PERSONAL INJURY POST 820 S. Main St., McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 587-5833 www.go-lawfirm.com
JULY 2020
CHERISH YOUR FREEDOM, CELEBRATE FREEDOM, LET FREEDOM RING
My family has celebrated the Fourth of July pretty casually over the years. When I was a kid, the only thing we would typically do is go to the beach on South Padre Island and make it a weekend affair. We’d go on the weekend closest to the Fourth and spend three or four days there. The only trouble was that it seemed as though most of South Texas had the same idea, which meant the beach was pretty crowded. Despite how many people were there, we always had a lot of fun. It was usually just the four of us — my parents, my brother, and myself — but sometimes, a few extended family members would come with us. Before we set off, we’d make sure we had plenty of burgers, hot dogs, and brisket. We’d spend all weekend having fun out on the water, playing on the sand, and barbecuing. I always liked sitting around the barbecue to relax, talk, and just really enjoy each other’s company. Then, if the Fourth happened to land on a weekend, we’d also go out to watch the fireworks. Sometimes people would set off fireworks over the weekend anyway, regardless of if it was the Fourth or not. It was always exciting to catch the professional fireworks displays when we had the chance. One year when we were on South Padre Island, everyone decided to watch the fireworks show out on the water. The family got into my brother-in-law’s boat, and we floated out near the barge from where the fireworks were shot. There were other boats around us in the water, and all of us were directly under the fireworks in the air. Sitting in the bay like that with the fireworks above us was really pretty.
Back then, an official fireworks display on South Padre Island only happened on the Fourth of July if it happened to land on a Saturday or Sunday. Since then, the shows would start on Friday and Saturday nights around 9:30. Whenever we go for a weekend, the family can head out on the balcony of where we’re staying and watch them. It’s always a great way to end the day. While celebrating the Fourth with fireworks, barbecues, and family is a fantastic way to spend the holiday, I think it’s equally important not to forget the reason behind the celebration. It’s a time to spend remembering what was at stake during the fight for our country’s freedoms, which is even more relevant today. Because of the coronavirus, we’re missing out on a lot of the social freedoms we’ve enjoyed up until this point. I know I am. I really miss being able to see my family and coworkers and even just passing someone while at the store. I can’t wait to get back to where we can talk to one another and hug without worrying about transmitting and spreading the virus. For me, I never realized how much I would miss going to restaurants and enjoying the company of family and friends after a long day. Although we might not be able to enjoy all those social freedoms right now, I think it’s still incredibly important to cherish the ones we do have. I hope that we can all enjoy one another’s company soon, whether that’s for the Fourth, birthdays, anniversaries, or any other important celebration.
DESPITE COVID, IN LIGHT OF COVID, WE WILL SURVIVE COVID!
“While celebrating the Fourth with fireworks, barbecues, and family is a fantastic way to spend the holiday, I think it’s equally important not to forget the reason behind the celebration.”
Ric Garcia
Hardworking Lawyers Helping Hardworking People.
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Bringing All At-Fault P A Dram Sh
A MEAL FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
Meals on Wheels Goes the Extra Mile
Meals on Wheels doesn’t often get the credit it deserves. The international nonprofit ensures those who are unable to buy or make their own meals get the food they need to survive. Of course, for many recipients, the efforts of the organization go far beyond “survival.” For those who receive food daily or weekly, those deliveries may be their only source of social interaction. And during times of social distancing, the program became more important than ever. Meals on Wheels doesn’t just serve meals to the elderly and people with disabilities — it also serves those people’s pets. In 2019, Meals on Wheels Atlanta realized there was a huge need in their community to feed the pets of senior citizens. It stands to reason that if an elderly individual is unable to shop or cook for themselves, their pets may be in a similar predicament. And when someone’s pet is their entire world, making sure the animal is fed and healthy means everything.
Nolo, a popular self-help legal site, defines a dram shop law as “a law that makes a business that sells alcoholic drinks or a host who serves liquor to an obviously intoxicated person strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken patron or guest.” When an intoxicated person causes injury or death to an innocent bystander, both the intoxicated individual and the business or host where they received the alcohol can be at fault.
In response to this need, Meals on Wheels Atlanta began stocking up on cat and dog food, creating their own pantry to serve the local pet community. When volunteers made their rounds delivering meals to seniors, they made sure to bring cat and dog food along too.
IF YOU NOTICE YOUR TIRES ARE FLAT
Get Them Back to Full Capacity
One volunteer with Meals on Wheels
Atlanta, Larry Auberbach, had a unique experience delivering meals to Jeffery Jones and his dog, Grizzly. The volunteer told 11Alive News in Atlanta that Jeffery and Grizzly “have their own special relationship.” Larry loved Grizzly long before Meals on Wheels Atlanta started the pet pantry because he saw how much Grizzly’s companionship meant to Jeffery. Now, Larry enjoys his service that much more since he gets to provide for Jeffery’s beloved pet, as well. On top of delivering food to seniors and their pets, Meals on Wheels Atlanta also delivers pet toys and pet beds, and they are happy to take in any pet-related food or items for donation. The organization says this endeavor was done out of love, not only for the people they serve but also for the whole family — wagging tails, fuzzy whiskers, and all.
Tire pressure is extremely important when it comes to driving, and during the summer, high temperatures cause that pressure to drop. For both your and other drivers’ safety, it’s crucial not to put off addressing low tire pressure any longer than you have to.
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hop Case
NO-CHURN S’MORES ICE CREAM
Parties to Justice CASE FACTS: When our clients reached out to us with their case, they had just experienced a terrible loss. Their mother had just been killed in an accident caused by the defendant, who was quite intoxicated at the time. The defendant had dined at a restaurant, and while there, the bartender continued to serve them alcoholic drinks, despite their showing signs of already being intoxicated. Not only did the staff on duty not withhold drinks, but they also let the defendant leave the restaurant knowing that their level of intoxication posed a danger to others. This was in direct violation of dram shop laws, and our team took the case to serve justice for our clients. THE OUTCOME: When taking up this case, our attorneys knew that the death of this innocent bystander was not only the blame of the drunk individual. Thus, we turned to the restaurant and on-duty staff who had let the defendant walk out. The restaurant denied the allegations that they had anything to do with the accident in question, but our team did not relent. And we managed to win the case. Although we cannot do anything for the aching loss our clients went through in this traumatizing event, we were able to give them some closure.
Inspired by GrainChanger.com
July is National Ice Cream Month, so why not cool off with some sweet, homemade s’mores ice cream? You don’t even need an ice cream churn!
• 4 oz sweetened condensed milk • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 10 graham crackers, crushed • 1 chocolate bar, chopped • 2 cups whipping cream, chilled INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, graham crackers, and chocolate. 2. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat whipping cream until peaks form, about 3 minutes. 3. Fold whipping cream into the condensed milk mixture. Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze for at least 8 hours. 4. Serve and enjoy on a hot summer day. It’s especially delicious in a waffle cone!
Our team here at Garcia & Ochoa has experience in many different cases and is ready to fight for you and your family. Call us today at 956-587-5833.
THE DANGERS OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE Low tire pressure can cause a number of problems for a driver. As pressure drops, steering becomes difficult, and the distance in which a driver must brake safely increases. In the event that a driver must brake or swerve suddenly, low pressure makes it especially dangerous. Additionally, low tire pressure wears down tire tread far more quickly and increases the chances of a blowout. To top it off, low tire pressure can even result in your car using more fuel than normal. APPLYING PROPER TIRE PRESSURE Most people might look to the sidewalls of their tires to learn how much pressure is needed, but that number isn’t necessarily correct. It indicates the maximum amount of pressure the tire can take, not what your vehicle needs to perform at its best. To find the correct carrying capacity, look in your vehicle’s owner manual, glove box door, fuel cap, trunk lid, or at the tire specification decal on the driver door frame. If you happen to overinflate your tires, don’t worry. Most modern tires can handle pressure that exceeds the specified amount, and most air pumps have the ability to let air out as well. CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE One of the best things you can do is to check your tire pressure regularly — at least once per week with a quality gauge. The most reliable gauges are dial or digital, which run about $10–$20 at any car part or home improvement store. Before you check your tire pressure, be sure that you haven’t just driven around. Heat caused by road and tire friction can alter the reading. To get the most out of your tires and vehicle, it’s important to take your vehicle to your mechanic for checkups, tire rotations, and alignments. If you notice anything wrong with your car, it’s essential to your safety that you take it to a professional as soon as you can.
BE INSPIRED
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820. S. Main St., McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 587-5833 www.go-lawfirm.com
INSIDE This Issue
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Celebrating Our Social Freedoms
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How Meals on Wheels Atlanta Stepped Up for Its Community
The Fault of Intoxication
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How Low Tire Pressure Impacts Your Vehicle
Homemade S’mores Ice Cream
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National Ice Cream Day Prompts Homemade Creations
CELEBRATE NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY
By Making Your Own Sweet Treat! Whether you’re a fan of mint chocolate chip or just plain vanilla, nothing cools you down on a hot summer
Dairy-based products like milk are the most common foundation for ice cream. Sugar adds the sweet, scrumptious flavor we all love, and gelatin aids in thickening the mixture. The eggs happen to be one of the most important ingredients because they give ice cream its classic texture while reducing the rate at which it melts. This ensures your ice cream remains in near “mint” condition as you enjoy it. Healthy Alternatives: Use bananas or almond milk for dairy-free ice cream. For vegan ice cream, use agar powder instead of gelatin and eggs. For those looking to avoid sugar, honey is a naturally sweet substitute. GET TO WORK! You’ll need to heat your ingredients on the stove prior to churning and cooling your ice cream. An ice-cream churner is the easiest way to create a perfectly smooth texture, but if you’re looking for an activity to wear out the kids, then have them shake their own ice cream! Simply place all your ingredients in a small baggie, close it up, and place that baggie in a larger one with ice cubes. Shake firmly for at least 15 minutes for homemade creamy goodness.
day quite like ice cream. It’s only fitting then that National Ice Cream Day lands on July 19 — right in the middle of the hottest month in the U.S. Ice cream’s history stretches as far back as 500 B.C. when Middle Eastern royalty combined sweet flavors with ice for a cool treat. Ice cream made its way to North America in the 1700s, and it remained a dessert for the wealthy and famous for years. George Washington even spent $200 on ice cream throughout the summer of 1790. (That would be $5,611.20 in today’s dollars!) Thankfully, these days you don’t have to be rich to enjoy ice cream. In fact, you can even save money by making it yourself! Celebrate National Ice Cream Day by creating this everyday treat using these tips. MAKE IT HOW YOU WANT IT. You can flavor your ice cream however you’d like, but there are a few basic ingredients that are necessary for most batches: milk, sugar, gelatin, and eggs.
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