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April 2024
THE TRUSTED ADVISOR Stay Alive — Don’t Text and Drive THE REAL DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING
Cellphones are everywhere, and multitasking has become the new normal. Unfortunately, drivers often succumb to the temptation to check a text message, like a social media post, or answer a call while behind the wheel. One of the main reasons we see clients at Norden Leacox is the result of distracted driving accidents. These crashes occur when people don’t focus on the road or their surroundings, often because they are on their phones. This month is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and we thought it would be an excellent time to discuss some of the risks of not paying attention while driving. Because cellphone use has become such a prominent part of our lives, it can be easy to forget how much can happen in the two seconds it takes to look down at a text message. If you’re driving about 60 mph, your vehicle could have moved almost 100 feet in that time. Looking down at your device, you won’t see pedestrians jogging along the road or even another distracted driver headed your way. This lack of attention behind the wheel can cause you or someone else to get injured and land you in serious financial and legal trouble. If using your cellphone leads to you causing an accident, the judgment against you will be higher. You could face significant criminal fines and even a jail sentence. In Florida, texting while driving is illegal, and while the state does not have a hands-free requirement for taking calls in a moving vehicle, we encourage you to practice putting your phone away while behind the wheel. One of the best things you can do is install an app on your phone that automatically responds to texts or calls while driving. This lets people know you need to focus on the road and will respond to them later. Another option is to put your cellphone in your glove compartment or hand it to your passenger until you arrive at your destination.
how serious and dangerous this seemingly minor distraction can be. We have trained them so well that sometimes they call us out if they catch a cellphone in our hand at a stop sign for a moment. If you are in an accident caused by distracted driving, it’s crucial to act immediately. Contact a lawyer as soon as you can. The lawyer will need time to send letters or issue a subpoena to obtain phone records proving a phone played a central role in the accident. Try to take photos and videos of the scene. Make sure to contact the police and your insurance company. Looking at your phone instead of the road may seem like a harmless, trivial second in the day, but it’s dangerous and something we all need to be conscious of. Putting our phones out of reach on our drives can make the roads safer for everyone.
NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000 1 – Zac Leacox &Nick Norden
It’s also important to teach your children the importance of being present and concentrating when operating a vehicle. We have both stressed to our kids
WHEN THE LAW MEETS ABSURDITY LEGALLY UNBELIEVABLE
There are some outlandish laws in the U.S., but you can also get away with plenty of surprising things. Let’s dive into some of the crazy laws from around the country.
Sleepy Surgery There are absolutely no laws that state surgeons must get a good night’s sleep before surgery. As dangerous as this sounds, at least surgeons usually do have a limit on how long they can work at once, curtailing the worst outcomes of an exhausted doctor.
Surprisingly Legal Flame On
Owning a flamethrower is surprisingly legal and easy in 48 states. The only state where you can’t own one is Maryland. And if you want a flamethrower in California, you must get a license. The rest of the states say, fire away! Car Radar Another surprising law concerns radar detectors: In most states, utilizing a radar detector in your personal vehicle is completely legal. Do you want to check someone’s speed or look out for police officers? Unless you live in Mississippi, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or on a military base, it’s entirely legal!
Shockingly Illegal Car Cursing
While in Maryland, you should be mindful of keeping your swear words to yourself (or whisper them softly) while driving through the small city of Rockville. It is considered a misdemeanor to swear from a vehicle within earshot of other people. Your curse words could cost you up to $100 in fines or 90 days in jail. Blindingly Obvious Driving blindfolded has never been a good idea, but that clearly didn’t stop adventurous residents
in Alabama from testing their blind driving skills. Maybe that’s why the state passed a law making blindfolded driving illegal. Keep an open ear and be mindful of what is legal and what is not. Nobody wants weird laws creating dumb criminals!
Joke’s on You!
THE HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS’ DAY
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish or a gullible person. Historians have also linked April Fools’ Day to festivals such as Hilaria (Latin for joyful), which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March by followers of the cult of Cybele. It involved people dressing up in disguises and mocking fellow citizens and magistrates and was said to be inspired by the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris, and Seth. There’s also speculation that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather. Regardless of its origin, April Fools’ Day has become a worldwide tradition with links from the past. Today, April Fools’ Day means playing pranks and tricks on friends and family. People have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations, and websites have participated in the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims to fool their audiences.
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate April Fools’ Day every April 1 with silly pranks and whimsical tricks? April Fools’ originated in France during the 16th century when the country switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The change moved the new year from the end of March to Jan. 1. The shocking part is that not everyone was aware of the change. Those who continued celebrating New Year’s Day on April 1 were mocked, labeled as “April Fools,” and were subjected to pranks.
So, when someone pulls a nasty prank on you on April Fools’ Day, remember why and where it came from!
2 NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
BE THE PARENTS WHO ARE PREPARED CREATING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR ANY SITUATION
To be proactive in life is to be successful! As a parent, planning ahead must become second nature if we want our children and families to stay strong in the face of adversity. While many good parenting tips are out there, the smartest is creating an emergency kit to help out in any scenario. An emergency kit will have everything you and your family may need during an emergency, such as having to stay inside for longer than usual or the electricity goes out. Each family’s kit will vary depending on their kids’ individual needs. It’s vital to have all these things collected before the trouble begins, stored in a container, and kept in a safe and easily accessible location in case of an emergency. Making a family emergency kit can also be fun for the family to do together.
These are the necessary steps to create a toolkit:
4. Place an updated copy of your checklist inside your large plastic bin or box once you put your kit together to know what is inside the kit and to find your checklist easily. Keeping your family safe should be a top priority at all times. It is so important to teach preparation skills to our children at a young age so they can be ready and thrive through life’s most turbulent moments.
1. You will need a large plastic bin or box to put things into.
2. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for a list of key items to include in a kit: CDC.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/kids-and-families.html .
3. Go shopping for the appropriate items you need, then check them off the list as you put them into your emergency kit.
Have a
Laugh
Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
Ingredients
•
2 lbs steak (flank, sirloin, or skirt steak) 2 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste
For the chimichurri sauce: •
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• • • • •
2 cloves garlic, minced
• •
Juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. 2. Rub the steak with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Grill the steak for 4–5 minutes per side or until it reaches desired doneness. 4. Meanwhile, make the chimichurri sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the parsley, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. 5. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 6. Serve the steak with the chimichurri sauce and enjoy!
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NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com
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Inside This Edition
2 1 Make Roads Safer by Putting Down Your Phone Surprisingly Legal and Shockingly Illegal History of April Fools’ Day
3
Equip Your Family With an Emergency Kit
Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
4
The Lawsuit That Touched Hearts
LUKE COMBS STRIKES A CHORD FROM CONFLICT TO COMPASSION
locked due to the lawsuit, leaving her in a dire financial situation.
Imagine waking up one December morning to the bizarre news that one of your favorite celebrities is suing you for a whopping $250,000. That’s what happened to Florida resident Nicol Harness, a devoted fan of country music sensation Luke Combs. The story began when Harness found herself in hot water for selling unofficial merchandise adorned with lyrics from Combs’s songs. She had sold 18 tumblers at $20 each and had no clue this would lead to a legal battle that would wreak havoc on her life. Harness, who had been dealing with congestive heart failure, received an email from Combs’ legal team during her hospital stay. Unfortunately, due to her medical condition, she missed the 21-day response window, which resulted in further complications. Her Amazon account, containing funds from recent sales, was
What sets this story apart is not the initial legal dispute; it’s the remarkable response from Luke Combs himself. Upon learning of Harness’s situation, he recorded a heartfelt TikTok video where he apologized directly to Harness and extended his hand to help her during this challenging time. He gave her $11,000, twice the amount that had become inaccessible in her Amazon account due to the lawsuit. He emphasized that no fan should ever go through such an ordeal and expressed his sincere regret for the situation. Combs didn’t stop there; he decided to positively impact Harness’s life by selling similar tumblers on his own website. All proceeds from these sales were directed toward Harness’s family to support her medical care, further showcasing Combs’
Photo by David Bergman
commitment to making amends and righting the situation.
This incredible turn of events reminds us that even in the face of legal battles and adversity, acts of kindness and empathy can prevail. Luke Combs, a country music superstar, proved in words and actions that he values his fans, turning a potential lawsuit into a story of compassion and unity in the country music community.
4 NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com
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