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OCTOBER 2019 888-855-2948
San Diego’s largest and most successful Social Security Disability & Personal Injury Law firm
Don’t Let You or Someone You Love Become a Statistic THE GENUINELY SCARY PART OF HALLOWEEN I t’s October, which means it’s officially time to get together with your kids to pick out the perfect costume, find the creepiest haunted house, and stake out the residences in the neighborhood that offer the best candy! While Halloween is a holiday billions of people across the U.S. excitedly anticipate all year long, it has a rather interesting backstory. While the origins of Halloween (previously known as All Hallows’ Eve,) are frequently debated by historians, the vast majority believe many of the festivities we know and love today stem from an ancient Celtic celebration known as Samhain, a day which marked the end of growing season and the beginning of winter. In a way, Samhain functioned more like our contemporary New Year’s celebrations than it did like our Halloween. Later when colonists journeyed to the U.S., those who practiced Celtic religious traditions brought them across the pond. Add in the Irish traditions of going from door to door to ask for food and money and pulling pranks on Halloween night, and the road to our modern celebrations began. While this holiday has a rich history and is a favorite of many, it unfortunately often increases the potential for mayhem and danger, especially on roadways. In fact, for families with young children who plan on hitting the neighborhood for some trick-or- treating, Halloween fear extends far beyond ghosts, goblins, and monsters. Here are some legitimately scary statistics to consider before heading out this year. • According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Halloween was the deadliest day of the year for child pedestrian accidents. • Experts have come to refer to the 60 minutes between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 as the “deadliest hour,” as nearly one- fourth of the night’s accidents occurred during that time. • Over 70% of all Halloween accidents occurred away from an intersection or crosswalk. • Young drivers between the ages of 15–25 account for nearly one-third of all these accidents. • 52% of all vehicle deaths that occur on Halloween involve alcohol.
• Car accidents aside, there are still approximately 3,800 Halloween-related injuries each year.
All of us here at Jorgensen Law know these statistics are frightening, but we share them not to keep you and your kids from celebrating this fun holiday but to encourage you to be more aware of the dangers it poses. If your Halloween traditions include trick- or-treating, here are some tips to keep in mind and help ensure your little ones are as safe as possible.
1. Plan to go along with your kids as they excitedly meander from doorbell to doorbell. Even if your kids know their neighbors well, other families and/or teenagers may be driving around the community. Walking from house to house with your kids helps drivers notice them. 2. Consider putting reflective tape on the top and bottom of your children’s costumes to help drivers better see them at night. You can also carry a flashlight or hand out glow-stick necklaces to trick-or-treaters. 3. If your kid’s costume involves a mask, see if there is a way for you to use face paint instead. This helps ensure their vision isn’t blocked.
4. If you need to drive your kids to another neighborhood (or multiple), be on the lookout for distracted/inebriated drivers.
This Oct. 31, our team wants you to avoid being a statistic, but we understand that even if you are as cautious as possible, accidents can still sometimes happen through no fault of your own. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on Halloween, or any other day of the year, don’t hesitate to let us know. Our team is always here to help.
We at Jorgensen Law want to wish you and your family a happy and safe Halloween! Have fun and be careful this year!
–Don Jorgensen
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When it comes to explaining the disease and its consequences, younger children may require fewer details and broader concepts, while older kids may need more comprehensive answers to their questions. A 5-year-old is going to have different concerns than a 16-year-old, so your approach must be different. However, regardless of your child’s age, always tell the truth. FOCUS ON PREVENTION EDUCATION A loved one doesn’t have to be diagnosed with cancer for you to educate your family about the disease and its prevention. Studies have linked prevention efforts, including anti-smoking campaigns and healthy lifestyle programs, to actually preventing cancer. (In fact, half of all cancers can be prevented!) Teach your child about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and excessive sun exposure to foster healthy habits and lifestyles. Organizations that host walks, benefits, and other events for cancer prevention and research can be great sources of education for families, too. A Difficult Discussion TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT CANCER
As pink-clad products line store shelves this October in honor of Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, children are bound to be curious. Since they rationalize the world around them with what they already know, kids may
ask silly questions like, “Is cancer contagious?” Whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, or you just feel it’s time to educate your children about the disease, answering questions can be difficult. These tips can help you prepare. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH Telling a child you or a loved one has cancer can be complicated. To start, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends giving yourself time after hearing the news of a cancer diagnosis to process this new reality. Two-parent households should tell their children together, while single parents are encouraged to ask an adult with a positive influence on the child’s life to join the conversation. Remember, your child will be experiencing the same emotions as you but in a kid’s body, where hormones and developmental changes are already wreaking havoc. Monitor their emotions and offer them space and opportunities to discuss their feelings with a professional.
The ACS has resources for families living with cancer or those wanting to learn more. Visit Cancer.org for more information.
October Is Emotional Wellness Month
Stress can have many adverse effects on your physical and mental health, and, when left unchecked, it can lead to several chronic conditions. It’s for this reason that October was deemed National Emotional Wellness Month. By raising awareness about the importance of emotional well- being, millions of Americans across the country have spent a little more time focusing on ways to reduce their stress levels. In your quest to focus on your emotional health, you might start wondering how mental illnesses factor into applications for disability benefits. While it is possible to receive benefits for mental disorders, it’s typically more difficult due to the fact that claims examiners working for the Social Security Administration (SSA) are not psychiatrists and often don’t understand how certain mental
illnesses can be limiting and how the symptoms can go through cycles in severity. When evaluating a claimant’s condition, the disability examiner consults the list of impairments, which is often referred to as the blue book. The blue book has different categories for disorders, and, within each of the different categories, a statement describes the disorder and criteria that would allow the examiner to determine if the claimant fits the category according to diagnosis and severity based on the claimant’s functional limitations. If you are unsure if your diagnosis will meet the medical conditions listed in the SSA’s blue book, then you need to reach out to our office for help. While the process of submitting a successful application for disability benefits is complicated no matter your condition,
it gets exponentially more complex when discussing matters related to mental illnesses. Call us today to talk to an advocate or attorney for your FREE Social Security disability evaluation, so we can help you get the help you deserve!
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WORD SEARCH
Our Monthly Law Lesson YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ANSWERS. CLIENT QUESTION OF THE MONTH: WHAT CONSTITUTES A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT?
Autumn Candy Carve Costume
Scarecrow Halloween October
Picture this: You get off work a little bit early, so you decide to stop off to do some quick grocery shopping. You pay for your goods, push your full cart through the parking lot, and unload your bags
Orange Pumpkin Football Harvest Leaves
into your car. Just as you’re getting ready to pull back out on the roadway, the reverse lights on the car in front of you flip on. You honk, trying to get their attention, but it doesn’t help. They hit you. You know you’ve suffered some slight whiplash, but you feel fine otherwise. You take a deep breath and ready yourself to get out of the car and exchange information when that driver who backed into you suddenly speeds off. WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? ARE YOU COMPLETELY OUT OF LUCK? According to California law, drivers involved in auto accidents must stop and exchange information with the other parties involved. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. It’s not uncommon for drivers in California to flee the scene of an accident in order to avoid being held responsible for someone else’s injury. When a driver speeds away after causing an accident without giving the other party their identity, they have participated in a hit-and-run. If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you can still be compensated for your injuries. It’s possible to investigate the case and determine who was involved, even if they left the scene of the accident. That said, you can’t do this on your own. You need professional assistance from both law enforcement and qualified attorneys in order to learn the identity of another driver. The aftermath of a hit-and-run accident is often a difficult time. You may be forced to pay expensive medical bills while dealing with the physical and emotional toll of recovering from an injury. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you pursue compensation makes the experience easier. If you’ve been involved in this type of accident, get in touch with our team at the Jorgensen Law today. If we decide to represent you, we’ll make sure we take all the necessary steps to secure the compensation for damages you deserve.
CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT
This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy.
INGREDIENTS • 1 package melting chocolate
• Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.
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JORGENSEN LAW 1831 FOURTH AVE. SAN DIEGO, CA 92101 888-855-2948 MYSOCIALSECURITYATTORNEY.COM • Social Security Disability Benefits • Personal Injury Claims
INSIDE
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The Genuinely Scary Part of Halloween
Educating Your Kids About Cancer
Mental Health and Disability Benefits
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Our Monthly Law Lesson
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit
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Amazing Cat Tales
Mythical Cats of the World TAILS FROM THE PAST
M ost owners will tell you their cats act like ancient deities. ajestic, scrupulous, and utterly unpredictable, these fascinating creatures have long captured our imaginations. Even before cat videos took the internet by storm, humans have been idolizing felines, placing them alongside some of their most important mythological figures. BASTET — EGYPT Of course, a list of mythical cats has to start with Egypt. While many people know the pharaohs
招き猫 (MANEKI-NEKO) — JAPAN Legend has it that in the 17th century, a monk living in a small temple in Edo (now Tokyo) was struggling to survive, but he still split his meals with his cat, Tama. One day, Lord Nakaota li got caught in a rainstorm while hunting and took shelter under a tree near the temple. Nakaota spotted Tama near the temple, and the cat raised its leg, beckoning the noble to come toward him. Curious, Nakaota complied, stepping out from beneath the tree just before a bolt of lightning struck it down. The lord’s life was saved, and to this day, the Maneki-Neko (the beckoning cat) is a symbol of wealth and good fortune. FREYA’S SKOGKATTS — NORWAY In Norse folklore, the goddess Freya had a unique means of travel: a chariot pulled by two cats. These were skogkatts, or Norwegian Forest cats, that were only a little larger than your average house cat. Still, these small felines towed Freya around battlefields as she gathered warriors to send to Valhalla. On top of being the goddess of war, love affairs, and magic, Freya may well have been Midgard’s first cat lady.
and their followers thought cats were sacred, you may be surprised by how deep the connection goes. The earliest depiction of Bastet, the feline deity of protection, is a lion- headed woman in battle. But, over the course of 2,000 years, Bastet evolved to resemble the domesticated, pointy- eared cats we know and love today.
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