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April 2024
Avoiding Distractions Behind the Wheel Expert Advice That Could Save Your Life
As a personal injury attorney, I am all too familiar with the dangers posed by those texting or playing on their phones while driving. It seems like every year, the numbers regarding distracted driving get worse. As recently as 2021, more than 3,500 people died in accidents involving distracted drivers. With April being National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to begin taking additional measures to reduce the dangers you pose to yourself and everyone else on the road. If you are ever tempted to use your phone while driving, I implore you to heed the following advice instead. Ask your passenger for help. Apart from being able to use the HOV lane, carpooling has other benefits as well. Everyone has heard of the passenger being the DJ on a road trip, but what about having them be the designated texter instead? Rather than texting behind the wheel, have someone else in the car do it for you. This removes the risk of driving while distracted, and both you and your passenger will be thankful for the effort. Alternatively, why not give up the driver role entirely if you must use your phone? Instead, ask a friend or partner to drive for you, preventing the distraction from endangering you both. Stow the phone. Know yourself: If you can’t resist the temptation to use your phone behind the wheel, keeping it out of reach for the duration of your drive may be necessary. This could involve turning your phone off and keeping it in your pocket, but you can also keep it in your glove box, on the backseat, or even in the trunk of your car. Building discipline by taking proactive steps may seem frustrating at first, but it could very well keep you from hurting yourself or others with your actions. Pull over. If a message absolutely must be sent, find a safe place to pull over first. Once on the side of the road, turn off your car, and then send your message guilt-free. Taking the extra time might seem like overkill, but it is anything but. We cannot overstate the importance of keeping yourself from distracted driving. Prepare before leaving. Let whomever you are texting know you are going to be driving. This lets them know you will be indisposed for the duration of your
trip and that they should not expect responses until you are safely at your destination. Remember what’s most important. The simple truth is this: Texting while driving has never saved lives, but it certainly has cost lives. No matter how important you think it is to text back, your key mission while driving is keeping yourself and everyone else around you safe. Ask yourself: Would I prefer it if the drivers around me were using their phones? And, if you would never encourage this behavior in others, why would you ever do it yourself? Taking proactive steps like these don’t just benefit you — they help everyone else on the road. It could be that the drivers around you include a mother taking her kids to school, a family man returning
from a graveyard shift, or the lawyer representing you. It is easy to make a positive difference on the road, and the more people who follow suit, the safer we will all be.
–Dathan Hill P.S. If you or a family member has been in an auto accident, we are here to help! Give us a call today at 225-266-2948 for a free initial consultation.
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WHEN THE LAW MEETS ABSURDITY LEGALLY UNBELIEVABLE
Virginia, Washington, D.C., or on a military base, it’s entirely legal!
There are some outlandish laws in the U.S., but you can also get away with plenty of surprising things. Let’s dive into some of the crazy laws from around the country. Surprisingly Legal Flame On Owning a flamethrower is surprisingly legal and easy in 48 states. The only state where you can’t own one is Maryland. And if you want a flamethrower in California, you must get a license. The rest of the states say, fire away! Car Radar Another surprising law concerns radar detectors: In most states, utilizing a radar detector in your personal vehicle is completely legal. Do you want to check someone’s speed or look out for police officers? Unless you live in Mississippi,
Sleepy Surgery There are absolutely no laws that state surgeons must get a good night’s sleep before surgery. As dangerous as this sounds, at least surgeons usually do have a limit on how long they can work at once, curtailing the worst outcomes of an exhausted doctor.
Blindingly Obvious Driving blindfolded has never been a good idea, but that clearly didn’t stop adventurous residents in Alabama from testing their blind driving skills. Maybe that’s why the state passed a law making blindfolded driving illegal. Keep an open ear and be mindful of what is legal and what is not. Nobody wants weird laws creating dumb criminals!
Shockingly Illegal Car Cursing
While in Maryland, you should be mindful of keeping your swear words to yourself (or whisper them softly) while driving through the small city of Rockville. It is considered a misdemeanor to swear from a vehicle within earshot of other people. Your curse words could cost you up to $100 in fines or 90 days in jail.
Joke’s on You!
THE HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS’ DAY
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish or a gullible person. Historians have also linked April Fools’ Day to festivals such as Hilaria (Latin for joyful), which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March by followers of the cult of Cybele. It involved people dressing up in disguises and mocking fellow citizens and magistrates and was said to be inspired by the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris, and Seth. There’s also speculation that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather. Regardless of its origin, April Fools’ Day has become a worldwide tradition with links from the past. Today, April Fools’ Day means playing pranks and tricks on friends and family. People have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations, and websites have participated in the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims to fool their audiences.
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate April Fools’ Day every April 1 with silly pranks and whimsical tricks? April Fools’ originated in France during the 16th century when the country switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The change moved the new year from the end of March to Jan. 1. The shocking part is that not everyone was aware of the change. Those who continued celebrating New Year’s Day on April 1 were mocked, labeled as “April Fools,” and were subjected to pranks.
So, when someone pulls a nasty prank on you on April Fools’ Day, remember why and where it came from!
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TAKE A BREAK
To be proactive in life is to be successful! As a parent, planning ahead must become second nature if we want our children and families to stay strong in the face of adversity. While many good parenting tips are out there, the smartest is creating an emergency kit to help out in any scenario. An emergency kit will have everything you and your family may need during an emergency, such as having to stay inside for longer than usual or the electricity goes out. Each family’s kit will vary depending on their kids’ individual needs. It’s vital to have all these things collected before the trouble begins, stored in a container, and kept in a safe and easily accessible location in case of an emergency. Making a family emergency kit can also be fun for the family to do together. Be the Parents Who Are Prepared CREATING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR ANY SITUATION
These are the necessary steps to create a toolkit:
1. You will need a large plastic bin or box to put things into.
2. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for a list of key items to include in a kit: CDC.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/ kids-and-families.html. 3. Go shopping for the appropriate items you need, then check them off the list as you put them into your emergency kit. 4. Place an updated copy of your checklist inside your large plastic bin or box once you put your kit together to know what is inside the kit and to find your checklist easily. Keeping your family safe should be a top priority at all times. It is so important to teach preparation skills to our children at a young age so they can be ready and thrive through life’s most turbulent moments.
Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
Savor the flavor with our mouthwatering grilled steak, paired perfectly with vibrant chimichurri sauce. Ingredients
For the chimichurri sauce: • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs steak
(flank, sirloin, or skirt steak)
• 2 tbsp olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon • 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. 2. Rub the steak with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. 3. Grill the steak for 4–5 minutes per side or until it reaches desired doneness. 4. Meanwhile, make the chimichurri sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the parsley, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. 5. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 6. Serve the steak with the chimichurri sauce and enjoy!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
225-266-2948 www.DathanLHill.com 637 Saint Ferdinand Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How to Avoid Driving Distracted
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Surprisingly Legal and Shockingly Illegal
The Origin of the Silliest Day of the Year
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Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
Equip Your Family With an Emergency Kit
The Lawsuit That Touched Hearts
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Luke Combs Strikes a Chord FROM CONFLICT TO COMPASSION
containing funds from recent sales, was locked due to the lawsuit, leaving her in a dire financial situation. What sets this story apart is not the initial legal dispute; it’s the remarkable response from Combs himself. Upon learning of Harness’s situation, he recorded a heartfelt TikTok video where he apologized directly to Harness and extended his hand to help her during this challenging time. He gave her $11,000, twice the amount that had become inaccessible in her Amazon account due to the lawsuit. He emphasized that no fan should ever go through such an ordeal and expressed his sincere regret for the situation. Combs didn’t stop there; he decided to positively impact Harness’s life by selling similar tumblers on his own website. All proceeds from these sales were directed
Imagine waking up one December morning to the bizarre news that one of your favorite celebrities is suing you for a whopping $250,000. That’s what happened to Florida resident Nicol Harness, a devoted fan of country music sensation Luke Combs. The story began when Harness found herself in hot water for selling unofficial merchandise adorned with lyrics from Luke Combs’ songs. She had sold 18 tumblers at $20 each and had no clue this would lead to a legal battle that would wreak havoc on her life. Harness, who had been dealing with congestive heart failure, received an email from Combs’ legal team during her hospital stay. Unfortunately, due to her medical condition, she missed the 21-day response window, which resulted in further complications. Her Amazon account,
Photo by David Bergman
toward Harness’s family to support her medical care, further showcasing Combs’ commitment to making amends and righting the situation. This incredible turn of events reminds us that even in the face of legal battles and adversity, acts of kindness and empathy can prevail. Combs, a country music superstar, proved in words and actions that he values his fans, turning a potential lawsuit into a story of compassion and unity in the country music community.
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