Check out our latest edition!
HARMONSON HEADLINES YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND APRIL 2023
PUT THAT PHONE DOWN! THE DANGERS OF TEXTING AND DRIVING
We’ve all driven while distracted at least once in our lives — eating a snack or even daydreaming is considered a distraction while driving. While distracted driving is doing anything that takes your focus away from the road, smartphones are the most common and lethal culprit. Texting and driving has become the modern-day drunk driving, and I can assure you that it’s even more dangerous. Since April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, I’m challenging you to keep your phone out of reach whenever you’re in the driver’s seat, because texting and driving can bring fatal consequences. In my line of work, I’ve seen the impacts firsthand. In these accidents, you walk away with expensive car repairs at the very least. And at worst, you can lose your life or a loved one’s. I’ll admit that I used to be one of those people who firmly believed they had the multitasking skills needed to “safely” text and drive. I made excuses like this one or even that “I still had an eye on the road” (which, unless you’re a chameleon, is impossible). It wasn’t until I saw the numbers to prove how dangerous distracted driving is and spoke with those whose lives were changed by it that I decided to quit.
multitasker, research shows that nobody is. What we consider multitasking is just shifting back and forth between different tasks. The more tasks that are involved cause this shift to take longer, leaving our eyes off the road for more time than we think. Even if your eyes are glued to the road, your mind can be completely preoccupied. This is seen in crashes during phone calls, whether hands- free or not. Drivers who use their phones in any way while driving are 3.6 times more likely to experience an accident than those driving safely. Simply putting your phone away can save lives. I recently worked on a tragic case outside Austin involving an 18-wheel truck driver. This driver, accompanied by his co-driver, was on his phone when he barreled into a concrete pillar at 70 mph. While he survived, his co-driver didn’t. He witnessed his death and its immense damage to the deceased’s family. The driver wasn’t texting or calling someone. Instead, it was
alleged in our case that he was checking his social media apps, and that cost the co-driver his life. Cases like this one reminded me that I owe it to myself, my family, and fellow drivers on the road to stay off my phone behind the wheel. The best way to not be distracted while driving is to put yourphone in the armrest compartment with notifications silenced. Any phone call or text message can wait. As someone who made the difficult change to eliminate distractions while driving, I have a few tips for you. Keeping your phone out of sight is vital. Your armrest or glove compartments are perfect places to hide your phone. You won’t reach for it if you can’t see it! Meanwhile, my brother and even my son have an app that notifies their contact list that they’re driving whenever someone tries to call them. Plenty of apps exist to prevent distracted driving, including I’m Driving and DriveMode Dash. Additionally, we often fiddle with music searching for the best song, but this also counts as distracted driving. Since you’re most likely listening to music from your Bluetooth and not the radio, you can make a playlist to ensure you won’t feel the need to skip songs. Over time, you won’t feel the need to have a grip on your Galaxy instead of your steering wheel. Doing so can save your life.
In 2016, distracted driving led to 3,450 deaths in the United States. In Texas alone, there were 455 deaths and 3,087 injuries caused by inattentive drivers. These numbers show no signs of slowing down as we become increasingly attached to smartphones. While you may think you’re an efficient
915.584.8777 • 1
s
Car accidents aren’t a walk in the park, and neither is dealing with an insurance company. While insurance adjusters may seem friendly, they’re not your friends and will use whatever you say against you to save themselves money. Insurance companies want to make as much money as possible, which means they won’t easily hand over a settlement, let alone one covering all of the damages. That’s why you must be on the defensive and take extra precautions. Tread carefully during recorded statements. When speaking to an insurance agent after an accident, they may tell you that your conversation is being recorded. These recordings can be used as proof when they reduce or even reject your settlement. You aren’t required to give a recorded statement, and I advise my clients not to give them in almost all circumstances. NEVER TRUST AN AFTER AN AC
Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22. But
do your kids know why we commemorate the holiday? Do you? If you don’t know much about the history of environmentalism — or just want to learn more about the state of our planet — consider
celebrating Earth Day by watching a documentary as a family.
Dozens of fantastic films cover everything from the crusade to preserve our coral reefs to how farmers use soil health to enhance the planet. Here are a few of our favorites. ‘ Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic ’ — This short five-minute documentary from National Geographic follows a group of Hawaiian students determined to clean up their local beaches. It’s available for free on National Geographic’s YouTube channel! (If you watch it and love this documentary, check out the PG-rated flick “ Plastic Island ” on Netflix, which tackles the same issue in Indonesia.) ‘ Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis ’ — This PG-rated documentary about water security takes place on five continents and stars celebrities Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, and Jaden Smith. Check it out on Netflix. ‘ Extinction: The Facts ’ — This hard-hitting documentary from famous nature historian David Attenborough is perfect for kids ages 16 and up. It tackles serious topics like species loss, food and water shortages, and the relationship between climate change and pandemic diseases. “Extinction: The Facts” is available on PBS.org or Prime Video. ‘ Kiss the Ground ’ — Join actor Woody Harrelson on Netflix for an inspiring look at soil, why it matters, and what farmers and activists are doing to save and enhance it — and our food supply. The documentary is family-friendly and rated G.
Request price estimates for repairs. After an accident, visit your trustworthy mechanic for a cost estimate on your car’s repairs. When you have an estimate, you can know if your insurance company is offering you an appropriately valued settlement.
Repair estimates can also be helpful when negotiating for a higher claim.
SUDO KU
None of these documentaries existed in 1970 when anti-pollution activists came together to create Earth Day, build the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pass laws to protect our air and water. But they’re a wonderful extension of that spirit! Hopefully, you’ll be able to watch at least one of them this month. After watching, consider taking action and volunteering for a green project near you.
SOLUTION ON PG. 4
2 • www.ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com
Life is already stressful as it is, and adding legal matters on top of that can make you feel overwhelmed. Since April is Stress Awareness Month, we want to help you uncover what’s worrying you and how to find peace of mind so you can minimize the stress in your life. Make realistic goals. Our anxieties often exaggerate the actual issues at hand. A simple but foolproof way to assess your responsibilities is by listing them and planning realistic goals. After writing down your problems or dilemmas, you’ll probably realize that they aren’t as stressful as your brain made them out to be. This can also help you map out your obligations and when to accomplish them. Get some sun. Most of us spend the majority of our day indoors under artificial light, and you may even forget how great sunlight feels until you’re under its rays. Sunlight is known to increase serotonin, which makes it a natural mood booster. You can get some sunshine in your day by walking in the park or even just sitting in your backyard. Avoid caffeine. Caffeine can be a helpful lift whenever you’re tired, but it can also be the answer to why you’re feeling anxious. Coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeinated products can increase anxiety and alter your sleep pattern. When your sleep quality isn’t the best, your stress will only increase. That’s why caffeine can lead to a cycle of anxiety. Experts recommend consuming ACHIEVING PEACE OF MIND IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO SOOTHE STRESS
N ADJUSTER CCIDENT
Find proper legal advice to value your claim. A lawyer can help you get the best settlement possible for your case. With legal advice, an attorney can discover damages you may not know about. While insurance companies often only cover medical bills and car repairs, you could qualify for other compensations, such as pain and suffering. Don’t settle too fast. People usually accept settlements quickly, which is often a mistake. Take your time when assessing the damages. After an accident, injuries or other damages may not appear until weeks later, so if you accept a settlement too fast, you may undervalue potential damages that have yet to occur. Let us negotiate for you. Negotiating on your own is a recipe for disaster. The best thing you can do after an accident is to speak with an experienced attorney. Our team can help
you fully understand your case and the damages that you deserve to have compensated. Contact us at 915.584.8777, so we can help you handle even the peskiest of insurance agents.
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
less than 400mg of caffeine per day, which is around four cups of coffee or two energy drinks. We all react to caffeine differently, so you may need to be limiting your caffeine intake even more. Still overwhelmed? Ask for help! Burdening yourself with too much work or responsibility is never good for anyone. When you reach out for help, you’ll probably find that people are more than willing to give you a hand. If legal issues
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
8 oz spinach leaves
• • •
1/4 tsp black pepper
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
•
• •
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
are stressing you out, our team is also here to help guide you through
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, wring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 4. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an
it. Contact us at 915.584.8777,
and we can assist you in your injury and accident cases to help you find some serenity.
additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown. 6. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com
915.584.8777 • 3
5505 North Mesa St., Suite 3 • El Paso, TX 79912 WWW.CLARKHARMONSONATTORNEY.COM 915.584.8777
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1
Stay Safe During Distracted Driving Awareness Month
2
Earth Day Documentaries to Watch
A Guide for Dealing With Insurance Companies
3
Sudoku
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
Stay Zen During Stress Awareness Month
4
Top 3 Extended Stay Destinations
ALL ABOARD THE EXTENDED VACATION TREND
The pandemic slowed us down. Over the past few years, we collectively took fewer vacations, boarded fewer cruise ships, and avoided airports. However, many studies and reports show that now, more than ever, Americans are taking longer vacations! Why might this be, and what are some of the greatest destinations for an extended stay? According to Amex Travel’s 2022 Global Travel Trend Report, 55% of vacationers are interested in taking longer trips because they can work remotely. The trend of swapping homes is also on the rise. HomeExchange’s website reports that home exchanges of two weeks or more increased by 13% in January-May last year. According to Travel Pulse, 26% of people opt to take a trip that exceeds 10 days.
If you are interested in taking a more extended vacation, whether it’s because your job went remote, you lost out on travel time in 2020-2022, or you saved on gas money while working from home, here are some great destinations that support a longer stay. Visit the national parks. There is no better way to connect with nature than to tour the national parks. Several epic national park road trips could allow you to pack in a dozen or more of these natural gems in just a couple of weeks! Many national parks also accommodate RVs for comfort and convenience. Drive the California coast. A trip up and down the California coast never disappoints. With so many great places to stop and breathtaking views to absorb, you’ll need at least two weeks to experience them properly. You’ll want to explore the Redwood National Forest, the Lost Coast, Pebble Beach, Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, Venice Beach, and many more! Hop aboard a cruise. A cruise is one of the best ways to see many destinations in one trip. You could visit several countries in just two weeks, stopping in different ports to explore! On a cruise, you could see the Caribbean one day and wake up somewhere completely different the next day with a new adventure ahead!
Top 3 Vacation Destinations for a Longer Stay
.
4 • www.ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
df
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator