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PERSONAL INJURY POST 820 S. Main St., McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 587-5833 www.go-lawfirm.com
JUNE 2021
A Man Who Was Always Merry Lino’s Father’s Day Tribute
Born in 1929, for a long time, my dad was not treated well as a Hispanic man. Despite this, he never grew bitter or angry. He was always humorous and loving. When my dad was around 19 years old, he went out to western Texas and walked into a restaurant with his brother. They told him, “Son, you can’t eat here.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I don’t serve Mexicans,” they said.
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“Well, that’s okay,” my dad replies. “I don’t eat Mexican; I want a hamburger.” Amazingly, the restaurant went ahead and served him.
It’s proof (one of many) that everyone liked my dad. Although he passed away five years ago, he was active in such a small area of our city that I still find people and clients who tell me wonderful things about him. He could talk and joke around with anyone, but he was also very respectful. It didn’t matter if you were a friend or stranger — he knew how to stir an amiable conversation or deescalate a difficult situation. He was a true American of his generation — hardworking and selfless. He joined the U.S. Army at 17 years old and spent his 18th birthday at the 38th Parallel, the border between North and South Korea before the Korean War. When he got back, he wanted to become a lawyer, perhaps because he saw so much injustice as a young man. However, my dad was also very close to his brothers and sisters. As one of the older siblings, he decided to work extremely hard to help his siblings get a higher education instead. He became a barber, drove school buses, and did whatever he could to ensure his brothers, sisters, and children got a higher education. Even in retirement, he never quit wanting to help or be present in our lives. As my legal career began to take off, my dad enjoyed tagging along to my meetings. Even while representing a school district, he was there at our school board meetings. He became one of my most loved “assistants.” Clients loved him — if he didn’t go with me, they were disappointed he wasn’t there.
My dad is a quintessential example of selflessness and empathy in my life. I never heard him complain about anything in life — not even once. Even though he went through a hard life enduring all kinds of discrimination, no matter who was on the other side, my dad always treated them with respect. When I treat my clients like family, I think of his legacy being a part of that. For those who knew my dad, you’ll probably enjoy this fact: As a veteran, my dad was buried in a military cemetery and, underneath his name and years of life, his tombstone reads: “Merry Christmas.” It was a greeting that he’d say all the time, no matter what season it was. Now, he’ll get to say it to visiting family and passing strangers forever. It’s definitely what he would’ve wanted.
Thanks so much for reading, friends, and I wish you a happy Father’s Day.
Lino Ochoa
Hardworking Lawyers Helping Hardworking People.
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Nothing compares to the grief of losing a loved one, especially in an accident that could have been avoided. It is not an easy thing to deal with, and it takes time to process. You may be suddenly swamped by medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost wages. We know that the grief is probably too much to handle already, so we will give you a free case consultation and take over all of the legal factors of your case thereafter — however, here are a few basic facts to get you familiarized with your claim. MY LOVED ONE WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT — WHAT NOW?
DIY OR BUY? Lawn Games for Family Summer Fun
What Constitutes ‘Wrongful Death’?
The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the- shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. Giant Jenga: Easy DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board. Visit ABeautifulMess.com/make-this-giant-jenga to see a complete set of instructions.
Wrongful death is an umbrella term of sorts that covers a lot of different types of accidents. For a claim to be considered wrongful
Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A DEMAND LETTER IS SENT? After your medical bills and evidence have all been assembled, your demand letter is ready to be sent to an insurance company. Ideally, you’ll want a seasoned personal injury attorney to draft and send it for you. Why? Well, after you’ve gone through the trouble of sending a demand letter for your claim, one of several things can happen.
Classic Horseshoes: Intermediate DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go! Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade.com/ultimate-diy-horseshoe-pit. Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children. Cornhole: Advanced DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood along with two-by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander. Visit DIYPete.com/cornhole-board- plans to get both written and video instructions. Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com.
First, your demand letter may be accepted and the settlement will go forward. While this is a rare scenario, you’ll receive the
Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially when it comes to yard games!
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death, there must be negligence that leads to an injury or fatality. These incidents are also classified as accidental, or else they would be criminal not civil cases.
GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA
Some of the most common types of wrongful death claims include auto accidents, slip and falls, construction accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, medical malpractice, boating accidents, nursing home abuse, workplace injuries, drowning, and more.
How Does Wrongful Death Compensation Work?
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
There are two means to getting compensation with this type of claim — it’s not as straightforward as a personal injury claim. The first way to get compensation is through wrongful death damages; this is a simple matter of math. You will be given the amount of money that your loved one would have provided for you (earning capacity and the amount of financial setback you will have to face), any medical bills you have had to pay if they had injuries that were treated for before they passed, and all funeral costs. These wrongful death damages are easier to calculate because there is a dollar amount attached to all of these expenses. The second type of damage involves the pain that your loved one had to suffer through and the loss you have had to endure because of someone else’s negligence. These damages are harder to put a dollar amount behind because they are not tangible damages. These compensatory awards are decided upon once the case is better understood by all parties. The good news is that your pain and suffering is considered in your claim. You can learn more with our online “Texas Wrongful Death Guide” at GO-LawFirm.com . Although we hope you never need to call us for this type of case, know that at Garcia & Ochoa, our seasoned Texas Wrongful Death attorneys have your back. compensation you asked for, and you’ll sign a release of liability in exchange. Why is this rare? For the most part, you can get a higher claim if you start high — chances are that even if you give your insurance company a reasonable demand, they will try to negotiate much lower compensation anyway. Secondly, an insurance company might deny your claim altogether and refuse to pay you anything. This is also fairly rare since most insurance companies prefer to settle a claim (for a lower amount of money) instead of involving courts (where the expenses can be unpredictable). However, even if your claim is denied, don’t give up hope and contact a personal injury attorney right away — there’s still plenty an expert legal team can do to get justice! Lastly, the insurance company could make a counteroffer. After a demand is made, you’ll often receive a settlement offer for a significantly smaller amount of money than you asked for. From there, you’ll either have to negotiate or file a personal injury lawsuit. Typically, counteroffers will simply trigger a back-and-forth correspondence of the injured person starting with an inflated amount, then the insurance company offering a much lower number, and, by the end, a deal is met somewhere in the middle. In a recent settled case, our clients, who were injured in a car accident, both ended up with hospital bills. We sent a demand letter to the offender’s insurance company, and after a couple years of fighting for compensation, we finally won $200,000 for our client! No matter how unsure you are about your future, don’t wait to get an attorney — start your claim right away with a legal professional. Working quickly will not only make your case stronger, but it will help the negotiation process speed along faster as well! Consider giving our expert legal team a call, and we can get started right away.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tbsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground black pepper • 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless,
skinless chicken thighs
DIRECTIONS 1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking. 3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki. BE INSPIRED
“HOPE LIES IN DREAMS, IN IMAGINATION, AND IN THE COURAGE OF THOSE WHO DARE TO MAKE DREAMS INTO REALITY.”
–JONAS SALK
Hardworking Lawyers Helping Hardworking People.
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820. S. Main St., McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 587-5833 www.go-lawfirm.com
INSIDE This Issue
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Lino Ochoa’s Father’s Day Tribute
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DIY or Buy: Summer Lawn Games
Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Texas
What Happens After a Demand Letter Is Sent?
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Grilled Chicken Shawarma
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Have You Explored a National Forest?
Explore a National Forest for Free
On National Get Outdoors Day
Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list. While Zion, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), so if your home state doesn’t have one, it’s very likely a neighboring state does! And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day! While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and
accessibility. Visit FS.fed.us/ivm to access the map and see what’s near your hometown!
If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests. • El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. • Tongass National Forest: Spanning 16.7 million acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest. • Salmon-Challis National Forest: This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. • Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north-central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.
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