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LEGAL BRIEF
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JANUARY 2025 FriedmanSimon.com
STEERING TEENS TOWARD SAFETY PROTECTING YOUNG DRIVERS FROM ROAD RISKS
One of the most nerve-racking moments in parenting is when your child begins to drive or becomes a passenger in a car driven by an inexperienced driver. Teenagers face many heightened risks once they get behind the wheel, including drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving, poor weather conditions, road rage, navigating unfamiliar roads, late-night driving, and other forms of aggressive driving. January is Teen Driving Awareness Month, a time to highlight safe driving behaviors for teens and reflect on ways to reduce the high number of accidents and injuries involving young drivers. It’s also an opportunity for parents to have honest, ongoing conversations with their children about the responsibilities that come with driving.
New York has a zero-tolerance law for underage drinking and driving. So, if you are under 21, get pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving, and are found to have a BAC level between 0.02% and 0.05%, you are breaking the law. A first offense carries a six-month license suspension and a fine of $125. Sadly, in our practice, we have also seen the deadly consequences of teenage speeding. Speeding among teen drivers is a significant issue, particularly on the LIE, Northern and Southern state parkways, and the dark and curving roads on the north shore of Long Island. We strongly urge parents in newer cars to set speed limits and receive alerts on their phones when their teenagers violate them. Distracted driving is another serious problem among teen drivers, be it distractions from cellphones, loud music, or kids just being kids. In New York, a junior license holder may have only one other passenger under 21 unless the passengers are immediate family members. It always concerned me when my kids drove with more than three people in a car. The fewer kids in a car with an inexperienced driver, the lower the chance of accidents. I’ve always told my kids that nothing good happens at or after 2 a.m. Accidents are more likely to occur at night, particularly for teens, due to lower visibility and the possibility of fatigue or impairment. Long Island has a nightlife scene, and teen drivers are at risk when driving late at night, especially in areas like Long Beach or Huntington. It's best to take an Uber. It’s a huge moment when a teen begins to drive, but it’s so essential that they know the risks and how to mitigate them. As parents, we can help our teens make better choices on the road by having an open dialogue with them, setting clear expectations, and modeling safe driving habits.
Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous and preventable risks for teenage drivers, and they must understand how important it is to abstain from driving under the influence. Ever since my three kids reached the ages of 18–21, I have listened to them complain about how unfair it is that the drinking age is 21, even though it was 18 when I was a teenager. The federal law changed in 1984. Many college administrators over the years have argued that a 21 minimum drinking age leads to more binge drinking on college campuses. However, raising the drinking age has clearly reduced traffic fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that from 1975 to 2017, raising the drinking age saved about 31,959 lives by preventing traffic fatalities among young adults aged 18–20.
- Roger Simon
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These days, it’s hard to imagine a time when landline calls, in-person meetings, handwritten day planners, and faxes fueled our sales and marketing efforts. The tools we use to grow our businesses have evolved exponentially in recent years, giving us exciting new frontiers to explore in creating and maintaining customer relationships. The technologies now available for lead generation present virtually endless possibilities for organizing goals and increasing profits. FROM CLICKS TO CLIENTS Going through the list of followers on your company’s social media accounts may give you an idea of who’s casually interested in you, but decoding the secrets behind businesses that visit your company website is the key to identifying dependable leads who’ve directly investigated your services. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to receive word that the main purchaser at your most coveted new client company has already checked out your product page? You may be thrilled to know that visitor identification tools like Leedfeeder and Factors trace website visitors’ IP addresses to the source and identify their business, position, and contact information. This technology enables sales and marketing pros to develop personalized campaigns to turn that warm lead into a lasting partnership. ENHANCING EMAIL ENGAGEMENT Is your email outreach structure generating new accounts or functioning more as the virtual equivalent of hit-or-miss door-to-door sales? Thankfully, modern methods make generating sales from cold leads more than just a shot in the dark. As just one example, Instantly AI provides tools for mass email automation/management, writing assistance, and analytical tracking. If you need help building a more substantial list of legitimate prospects, Instantly AI’s Lead Finder database — which, according to the company, has 160 million verified entries based on job positions, specific keywords, and other confirmed data — may be worth a look. STRATEGIZES FOR STREAMLINED SCHEDULING Gone are the days when we had to cover the borders of our computer monitors with Post-It notes to remind ourselves of important meetings and events. Today’s web-based scheduling software allows users to book appointments without grabbing a pen or sending multiple emails. By sharing their calendars and availabilities virtually, sales reps and customers can slot times seamlessly in just a few clicks. Utilized by teachers and students, small businesses and major manufacturers, these technologies are especially helpful for sales forces that juggle meetings with multiple clients in various time zones. Well-known providers include Calendly, YouCanBookMe, and HubSpot. MASTERING THE MARKETING TOOL MAZE Naturally, not all of today’s online business solutions are created equal. As even the simplest Google search will reveal, the marketplace is flooded with products of varying usability, capabilities, and pricing structures. Also, tech providers are prone to mergers and rebranding, so a platform known by a certain name today may change monikers overnight. Before selecting any software or service, dive into free demos/tutorials, customer reviews, and what competing vendors offer. Above all, research with patience, as something that seems like a quick fix today could become a costly tech -ache in the long run. AI, AUTOMATION, AND MORE Tech Tools to Ignite Your Sales
Being in a car accident can be chaotic and confusing, but when the crash involves multiple cars, the situation can feel overwhelming, leaving victims unsure of what’s next. Multi-car accidents are relatively common on Long Island, with many drivers navigating lane changes and turns in busy intersections. Accidents like these can be more complicated because there could be multiple at-fault parties and insurance companies to deal with and more evidence to gather. Whether you’re caught in a fender-bender or major pile-up, knowing what to do in the aftermath is crucial for your recovery, claim, and peace of mind. WHO IS AT FAULT? Determining liability in multi-car accidents can be more complex than in two-car accidents, as there are more variables to consider. To determine who was at fault, you must identify the original negligence that caused the collision. It could be that one vehicle rear-ended another, forcing it to strike the car in front of it. Other negligent acts that can lead to multi-car collisions include the first car running a red light, failing to yield, or dangerous lane merging. If the first crash prompted the subsequent collisions, the driver may be liable for all of them, though exceptions exist. Multiple parties can share in the blame. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’VE BEEN IN A MULTI-CAR COLLISION? The first thing you should do if you have been part of a multiple-vehicle crash is to get to a safe place and contact 911. If you have been hurt, focus on getting medical attention quickly to tend to your injuries and document the physical impacts of the crash. Try to gather the insurance information and contact information of the other drivers involved. Try to gather some evidence on the scene, like photos or videos of the damage to your vehicle and the area where the crash occurred. Witness accounts can be beneficial in cases with multiple drivers, so if anyone saw the event, gather their name and phone number. Car accidents involving more than two drivers can be complex, so working with a skilled attorney can make all the difference in your claim. If you have been hurt in a collision, contact Friedman & Simon for a free consultation. Who’s at Fault in a Multi-Car Accident? Your Guide to Navigating the Chaos
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Marketing the Macabre
LIQUID DEATH’S DARING ASCENT
At first glance, not much about 42-year-old Mike Cessario stands out. Like many in his generation, he’s heavily tattooed and likes to wear band T-shirts. Depending on your age or sensibilities, you’re likely to either pass him on the street without giving him much thought or walk to the other side to avoid him. Either way, your preconceptions would be wrong — dead wrong. Cessario’s the man behind Liquid Death, a name you’ve likely seen on your supermarket shelves. Although you’d expect someone with his aesthetics to fill his company’s aluminum cans with alcohol, he’s made a fortune by selling good old-fashioned … water ?! MURDERING THIRST — AND THE MARKETPLACE Cessario revolutionized the beverage industry by adhering to the philosophy that the best way to someone’s wallet is through their eyes. With its provocative, skull-emblazed cans and promise to “murder your thirst,” Liquid Death has exceeded expectations of what a water company could achieve. It has grown from a cheeky
concept to a $1.4 billion business in just five years , proving that just about anything will sell if given the right spin.
THE BRAIN BEHIND THE BRAND Liquid Death’s leader had already mastered the art of millennial- focused marketing long before his brand dominated the field. In addition to collaborating with influencers Steve-O (“Jackass”) and Travis Barker (Blink-182), Cessario’s viral promotion skills helped drive the success of the Netflix shows “House of Cards” and “Stranger Things.” Now at the helm of an outrageously successful company, he readily admits his upward climb has resulted mainly from choosing what he describes as “the dumbest possible name” for a safe and healthy beverage. As he told CNBC, “If someone I knew saw [one of our cans] in a store, I’m pretty sure they’re going to have to pick that up and be like, ‘What is this?’ And once someone picks something up, you’ve basically won. SUDOKU
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients • 2 1/2 lbs skinless, bone-in chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp pepper • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 10 cups chicken broth
• 4 celery ribs, chopped • 4 medium carrots, chopped • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp dried thyme • 3 cups uncooked egg noodles (about 8 oz) • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley • 1 tbsp lemon juice
Directions
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. In an 8-quart stockpot over medium-high heat, add oil and chicken and cook until golden brown, 3–4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. 2. Add onion to drippings; cook over medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pot. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce heat and cover; simmer until chicken is tender, 25–30 minutes. 3. Turn off heat. Remove chicken to a plate. Add noodles and let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20–22 minutes. 4. Shred chicken meat into bite-size pieces, and return to pot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice, and discard bay leaves.
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516-800-8000 FriedmanSimon.com
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Night Driving, Distractions, and Other Teen Driving Dangers INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 The Complexities of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Transformative Tech for Top Leads
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‘Murdering’ the Competition
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Business Truths vs. Tall Tales
The roads to entrepreneurial success are varied, but common philosophical potholes can knock any profitable journey off course. Here are five standard pieces of fiction from the business world — and the facts that will set owners free. ENTREPRENEURIAL FACTS AND FABLES FICTION: BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS ALWAYS EXCITING. Fact: While taking the reins of your own enterprise is thrilling, you may find your aspirations becoming stale once routine sets in. If you’re lucky enough to experience prolonged comfort — and perhaps boredom — at your business, it’s time to shake things up. Being open to new ideas and challenges will invigorate your spirit and lead to new opportunities for expansion. Pro Tip: If you’re feeling stagnant in your day-to-day work, your employees likely feel the same way. Welcome their input to refresh your services and goals and take your operation in new directions. Of course, boredom can be an excellent motivator for existing entrepreneurs. For example, legendary celebrity cook Ina Garten
(“Barefoot Contessa”) bought a food shop while feeling restive at her White House job. Sometimes, following your heart — even if it means exiting an accomplished role elsewhere — is the key to successful entrepreneurship. FICTION: BEING YOUR OWN BOSS IS A BLAST. Fact: Even though you may have gone into business for yourself because you didn’t like answering to others or wanted to set your schedule, you likely had a rude awakening once the gears started spinning and you became the one calling the shots. There’s a world of difference between being an employee and being the one responsible for everything that keeps a business afloat. If entrepreneurship were easy, everyone would do it. FICTION: DISAPPOINTING A CUSTOMER IS DISASTROUS. Fact: Many factors can cripple a business, but few obstacles have more potential to cause harm than the dreaded bad online review. Although no one wants to read negative comments about themselves or their businesses, it’s actually a fantastic litmus test. Will you respond with a public attack against that commenter or use their words as a learning opportunity? Bill Gates famously said,
“Unhappy customers are the best customers.” If the reviewer’s grievances are legitimate, hear them out and fix your mistakes. If handled properly, your reaction to a complaint could be the best marketing tool you’ll ever have. FICTION: THERE’S NO ROOM FOR FAILURE. Fact: In the words of the great philosopher Yoda, “The greatest teacher, failure is.” True entrepreneurs are never afraid to fall on their faces; every misstep is a lesson learned. After all, it took Thomas Edison more than 1,000 attempts to perfect the light bulb. Mistakes are inevitable in all facets of life, but what matters is how we adapt to those situations and progress.
FICTION: YOU’RE THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.
Fact: You may have been the one to drive your entrepreneurial concept forward, but that doesn’t mean you have all the answers. Whether driven by pride or perfectionism, business owners often risk being too reluctant to let others take charge. If you insist on wearing all the hats, this lack of delegation can lead to burnout at best and complete economic disaster at worst. You can be the head of your company and still let others carry the weight — and tell you when you’re wrong or need to change your perspective.
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