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Malloy Monthly
MALLOY LAW OFFICES, LLC
Alexandria 5680 King Centre Dr. #600 Alexandria, VA 22315 (703) 337-3328 Bethesda 7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 999-3898
Clinton 9135 Piscataway Rd. #215 Clinton, MD 20735 (301) 889-9950 Baltimore 400 E. Pratt St., 8th Flr. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 498-6085
April 2022
ROAD TO DESTRUCTION PAVED WITH DISTRACTION Distracted Driving Is Dangerous Driving
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a month in which we strive to raise awareness to the dangers of distracted driving. Far too often, drivers become distracted, threatening their lives and the lives of others on the road. When a driver’s attention drifts and wanders, the potential damages are life-threatening. According to the most recent data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, distracted driving took the lives of 3,142 individuals. Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention off the road while you are driving. It doesn’t matter if you’re fiddling with your radio, checking on your children in the back seat, having a conversation via Bluetooth, or munching on some Cheetos — they are all distractions. In fact, a driver can encounter three different types of distractions: visual, cognitive, and manual. A visual distraction is anything that takes your eyes off the road. This can include your radio, dashboard map and GPS, cellphone, or even your pet in the back seat. A cognitive distraction takes your mind away from driving. If you’re listening to the radio, in conversation with a passenger in your car, or daydreaming while driving, you’re driving distracted. Lastly, a manual distraction consists of any item or activity that takes one or both hands away from the steering wheel. Snacking, applying makeup, or switching through stations on the radio are all considered to be manual distractions. “When a driver’s attention drifts and wanders, the potential damages are life-threatening.” Taking your eyes off the road while driving at a speed of 55 mph is the same as driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. That’s a pretty big distance in which so much can happen in such a short period of time. The car ahead of you could slam on their brakes. A child could wander into the road. An object could be kicked up by another vehicle and become an obstacle in
the roadway. Or a car could swerve in front of you. Without your attention being fully on the road, you could find yourself in a very dangerous or tragic situation you could have avoided if you were paying attention. Many people don’t realize that talking hands-free on Bluetooth is still a form of distracted driving. While you may not be taking your eyes off the road, your mind is still occupied on the conversation at hand. Have you ever missed your exit because you were so wrapped up in conversation? Your driving judgment and ability is still impaired. The best thing to do when hitting the road is to set your cellphone in “driving mode” to alert anyone who tries to contact you that you are currently driving and will respond when it’s safe to do so.
Driving is a complex activity that requires a lot of your attention. Put it down — it can wait. Your life may depend on it!
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How Should You H DOG BITE PREV
Horticulture Therapy Might Help You to Recover! HEALING AS OLD AS DIRT
National Dog Bite Prevention Week falls in April. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually in the United States. Of those individual cases, 800,000 required medical care.
Given the population of the United States was about 331 million in 2020, about 1 in every 73 people has been bitten by a dog each year.
When you’re in pain, daily activities like walking to the mailbox or reaching for a plate from the
If you’re the victim of a dog bite, time is of the essence! The best time to contact an attorney is right after the dog bite occurs. Maryland’s statute of limitations for submitting a dog bite claim is three years. But keep in mind that if you wait a
cupboard can exacerbate inflamed joints and weak muscles. However, just simply being a human can intensify this pain, too. The reason is in your brain. For years, researchers have connected our mental well-being with our
full three years to submit a claim, your case may not be looked at as seriously. After all, you must not have been badly injured if you waited that long, right? Maryland is not a “one-bite” state; instead, it is a strict liability law state, meaning that dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dog(s), whether or not they knew the dog was potentially dangerous. Therefore, an owner can potentially be held liable even if their dog has never been aggressive in the past, as long as the dog was not provoked and the victim was legally in the area where the bite took place.
physical health. Study after study shows that those who suffer from mental illnesses also have intense bouts of pain.
Physical therapy is a powerful treatment method designed to use your body’s strength and movement to stimulate physical healing. But to holistically recover from an injury or pain, you may have to also address your mental health. This spring, as April showers loom, consider a centuries-old practice that has shown time and time again to improve mental wellness. All it requires is a little dirt, patience, and the great outdoors. What is horticulture therapy? As the American Horticultural Therapy Association explains, horticulture therapy can improve cognitive and memory abilities, balance, language skills, and endurance, among other benefits. It’s the practice of gardening to stimulate mindfulness. Dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, the Persians were known for creating beautiful, calming gardens for this very purpose, and the first documented use of gardening for medical reasons is from the 1800s. Since then, connecting humans to plants is now a common treatment in many countries. What do I have to do? To effectively engage in horticulture therapy, you have to engage with nature. Plant a small garden in your yard and tend to it each day or week. Join a community garden, plant an indoor herb garden, or pluck weeds from your yard. If you’re not much of a gardener, try visiting local botanical gardens or hike a local trail and identify plant life each week. Or, ask your local nursery for suggestions about plants that are easy to care for. The goal is to physically and mentally connect with nature, which bonds you to a simpler form of life.
Take a Break
To learn more about horticulture therapy, connect with a local psychiatrist or counselor.
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Motor Vehicle Accidents • Workers’ Compensation • Slip and Fall • Social Security Disability • And More
If you are ever the victim of a dog bite, you may submit a claim against the owner of the dog, seeking monetary compensation for the medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury, wages you may have lost as a result of missing work, and other related losses. Typically, the homeowners insurance of the dog owner pays out the claim. Handle a Dog Bite? VENTION WEEK
A few decades ago, almost all married couples combined their incomes into joint accounts. Since most households only had one earner, it just made sense. Today, a lot has changed, and only three-quarters of married couples combine finances. Now that there’s more than one way of doing things, it can be hard to determine which option might be best for you and your spouse. Combining finances is the traditional way of doing things for a reason: It’s streamlined. With a joint account, it’s simpler to budget, save, and reduce debt. If one partner makes significantly more than the other, it also puts both people on even financial footing. But problems do arise. In some cases, the higher-earning spouse may feel taken advantage of, and someone who is previously used to managing their own money can bristle under new spending restrictions. Furthermore, if one person spends money foolishly, they’re spending it for both parties. And if the couple splits, separating assets becomes tricky. That’s why keeping finances separate is increasingly popular, especially as couples settle down later in life with established careers and salaries. This method provides more independence for each person in the relationship and generally results in fewer disagreements regarding disposable income. It also provides protection if someone’s partner makes a big financial mistake. But despite all of the potential upsides, keeping finances separate can actually create the need for more conversations about money. First, couples should decide who is responsible for what. Disagreements can arise when determining how to split the bills, and getting both shares put against one payment can be annoying. Plus, money arguments aren’t eliminated — couples THE PROS AND CONS Should Couples Combine Their Finances?
For more information, scan the QR code on this page to be directed to an in-depth explanation on our webpage!
Healthier, Lighter Deviled Eggs
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with separate finances can still face problems when one person always pays their part of the bills late or buys something frivolous instead of saving for a joint purchase.
Some couples try to have the best of both worlds by opening joint and individual checking accounts. In the end, the only “right” way to handle money as a couple is the way that works best for your relationship.
But no matter what method you choose, managing money
together will require trust, difficult conversations, clear communication, and transparent expectations. Getting on the same page can save you from future problems — in both your relationship and your bank account.
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MALLOY LAW OFFICES, LLC
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7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 933-7277 • www.malloy-law.com
InsideThis Issue
1
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
2
Your Garden Can Help You Heal!
2
Dog Bite Prevention Week
3
Should Couples Combine Their Finances?
3
Healthier, Lighter Deviled Eggs
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The White House Egg Roll
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
The Age-Old Egg Roll Tradition Easter is celebrated in many different ways by many different people around the world. Before Christianity came about, Easter was a pagan festival in the Northern Hemisphere that celebrated the arrival of spring. The pagans believed the spring equinox signaled nature to wake up from a winter slumber, beckoning growth and rebirth. One tradition that happens every year on Capitol Hill (except for last year due to COVID-19) is the egg roll. Back in the 1870s, Capitol Hill became “the spot” for children to decorate eggs and roll them (and themselves, too) down the hill. Then, in 1876, Congress passed a law that banned the egg roll on Capitol Hill. But luckily, in 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes issued an order inviting all children to come to the White House for the egg roll. Since then, the White House Easter Egg Roll has grown into a major event. By 1954, the Egg Roll became official and is now an annual tradition. This year, there still has not been a formal update as to whether or not the White House Egg Roll will take place, but you can check the White House’s website (WhiteHouse.gov) for more information! Hopefully, it will be a rolling good time!
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