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NOV/DEC 2022
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Celebrate Child Safety Protection This November
BY KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN STRAPPED IN!
With November being Child Safety Protection Month, what better time to talk about child safety and car crashes? As a lawyer who strives to help people who are victims of car crashes, it is important as a parent or caregiver to secure your child safely in the appropriate car seat. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children, and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, child safety seats can reduce the risk of injury by 71%–82%. Texas law requires all children younger than 8 years old, unless taller than 4 feet, 9 inches, to be in the appropriate child safety seat system.
So, what is the proper seat you need in your vehicle for the child you are transporting? Well, the answer depends greatly on their age, height, and weight. Each child is different when it comes to how fast they grow, but in general, make sure to use the following guidelines. Infants must stay rear-facing as long as possible, and they should never be forward- facing before their first birthday or they are at least 20–22 pounds. Infants are the most vulnerable population as they’re so small and fragile. While we know you probably want to see your baby, it’s safer for your child — in the case of an accident, the rear-facing
Children from age 4, or until they’re 4 feet, 9 inches tall, should be in a booster seat. A booster uses the vehicle’s seat belt — a child around 4 years or 4 feet, 9 inches tall has developed enough to sit and be restrained but still needs the height a booster provides, allowing the seat belt to absorb any crash- related impacts. Children can sit safely with an adult safety belt if they are 4 feet, 9 inches and taller. A child around 5 feet tall can adequately use a seat belt as any adult would. They are tall and heavy enough for the seat belt to secure them in the safest places to absorb impact. The critical part is that they do not slouch or lean and sit appropriately in the seat. These guidelines are valuable to anyone around children, myself included! My family just put in a car seat for our baby, and sometimes it feels like it takes an engineering degree to figure out how to do it properly. You never want to place a child safety seat in the vehicle without knowing it is properly Continued on Pg. 2 ...
car seat will absorb most of the impact and support their head, neck, and spine.
Toddlers may be forward-facing in a five-point harness until they reach the upper weight limits of the car seat, usually around 40–65 pounds. A five-point harness car seat is essential for a toddler because your toddler will be fully supported from their shoulders all the way down to their hips. These places are the most rigid parts of a toddler’s body and the most likely to break in the event of a crash. The five- point harness actively secures these fragile parts and transfers the impact of a collision to avoid injury.
A referral is the greatest compliment you could ever give us! If you know someone in need of our services, we are eager to help. Please pass this newsletter along and tell them to call 817.775.5364 or visit www.TheTexasLawDog.com/contact-us. Thank you!
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We get busy shopping for Christmas gifts online and in-store during the holiday season. It’s the season that keeps on giving — but not for all. Scammers will devise clever ways to con you out of your hard-earned money. Some will take advantage of your generosity. So, as you scroll through shopping websites and wait for your gifts to come in the mail, be sure to protect yourself from scammers. Here are some tips. Holiday Mail Scams Shipping companies will give you updates and status on your items when you order something online or ship a package off. Although this tool is excellent for tracking where your orders are, scammers will send phishing emails pretending to be these shipping companies. ’TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING — NOT STEALING How to Avoid Holiday Scams
company’s website and log in to your account. If action is required, you should see a notification in your portal. Alternatively, you can call the business’s customer service line to check if their email is authentic. Holiday Shopping Scams Businesses boom during the holiday season because more people buy their products and services. But this means potential scams can also increase, but you can do a few things to ensure your personal information and banking details are safe. You may see products online or advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok that pique your interest. But before you click “buy,” ensure the website is legitimate. Search for the product on a search engine to see if the same links appear. Carefully read reviews, look for website security credentials, and research unknown retailers before purchasing. It’s better to take extra precautions to ensure your information isn’t compromised. In addition, never use public Wi-Fi when purchasing items online. You’re more likely to be hacked when the Wi-Fi connection isn’t protected or in a secure network. Hackers tap into public internet sources and intercept your data through techniques like eavesdropping. Although it’s appealing to use public Wi-Fi because you think it’s free, it’s not. You pay with your personal information and data. If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357. For more information on scams, fraud, and identity theft, go to USA.gov/ scams-and-frauds to learn how to protect yourself better.
These emails claim your package is lost or more information is needed to process your order or shipment. Some may have a webpage link for you
to submit personal information. Phishing emails like these are all too common; unfortunately, millions of people’s data is compromised as a result. Understandably, when you first receive these scam emails, you panic because you think they are legitimate. But remember, USPS, UPS, Amazon, and FedEx won’t ask for personal information over email. A good rule of thumb is never to click on links in emails — even from the actual company. Scammers are very good at making their emails look authentic. Instead, go to the delivery
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installed. If you’re unsure, a hospital, police, or fire station will inspect the installation or even do it for you for free if you need a little extra help.
You can bring in an old, damaged, or expired seat twice a year and recycle it to redeem a coupon for 20% off one new seat, stroller, or other baby gear. The materials are all recycled, but the best part is you get a discount and a new seat. There is no excuse not to restrain your child properly. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250 (more than a car seat costs). If cost is an issue, please go to the website mentioned, visit your local fire or police station, hospital, or other charity organization, and keep those kiddos buckled in. Better yet, call the Texas Law Dog, and we can help guide you on where to go!
Car seats are also expensive. So, what do you do if you need a car seat and are strapped for cash? SafeConvertibleCarSeats.com is an excellent website for the ultimate guide to free car seats in ALL 50 U.S. states. Texas residents can call 800-252-8255, and they will assist in contacting a local resource. Texas Health and Human Services has a statewide program called Safe Riders that distributes and educates on proper child safety seat use and provides a free safety seat if you meet certain criteria. If you need to trade in a car seat or upgrade, Target offers a discount program.
–Matt Aulsbrook
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Don’t Get Swept Up by the Crowd!
How to Avoid the Most Common Holiday Shopping-Related Injuries
Our first piece of advice is to avoid wearing smooth soles — instead, wear sturdy shoes with tread, which makes it harder to trip or slip. Next, don’t rush into stores along with the masses. Stay alert, look for debris on the ground, and wait for the crowd to clear. Vehicle-Related Accidents The only place crazier than a store during the holiday season is its parking lot. As people rush to find the perfect parking spot, they often overlook other cars backing out or pedestrians walking by. To minimize your risk, take time to look both ways. People are probably driving more erratically and will unexpectedly pull out into the street, so don’t rush into crosswalks. If you must walk behind a parked vehicle, be extremely careful to avoid cars with their lights on. Even if you don’t think they’ll back up, it’s best to go around them so you won’t be surprised when they do. Trampling We’ve all seen the images of waves of shoppers running into a store at full speed, not once looking at what could be beneath their feet. Survive a crowd stampede and avoid being trampled by being aware of people around you and their movement. Take note of the nearest exit. If you feel like other shoppers are starting to run and shove, head to that exit. If there isn’t an exit nearby, try to find a hiding place, like a wall or display. Stay there until the crowd disperses and you can move freely again.
November and December are the biggest shopping months of the year with families rushing out to crowded stores to find the best holiday gifts for their loved ones. Many people don’t know that every year with the heightened rush of exclusivity and last-minute shopping, Americans suffer injury — or even death — during these shopping excursions. We can all agree the holidays are an awful time to suffer an injury as it takes us away from our families and holiday festivities. So, we’re sharing what you can do to avoid suffering from the top shopping-related injuries. Trips, Slips, and Falls When high numbers of people crowd into small spaces, the chance of falling increases exponentially. As the horde hurries into these stores to find the best deals, you’re more likely to get pushed, shoved, or even trip over discarded items. Texas-Size LAUGHS
WHOVILLE ROAST BEAST
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • • •
1/4 cup brown sugar
• • • • • •
2 bay leaves 4 thyme sprigs
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp black pepper
2 rosemary sprigs 1/2 cup beef broth
2 tsp salt
3 tbsp olive oil
1 12-oz bottle of stout beer 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 5-lb bone-in rib-eye roast
3 tbsp butter
2 heads of garlic, halved
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, pepper, salt, and olive oil. 3. Place roast in a baking pan and coat with spice mixture. Let marinate uncovered in refrigerator for 1 hour. 4. Place pan on stove over high heat. Brown the roast on all sides, then add butter, garlic, and herbs. 5. When butter melts, add broth, beer, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. 6. Transfer pan to oven. Braise until meat is tender, up to 2 hours. 7. Remove roast from pan and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, strain pan juices and put back into pan and boil until reduced by half. When finished, slice roast and serve with pan sauce.
IF YOUR GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION
Inspired by TasteMade.com
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INSIDE The Car Seat Safety Advice Every Parent or Caregiver Should Know 1 Protect Your Personal Data From Scammers 2
Tips for Staying Safe This Shopping Season
Whoville Roast Beast 3
The Strange Story of Parental Advisory Labels 4
Cases We Handle: • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
• Car Wreck • Truck Wreck
Too Hot to Handle THE CELEBRITY-RIDDEN HISTORY OF PARENTAL ADVISORY LABELS
Besides ’80s hair, it’s hard to imagine what Prince, Dee Snider, and Tipper Gore have in common. But they all played a pivotal role in the parental advisory stickers that eventually dotted CDs for decades. Parents once had to listen to their children’s preferred music to determine whether or not it was objectionable — but that all began to change in 1985. The star-studded saga started when then-Sen. Al Gore’s wife gave her daughter a copy of Prince’s smash-hit album “Purple Rain.” But she was shocked by the lyrics of one song, “Darling Nikki.” Unlike most parents, Tipper Gore had the political connections to take action. She co-founded Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) with other so-called Washington wives. They promptly began a crusade to put warning labels on explicit record albums. The PMRC contacted individual record labels and requested a classification system with different markers for violence, profane language, and
sexually explicit content. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) extended an olive branch by suggesting a generic one-size-fits-all advisory label. But PMRC refused and used their connections to secure a hearing in Congress instead. The goal of the hearing was not to pass any law; it was to put pressure on the RIAA to change its tune. But the event became a televised spectacle when musicians appeared on Capitol Hill to defend free speech. Avant-garde rocker Frank Zappa declared the hearings a waste of time and that politicians’ wives abused their power. Meanwhile, Daniel “Dee” Snider, lead singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, arrived sans lipstick to speak eloquently about how lyrics are open to interpretation and often impossible to classify. But the star witness of the hearings turned out to be the mellow singer-songwriter John Denver. With his clean-cut image, Congress had assumed he would support the PMRC’s demands. Instead, he presented
an impassioned monologue about differing opinions on what can be considered offensive and warned Congress of the dangers of censorship. Ultimately, neither side got what they wanted. The RIAA moved forward with an industry system of generic warning labels that read “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content.” Ironically, the prominent sticker became a badge of honor among many music fans and an effective marketing tool for record labels. These days, warnings still appear on streaming services, but with CD sales at rock bottom, those infamous parental advisory labels are essentially a relic.
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