Harmonson Law Firm - September 2022

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HARMONSON HEADLINES YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND SEPTEMBER 2022

THE WORK IS ALWAYS DONE THROUGH TRUST AND RESPECT

Our motto here at Harmonson Law is “keeping you first” and we live by that promise every day. I don’t have an enormous law office with tons of clients, so when we take on somebody’s case, whether it be a multimillion-dollar injury case, a complex medical negligence case or a simple car accident, we treat everyone with the same level of respect. The clients here at the firm aren’t just some number in a marketing budget — each and every client is important to us. I speak with all my clients personally, and the same goes for Hadley, but we have to have help since we are both deeply involved with our cases and clients. I started out about 10 years ago on my own, and I met Rosie Caldwell at another law firm I leased office space from. She was their legal assistant, and we got to know each other fairly well, and after several years, she started doing tasks for me on the side — with permission, of course — and the relationship grew from there. When she quit her previous position, I ended up hiring her as my first official full-time employee soon after. She really helped us here at the firm and took me from just being this guy doing everything on his own to taking that weight off my shoulders. Rosie works from home, and it has been that way even before the pandemic, so we were able to weather it a little better because of that and her expertise. Unfortunately, not a lot of the clients get to see her, but that doesn’t mean they matter any less to her. Rosie’s daughter, Sam, also works with us as our file clerk, and my wife Sheri is our office manager. They are all wonderful assets to the team and continuously work hard to get the best results for our clients, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

For a long time, Sheri was an important employee of an international nonprofit called Best Buddies International. Best Buddies helps people with intellectual disabilities find friendships, job opportunities, and similar matters. Sheri was the Texas state director for many years and also worked in their corporate office planning conferences for staff and volunteers. Sheri travelled a lot, and although she loved her job at Best Buddies, it became a burden to our family since we didn’t see her as much. Thankfully, she was able to quit that position several years ago and became the firm’s office manager! Our firm is a family affair, and though our office is small, I like it that way. You just have to trust your employees to get those results, and I know they can because, at the end of the day, they always get the work done. Whether you are a current or former client or one of our friends or family that receive this newsletter, I want you to know that we want to be your trusted legal advisor. Get in touch with us if you need any legal advice.

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Though we may not always think about it, balance is essential to just about everything we do in our daily routines. From simply getting out of bed, leaning over to tie our shoes, or even walking to the mailbox, we need good balance to keep ourselves steady while performing normal tasks. Know why balance is important. Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary or moving. It is a key component of fitness that many people neglect while developing their fitness regimen. Balance training is a great way to help your body recognize where it is and control movements in a given space. When the body knows where its limbs are in space — known as proprioception — it is able to produce smooth, controlled movements with fewer risks of injuries. Reaction time and agility are also improved with balance training. The body learns how to quickly correct itself but not overcompensate and has the ability to quickly change direction effectively and efficiently. Though balance training is important for everyone, it is especially important for those who have problems due to illness, weakness, or dizziness. It allows them to overcome stiffness or unsteadiness and to develop an awareness of body segments and how to align them. These exercises help with balance. Balance training involves exercises to strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright and improve stability. These types of exercises can be done as often as you like or even every day.

NAVIGATING CAR AC UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREM

In the aftermath of a car accident, it can be confusing or overwhelming for those who do not understand the obligations that follow. Here are some pointers to better understand your car accident report in New Mexico!

When should I report my car accident?

It always depends on the amount of property damage and injury, but you may be obligated to report the

car accident to state or local police and submit a written report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

According to New Mexico Statutes Sections 66-7-206, 66-7-207, a driver involved in a car accident must report the crash if it results in bodily injury or death of any person, and/or if the property damage looks apparent to the extent of $500. After ensuring your safety, the first step in a report includes when and where the accident occurred and as much information regarding the driver and their vehicle as you can gather. However, in some circumstances, a police officer is obligated

SUDO KU

Consider trying the following exercises: •

Standing with your weight on one leg and raising the other leg to the side or behind you.

Putting one heel right in front of the other foot, as if you were walking a tightrope.

Standing up and sitting down from a chair without using your hands.

Walking while alternating knee lifts with each step.

Stretching and gentle movement as part of yoga or tai chi.

Balance is essential to living a healthy, functional life. It’s important to incorporate balance training into your fitness regimen. That way you can decrease the risk of injuries and help move freely and confidently.

SOLUTION ON PG. 4

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Some may assume a medical malpractice case would be between a health care provider and their patients, but there are actually cases in which the hospital itself can be at fault for negligence. It is essential to understand the basics of a hospital negligence case, as it is different than a medical malpractice case. Hospitals are liable for their employees’ actions. These types of cases use the term “respondent superior,” which is a legal doctrine that holds an employer legally responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee or agent if such acts occur within the scope of employment or agency. But the hospital itself can be sued if an employee is negligent and causes further harm to a patient. Some of the negligence cases can include: • Birth injuries caused by the nursing staff failing to review and interpret fetal monitoring strips • Bedsores caused by the nursing staff’s failure to turn and reposition an immobile patient • Medication errors, like administering the wrong dose or type of medicine or failing to timely administer an ordered medication to a patient • Failure of nursing staff to timely inform the attending physician of important patient status changes PURSUING A CLAIM OF HOSPITAL NEGLIGENCE

to prepare an accident report. In New Mexico, if a police officer responds to an accident and you are legally required to report it, the officer will also be obligated to report it to the Department of Transportation within 24 hours. Any officers may try to gather information quickly, but the intensity of the situation sometimes leads to inaccurate police reports, so verifying an officer’s report is paramount. Did you know New Mexico is an at-fault state? This means that fault is used to determine whose insurance will pay for bills regarding the accident. These accident reports are crucial in determining who is at fault and the percentage the individuals involved are at fault. CCIDENT REPORTS MENTS AND PROCEDURES

Some of these determinations include: • Statements from parties involved • Witness statements • Vehicle examination

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Scene examination

Opinions/conclusions of police officers

Harmonson Law Firm is here to help make sure you obtain, understand, and if need be, dispute your car accident report in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Contact us at (915) 584-8777 to discuss your accident with one of our experienced attorneys.

Grape, Goat Cheese, and Honey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Inspired by HowSweetEats.com

Are doctors considered employees? It is important to ensure the doctor you were seeing was employed by the hospital. Some doctors aren’t considered employees since most are part of the independent trade and are independent contractors. You can figure this out by discovering if the hospital controls their working hours and vacation times or sets the fees the doctor can charge. If a hospital does not make it clear upfront that the doctor is not an employee of a hospital, they may have been called in to be the apparent agent, so the hospital may be legally liable for the physician’s negligence. Likewise, if the hospital keeps an incompetent doctor on staff, the hospital can still be held liable for any problems the doctor may have caused, even if that doctor is considered an independent contractor. In New Mexico, our experienced attorneys at Harmonson Law will help you navigate these waters and are dedicated to getting the justice and compensation you deserve. Call us at (915) 584- 8777 so we can fight for you.

INGREDIENTS

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4 sweet potatoes

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4 oz goat cheese, divided

2 cups seedless red grapes

2 tbsp honey, plus additional for drizzling

1 tsp grapeseed oil

1/4 tsp salt, plus a pinch 1/4 tsp pepper, plus a pinch

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Pinch of cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. With a fork, poke holes in potatoes. Tightly wrap each in aluminum foil. 3. On a baking sheet, place potatoes and roast for 45–60 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Remove and unwrap foil. 4. With a knife, slit each potato down the middle. 5. Increase oven to 450 F. 6. On a nonstick baking sheet, drizzle the grapes with grapeseed oil. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to coat. Roast for 20–25 minutes. 7. Using a spoon, remove sweet potato flesh while keeping shape intact. 8. In a large bowl, mash sweet potato flesh with 3 oz goat cheese, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and honey. 9. Scoop filling back into potatoes. Top with remaining goat cheese, grapes, and drizzled honey.

915.584.8777 • 3

5505 North Mesa St., Suite 3 • El Paso, TX 79912 WWW.CLARKHARMONSONATTORNEY.COM 915.584.8777

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Recognizing My Employees

Balance Training Key to Quality Movement A Guide to Car Accident Reports in New Mexico

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Grape, Goat Cheese, and Honey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

The Scope of Hospital Negligence

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DIY Fall Scavenger Hunt for the Family

Ready, Set, Scavenge!

EXPLORE WHAT AUTUMN OFFERS

As the leaves begin to fall and the air becomes cooler, it is a sure sign that summer is slowly coming to an end. Though we will miss the pool parties and backyard barbecues, there is still lots to look forward to during fall. Autumn is known as the season of change, and getting the kids outside allows them to understand and explore the changes going on in the world around them. Creating a fall scavenger hunt is a great way for kids to practice their reading and observation skills, all while still enjoying the outdoors. Signs of Fall Creating a specific scavenger hunt for signs of autumn is a great way to enhance your child’s observation skills.

Consider the following for your signs of fall hunt: 1. Leaves that have changed colors 2. Tree seeds or pine cones that have fallen to the ground 3. Items from a fall harvest (like pumpkins, sunflowers, or hay bales) 4. Changes among people’s apparel (such as jackets, hats, and scarves) 5. Animals hibernating or migrating Fall Color Wheel The best way to explore autumn’s colors is by creating a fall color wheel hunt! Since the leaves are the surest signs of fall, kids can compare and contrast the different colors of each leaf they find, making this a fun hands- on activity.

You can either download a color wheel template from the internet or make one yourself! All you need is a piece of paper that’s big enough for kids to tape the leaves onto and different areas for the colors red, yellow, orange, and brown. This will help kids see the different kinds of leaves as well as their visual changes during the season. The weather is getting colder, but it doesn’t mean you have to hibernate too! Bundle up with a cozy sweater and beanie, and encourage the family to get outside to explore all of the wonderful changes autumn has to offer.

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