After dropping off the ammunition, Reckless would then bring wounded soldiers back to safety. Reckless was trained to lie down when under fire and avoid barbed wire, and her ability to do so without needing human command saved many lives during the battle. Reckless would close out her war career with two Purple Hearts and the rank of staff sergeant. She spent the rest of her years at Camp Pendleton in California. To learn more about this legendary mare, be sure to check out “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse” by Robin Hutton.
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