Harmonson Law Firm - January 2019

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JAN 2019

HARMONSON HEADLINES

YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND

More My Style

When I first started law school, I was a little older than my peers. I was 26 and had some real-world experience under my belt. After college, I worked as a pharmaceutical rep, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. I had my mind on something else. A long time ago, I told my mom I was going to be a lawyer. I had grown up watching courtroom dramas like “Jagged Edge,” and I was fascinated. I lived up to my word and went back to school to get my law degree.

made a world of sense. I grew up in West Texas, so El Paso was more my style. It’s a great city with incredible diversity, fantastic food, and beautiful mountains. Before I started my own law firm, I worked with another attorney in El Paso. He told me about his experience working with people in El Paso and how he was able to help them. He also told me he was looking for a young lawyer at his practice. Long story short, I found what I was looking for in El Paso. It was a change of pace, for sure. I shifted from corporate law to personal injury, which took me from a formal, buttoned-up environment to a very personal environment. More than that, I was in a place where I could really help people — people who are dealing with everyday issues and often just need a helping hand to move forward. In 2012, when I opened my own firm, I took on a lot of challenges. I was going out on my own, starting my own business and wanting nothing more than to help people. Since then, those challenges turned into success. I have been able to help folks find the results they need to continue on with their lives, including kids who now have college funds thanks to settlements. However, some of the biggest successes are the relationships I’ve formed. I have met so many amazing people since moving to El Paso in 2004. As our firm grows, I look forward to meeting even more people and hearing their stories. —Clark Harmonson

I loved it! Being a slightly older student with more experience gave me a

different perspective on classes. I really dug into it and treated school like a job. Thanks to that mindset, I did great and graduated second in my class. From there, I worked with a major firm in Houston. The firm focused on corporate and securities law. Although the people at the firm were great, I soon realized that big firm life was not for me. It was still a valuable experience, for sure. It created the foundation for what came next — that is, my move to El Paso, a city I absolutely love. In fact, I love it so much that I wrote something of a love letter to the city, part of which you can read on Page 2.

When people at the Houston law firm heard I was leaving to move to El Paso, they thought I was crazy! But for me, it

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Fourteen years ago, I asked my young wife, “What do you think about moving to El Paso?” To say she was shocked was an understatement. El Paso definitely was not on her radar of places to live. At the time, we were living in Houston. I was fresh out of law school and had, thank God, done exceptionally well. I was working at a major law firm downtown, and we had all of the perks that a city like Houston has to offer. The future was bright. But something was missing. In law school, we learned how the law could be used to fight injustice. In my small office on the 17th floor of the Pennzoil building, the only justice being done was for major corporations trying to make more money. I knew very early on in my legal career that I would rather fight for people. But why El Paso? My first memory of El Paso was from a trip I took with my dad to a convention he was attending when I was 11 years old. My dad owned a used car dealership, and the cars he drove were always “unique.” I will never forget the 1960s-era white Cadillac convertible with the red leather interior that we drove from Lubbock to the convention in El Paso. Boss Hogg from “The Dukes of Hazard” would have envied that car! While my dad did his convention, I played in the motel pool. Kids were still allowed to be unsupervised in those days! At night, we went out to great Mexican dinners, the sort of Mexican food that El Paso is famous for. The El Paso trip stood out Why I Love El Pa PART ONE

Do your kids get enough nutrients in their diet? If they’re like most kids, the answer is probably no. You want your children to eat more vegetables and less processed junk, but they certainly don’t make it easy. Even getting the average kid to chow down on a serving of broccoli can be a huge chore. In fact, food manufacturers have built an entire industry that takes advantage of our kids’ penchant for sugary cereal and fast food. However, a diet of highly processed foods can lead to a host of problems. Not only do these poor dietary habits carry over into adulthood, but a poor diet can hinder brain development and may even cause behavioral issues. A study in the American Journal of Public Health found links between poor diet and the development of depression in kids and teens. But how can you encourage your kids to eat healthier? Often, it comes down to presentation. A mound of plain old veggies is not appetizing — not to a 10-year-old and not to a 40-year- old. Instead of presenting vegetables as a boring side dish, think of them as an ingredient. Take lasagna, for instance. This tasty, familiar dish is easy to modify. Instead of using lasagna noodles, use zucchini. Simply slice the zucchini into thin, noodle-like strips, then layer them as you would typical noodles. The same can be done with other pasta dishes, such as spaghetti. Zucchini noodles — or “zoodles” — are delicious in marinara sauce and decadent in Alfredo. If push comes to shove, you can easily hide vegetables in foods your children already know and love. Did you know you can make brownies with avocado and black beans? Slipping in a few healthier ingredients here and there can deliver those nutrients in a pinch, especially during a chaotic school week. But, if you’re hoping to foster long-lasting healthy habits, the best thing you can do is offer your child a choice. Say something like “You can have the cauliflower, or you can have the broccoli. It’s up to you!” Let your child have that control. Psychologists and social scientists, including the famed Dr. Maria Montessori, argue that when kids feel in charge of a decision, they are more likely to embrace one of the options — even if it’s a vegetable. Ultimately, as a parent, you are in charge of your child’s diet. Help them explore new foods and foster a positive culinary environment. Your kids will develop a taste for healthy eating in no time!

SUDO KU

SOLUTION PG. 4

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because it was the only road trip I made

THE NEXT STEP 6 Things You Need to Do After an Accident

alone with my dad, and I had thoroughly enjoyed myself in El Paso.

When I was in high school, Dad moved from Lubbock to El Paso to start a pool construction company. Both my parents attended Texas Western and were students when the Miners won the basketball championship in 1966. One of his college friends owned a home construction business and needed someone to build pools. Both my parents were fond of UTEP and the city. Dad commuted from Lubbock to El Paso while I finished high school. When I graduated high school, my mom and little sister packed up and moved to El Paso to be with Dad. Whenever I was on a break from college, I would often drive out to El Paso to visit. We played golf, ate great Mexican food, and made trips over to Juarez to visit and shop. The blended Texan and Mexican culture of El Paso was nothing like I had ever experienced in the very white, very conservative Lubbock ...

You’ve been in a car accident. What do you do next? You may be disoriented, in shock, and/or injured, but there are several crucial steps you need to take before doing anything else. Here are six things you need to do right after you are in an automobile accident. 1. In the minutes after the accident, tend to yourself and any passengers who might be hurt. Call the police to report the accident and/or an ambulance, if needed. Then take pictures of all damaged vehicles as well as any wounds or injuries, if possible. 2. Do not make statements about injuries. Without professional care, you may not be aware of the extent of your injuries after a wreck. For many people, the pain sets in later. You may seem fine right after the wreck, but time can tell a different story. 3. See a physician ASAP — without exception. If you feel “fine” or are only a little sore, visit a doctor and get checked out anyway. Issues tend to pop up in the days after the accident. Don’t put yourself at additional risk. 4. Contact your insurance company to start a claim, and contact the other driver’s insurance company. Never assume the other party is going to do this. 5. Keep constant tabs on how you feel. Write down specific details, including aches and pains, where they’re located, intensity, and duration. These details may be helpful if your case goes to trial. 6. Speak with an attorney. Whether you call from the side of the road or from your home the following

Don’t want to wait for Part Two? Head over to our blog at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com/blog for the full article, along with many others!

PEANUT BUTTER AND BERRY FRENCH TOAST

INSPIRED BY DEL ISH

French toast is a staple for a weekend breakfast at home, but this version takes things to another level. Consider it a hybrid of French toast and PB&J. It’s just as delicious as it sounds.

INGREDIENTS

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8 slices brioche, 1/2-inch thick 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

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2 cups cornflakes

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 large eggs

2 cups mixed berries

1/8 cup heavy cream

Powdered sugar, to sprinkle Maple syrup, for serving

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. On a large baking sheet lined with wax paper, place 4 slices of brioche and spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each. Cover with remaining slices, creating sandwiches. 2. In a pie plate, beat eggs with cream and vanilla. In another, coarsely crush the cornflakes. 3. Lightly soak sandwiches in the egg mixture, then dredge in cornflakes, pressing to adhere. Return to baking sheet. 4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted and up to temperature, add sandwiches, cooking on one side until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. 5. Return sandwiches to baking sheet, add remaining butter, and repeat on other side. 6. Top sandwiches with berries, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with maple syrup.

day, an attorney will guide you through the next steps. Tell them the facts of the accident, your treatment plan — if you have one — and show them any pictures you took. Some cases might not need an attorney, but many do. Negotiation with insurance companies can be stressful and time-consuming, and these businesses rarely play fair. We are more than happy to help you through this difficult process.

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

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More My Style

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Trick Your Kids Into Healthy Eating

Why I Love El Paso

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Peanut Butter Berry French Toast

6 Things You Need to Do After an Accident

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The Best Skiing Destinations in NewMexico

2 AMAZING NEW MEXICO SKI LOCATIONS Right in Our Own Back Yard My family and I love to ski, and we are blessed to live within a day’s drive of excellent winter ski destinations in New Mexico. Here are two of the best places to experience the powder you’ve been craving all year — right here in our own backyard. Taos, New Mexico Taos is my favorite city in New Mexico. It has great history, art, food — red or green? — and beautiful scenery without all of the fuss of the famous Santa Fe. The skiing at Taos Ski Valley is truly world-class. Grab a gigantic breakfast at Michael’s Kitchen in town, then make the short drive to the mountain. Taos Ski Valley boasts 110 trails with 49 percent of those trails being great for beginners and intermediates. The Ernie Blake Ski School is one of the highest rated ski schools in North America. Ruidoso, New Mexico One of the reasons I love El Paso is its close proximity to the mountains of New Mexico. A short 2–3 hour drive away, the big city life of El Paso melts into the tall pines of Ruidoso. I learned how to ski as a child at Ski Apache, though it was called Sierra Blanca in those days. While not the greatest mountain I have ever skied, there is nothing quite like leaving home bright and early in the morning to catch a day on the slopes. Did you know that Ski Apache is the southernmost ski area in the United States? When the snow is good, Ski Apache is a delightful ski mountain for all ages and abilities.

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