PERSONAL INJURY POST 820 S. Main St. McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 587-5833 www.go-lawfirm.com
MARCH 2020
HOW MY PERSPECTIVE SHIFTED
AFTER BEING TRAPPED ON A BOAT FOR 3 DAYS
In the 1980s, my father, a few friends, and I set out to have a fun sailing trip in the Caribbean. We planned to spend a few days out on the sea, but our vacation didn’t turn out the way we’d expected it to. The first part of the trip, which consisted of getting to the Caribbean, went as planned, and all of us were in high spirits to get out to the sea. Once we were out, however, things started to take a turn. My dad received a call over the radio that urged all boats to take refuge in a nearby cove. Hurricane Allen was on the way. It was a frightening experience. As Dad turned the boat around and pointed us to the cover where other sailboats were heading, we could see the storm coming at us in the distance. When we finally pulled into the cove, there were many other boats anchored there. We settled down too, and then braced ourselves as best as we could for the storm. For three days, we were stuck on that boat, and while we had enough food and water to last us, no one could step off the boat. We just had to wait it out. The next 72 hours were extremely stressful, and after the hurricane passed, we were exhausted. We felt like we needed a vacation from our vacation. Since then, I’ve gone on several trips with my family, but they were nothing compared to that horrible experience — and never on a boat. I never want to go on another sailing trip again. From this experience, I learned that life is filled with unexpected journeys, which is a fitting topic this month. March 25 marks Tolkien Reading Day, a chance for us to look at the most unexpected
adventures we may have experienced, whether good or bad. Much like Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins, I found myself on a rather frightful adventure that I didn’t predict. But from it, I also gained a new perspective. Once the trip was over, I couldn’t help but appreciate life a little more than I did before. I found myself enjoying all parts of life, even the moments when I felt angry or sad, and today I feel just the same. Every day, I greatly appreciate my life, the people in it, and the work I do. That experience also helped me be more careful in future endeavors. While I still don’t think I’ll get on a sailboat any time soon, Hurricane Allen helped me prepare for other outings with my family. I’m now more aware of possible dangers and am even more careful in the activities my family and I participate in while we’re on a trip. In my line of work, I’ve found many people experience the same shift. As an attorney, I help people who have experienced some of the worst moments of their lives. From my own personal experience and as a lawyer, I know that horrific moments don’t just happen to us; they help us grow. These journeys we find ourselves in, unexpected or not, can shift our perspective of the world and help us live our best lives.
“From this experience, I learned that life is filled with unexpected journeys.”
Ricardo Garcia
Hardworking Lawyers Helping Hardworking People.
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As students and families get ready to enjoy spring break, it’s important to keep safety in mind, especially around water. The residents of McAllen are eager to head out to South Padre Island, but make sure you and your family follow these four water safety tips before you do. LEARN TO SWIM. Anyone can learn to swim. It just takes the right classes and practice. When someone knows how to swim, they greatly reduce their risk of drowning by up to 88%, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. While knowing how to swim reduces that risk, it doesn’t ensure that it won’t happen, so further precautions are necessary. GUARANTEE ADULT SUPERVISION. A child should always be accompanied by an adult when around or in a body of water. This is crucial regardless of whether a child knows how to swim or lifeguards are on duty. Before you head out, assign each child to an adult who can watch them and take immediate action if needed. It’s also essential to learn the signs of a swimmer who is in trouble. KNOW THE SIGNS OF DROWNING. The most terrifying aspect of drowning is that it can happen quickly and quietly. A person who is drowning does not always splash or shout. Sometimes, they will bob in the water with their arms Water Safety T
ANOTHER SLICE OF PI(E)
The Sweetest Ways to Celebrate Pi Day
Break out your calculators and grab your aprons because it’s almost Pi Day! This holiday has gained popularity among mathematicians and bakers alike — two groups that rarely overlap. Pi Day is March 14, which, when written numerically, is 3/14, the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi. Pi is special because it’s used to calculate the circumference of a circle. This might not sound like a big deal, but pi is used in engineering, construction, GPS, motors, power generation, and even television! If we hadn’t calculated pi, none of these achievements would be possible. Pi is pretty important, and it’s definitely worth celebrating! Here are two ways you can get in on the fun.
LEARN TO RECITE PI Pi has fascinated mathematicians for centuries because it’s an irrational number, meaning the digits go on forever. If you want to try your hand at memorizing some of the numbers, here are the first 50 decimal digits of pi (with spaces, so they’re easier to remember!). 3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510 To make things simple, we often round pi up to 3.14, but many people have challenged themselves to memorize and recite as many digits as possible. In the Guinness Book of World Records, the record is currently held by Rajveer Meena, who recited pi to the 70,000th digit on March 21, 2015. And he did it all while blindfolded!
CASE STUDY: A PRODUCT LIABILITY Collecting Every Piece of Evidence for Your Case
EAT SOME PIE Another popular way to enjoy Pi Day is to bake and eat pie. This dessert is perfect because it’s both a homophone (same pronunciation as “pi” but with a different spelling and meaning) and a circle. Challenge your friends to a pie- baking contest, or buy your favorite pie from the store and have a pie-eating contest. And, while this may be a controversial stance, we believe pizza pie deserves a place in Pi Day celebrations, too.
Tragedy can strike at any time with a brutality that leaves the people in its wake distraught. These incidents are made all the worse when the tragedy is caused by another’s negligence. When our client planned to have a fun weekend away with his family, he met one such catastrophe.
Here’s to Pi Day: the tastiest, nerdiest holiday of the year!
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ps to Keep in Mind
Ratatouille
moving up and down and a look of surprise on their face. If you notice that someone is drowning, then call for help and throw something buoyant into the water or use a long object they can grab onto. Remember, never jump into the water to help someone unless you are certified to do so. UTILIZE POOL BARRIERS. Isolation gates are a great way to prevent small children from accidentally stumbling into a pool at home. The U.S. Consumer
Inspired by Bon Appétit
INGREDIENTS
• 1 eggplant, peeled and chopped • 1 large zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds • 2 tsp salt • 3/4 cup olive oil, divided • 5 sprigs thyme • 1 large onion, halved and sliced 1/2-inch thick • 1 red bell pepper, chopped DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. In a colander, toss eggplant, zucchini, and salt. Let sit for 30 minutes and pat dry. 3. In an ovenproof pot, heat 1/2 cup olive oil. Add half of eggplant mixture, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Remove vegetables from pot. 4. Tie thyme sprigs together with kitchen twine. 5. In the same pot, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, and cook onion, pepper, garlic, and thyme for 8–10 minutes. 6. Add half the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. 7. Stir in original eggplant and zucchini mixture and top with remaining tomatoes. Do not stir. 8. Transfer pot to oven and bake mixture for 15–20 minutes. 9. Remove pot from oven and remove thyme bundle before serving. • 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 2 pints cherry tomatoes
Product Safety Commission states that an isolation fence should be at least 4–5 feet high with a self-latching, self-closing gate that should be difficult for children to reach and operate. The fence should wrap around the entire pool without using the house as part of the barrier.
For more information on water safety and additional water safety resources, visit ColinsHope.org.
CASE FACTS: Our client purchased a pair of spacers on Amazon from a motor work company and installed them onto his 1999 Ford F350. The vehicle was not driven often between the time of installment and the day of the accident; it was only used to take our client to work or when he needed to move his trailer. One summer, our client decided to take his family out of town for a weekend trip, and he drove the F350. On the way home, the spacers failed, causing the wheel to separate from the vehicle and the horrific accident that followed. Our client, his wife, and two of his three children were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, their 10-year- old son died at the scene. got to work. Through our investigation, our team discovered that the company in question had not only deleted their website but was also operating under two different names, and this was not the first time their product had failed. Multiple reviews on websites, including Amazon, Newegg, and eBay, had similar statements: The spacers were sheared off, resulting in the wheels of the vehicles to fall off. After our extensive research and investigation, we were able to get justice for our client within six months of the accident. When it comes to collecting evidence in favor of our clients, our team knows exactly what to look for. The attorneys at Garcia & Ochoa will not rest until we have collected every possible piece of evidence that will win you your case. THE OUTCOME: Filled with grief, our client sought to bring those individuals who were responsible for the deed to justice. He contacted our firm, and our attorneys immediately
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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Life’s Unexpected Journeys
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Would You Like Some Pi?
Stay Safe and Have Fun This Spring Break!
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Leaving No Stone Unturned
Ratatouille
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Stay Stateside With These Little-Known St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Staying Stateside for St. Paddy’s?
Celebrate With These Little-Known Festivities There’s no place quite like Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day. What was once a purely religious holiday to honor the legend of St. Patrick chasing all the snakes out of the country has turned into a global celebration. But if a trip to Ireland isn’t in the budget, check out these three little-known stateside destinations that are just as festive. every March with a traditional parade, music, and Irish dancing. But the town also hosts a popular dodgeball tournament and donkey basketball. What could be better than pummeling your opponents in dodgeball and outpacing the competition while riding a donkey in the school gymnasium? Perhaps enjoying a pint or two with your teammates afterward. And O’Neill is just the spot to do it.
SHORT AND SWEET IN ARKANSAS Thanks to the clever thinking of some Irish friends meeting for a pint at a bar on one of the shortest streets in the world, Bridge Street in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the First Ever 17th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade will travel 98 feet once again this year. Don’t assume the turnout isn’t robust just because the distance is staggeringly low. The parade lasts for hours, drawing thousands of people to watch celebrities, musicians, bands, floats, and Miss Arkansas glide by. The event also features a Blarney stone kissing contest and a parade king and queen. A LITTLE LUCK IN AMERICA’S HEARTLAND O’Neill, Nebraska, is home to the world’s largest shamrock and more unique St. Patrick’s Day traditions. This Irish community doubles down on its heritage
OHIO’S LITTLE PIECE OF IRELAND You may not be able to fly to Ireland, but you can visit a little piece of it right in the U.S. Head to Dublin, Ohio, this St. Patrick’s Day for a traditional celebration sure to put a wee bit o’ pep in your step. Partake in a traditional Irish breakfast or enjoy a parade complete with bagpipers and Irish dancers. Boasting one of the largest celebrations in the U.S., Dublin is an affordable alternative for those looking to celebrate the Irish way.
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