Dickerson Oxton - June 2020
816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com
JUNE 2020
ANIMAL BITES
CAR ACCIDENTS
His Challenges Helped Bring Me Here Today
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
At the time this article is written, we’re all still trying to do our best to work from home and adjust to the new normal. Part of that includes finding new ways to celebrate special events and holidays. In April, families celebrated Easter through Zoom or Skype instead of getting together for Easter dinner. People also found new ways to celebrate birthdays that both honored the person and kept them safe. We’re hoping that by the time June comes around, things will have eased up a bit to allow us to get together and celebrate, but we’re not really sure. We might have to continue celebrating birthdays and Father’s Day from afar. My family has celebrated Father’s Day the same way for the past several years. Usually, my parents split the year: Half of the time, they live in their home in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the other half, they’re in Omaha, Nebraska. Back in March, they were in Arizona and would usually be back in Omaha before June to beat the heat. That’s where my husband and I have a joint celebration with my dad for Father’s Day. We either go up there or my dad comes down to visit us. But because of COVID-19, they’ve had to stay in Arizona longer than they would normally. I don’t think we’ll have the chance to meet up with Dad this year, which is a bummer, but we’ll still try to celebrate the best way we can. We’ll FaceTime with them, and I’ll send a gift. My dad is admittedly really hard to shop for, but with the help of my husband, Tom, or my brother, we always manage to come up with some good gift ideas for him. Before he retired, my dad had a very long career. He worked at several companies, starting as a bank teller and climbing his way up to management. He shared his wealth of experience with me so I could succeed as I pursued my own career. Dad always pushed me to do something challenging. His job provided him with many challenges, whether it was managing people, finding ways to climb to the next level, doing the next best thing, or improving along the way. In the same way, he encouraged me to do something similar, even when I was young. As a kid, I was always shy. In school, I was terrified of doing many extracurricular activities because it meant I had to socialize with other people. One of those included debate,
which I knew my dad really wanted me to join, and I regret not going
through with it. But fortunately, I did have the debate class experience by debating with my dad. In a way, he was my debate coach. We would spend a lot of our time just arguing about random topics, and he would always say, “Chelsea, you should really do debate. You’re really good at arguing.” Not to brag too much, but I did win all of them, which, as a teenager at the time, I’m sure was fun for him. When I graduated high school and continued on into college, I hesitated to pursue law. Even though I was interested in that subject, I was still a little fearful and shy to do the whole debate thing with anyone other than my dad. I actually didn’t decide I wanted to become an attorney until right after undergrad. What got me to that point was my dad pushing me to do something more challenging. I was a journalism major and was looking into marketing and newspaper writing, but he could tell that wasn’t challenging enough for me. It wasn’t up to my capabilities, and he encouraged me to find something that was. I remember we had a conversation when I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and mentioned I was interested in law school. He said, “Look, you know, obviously, it’s a lot of school and a big investment. However, that’s going to be the best choice because that’s the only thing you have a good long-term path with. That’s the thing that’s going to pay dividends years and years from now that you can rely on for the rest of your life.” That encouragement helped make my choice a little easier, that I could follow my interest and lead a great life. I don’t think I would be where I am right now if it weren’t for my dad pushing me to realize my full potential and not just settle for something that would have been easy. Dad has always been extremely supportive of me; of anyone in the
BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES
BURN INJURIES
CONSTRUCTION INJURIES
NURSING HOME ABUSE
SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS
BOATING ACCIDENTS
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
world, he has the most confidence in me. I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for me. And that’s how I know we’ll get through this challenging time together. We have each other’s backs — always.
PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES
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–Chelsea Dickerson
Fight Back Again Insurance Compa STAY 1 STEP AHEAD FOR Y Insurance is there to protect us. We can rest easy knowing that if something happens to us, our financial strain will be significantly reduced. The last thing we might expect is to have our claim denied. However, in many cases, an insurance company will deny that claim, even if we’ve diligently paid our premiums every month. In that situation, what do we do? THE REASON BEHIND THE DENIAL A claims adjuster might deny your claim for a number of reasons. Your policy could have lapsed, the nature of the car wreck may not be covered under the terms of your policy, the at-fault party may not be covered, or you might not qualify to make a third-party claim. These are just a few examples. However, the bluntest reason your claim is denied is so the insurance company can keep their profits. An insurance company receives thousands of insurance claims over a single year; they will try to come up with any excuse to ensure your claim doesn’t go through.
Super Beagles and Jumping Llamas GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS’ MOST AMAZING ANIMALS Hearing about someone who has claimed a Guinness World Record is pretty cool, but do you know what’s even cooler? When animals make world records. Here are a few amazing animals who hold some really cool records. CASPA, THE AMAZING JUMPING LLAMA Sue Williams is an animal trainer and behaviorist who specializes in dogs. One day, she was working on agility training with her dogs when she noticed her llama, Caspa, watching them. After a little time and training, Williams discovered that Caspa loved jumping, too. In 2015, Caspa cleared a bar set at 3 feet, 8 1/2 inches. He jumped right into the world record for “highest bar jump cleared by a llama.”
Giving Your Child the Best Protection
“He’s a complete diva,” says Williams. “So, if there are people there to show off in front of, that’s when he’s at his ultimate best.”
DIDGA, A VERY TRICKY KITTY Anyone who says cats can’t learn tricks hasn’t met Didga. In 2016, Didga, with help from her human, Robert Dollwet, claimed a world record by performing 20 different tricks in 60 seconds. Her routine started with the classics, like sitting and giving high-fives, and culminated in riding a skateboard while hopping over a low bar. Dollwet told Guinness World Records that training Didga took a lot of time and patience and that he was so proud of his clever cat. PURIN, THE BEAGLE WHO HOLDS 3 GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Nicknamed “The Super Beagle,” Purin scored her first title in 2015 for her amazing goalkeeping skills. The beagle “saved” 14 mini soccer balls thrown by her human, Makoto Kumagai, in one minute. A year later, Purin claimed another record when she became the “fastest dog on a ball” by traveling 10 meters in 10.39 seconds while balancing on a ball. Not long after, Purin and Kumagai set the record for “most skips by a dog and a person in one minute — single rope” with 58 skips. Talk about super!
You can find videos of all these amazing record holders and more at GuinnessWorldRecords.com .
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nst the any YOUR CLAIM
RESPONDING TO THAT DENIAL One of the best ways to catch an
insurance adjuster in a bluff is to ask for a written explanation as to why your claim is denied. If they refuse, write the adjuster a letter stating that you had a conversation with them about receiving a denial and that they refused to explain why. This can put pressure on them to give you a better explanation. Be sure to document and make copies of every exchange. AVOIDING DENIAL ALTOGETHER To prevent denial in the long run, there are several steps you can take. First, go over your policy to make sure all the information there is correct. Second, never fall behind on your payments, no matter
TAKE A BREAK
what may happen. Third, don’t conceal any information regarding the car wreck and your injuries. Finally, be as detailed as possible about the car wreck by taking pictures of the car wreck and the injuries you received and contacting witnesses. No matter what steps you take, the best choice is to talk to an attorney. With a lawyer by your side, you can successfully navigate this frustrating situation and choose the best course of action.
Watermelon and Tomato Salad With Turmeric Oil Inspired by BonAppetit.com
ingredients
PROPER CAR SEATS AND BOOSTER SEATS HANDLING
• 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil • 1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed • 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric • 4 cups seedless watermelon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces • 2 medium heirloom tomatoes,
One of the most important purchases a new parent will make is a car seat for their child. When we take our children out to visit family and friends and eventually to school, our first priority is to ensure they arrive safely, and a car seat can provide that protection. This is also why it is absolutely essential not only to purchase the proper car seat for your car but to also get the seat inspected before its use. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of all car seats in the U.S. are misused, which significantly reduces their effectiveness. However, when the seats are installed and used properly, they can reduce the risk of death for infants by 71% and toddlers by 54% according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also reports that booster seats lower the risk of serious injury by 45% in children ages 4–8. Getting the most out of your child’s car seat starts at the very beginning: the purchase. When deciding which seat to purchase for your children, it’s vital to
make sure they are the right fit. A car seat not only needs to be the right fit for your car but also age- and size-appropriate for your child. If it’s too big or small, or doesn’t fit into your car, this can reduce its effectiveness and pose a greater danger to your child. The NHTSA recommends visiting SaferCar.gov/therightseat to find the best seat for your child. When it comes to installing your car seat, make sure to read and follow the instructions from both your car and the car seat. Because each car and seat are different, some instructions may have a vital piece of information in the installation process that the other doesn’t, something you won’t want to overlook. If you’re still unsure if you installed the seat properly or aren’t using the proper seat, set some time aside to visit a local car seat technician to get your installation inspected. For more information and resources regarding car seats and booster seats, visit NHTSA.gov/equipment.
diced into 1/2-inch pieces • 8 oz mild feta, diced into 1/2-inch pieces • Flaked sea salt
directions
1. In a small saucepan, heat coconut oil, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and turmeric for about 3 minutes or until fragrant. Let cool slightly but do not let coconut oil solidify. 2. In a large bowl, place diced watermelon, tomatoes, and feta. Drizzle with oil mixture and finish with a dash or two of salt.
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THIS ISSUE
My Gratitude Toward My Dad 5 World Records Broken by Animals Don’t Let Them Strip You of Your Claim Safe Travels in a Car Seat Take a Break Watermelon and Tomato Salad With Turmeric Oil Help Local Nonprofits in Challenging Times
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The Best Ways to Help Local Nonprofits in ChallengingTimes
Over the past several months, families, businesses, and nonprofits have had to navigate
clean out your home and donate unused items, you benefit those in the community who need them most.
VOLUNTEER In a time of social distancing, volunteering may be discouraged, but nonprofits still need volunteers to operate. The good news is that many nonprofits need volunteers for positions that maintain social distance, such as driving. Food banks and kitchens need drivers to pick up donations or ingredients from donors and to deliver food to people in need, such as the elderly or those with disabilities. ADVOCATE Even if you don’t have time or resources to give, you can become an advocate for important causes around your community. While it might not seem like much, sharing information about local nonprofits on social media can make a genuine difference. Nonprofits need exposure, which is greatly boosted through community support. Sharing useful information about nonprofits — or sharing their posts — increases their visibility so more people will take action.
life in this challenging “new normal,” and it can be hard to support your favorite nonprofits when times are tough. Here are a few ways you can help these important entities, even when you don’t have resources to spare right now.
DONATE While many people donate generously during the holiday season, remember that nonprofits need donations throughout the year, and different nonprofits need different things. A monetary donation can often go a long way, but never feel obligated to give money, especially when your budget may be tight. Instead, consider cleaning out your closet. What clothes, shoes, or other accessories can you part with? What about dishware or small appliances? When you
ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.
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