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AUGUST 2020
HARMONSON HEADLINES
YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND
FRIED PIES AND BINGO My First Summer Jobs
Do you remember your first summer job? It’s often a rite of passage for teenagers to get a summer job during high school as they think about what they want to do next in life. My first job was at Sally’s Fried Pie Company. Scott Womack, the owner, was a youth leader at our church when I was growing up. Fried pies are little handheld pastries that are filled with delicious fruit or chocolate and then deep-fried. I would help Scott on the weekends by cleaning out the trays, doing odd jobs around the kitchen, and individually wrapping the pies by the dozen in boxes. I would also tag along with Scott as he traveled to food conventions around Texas over the summer to sell pies. That seems so long ago now! I haven’t kept up with Scott as much as I should. These days, he’s a successful real estate agent in Lubbock. My other summer job was working at a bingo hall when I was 16. My uncle was the manager of a local bingo hall and had me selling bingo daubers. I must have been good because the job continued well past summer and into the school year. Once school started back up, I was able to balance my schoolwork with my bingo work. Bingo was played at night, and my uncle allowed me to do my homework while selling daubers!
To add even more to my day, I was on the basketball team in high school. I would get out of practice at about 5:30 p.m., race home to shower and eat, and then head to the bingo hall. I was doing this four or five nights a week and on the weekends during high school. Definitely kept me out of trouble! I actually kept that job all throughout college, and the money I earned helped me pay for tuition. I ended up learning every job a bingo hall could offer, including managing the cash registers and calling out the bingo numbers. But it wasn’t the job itself that I found truly interesting. It was the people. There were a lot of interesting folks who both worked at and attended bingo. One of my coworkers was Anthony Lynn, who is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Back in the day, he was the lead running back at Texas Tech, and my uncle always liked to hire Texas Tech football players to work at the bingo hall. My brother also worked at the bingo hall. Now he’s a very successful banker. It seems like many of my uncle’s hires went on to have great careers! My summer jobs provided me with the work ethic and foundation for success that I have today. I learned the value of hard work and earning your own money at a young age. More importantly, however, they gave me an appreciation for all sorts of people. I can’t tell you how many people I met working at bingo, but they came from all walks of life, and I had the chance to get to know them all. That’s what we do at Harmonson Law Firm today. We get to know our clients — and we help people from all walks of life who have been injured in an accident.
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UNDERSTANDING ‘PHYSICAL CONTAC
2020 has been a difficult year. If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or depressed right now, you’re not alone! All over the world, people have been trying different strategies to cope with their feelings, including yoga, meditation, exercise, binge-watching their favorite TV shows, and even baking banana bread. But perhaps the most universal outlet and cure for pent-up emotions is music. Do you remember the clip that went viral in March of Italians in quarantine, singing together from their balconies? If you do, that’s probably because it made you smile. TIME heralded it as proof that “the country’s spirits are still strong,” and it’s just one small example of how music uplifts people. This isn’t just an anecdotal effect, either. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, music can help us process emotions and fight mental health conditions like anxiety, dysregulation, depression, trauma, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, and more. So, how can you take advantage of music’s power to turn your mood around? One option is to create music of your own, but another is simply to listen. When it comes to flipping a bad mood on its head, a survey conducted by the Family Center for Recovery (FCR) suggests that rock is the genre of choice. “During any given year, depression affects approximately 5%–8% of Americans,” FCR reports. “According to our survey participants, the vast majority — around 89% — turn to music in order to feel better. The top genre for depressed listeners is rock, followed closely by alternative, pop, and hip-hop/rap.”
What does it take for uninsured motorist coverage to be triggered?
Let’s say that a driver is cut off by another vehicle and a single-vehicle accident occurs, but the two vehicles never touch. The other vehicle leaves the scene of the crash and cannot be found. The driver of the crashed vehicle is injured and has uninsured motorist coverage (UIM).
Will the injured driver’s uninsured motorist protection provide coverage even though there was no physical contact between the two vehicles?
Physical Contact Rules in New Mexico
Unlike some states, New Mexico does not require physical contact with the uninsured vehicle. This policy came to light during the New Mexico Supreme Court case Chavez v. State Farm. The Court decided that New Mexico’s uninsured motorist statute only requires two things:
1. The insured driver be legally entitled to recover damages 2. The other driver is uninsured
What the Insurance Companies DON’T Want You to Know About YOUR RIG
Claims was written to s with vital information 8-wheeler, work vehicle es to bear in mind that up premiums for t ir e amount that they are E ONE GOAL— HAREHOLDERS.
Injured in a Car Accident? The Insurance Company Is NOT Your Friend.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the blues came in last on the list.
To put the power of music to work, create playlists for each mood that you want to turn around, like “Anger,” “Frustration,” “Sadness,” “Anxiety,” or “Grief,” and fill them with songs from genres associated with fighting that feeling. According to FCR, rock is the most popular antidote to sadness and anxiety, and it’s also high on the list for anger, along with pop and country. Frustrated people opt for variations of rock, pop, punk, and heavy metal, and those stricken by grief turn to soft rock or soul. The artists are up to you, so fill up your lists, press play, and let the music do its work.
Written by experienced car accident attorney S. Clark Harmonson, this is a valuable resource with the vital facts you need before talking to the insurance company or hiring a lawyer.
g e e e e d es ly
In this book, you’ll learn everything insurance companies don’t want you to know, such as: • 12 shady auto insurance company tactics • 10 common myths and misconceptions about your car accident claim • How we hold negligent drivers accountable • What you need to do immediately after an accident • Top five worst auto insurance companies in Texas
“I wrote this book to help you cut through all the confusion surrounding your accident.”
WITH: 12 Dirty Tricks the Insurance Adjuster Will Use to Wreck Your Claim
Get your free copy at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com or by calling our office at 915.584.8777 .
AR ACCIDENT… ET THIS RIGHT!
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CT’ LAWS AND CAR ACCIDENTS
HONESTY IS YOUR BEST POLICY So Don’t Hide Your Medical History
Phantom drivers who leave the scene of an accident are considered uninsured drivers pursuant to New Mexico law. Thus, there is no requirement for physical contact between the two vehicles. What if there are other factors, such as out-of-state drivers and insurance policies? This law applies to all accidents that occur in New Mexico, even if the injured driver is from out of state and their UIM policy from out of state has different requirements. If you live in Texas and have a Texas UIM policy with State Farm, for example, the policy requires physical contact for UIM coverage. But if a phantom vehicle ran you off the road in an accident in New Mexico, your UIM would still apply in this circumstance — even though there was no contact with the other vehicle — simply because the accident took place in New Mexico. Do all states have this law? No. Many states, including Texas, require physical touch between the two vehicles for coverage. That’s why you should contact an experienced car accident attorney — preferably one who is licensed in multiple states — to help you through this case.
It might seem like common sense, but people routinely hide their past accidents and injuries. They believe those old accidents and injuries will hurt their current car accident case. The truth is that those past events CAN negatively influence your case if you choose to hide them. Insurance companies are a treasure trove of information. They spend a lot of their resources collecting data on you and every single one of their other customers. They even collect data on the customers of other insurance companies. It’s all because this information is a powerful tool — a tool they will use against you, if necessary. Because they collect so much data, chances are they already have some information relating to your medical history. Failure to disclose that medical history can cause the insurance company to question your credibility as a claimant or even go so far as to deny your current claim. You also never want to keep anything from your attorney when you hire them. You certainly don’t want your insurance company (or the at-fault driver’s insurance company) to have more information than your attorney, because that puts your legal team at a severe disadvantage.
This article comes direct from the blog at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com/blog. Be sure to visit the blog for more insights from Clark!
GHTS
PEACH AND ARUGULA PASTA SALAD INSPIRED BY AMBITIOUSKITCHEN.COM
Nothing says summer like a pasta salad filled with your favorite fresh fruits and vegetables, and this combination is the perfect way to cap off a warm summer day!
INGREDIENTS
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8 oz penne or fusilli pasta
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2 large fresh peaches, diced or sliced 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tbsp olive oil
Being open and honest about your medical history with your attorney is worthwhile. Your attorney may be able to use this information to your advantage — and help show past injuries are unrelated to current injuries — which can be beneficial in getting the amount of compensation you deserve. On top of this, when your attorney has a more complete picture of your medical history, they may be able to ask the court to keep old injuries out of your current claim. This gives insurance companies less ammunition to use against your claim. The less ammunition they have, the better!
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
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1/2 tsp sea salt Pepper, to taste 2 tbsp lemon juice
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1 cup corn
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
6 cups arugula, packed
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta for approximately 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and place in a separate bowl. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and toss with the feta cheese. 3. Add peaches, red onions, tomatoes, corn, and arugula to the pasta mixture. Lightly toss to mix well. Add more olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
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5505 North Mesa St. Suite 3 • El Paso, TX 79912 WWW.CLARKHARMONSONATTORNEY.COM 915.584.8777
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The Summer Jobs of My Youth
The Best Genre of Music to Combat Depression
Does NewMexico Uninsured Motorist Law Require ‘Physical Contact’?
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Peach and Arugula Pasta Salad
Why You Should Always Be Honest About Your Medical History
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Celebrate National Chefs AppreciationWeek
Celebrates Those Who Bring Communities Together National Chefs Appreciation Week
How can I celebrate?
Restaurants have had an especially tough time staying afloat during the pandemic. Most eateries had to discontinue dine-in service, and those that couldn’t adapt to offering takeout or delivery may still be questioning whether they’ll ever be able to open their doors again. During the pandemic, it became clear to many of us just how important a role our favorite restaurants play in providing not just tasty chow, but also a sense of comfort and community. Celebrating National Chefs Appreciation Week is a great way to let the chefs who run those eateries know just how much they mean to us.
Now that many restaurants are opening back up for service at a limited capacity, it’s possible to dine in and further support the chefs who make the food you love. But, if you’re still not comfortable eating at a restaurant, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Continue having food delivered or picking up curbside from your favorite places. Whether dining in or carrying out, remember to tip well! You can also post about your favorite dishes on social media or leave a glowing review for your favorite eatery on Google or Yelp. The beauty of this holiday is that celebrating includes doing activities you probably already do, so it’s easy to participate. Chefs play a significant role in the evolution of culture, protection of tradition, and construction of community. Their food brings us together, fills our stomachs, and brightens our moods. We may not have fully recognized all they do for us until recently, but now that we have, we can truly celebrate Chefs Appreciation Week to the fullest.
What is it?
Since the holiday’s inception in 2013, it has most commonly occurred during the third week of August; this year, it’s August 16–22. Restaurants, patrons, and home cooks alike can show appreciation for the art and dedication chefs bring to their craft every day. Several restaurants across the country celebrate with special events and menus, and patrons flock to their favorite places for great food and company and to support the chefs who bring their communities together.
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