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Serious Injuries. Strong Lawyer. 214-932-1288 | ARMSTRONGLAWYER.COM | FEBRUARY 2025
Helping Clients Heal After Hardship KNOCKED DOWN BUT NOT OUT
No one wants or plans to get into a traumatic accident. They happen at the most unexpected and inconvenient times, and when they do, they can completely knock you down. As a personal injury lawyer, I have seen many clients struggle with physical injuries and emotional and financial hardships. It’s easy to feel the weight of those stressors bring you down. When we’re in a place of fear, pain, or difficulties, we have one option — to get up and find a way to put the pieces back together and move forward. National Get Up Day takes place this month. It celebrates resilience and the inspiring stories of people who persevered through their challenges. We will all face struggles in our lives, and there’s something we can learn from each obstacle that comes our way. When clients come to me after an accident, they are often at their most vulnerable. They have been knocked down not just by the incident itself but by all the other challenges. It could be that their employer, the insurance company, or another party is trying to take advantage of their situation. Sometimes, it’s simply the burden of everything ahead of them, like doctor appointments, meetings with their lawyer, and finding a way to complete their day-to-day responsibilities when they aren’t functioning fully. My job is to help them stand back up, guide them through the complexities, find solutions, and hopefully restore a sense of normalcy in their lives. I want to help clients get back on their feet and on the right track to feeling whole again. One of the greatest tools in someone’s recovery is just having someone who will listen. So often, clients feel unheard, like every concern falls on deaf ears. As a lawyer, I’m that sounding board they can vent to, someone who truly listens to their needs. With the chaos
and uncertainty at that moment, they may fear certain things they don’t need to be scared of. It’s because they don’t know what’s next or are unfamiliar with this process. So, at our firm, we try to calm those fears and reassure them that things will be OK. When we can get back up after a hardship, it teaches us not to take things for granted and can help us develop greater empathy for others. At any point in time, you may be in a challenging situation, finding yourself struggling and needing help. It makes you more self- aware of other people and the fact that we have no idea what they may be going through. It’s important to understand that people are not always in the same position as you. If there are little things you can do to help them get on track faster, a kind gesture you could perform can go a long way, more than you may ever realize. The stranger you encounter at the store or in your office may be recovering from an injury. After being taken advantage of, they might feel completely alone. One small act of kindness or warmth could change their day. If you can help someone, do it because you never know when you will be in the same situation.
Ultimately, life’s challenges and stumbles remind us of the power of resilience and compassion. The lessons we can learn from hardships strengthen us and open our eyes to the struggles of those around us. If we can all work to support each other, no one has to lift themselves alone.
–Warren Armstrong
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HOW ONE THIEF’S SELFIE LANDED HIM IN HOT WATER Caught in the Cloud
In what could be a plot twist straight out of a sitcom, a brazen thief turned himself into an unwitting internet star after his phone-snatching heist went incredibly wrong. Picture this: A cool evening, a group of movie-goers casually strolling through their Houston neighborhood looking forward to a bucket of popcorn and a new blockbuster. Enter stage left: three not-so-well-intentioned young men with a half-baked plan.
But here comes the comic relief! In a blunder no one saw coming, one of the criminal “masterminds” decided it was his time to shine. He recorded a video of himself tossing gang signs and flaunting his newly stolen phone. Unfortunately for him, but luckily for law enforcement (and comedy lovers everywhere), he uploaded this gem to the cloud. Thanks to his cloud-cast snafu, the authorities could get a full image of the newly minted most wanted. You could almost hear his fellow thieves’ facepalms as the video debuted on the victim’s account. The Houston Police promptly uploaded Mr. Selfie Bandit’s solo performance to their YouTube channel. Now, they’re hoping this unexpected audition tape will help put the fool of a thief behind bars. So, let this be a lesson to all would-be criminals: If you must commit a crime, maybe leave the selfies and social media out of it. We guess it’s true that not everyone is cut out for a life in front of the camera, especially when it leads straight to the slammer.
The trio of misguided musketeers approached the unsuspecting group with violent bravado. Brandishing a handgun, one of the alleged culprits demanded the victims’ phones and their respective passcodes. They even escalated the drama by pressing the gun to one victim’s head, threatening a finale no one wanted to see. Then, the robbers fled in their four-door white sedan, stolen wallets and phones in tow.
ELIMINATING THE GUESSWORK The Power of Dashcams in Truck Accidents
Quicker Process If dashcam video is available in a commercial trucking accident, it can help speed up the claim process. With clear footage of the
In vehicle accidents, it’s often a case of he said, she said, making establishing fault more difficult. Dashcams, required for many commercial truck drivers, can provide essential evidence to prove liability. The footage can clarify the events leading up to an accident, such as showing the road conditions and the driver’s actions and resolving disputes over conflicting accounts. For truck drivers, keeping the camera rolling after an accident and preserving the footage can be one of the first critical pieces of evidence that can make or break a case. Proof of Fault Dashcam footage gives an unbiased account of what transpired during an accident and can show if a driver’s negligence or other factors caused it. The video will capture the behavior of other vehicles nearby and could prove that a trucker was driving the speed limit, swerved, or made an illegal maneuver. Along with providing footage of what the drivers were doing when the accident occurred, it often catches what happens after the collision, like the driver apologizing or being hostile or drug or alcohol impairment. When the footage is clear and available, it can help win or lose a case. Dashcams may also catch hazardous road conditions or weather that led to the collision.
accident, insurance companies and attorneys don’t have to rely as heavily on gathering witness statements and police reports. If liability is clear-cut on the video, it will eliminate some of the time- consuming investigations that can come with auto accident claims. Safer Drives Dashcams can also help keep the roads safer by providing truckers real-time safety features and feedback. Clips from the footage are often used for training purposes and can help identify areas for improvement, such as distracted driving. Some dashcams even provide audible alerts to the driver on external hazards, allowing them to self-correct and potentially prevent a crash from occurring in the first place. Incorporating dashcams into commercial trucks helps prove fault and ensures a faster, more efficient claim process. By providing unbiased, clear footage, dashcams can streamline investigations, reduce disputes, and ultimately keep more people on the road safe.
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214-932-1288
Why Pre-Existing Conditions Don’t Disqualify You OLD INJURIES, NEW DAMAGE
When a person who’s dealt with chronic back pain for years gets injured in an accident, they may find their condition worsened, leading to a surgery they never needed before. While the defense team may argue that the pain isn’t accident-related, the change in condition — backed by medical records and testimony — can prove the injury was caused or aggravated by the collision and should be factored into their overall compensation. Pre-existing conditions don’t automatically disqualify you from making a personal injury claim. Though the insurance companies don’t always make it easy to recover the money, if someone’s negligence or behavior causes your condition to worsen, you are entitled to seek money for treatment. Eggshell Rule
or has health issues can’t get compensation for the accident. The “eggshell rule” means that as attorneys, we must take the plaintiff as they are, and your pre-existing condition can’t be used against you. Proving Your Claim It can be challenging to prove the accident caused or exacerbated a pre-existing condition. Your attorney will turn to medical experts and records to help establish whether the injury has worsened due to the incident. Medical professionals would evaluate your health conditions before the accident to determine if the injuries from the accident would have been less severe if the pre-existing condition didn’t exist. What often happens, especially in work-related accidents, is that a victim will attend physical therapy or receive treatment for their injuries. At a certain point, they are no longer approved to continue. They are essentially kicked to the curb and told their pain is related to their pre-existing injury, not the actions of the defendant. Working with a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been denied treatment due to a pre-existing condition, contact Armstrong Law today for the help you deserve.
The law recognizes that someone with a pre-existing condition will be more
susceptible to more significant injuries in an accident. A 90-year-old who gets rear-ended, for example, likely has weaker health and will suffer more than a 20-year-old. However, that doesn’t mean the person who is frailer
WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE
INGREDIENTS •
1 cup chopped dark chocolate 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
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1/2 cup chopped walnuts
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3 Armstrong Law specializes in workplace accident cases for employees of businesses in Texas that do not have workers’ comp insurance. We understand the nuances of these cases and have the resources to take on large “nonsubscriber” employers. To refer an injury case involving a nonsubscriber employer to our practice, call us at 214-932-1288 .
3/4 cup granulated sugar
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4 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup almond flour
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2 tbsp cocoa powder
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a springform pan with butter or nonstick spray. 2. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour warm, melted butter over it, wait for 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. 3. Add sugar, almond flour, and walnuts and stir to incorporate. Stir in the egg yolks and set mixture aside. 4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium until stiff peaks form. 5. Fold 1/4 of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter. Repeat, 1/4 at a time, until egg whites are incorporated. 6. Pour batter into springform pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before removing from the pan. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
Inspired by EasyDessertRecipes.com
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12720 HILLCREST RD. STE. 615 | DALLAS, TX 75230 214-932-1288 | ARMSTRONGLAWYER.COM
INSIDE
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Finding Hope and Help After Life’s Challenges
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Thief’s Selfie Mistake Turns Into Viral Sensation
The Silent Witness in Commercial Truck Collisions
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Win Your Injury Case Despite Prior Conditions
Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake
We Value Your Referrals
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The Unsolved Mystery of the Exploding Teeth
DENTAL DETONATIONS FROM THE PAST The Bizarre History of the Bursting Teeth
People love unsolved mysteries, as shown by the steady stream of new podcasts and TV shows about cold cases. Now, to the annals of mysteries like “Who invented Bitcoin?” or “What really happened to Amelia Earhart?” add this riddle for the ages:
sharp report,” again leading to instant relief, the article said.
Correspondence published in the British Dental Journal told of similar cases, including one recorded in 1871 by a different American
What caused the mystery of the exploding teeth?
dentist. He reported treating a woman whose molar “bursted (sic) with a concussion and report that well-nigh knocked her over” with a sound loud enough to deafen her for a few days, the correspondence said. The cause of these dental detonations isn’t clear. The Pennsylvania dentist who reported the three initial cases suspected that a buildup of gas within the teeth may have triggered the eruptions, but modern experts say that notion arises from a misunderstanding of what causes tooth decay at that time. Some suggest that a mixture of metals in dental fillings may have caused a buildup of pressure, but there is little evidence to support that hunch. Or, the patients may simply have been exaggerating their symptoms.
About a half dozen times during the 19th century, people were beset by agonizing dental pain followed by an explosion of a tooth, according to scientific journal articles reported by the BBC. In the first case, a clergyman in 1817 reported an ache in a canine tooth so intense as to drive him wild, according to a Pennsylvania dentist’s journal article. The reverend ran around trying to escape the pain, drilling his head into the ground and immersing it in a cold spring, to no avail. “All at once, a sharp crack, like a pistol shot, burst his tooth to fragments, giving him instant relief,” the article said. In another case, a woman a few miles away suffered severe pain in a tooth that ended “by bursting with report, giving immediate relief,” the dentist wrote. In a third case, in 1855, a woman reported that one of her canine teeth spontaneously split open with “a sudden
But without other explanations, the mystery of the exploding teeth remains unsolved.
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