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On Your Side A Publication of Kevin McManus Law Injury & Disability Attorneys
KevinMcManusLaw.com (816) 837-4433
The Quiet Ways a New Baby Changes Us All It’s a Boy (Again)!
A Personal Message From Kevin McManus
Welcome to our newsletter! We’ll introduce you to our office team, share client stories and life lessons, give updates about our work and community, and have some fun along
the way. Have feedback? Email us at info@kevinmcmanuslaw.com and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you. We’re on Your Side!
Big things are happening around the McManus household these days:
We welcomed a new baby four months ago, and the ripple effects of becoming a family of five have been changing our lives ever since. Babies are like a small meteor that hits your home. They are tiny, but they leave a large impact. We’re so happy to have our new baby boy, Sebastian. And he has had a large impact. The house is messier than it used to be. But that’s part of what makes life fun! It’s never perfect. The mess is part of the joy. A Team Effort Something I’ve learned from being a law firm owner is how to delegate tasks. All of us at the firm are figuring out how we can safely rely on each other and share the workload. My family is going through a similar process. As a father of three now, I am trying to figure out how I can balance all of my roles, of being a good husband and a good parent. Balance is a tricky word. Maybe there is no balance. One thing I’m sure of, though, is that getting your kids involved is part of the answer. Empowering our two older sons to take more ownership of tasks around the house has definitely helped us all adjust. Our older boys are learning to notice when Alex or I need help. Our 12-year-old is cooking his own breakfast, and our 10-year-old is learning what the dishwasher is and how to load it. They are learning how to clean up after themselves.
The moments when it all works are great. There have been times when the baby was crying and I heard our oldest son telling his brother, “We’ve got to help with the kitchen, because Dad has to go take care of the baby.” And as any parent knows, getting ready for all of us to leave the house with the baby and getting all the things in the car can be overwhelming. (The stroller, the diaper bag, the blanket, the pacifier, the bottle … there are so many things!) But the boys have figured that out, too. If we go on a family outing, they’re packing it all up for me, which is really cool. Is it perfect? No. But they get it. They’re also becoming more self-reliant. Taking more responsibility broadens their world view, helping them realize, “It’s not just about me.” That growing awareness has been cool to see. Finding Time Valentine’s Day is drawing near, and to me, what our boys are learning has a lot to do with the real meaning of the holiday. Valentine’s Day has become so commercialized and so focused on buying things.
HOW WE CAN HELP Kevin McManus Law assists clients with personal injury and long-term disability claims throughout Missouri and Kansas. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis and offer free consultations. Call (816) 837-4433 today or visit our website for more information: KevinMcManusLaw.com.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REFERRALS! We’d like to thank the following clients and referral partners for trusting us with their referrals. Your support gives us the ability to help others.
Alyssa B. Deron S. ITC Darian S. Victoria C.
Dr. Stallbaumer Bayli M. Raintree Medical BurnettDriskill
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KevinMcManusLaw.com • (816) 837-4433
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ISSUE 9
What Are Those Seagulls Doing in the Parking Lot? FROM SHORE TO STORE
If you walk through any suburban mall parking lot these days, you may encounter one of nature’s puzzles: Why are seagulls hanging out here? With no oceans nearby, no beaches, or no enticing seaside picnics, what attracts an ocean bird to a retail plaza?
Surprisingly, the gulls weren’t satisfied to scavenge for rubbish in trash cans and dumpsters. They were waiting patiently for humans to feed them deliberately. Scientists divided these bird-feeding humans into two groups: “casual feeders” who would toss a french fry out of the car window for the birds, and “dedicated feeders” who regularly drove to mall parking lots and served flocks of birds en masse by dumping big loads of bread and other food! While the gulls weren’t above dumpster diving, they preferred to await food deliveries from “their” humans. The scientists concluded that humans’ deliberate mass feedings encouraged the mass gull gatherings at malls around the country. Also, parking lots resemble the birds’ natural habitats in some ways. Gulls dislike having anything obstruct their flight path overhead or getting in the way. Various species will flock to almost any kind of open space, from baseball fields to landfills. Maybe that’s so they can dive-bomb picnickers below and swipe your toddler’s hot dog, or snatch that piece of pizza out of your hand. And while many dedicated feeders believe the gulls need their help to get enough to eat, scientists say that is just another trick these savvy birds play on us humans! They’re actually fully capable of foraging for themselves.
For many of the 50 species of seagulls, the name is a misnomer. While many species do stick to the coasts, a large number, including
a species known as the ring-billed gull, are just as happy living inland, especially in suburban parking lots! These gulls enjoy picking up human leftovers wherever they land, and shoppers exiting with mall food often leave an appetizing trail. But gulls aren’t craving just any food scraps. When scientists in Massachusetts studied suburban flocks of ring-billed gulls roosting on a drinking-water reservoir, they discovered the birds flocked during the day to a nearby shopping mall to eat.
The Road Back
Helping Accident Survivors Recover From Trauma
The aftermath of an auto accident can be a terrible time for survivors. They may be dealing with painful injuries or multiple surgeries, physical setbacks that are evident to everyone around them. Less obvious, however, are the profound psychological effects a violent vehicle crash can have on survivors. Some 40% of car and truck crash survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an accident, with symptoms for some lasting as long as three years, according to a recent international review of 96 studies encompassing more than 50,000 victims. Survivors also experience elevated rates of depression and anxiety, and many avoid driving or riding in vehicles for a long time afterward. Researchers found that even minor accidents have lasting psychological effects. These unseen wounds are too often overlooked by the insurers and physicians involved in managing crash survivors’ treatment and recovery. Yet therapy and healing of psychological damage from a crash are as important to a holistic recovery as patching up broken bones. The most effective therapies for PTSD include cognitive behavioral therapy, which identifies and challenges negative beliefs and fears related to the accident. Exposure therapy can also be helpful, including gradually revisiting reminders of the accident, with expert support, to reduce a victim’s fears over time. A newer method, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, involves guiding the victim’s eye movements while recalling elements of the crash, helping the brain re-process and reduce the lingering effects.
Group therapy with other crash survivors, mindfulness training, and medication for anxiety or depression are other treatments that have helped accident survivors make a full recovery. At our firm, we are committed to raising awareness of the mental-health burdens suffered by accident survivors and ensuring that our clients are supported in receiving the best, most holistic care possible. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash caused by another person’s negligence, contact us today for a free consultation. We will ensure that you receive the expert legal support you need to recover, not only from your physical injuries, but for the lingering effects of trauma as well!
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My wife, Alex, isn’t really big on that idea. Her view is that you should be treating your loved ones great every day of the year, not just buying them roses on Valentine’s Day. And I get that. For us, Valentine’s Day is all about having the foresight to make space in our schedules where we can really be with each other. For our family, the core of it … of showing your love for each other … is not about getting. It’s about giving, and how you can support the other person. And hopefully, they will support you back. This Valentine’s Day, that’s what we’ll be working on at the McManus household. We wish you some loving space in your schedule to do the same!
First responders are thrust into dangerous situations all the time, and they’re trained to protect themselves and others. No amount of training, however, can prevent serious injuries to a first responder whose truck is hit from behind in a multi-car highway pileup. Our client, an emergency medical services first responder, was traveling along a wet highway when a negligent driver skidded on the pavement and crashed into another vehicle, setting off a chain reaction that engulfed our client’s truck. Suffering from severe back and leg pain and nerve damage, he underwent extensive medical treatment, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and steroid injections in his lumbar spine in an attempt to recover. But nothing seemed to help his chronic back pain. Our client struggled to move, lift, climb, and perform emergency care, as required by his job. At one point, he even suffered a back spasm while performing CPR on the job, causing him to collapse onto the patient. These symptoms posed not only an occupational hazard, but also prevented him from sitting or standing for very long. He couldn’t enjoy family activities as he once had. Chronic pain forced him to miss such important family events, including his daughter’s swim meets and band performances. Our experienced personal injury lawyers went to work on this man’s case and amassed all available evidence, from medical records and expert opinions to documentation of the crash. We fought hard to win compensation, not only for his medical bills and lost wages, but for the human cost to his quality of life, including chronic pain and diminished career prospects. We won a $250,000 settlement, the maximum allowed by the defendant’s insurance policy, to help provide him and his family financial security while he continues to recover from the accident. We are proud to go to bat for clients like this one, whose injuries are undeserved and whose lives have been severely disrupted as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury, our accident lawyers would be glad to meet with you to explore your right to compensation. Our clients pay no fees unless we win! Justice Served STANDING UP FOR A FIRST RESPONDER HURT IN A HIGHWAY PILEUP
-Kevin McManus
HONEY MUSTARD PORK CHOPS
Ingredients •
Inspired by LoveFromTheOven.com
4 thick, boneless pork chops
•
1/4 cup stone-ground mustard
• 3 1/2 tsp garlic and
• 1/4 cup fresh honey • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
herb seasoning, divided
• 1 tsp sea salt •
1 tbsp avocado oil
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Pat pork chops dry before seasoning them with salt and 1 1/2 tsp of garlic and herb seasoning. 3. In a large, oven-safe skillet, heat avocado oil over medium heat. 4. Sear pork chops in hot oil for 1–3 minutes on each side. 5. In a medium mixing bowl, combine mustard, honey, and remaining garlic and herb seasoning while the pork cooks. 6. Remove pork chops from skillet. Add honey mustard mixture to the skillet and mix. 7. Place pork chops back in skillet and cover with sauce. 8. Place pan in oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, until pork reaches 145 F. 9. Set oven to broil for the final minute to allow the tops to caramelize and enjoy!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Page 1
New Baby, New Rhythms: Our Family Welcomes a New Member No Ocean? No Problem! The Truth About Suburban Seagulls How Crash Survivors Can Heal From Post- Traumatic Stress A $250,000 Victory for an Injured First Responder Honey Mustard Pork Chops Healing Through the Eyes of Awe
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The Everyday Magic That Heals Us FINDING AWE IN THE ORDINARY
Encounter awe in everyday moments. You don’t need to climb a mountain or visit a famous landmark to experience awe. It’s waiting in the subtle corners of your day: the way sunlight dances on a wall, the sound of rain tapping on the roof, or how someone’s kindness catches you off guard. Try taking a few minutes each day to slow down and look around. Step outside, watch the clouds, or listen to a piece of music that stirs you. When you allow awe to find you, you begin to reconnect with presence, gratitude, and joy. Awe heals because it reminds us that we’re part of something larger and endlessly unfolding. In moments of difficulty, wonder offers perspective and hope. It grounds us, opens our hearts, and helps us see clearly beyond fear or fatigue. So, pause today. Let a moment of awe find you and allow it to do its quiet, powerful work.
our nervous system, and reconnect us with something larger than ourselves.
Discover the magic of feeling awe. When we are captivated with awe, time seems to slow. Our thoughts, usually centered on our own problems and plans, suddenly expand to encompass the broader picture, which helps dissolve stress and boosts emotional well- being. Research indicates that awe can reduce inflammation, lower heart rate, and even promote compassion. It’s as if our minds momentarily reboot and remind us that life is vast and full of meaning beyond our daily concerns. Standing beneath a star-filled sky or witnessing a child’s laughter can make us feel small, but not in a diminishing way. Instead, we sense our place in life. That feeling of belonging and connectedness nourishes emotional balance and strengthens our resilience.
In a world that races ahead at full speed, it’s easy to lose sight of wonder. We rush through our routines, scrolling, planning, and worrying, and rarely pause just to feel. But when we do stop long enough to notice the world’s quiet beauty, something remarkable happens: We experience awe. This emotion, which is part surprise, part reverence, can shift our perspective, soothe
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