Check out our latest edition!
JANUARY 2023
DRIVING LESSON DISASTER! WHY MY KID CRASHED, AND HOW TO KEEP YOURS SAFE
When my daughter, Katie, was first learning to drive, I took her to an elementary school parking lot on a Sunday afternoon. Katie was vibrating with excitement, the sun was beating cheerfully on the blacktop — and I was absolutely terrified. This is the problem with working as a car accident attorney. When I see one of my kids duck into a vehicle, all I can think is, “They’re behind the wheel of a 2-ton deadly weapon!” My paranoia permeated the entire car. My fists clenched tight in my lap, and every time Katie drifted a few inches off course, I yelped, “Don’t turn!”
Maybe I sound overprotective. But here’s the thing: I know that driving is dangerous — I see the aftermath of car crashes in my office every day. I also know that teenage drivers are more likely to get hurt and hurt others. They’re a deadly mix of inexperienced, nervous, and overconfident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 1. Car crashes are the No. 2 cause of death for American teens. 2. No one is more at risk of a car crash than 16- to 19-year-old kids. 3. Per mile driven, “teen drivers in this age group are nearly three times as likely as drivers aged 20 or older to be in a fatal crash.” If you knew all of that when your kids were learning to drive, wouldn’t you be clenching your fists in the passenger seat too? I’m bringing this tough topic up because January is Teen Driving Awareness Month, and we could all be a little more cautious. If you’re a parent with a teenager at home, I highly recommend reading the “Is Your Teen Safe on the Road?” article on Page 2 of this newsletter. It goes over the most important things you can do to protect your kids.
put your kids through their school’s driver’s education program or enroll them in a third-party driving school! They might learn better with an experienced instructor in the car, especially if you’re nervous like me. Last but not least, I think it’s a good idea to put strict parameters on your kids when they first start to drive. When I was a teenager, my parents only let me drive to two places: school and my job at Dairy Queen. I also wasn’t allowed to have passengers in the car other than my parents. They didn’t want me to get distracted. I chafed under those rules at the time, but looking back, they helped me get comfortable behind the wheel. Setting boundaries for your kids might help keep them — and the signposts in your local elementary school parking lot — safe.
She ran into a signpost within 15 minutes.
“Mom, you made me do that!” she complained. “Stop freaking me out.”
After that, Dave took over as our household driving instructor. He’s a much calmer teacher than I am, and he successfully walked the rest of the kids through the process. But I never let go of my fear. Years later, I still wouldn’t let the kids drive to school if it was snowing outside. They argued that the school would send them home early if the weather worsened, but I just shook my head. “That would be even worse!” I said. “I don’t want you on the road with a bunch of other excited teenage drivers while it’s snowing. Just because you drive safely doesn’t mean everyone around you will.”
Happy Teen Driving Awareness Month!
I also recommend skipping the process Dave and I went through with Katie. Instead,
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 1
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
While the garbage disposal is convenient and simplifies kitchen cleaning, it can release foul odors. Sometimes, you’ll be able to notice this smell instantly, but usually, it will creep up on you over a few days. But why does your garbage disposal start to stink? And is cleaning it an easy task? Why do garbage disposals smell? Over time, your garbage disposal releases odors if bits of food still haven’t gone through the grinding process and are stuck in the appliance. Your garbage disposal is great at breaking down the food you put in, but the food particles can sometimes accumulate and cause mildew and mold. How do you clean your garbage disposal? It’s best to clean your garbage disposal once a week or every two weeks to ensure foul smells don't occur. While this may seem tedious, the process is simple and can take less than 10 minutes to complete. You can use several methods to clean this appliance.
then turn it on. Let the blades shred all the ice until you can’t hear it anymore. Hopefully, the odor will be gone. But if not, here are some additional methods. • White vinegar and baking soda used together is another strategy you can try. You first want to turn on your garbage disposal and pour 1 cup of dry baking soda down the drain. Then, flush the baking soda with a cup of white vinegar. This is one of the best methods to remove rank smells from your sink. • Another strategy you can use is to cut a lemon, lime, or orange into small pieces and run it through the garbage disposal. The fruit helps wash away any bad smells and replaces them with a pleasant citrusy scent. While these remedies will help you remove odors, the best strategy is prevention. Avoid grinding vegetables and starchy foods, as they can easily clog your disposal. You can also grind eggshells and fruits frequently to remove any lingering debris from the blades.
• Ice doesn’t only get rid of that nasty smell, but it will also sharpen the blades of your garbage disposal. Fill your disposal with ice cubes, and
With some preventive measures and household items, your disposal will smell fresh and clean in no time!
5 WAYS TO PROTECT THEM IS YOUR TEEN SAFE ON THE ROAD?
In 2020 alone, 2,276 people died in car crashes involving teenage drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). About 30% of the people killed were teenagers behind the wheel. These are scary statistics, especially if you’re a parent or teacher! Fortunately, you don’t have to sit back and watch a tragedy happen — you can take action to keep teenagers safe. January is Teen Driving Awareness Month, and to commemorate it, we recommend doing these five things. 1. Ask your teen to practice The Big 7. NHTSA advocates for all teenagers to take seven actions to stay safe on the road. We like to think of them as The Big 7: “Wear a seatbelt and make sure all passengers do as
Instagram while driving, especially for Gen Z kids who grew up with their cellphones practically attached to their hands. To reduce the urge, recommend that your teen download a safe driving app that will silence their notifications and send auto-replies to texts. DriveMode is a great option for iPhone and Android users, and TextDrive also works well for Android folks. 3. Offer a “no questions asked” pickup . Make it clear to your teen that they can call you for a ride if they are impaired or unsafe to drive, and you will pick them up with no questions asked. If they trust you enough to call, your understanding could save their life. 4. While driving your teen, model safe driving behavior. Your teenager may say they don’t want to be anything like you, but that is just their attitude talking. In reality, they are always watching and mimicking your behavior. If you practice The Big 7, they will too. 5. Look up state and local teen driving laws. NHTSA recommends looking up local curfew, passenger, and graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws before setting your teen loose on the road. Drive.KY.gov is a great place to start!
well, no speeding, no distractions, no extra passengers, no alcohol, no drugs, [and] no impairment- causing medications.” If every teen in America followed these rules, we could significantly reduce deaths and injuries!
2. Share safe driving apps. It’s tempting to text or check
2 | call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
DON’T DRIVE WHILE MEDICATED! DUIs Aren’t Just for Drunk Drivers Imagine you’re picking up a new prescription pain medication at your local pharmacy. When you get home, you check the instructions on the back of the pill bottle. In big, bold letters, it says, “Do Not Operate Heavy Machinery” along with a half-dozen other warnings.
HAVE A LAUGH!
Here’s the million-dollar question: After taking your prescribed dose, would you still pick your daughter up from soccer practice?
Most people think that driving after taking prescription medication is completely safe. After all, cyclobenzaprine and common medications like it aren’t illicit, mind- altering drugs, right? Wrong — at least in part. The truth is that driving while medicated is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs . In fact, you can be pulled over by police and given a DUI for driving with prescription drugs in your system. Why? Medication can impair your reaction time, judgment, and ability to stay awake on the road, just like illegal drugs. If you’ve just taken a muscle relaxant to relieve your back pain, for example, you likely won’t be as quick to hit the brakes or swerve out of the way if someone in front of you starts driving erratically. And if you mix up DayQuil and NyQuil, you could fall asleep at the wheel and cause a deadly wreck. If you regularly take a medication with the “Do Not Operate Heavy Machinery” warning (or you’re doing so right now while recovering from a car crash), this news may be tough to hear. Going without a car is tough in Kentucky in 2022. No one wants to make their spouse pick up the kids or ask a friend for a ride to their doctor’s appointment. But taking these precautions could save your life or at least save you hundreds of dollars in DUI fines. Next time you head to the pharmacy, remember this: When a pill bottle warns you about operating heavy machinery, it’s not only talking about steering a forklift. It’s talking about driving a car! After you take your medication, stay away from the wheel until it wears off.
On a cold winter night, few things are better than warm bites of yummy cobbler. This recipe’s sweet and fluffy crust perfectly balances the tart cherry filling to create the ultimate after-dinner treat. INGREDIENTS
•
1/4 cup salted butter, melted 1 cup cake flour or all- purpose flour
• • • •
1 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp baking powder
•
1 cup milk
1 21-oz can cherry pie filling
DIRECTIONS
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In the bottom of a 2.5-qt baking dish, pour melted butter. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk until combined. 4. In the baking dish, pour batter over the butter, and don't stir. Then, pour the cherry pie filling over the batter, and don't stir. 5. Bake 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 3
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
6100 DUTCHMANS LN. STE. 601 LOUISVILLE, KY 40205
INSIDE
MELISSA’S DRIVING LESSON DISASTER 1
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
5 SAFETY TIPS FOR TEEN DRIVERS 2
A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT DUIS
EASY CHERRY COBBLER 3
HOW AN UBER DRIVER BECAME A HERO 4
PROVIDING RIDES AND SAVING LIVES MEET AN UBER DRIVER TURNED HOMETOWN HERO
We all like to imagine we would do whatever it takes to help others if we witnessed a tragedy, such as a house fire or car accident. We see it all the time when watching our favorite shows and movies, but these random heroic acts rarely happen in real life. When they do, they’re awe-inspiring. One New York City man was faced with one of these harrowing situations and showed tremendous courage when he helped save lives, all while on the clock.
Someone said there were still people inside. Without hesitation, Sam ran through the building and found a woman who was hesitant about leaving. He convinced her to go and brought her to safety, and then he returned to help another man get out of the building. Once he saw firefighters on the scene, Sam returned to his vehicle and proceeded to drop his passenger off at the airport. She still made her flight, even with their impromptu stop. In a statement to "TODAY," Uber said, “We’re incredibly grateful to have such a heroic and thoughtful member of our community in Fritz. He went above and beyond to keep his neighbors in New York safe — and still managed to get his rider to the airport on time.” When talking to "TODAY," Sam stated, “You’d be surprised what little things we do that can be impactful. Because, trust me, those little things are going to make a big difference for somebody.”
Fritz Sam works as an Uber driver in New York City. He had just picked up a passenger and was taking her to LaGuardia Airport when he noticed a hectic scene in a Brooklyn neighborhood. He soon saw flames and dark smoke emerging from a second-story window of an apartment building. He asked his passenger if he could pull over to offer help.
He approached a group of bystanders, yelling for people to get out of the residence. As people fled the building, Sam asked if everyone was out.
It’s safe to say that very few people consider Sam’s actions a “little thing.” He acted heroically and is an inspiration to many.
4 | WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator