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Serious Injuries. Strong Lawyer. 214-932-1288 | ARMSTRONGLAWYER.COM | MAY 2024
How to Balance the Scales Tackling Stress Away From the Courtroom
Emails from the State Bar, tight deadlines, and the fate of injured victims — these are just some of the stresses a lawyer will face in their career. As attorneys, we see it all, and mental health struggles like addiction and depression are prevalent in this demanding field. I’m pretty laid-back and have a good sense of what it takes to keep my stress levels down, but even an experienced attorney like myself can feel those pressures. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and lawyers are constantly working with people at incredibly difficult points in their lives. Taking care of one’s mental health benefits attorneys, those suffering from a personal injury, and everyone else in between. There are simple methods we can employ to reduce anxiety in our day-to-day lives, and if it’s not enough, wonderful resources are out there to support you on this journey. As an attorney, it’s easy to get wrapped up in your important work and forget other things in your life. I’ve seen lawyers become workaholics and spend more time in the courtroom than on the sidelines of their child’s little league game. That can have an impact on the entire family and also your own mental health. I strive to prioritize spending time with my kids and wife. I make sure to get away from the office when I can so my family never takes a back seat to my job. Having a healthy lifestyle makes all the difference when handling stress. I stay active and like to start my mornings at the gym when possible. Physical activity helps me clear my head and decompress. My wife and I love to travel, and I think getting away helps me feel refreshed and energized — and I mean an actual vacation. Some people travel and just end up working from a different location.
As a personal injury lawyer, I witness the stresses and challenges facing accident victims. For people recovering from pain and maybe even life-altering changes to their bodies, like a brain injury, it’s easy to become depressed. It can be frustrating to realize so many things you used to enjoy or do regularly will never be the same. Along with losing some of your physical abilities, your injury may have made it impossible for you to work. The worries of paying your next bill, covering medical costs, or finding a new career path can feel overwhelming. Going forward after an accident, injury victims have many unknowns to face as they heal. I also work with clients who have lost a loved one, like a spouse or children, in an accident. The death of someone close to you, especially in a tragic and untimely manner, changes the dynamics of everything. It’s essential to seek help to deal with those feelings. It can also be highly challenging for families who are now caring for someone who was catastrophically injured. Due to their injury, that person may never be the same as they were pre-accident. I have always believed that to help and care for others, we must also take care of ourselves. When the plane crashes, you are instructed to put the oxygen mask on yourself before acting to assist others. It’s
my mission to make the process for my clients as stress-free as possible so they can focus on recovery. But anxiety will inherently rear its head along the way, so it’s necessary to take steps to tend to your mental health. Regular exercise, healthy meals, proper work-life balance, and reaching out when you need help are all ways to keep your stress under control. –Warren Armstrong
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Spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation, so there’s no better time to revitalize your health and wellness routine. New routines can boost your motivation and keep you engaged. From workouts to diet, it’s time to get out and take advantage of the sunshine! Get Outside Winter is fierce, unrelenting, and notorious for derailing outdoor fitness routines. It’s finally warm enough to exercise outside, so mix things up and get outside. Jump on a bike and ride through the wind. Slip on your jogging shoes and run through the neighborhood. Put on your swimsuit and head to the pool. Nature is full of challenging and fun activities, so take advantage of the warm weather before the next winter arrives. Spice Up Your Routine If you’re into yoga or weight training, try new exercises. A new routine ensures you won’t miss any muscles while keeping you engaged. When the treadmill becomes a dread mill, do your cardio on an elliptical or stationary bike. Grab some free weights if you’re starting to find weight machines dull. There’s always an alternative to keep things interesting. Spring Into Wellness REFRESHING WAYS TO REVITALIZE YOUR HEALTH ROUTINE As the summer weather warms up, riders feel the call to hit the open road on their motorcycles. But, when those sunny lanes fill up with bikes, the road becomes that much more dangerous. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, motorcyclists are about 29 times more likely than people inside vehicles to die in a traffic crash; they are also four times more likely to be injured. This month is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and drivers and riders need to understand what it takes to keep each other safe on the road. Motorcycles Motorcycles are considerably smaller than cars, and despite helmet use and protective clothing, riders are more exposed to the elements and injuries. Riders should always wear a helmet, gloves, boots, and pants, even on warm days, to secure their bodies as much as ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH Rev Up Awareness
Find Friends A workout buddy can keep you invested in your routine. They’ll keep you motivated and accountable — it’s much harder to skip a workout if someone’s relying on you. Even better, a partner can keep you safe if you’re weight training. Consider enrolling in a class if you have trouble finding someone to work out with. Not only can you learn new fitness tips and tricks, but you can also make friends. Springify Your Diet Winter typically involves plenty of warm comfort meals, such as soups and hot chocolate, but spring is blooming with other options. It offers an array of refreshing and delightfully light dishes. Strawberries, pineapples, and avocados are best these months, along with many other delicious foods perfect for salads and smoothies. Shake up spring and keep to your regimen. There’s no better time to build healthy habits, especially in May’s warm weather. Take a jog with a friend, and afterward, enjoy a strawberry smoothie, and you’ll surely have an exceptional season. possible. Wear reflective clothing to increase visibility on the road, and use extra caution at intersections as they are a hot spot for collisions. Riders should never drive while impaired and should follow the same laws as cars. Cars Most motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers who don’t see the rider. Always check your blind spots, as bikes are more challenging to spot, and ensure you are several car lengths ahead of a motorcycle when passing. At night, give riders even more room by decreasing your following distance. Turn off your high beams or reduce them at least 500 feet from any oncoming vehicle, including motorcycles. Injuries Litigating a motorcycle accident is often complex, but if a motorcyclist is hurt or killed due to negligence of the other party, they can seek damages in a lawsuit. If you or a loved one is hurt or injured in a crash, keep records of any medical bills or costs. Request a copy of the police report on the accident, and try to gather evidence at the crash scene, like photos of the damages to your motorcycle or vehicle. You can still receive compensation if you were partly responsible for the crash, though the amount may be reduced. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, the best course of action is to work with a skilled personal injury lawyer. Contact us at Armstong Law so we can help you get the medical care you need and the financial compensation you deserve.
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214-932-1288
HOW A STACK OF LABELS LED TO SEVERE INJURIES A Slippery Sticker Slope
In a busy retail store, various unforeseen hazards can arise and cause serious employee injury. Even the most diligent workers can find themselves victim to dangerous slips and falls or other accidents, especially if a co-worker has been negligent. One of our clients, Jane*, slipped on a stack of labels left on the ground by another employee, resulting in severe brain and spine injuries. Jane was busy fulfilling a customer order that required her to walk the store’s aisles. Unbeknownst to her, her coworker was replacing product shelf tags nearby. The tags were on waxy paper backing and came in stacks. When the other employee walked away to assist a customer, they left that stack of tags on the floor in one of the aisles. As Jane approached the corner, she stepped on the stack of tags, losing her footing on the waxy paper and slick laminate floor. She landed on her lower back and struck her head on the floor. Jane was in serious pain, and it was later determined she had suffered a traumatic brain injury and a lumbar spine injury that required surgery. Jane’s employer was not a subscriber to workers’ compensation, a common practice for retailers in Texas. Her employer hired a physician who routinely provides
opinions that employee’s alleged on-the-job injuries were not work-related. The physician claimed my client suffered no permanent injuries on the job. Further, the physician claimed she was medically capable of returning to work without restrictions or accommodations. Jane was still reeling from dizziness, blurry vision, and lumbar spine pain at this time. Though her company expected Jane to come back and work in her condition, we were ultimately able to help her get the medical care she needed. Jane had to undergo surgery to repair her spine as well as treatment for her brain injury. As a non-subscriber, the company had an arbitration agreement requiring claims against the employer to be arbitrated rather than litigated in state and federal court. We conducted a thorough discovery process to obtain the depositions of the employer’s retained medical expert and our client’s treating physician, surgeon, and life care planner. Those statements made it clear that Jane sustained her injuries on the job and she was entitled to recover funds for her expensive medical care. We successfully resolved this case the day before the arbitration hearing, and Jane is now on the path to recovery. Non-subscriber cases in Texas like this one can be complex for employees. During a traumatic and stressful time for Jane, who felt pressured to return to her job before she had healed, we provided her guidance and a positive outcome.
*Client’s name changed to protect their privacy.
TAKE A BREAK WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS
Armstrong Law specializes in workplace accident cases for employees of businesses in Texas that do not have workers’ comp insurance. We understand the nuances of these cases and have the resources to take on large “nonsubscriber” employers. To refer an injury case involving a nonsubscriber employer to our practice, call us at 214-932-1288 .
BLOOM CINCO COMIC DERBY
EMERALD GEMINI GRADUATION LILY
MEMORIAL MOTHER RENEWAL VETERANS
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12720 HILLCREST RD. STE. 615 | DALLAS, TX 75230 214-932-1288 | ARMSTRONGLAWYER.COM
1 Legal Stress Check 2 Rejuvenate Your Routine With 4 Spring Wellness Changes Stay Safe on 2 Wheels 3 Jane’s Battle for Compensation and Care We Value Your Referrals Take a Break 4 Cook Like a Seasoned Veteran EFFORTLESS EATING INSIDE UPGRADE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS WITH 3 KITCHEN HACKS
No. 2 Deli Container Storage Say goodbye to mismatched Tupperware containers or losing the lid that goes with them. Say hello to an organized and cost- effective solution. Buying deli containers in bulk saves you money and time. The lids are interchangeable, making a harmonious storage system that’s easy to organize. You’ll be able to find and fit them easily, cutting out a chunk of time in your kitchen. No. 3 Parchment Paper Cleaning Cooking can be a joy, but nobody enjoys cleaning up. Before starting a messy task, lay down a sheet of parchment paper on your cutting board or countertop. This simple trick not only protects your surfaces but also streamlines the post-cooking cleanup
Navigating the kitchen can often feel like a juggling act, but with a few clever hacks, you can transform mundane tasks into efficient and enjoyable activities. Here are three game-changing tips that will make your time in the kitchen a breeze. No. 1 Easy Shredding Shredding meats for soups, lunches, or snacks can be a time-consuming affair, but a simple hack can turn it into a hassle-free endeavor. Using a stand or hand mixer will get this job done quickly as it shreds meat for you, saving you time and effort. This hack is particularly handy for recipes that call for pulled pork, chicken, or beef, allowing you to enjoy deliciously shredded proteins without manual labor.
process. Any spills, shreds, or crumbs can be easily gathered and discarded in the paper, leaving your kitchen looking as good as new as soon as it’s thrown away. It’s a small adjustment that can make a significant difference in your overall experience. By implementing these simple hacks, you’re not just streamlining your tasks; you’re elevating the joy of cooking. Armed with these new tricks, step into your kitchen with new confidence and mastery to turn everyday cooking into an efficient yet imaginative experience.
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