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MAY/JUNE 2022
I COME TO FIGHT. I DON’T BARK. I BITE! WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364
Summertime is finally here in Texas. It even arrived early, with near 100-degree temperatures on Mother’s Day. Summer brings many things I love including lake days, heading to the mountains for cooler weather, fun family holiday weekends, snow cone stands, and — most importantly — ice cream ! I have to admit something. My wife Alison might buy Blue Bell, but before she even has a second serving, I have already raided the freezer in the middle of the night. It’s gone in a few days. That’s how much I love ice cream. National Chocolate Ice Cream Day was June 7, but I don’t need national days for an excuse to enjoy some of America’s summer favorites. When Alison and I celebrated our anniversary a few months ago, her parents gifted us with an antique ice cream maker. You know, the kind with rock salt and heavy cream. Since then, we have had homemade ice cream several times. Alison and I have had many conversations about things we did growing up. There are traditions we want to start with our own family, and some we will carry on from when we were kids. For Alison, homemade ice cream is one of those traditions we are carrying on from her childhood. When we were both growing up, we lived in the country and didn’t have access to the ice cream trucks. But we have many other great, ice cream- related memories. I really loved getting the banana splits at Braum’s, and WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM! I Scream, You Scream
we always had half gallons in the freezer. Alison went camping with her family and looked forward to getting an ice cream at the tackle shop and store at the campgrounds. While preparing this cover, my wife, her sister, and I discussed our favorite ice cream novelties — we decided it’s the banana fudge bomb pops and the orange push pops. As an honorable mention, Alison and her sister laughed while talking about Otter Pops too! I think the only flavors they could remember were Little Orphan Orange and Alexander the Grape.
–Matt Aulsbrook
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In a typical car accident, each person’s insurance company will (ideally) cover the costs. But what if one person was an Uber driver, with a passenger? Who is held responsible for the passenger’s injury? Ever since 2012, when Uber arrived in Texas, this confusing scenario has become more common. Let’s break it down into its fundamental parts. Finding the Responsible Party When you step into an Uber, Lyft, or another ride-sharing service, you’re putting your well-being into another person’s hands. You deserve to be compensated if the driver acts in negligence and gets into an accident that causes injury. Thankfully, under Texas law, ride-sharing companies are required to have insurance that covers people or property if the driver doesn’t have insurance. Your ride-sharing company is also required to tell you about their insurance policy, including types of coverage and limits for the policy. Basic information is often available online. For example, on behalf of the driver, Uber will provide $1 million third-party liability coverage, uninsured/ underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party injury insurance, contingent comprehensive and collision insurance, and up to actual cash value of the car with a $2,500 deductible. Of course, insurance companies will fight their hardest to give you as little money as they can. That’s why you should contact your attorney and file the claim as soon as possible! Although the law seems complicated, if you’ve experienced any injuries from a ride-sharing service in the past two years, we can help ensure that you won’t be stuck with long-term medical bills. The sooner you file your claim, the better. (If you wait any longer than two years to file a claim, then it’s too late to make the claim.) Proceeding After an Uber Car Accident After an accident, seek medical attention as soon as you can. If you’re able, you should also report the accident to Uber, take pictures to document the scene, gather information of drivers and witnesses, and always refuse premature settlement offers. Even if the settlement sounds like a good deal initially, you might not feel how injured you truly are until hours, days, or weeks after the incident. When we enter a ride-share vehicle we all want to believe that we’re in good hands — but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. Give our offices a call if you need help navigating these stressful situations. INJURED WHILE RIDE- SHARING? PSA: Your Driver Can Be Held Accountable
Summer has finally arrived, which means the birds are singing, the skies are blue, and the grass is … hopefully green? Maintaining a green lawn is an incredibly difficult task, especially if you don’t get much rain. Your lawn may also have sunspots or issues due to pet waste, but don’t lose hope. You can do a few simple things to turn your brown grass to green, and it shouldn’t take the entire summer to see results. If you’re unsure where to begin, try some of these tips to bring new life to your lawn. Make sure you mow properly. One of the biggest mistakes people make when they mow their own lawn is cutting their grass too short. If your blades aren’t set to the proper height, you can easily cut too much of your grass, leaving it stressed. As it struggles to recover, your lawn will turn brown, and then weeds will grow more easily. Ideally, you should mow your lawn once a week and sharpen your blades regularly before they get dull. Water in the morning. There’s proven science behind the best time to water your lawn. If you water at night, you’ll see excess humidity, which can lead to turf disease and the destruction of your lawn. If you water in the middle of the day, water will evaporate quickly leaving your lawn dried out. Instead, try watering in the morning so your lawn has the opportunity to absorb the water. Watering for 45–60 minutes twice a week will allow ample time for the water to soak into your lawn. If you live in a drought-affected area, be sure to follow local guidelines for water use. Fertilize for health. Sometimes our lawns need an extra boost to become as green as possible. That’s where fertilizer comes in. Fertilizer contains various mixes of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium — three important nutrients for a healthy lawn. You can find many different fertilizer options, so conduct a soil test to understand which mix is best for your lawn. IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF YOUR LAWN IN 3 EASY STEPS
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Hydration: A Safety Practice We Can’t Ignore
5 Tips to Stay Hydrated During Texas Summers
No. 2: Consider your level of activity. Engaging in any activity that makes you sweat will require you to drink extra water to compensate for fluid loss. Make sure to fill up your glass after your summer bike ride or even after river rafting! No. 3: Get hydrated from a healthy diet, too. Water is the best source of hydration, but beverages such as milk or juice (with minimal sugar) can help you hydrate, too. Your fluid intake can even benefit from foods with high water content, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries. No. 4: Skip the Gatorade. After extended periods of exercise, you’ll want to replenish your body’s minerals and electrolytes. Just make sure to avoid sugary sports drinks — a banana, or water with a little salt, will work as well. No. 5: Avoid caffeine before extended activities in the sun. Coffee might help you focus at work, but caffeine can increase water loss. This makes energy drinks and coffee less effective for hydrating before long summertime activities.
As we approach the end of spring, we start dreaming about all the exciting activities we’ll do this summer. Maybe you’ll be hitting the pool or going mountain biking, but no matter what you do, you’ll need to be hydrated so you can avoid fatigue, lightheadedness, and/or throbbing headaches.
With that said, here are some hydration tips and potential precautions for you and your family to keep in mind.
No. 1: Be aware of the weather. Hot summer temperatures can cause water loss, even if it’s cloudy and breezy. If the temperatures hover between 70–80 degrees F, your body will remain warm while exuding less sweat. However, you will still need hydration if you’re outside, even if you’re sitting. Texas-Sized LAUGHS
Dehydration can cause everything we do to be a little more dangerous — even walking! Be careful and stay hydrated as well as you can this summer.
BANANA BARS WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
1 cup butter, softened and divided
• • • • • •
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 ripe bananas, mashed 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream 1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 cups powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and the sugar for 5–7 minutes with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla and beat until smooth. 3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually combine with the wet mixture. Stir in bananas. 4. In a greased pan, spread the mixture evenly and bake for 20–25 minutes. Remove from oven to cool. 5. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup butter, and vanilla until the mixture is fluffy for frosting. Gradually beat in enough powdered sugar to achieve desired consistency. 6. When bars are completely cool, frost and cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364 420 E. LAMAR BLVD. #110 ARLINGTON, TX 76011
INSIDE Craving Ice Cream? You Are Now! 1 3 Ways to Make Your Lawn Healthier My Uber Driver Crashed — Now What? 2 Stay Safe This Summer: Hydration Tips Banana Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting 3
The Salem Tomato Trials 4
Cases We Handle: • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
• Car Wreck • Truck Wreck
Falsely Accused and Condemned
THE SALEM TOMATO TRIALS
Surely, you’ve heard about the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts, but did you hear how the people of Salem, New Jersey, put tomatoes on trial in the 1800s, believing that they were poisonous? It sounds like a fictional movie plot, but it really happened! Even back in the 16th century, people were very suspicious of tomatoes. As if enough confusion didn’t already surround the tomato — is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Deemed a fruit but treated as a vegetable, the tomato is a bit of a contradiction. To make matters worse, in the 1800s, it was discovered the stems and leaves of tomatoes contained tomatine, a toxin. Within the fruit itself, a small amount of the toxin exists in a much lower concentration. However, people feared being poisoned if they were to consume any part of a tomato. Today, we know there isn’t nearly enough of the toxin to create a problem for us.
goes against the grain. Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson, a farmer and historian, refused to believe that the tomato was harmful and ate them on a regular basis. In fact, he even hosted tomato competitions, granting a
prize to the person who could grow the largest tomatoes. People thought he was simply mad.
To prove his point and redeem his reputation, he showed up at the Salem tomato trial with a giant basket of tomatoes, frantically eating them in front of the crowd. He ate the entire basket full and stood before everyone, as healthy as can be, hoping to coax the crowd into dropping the “charges” on the healthy fruit. When he maintained his health days, weeks, and even months later, tomatoes were no longer regarded as evil and poisonous.
In 1820, wary of the poisonous red fruit, tomatoes were put on trial in the town courthouse, made to answer for their toxicity. But, there’s always one who
Today, the tomato is actually the fourth most popular “vegetable”; after all, how could we live without salsa and marinara sauce?
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