Harmonson Law Firm - May 2021

Check out our May newsletter!

HARMONSON HEADLINES YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND MAY 2021

Did you know that May is National Barbecue Month and National Hamburger Month? Thanks to Memorial Day weekend, one of the biggest grilling weekends of the year, a lot of meat hits the grates this month. Barbecue and hamburgers are two things I know very well. I love good barbecue — there have been plenty of times when I’ve gone out of my way to get some good barbecue! Some of you may know my friend and fellow attorney Stephen Stewart from Austin. Stephen is instrumental in helping me with several high-profile cases at the firm. As it happens, Stephen has a ranch in Llano, Texas. Every deer season, my son, Clayton, and I take a trip out to see Stephen and visit the ranch — and to see if we can’t land a deer. Well, this past winter, Clayton bagged his first deer, but that wasn’t necessarily the highlight of the trip. While Clayton likes to hunt, what he really loves is stopping by Cooper’s BBQ in Llano. Cooper’s is perennially one of the best barbecue joints in the state of Texas. You hand-pick your meat from a huge dumpster-size smoker. My personal favorites are the ribs — or the smoked prime rib when I have a few extra dollars to spare. Although, it’s darn near impossible to get the tab when I’m with Stephen! If you ever find yourself in Austin, the de facto capital of Texas barbecue, my favorite spot is Loro, which is the brainchild of Texas barbecue master Aaron Franklin and Austin sushi magnate Tyson Cole. Loro is the perfect fusion of Texas barbecue and Asian cuisine. It is absolutely delicious! If you find yourself there, then I recommend the oak smoked beef brisket with the papaya salad, peanuts, chili aioli, and Thai herbs. It’s a flavor explosion like you’ve never experienced! A BARBECUE STATE OF MIND

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. It’s worth the drive to spend an afternoon tucked into some delicious barbecue at this joint in the mountains north of Alamogordo. Mad Jack’s is similar to some of the best barbecue joints in Central Texas. Whenever I find myself in Cloudcroft, I never miss the opportunity to grab some barbecue at Mad Jack’s. Our neck of the woods isn’t really known for its barbecue, but there are a few good joints worth an afternoon lunch excursion. My local favorite is Tony’s The Pit Bar-B-Q on Myrtle Ave. and S. Dallas St., just east of downtown. I recommend the brisket and chili beans. One cool thing I like about Tony’s is that you get barbecue sauce and chile salsa to go with your barbecue. You just don’t find any hot chile at any of the good spots in Central Texas. Speaking of salsa, my favorite burger in El Paso is found at Papa Eric’s. My favorite Papa Eric’s is on Piedras St., just north of Five Points. I enjoy the deliciously greasy Chiara burger, which comes with green chiles and a side of chile salsa. The Chiara rivals the best burger I have ever had, and their fries aren’t to be missed. All this talk has made me hungry for a road trip and some good barbecue. I may have to go on a run every day for a week to make up for it, but it’s worth it! I’ll never turn down good barbecue! Until next month, “Buen provecho!”

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New Mexico law limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is due to the statute of limitations, which is the legal time limit for filing a lawsuit. If you wait past this time limit, you may not be able to file and recover monetary compensation for your injuries. The statute of limitations begins when you are injured. If there is some uncertainty about when exactly the injury occurred, then the clock may not start ticking down until you discover that an injury happened. One example includes medical malpractice cases — you may not realize you have suffered harm until months or years after the incident. Statute of Limitations in New Mexico Under New Mexico law, you have three years to file a lawsuit that involves “an injury to the person.” Typical kinds of personal injury cases include: NEWMEXICO LEGA THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Beloved “Golden Girls” actress Betty White is still enjoying her golden years. The famed actress celebrated her 99th birthday this January. While she told People magazine that she’s “blessed with good health, so turning 99 is no different than turning 98,” she also had a few tips for folks looking to make it to their centennial birthday. Keep Laughing “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” White says. “You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.” White has undoubtedly provided many laughs to viewers over the years, but she’s not just playing it up for the camera. Laughter is part of what keeps her young. Be Optimistic White says a good sense of humor also helps her keep a good attitude and look for the positive rather than “dwelling on the downside.” Avoiding negativity also gives her energy. “It takes up too much energy being negative,” she told People magazine.

• Motor vehicle accident • Wrongful death • Medical malpractice What the Insurance Companies DON’T Want You to Know About YOUR RIGH • Premises liability • Workplace accident State law also recognizes injuries to property, but the statute of limitations regarding property damage is four years rather than three. Property damage

Claims was written to with vital information wheeler, work vehicle s to bear in mind that up premiums for their amount that they are E ONE GOAL— HAREHOLDERS.

Stay Busy With nearly eight decades of

acting under her belt, six Emmys on her shelf, and over 120 screen credits to her name, White is no stranger to hard work. As she told Parade in 2018, “I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.”

Injured in a Car Accident? The Insurance Company Is NOT Your Friend.

Exercise Your Mind In addition to her busy work schedule, what keeps Betty White sharp? Crossword puzzles! She told Katie Couric in an interview, “I’m addicted. An admitted addict. I just can’t put ’em down.” Find a Cause White is a lifelong animal lover. She calls her golden retriever, Pontiac, “the star of the house.” While pet ownership itself comes with proven health benefits, White has channeled her love for animals in bigger causes. She’s been a trustee and board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 40 years and has done work to help protect endangered species in the wild. Funds raised from White’s official fan club, Bet’s Pets, all go to support animal charities. Embrace Your Vices White told Parade she loves vodka and hot dogs “probably in that order,” which just goes to show that you don’t have to forgo your treats to live to 99.

Written by experienced car accident attorney S. Clark Harmonson, this is a valuable resource with the vital facts you need before talking to the insurance company or hiring a lawyer. In this book, you’ll learn everything insurance companies don’t want you to know, such as: • 12 shady auto insurance company tactics • 10 common myths and

g e e e e d s y

misconceptions about your car accident claim How we hold negligent drivers accountable

“I wrote this book to help you cut through all the confusion surrounding your accident.”

•

WITH: 12 Dirty Tricks the Insurance Adjuster Will Use to Wreck Your Claim

• What you need to do immediately after an accident • Top five worst auto insurance companies in Texas

Get your free copy at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com or by calling our office at 915.584.8777 .

AR ACCIDENT… ET THIS RIGHT!

2 • www.ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com

AL LAWS

Living in the American Southwest has its many perks, but it can often be hard on our vehicles, especially on the engine air filter. It’s easy to forget about this component because it’s out of sight, which means it’s out of mind. The engine air filter should be replaced roughly every 15,000 miles, but in environments where dust can be a problem, it should be changed more frequently. The simplest way to address it is to replace the filter with every oil change. This helps keep your vehicle running more efficiently. But if you forget about your engine air filter, pay attention to certain signs that may indicate it’s time for a replacement. Here are two common examples. Loss of Fuel Efficiency It will be subtle at first, but over time, you may notice your vehicle is performing with less efficiency than expected, especially if your driving habits haven’t changed. When air flow is constricted due to a dirty air filter, engine and fuel efficiency drop. Trouble With Vehicle Ignition This can happen if the air filter hasn’t been replaced for an extended period of time. This is also more common in older vehicles. When air cannot properly circulate, carbon and other exhaust pollutants build up within the engine and around the spark plugs. When this happens, the spark plugs are more likely to misfire, which can make it harder for the engine to turn over and maintain power. CAR MAINTENANCE CHECK: The Engine Air Filter

includes any damage done to your owned items like an automobile, as well as damage to real property like land or a home. Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations There are certain situations in which the court will extend the statute of limitations, but these are rare and typically require that you prove exceptional circumstances to the court. These circumstances include: • The defendant had been outside of New Mexico for an extended period of time. It was not possible to bring a lawsuit against them during the time defined by the statute of limitations. • The plaintiff is younger than 18 years of age. The statute of limitations does not begin until they turn 18. However, instead of three years to file a lawsuit, the plaintiff only has one year to file suit after turning 18 or three years from the date of the accident, whichever is later. • The plaintiff is mentally incapable. The statute of limitations is frozen until they regain their mental capacity. Once they are recovered, they will have only one year to bring a lawsuit.

HTS

THAI MINCED PORK SALAD

INSPIRED BY EATINGTHAIFOOD.COM

Called “Larb” in Thailand, this popular street food comes together quickly and can be easily modified to suit your individual taste.

INGREDIENTS

• • • • •

5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice

• • • • •

Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste 4 small shallots, thinly sliced 4 green onions, thinly sliced Cilantro leaves, to taste

1 lb ground pork 1/2 tbsp chili flakes

1/8 tsp sugar

1/2 tbsp fish sauce

Mint leaves, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. First, make toasted rice powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes. 2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside. 3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, fry pork, breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked. 4. Remove from heat and add 1 heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice.

Don’t forget about the cabin air filter! This filter helps clean the air that circulates into the driver and passenger area. This filter keeps dust and other micro-debris out of the cabin so you can breathe easier. When this filter becomes clogged, it hampers air flow, not only potentially introducing particles into the cabin area but also making it harder for the air system to cool the interior of the vehicle.

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5505 North Mesa St. Suite 3 • El Paso, TX 79912 WWW.CLARKHARMONSONATTORNEY.COM 915.584.8777

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There’s Nothing Like Good Barbecue

99-Year-Old BettyWhite’s Secrets of Longevity

What You Need to Know About the Statute of Limitations in NewMexico

Thai Minced Pork Salad

Trouble Starting Your Car? This Could Be the Culprit

3 Tips for RVing on a Budget

And Save Money on Your Summer Road Trip Become a Savvy RV User

This past fall, RV manufacturers reported a 31% increase in sales compared to 2019. This was no doubt related to an effort to stave off the spread of COVID-19, which had more families opting to take road trips and camp instead of going on tropical and European vacations. While the great outdoors can be the perfect affordable backdrop for family vacations, it doesn’t come without a cost.

well-meaning RVers have listed Walmart locations with red flags. You can check them out at AllStays.com.

Save on Fuel Fuel could be your biggest expense, but you can cut down on the inevitable by driving slower than 60 mph when it’s safe to do so. Once you hit 60 mph or above in your RV, your gas mileage will drop. Furthermore, you can keep your gas bill in check by sticking to trips within your state, planning your route to avoid unnecessary detours, and leaving early to miss the traffic. Each little action could make a big impact on your fuel bill. Re-Use Items in Your Home You may have a long to-buy list for your RV, but not everything on there may be necessary. Before splurging on the latest gear, consider what you have in your home. Use old kitchen utensils and plates, cleaning supplies, bedding, and entertainment items like books and toys in your RV to save money and clear some clutter from your home. It’s a win-win!

You can hit the road without your bank account taking a hit with these three must-do tips!

Stay for Free If you’re on a cross-country adventure, you will need a place to park and rest each night before continuing your adventure the next day. Rather than shelling out money every night, consider free options. Search for public land that’s part of the Bureau of Land Management or in a Wildlife Management Area that allows overnight camping. Walmart allows RV parking at no cost, but some locations pose safety concerns. To mitigate this,

Looking for more RV tips? Check out GanderOutdoors.com or download apps like AllStay, RVParky, and State Lines. Happy trails!