Garcia & Ochoa - April 2021

the Consumer

You might experience three kinds of distractions as a driver: visual (taking your eyes off the road), manual (taking your hands off the wheel), and cognitive (taking your mind off driving). Why is cell phone usage so dangerous? It’s a distraction that fits in all three of these categories. Accidents happen when you least expect them, and it only takes a fraction of a second for life-changing injuries to occur. Even a simple mistake can cause serious or fatal injury. That’s why it’s important to keep your eyes on the road at all times. In this case, a little more attention could have helped prevent a client’s life-long injury. Case Facts On or about May 25, 2018, our client was operating an SUV when, as they headed down George McVay Drive in McAllen, Texas, a truck tractor failed to yield the right of way to the client. Turning left, they crashed into our client’s right rear passenger side. Although our client was clearly driving in a reasonable and prudent manner, the defendant’s driving inattention and failure to take evasive action KEEP YOURSELF, YOUR PASSENGERS, AND DRIVERS SAFE FROM A MOMENTARY DISTRACTION TO A LIFE-CHANGING MISTAKE

DON’T THINK — JUST GO GREEN!

Living a sustainable, zero-waste lifestyle is all the rage these days. Celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Jessica Alba, and Emma Watson continue to make big waves by supporting eco-conscious causes and by boasting their eco-friendly products. Not everyone has the budget or the ability to go as eco-friendly as our celebrity counterparts, but “going green” isn’t as difficult as you may think. This Earth Day, try adapting some of these easy eco-friendly tips into your daily life! Reduce your reliance on single-use items. Swap out items like paper towels, plastic water bottles, shampoos and conditioners, straws, plastic bags, and other single-use products that fulfill a need for you once and then end up in a landfill. Instead, find creative ways to avoid these single-use products. You can cut up old shirts to use as rags, fill up reusable water bottles instead of buying throwaway plastic ones, and use cloth bags instead of plastic sacks at the grocery store. If you’re looking for new products, consider shampoo bars or refillable bottles for hair care products from companies like Plaine Products or EcoRoots. Eat less meat. We’re not saying you have to give up your cheeseburgers or ribs, but opting for fewer meat-focused meals could create big impacts on a global scale. According to the Center for a Livable Future, if just 32% of Americans opted for meatless meals one day each week, it would be equivalent to reducing the impact of emissions from 1.6 million cars each year. Swap meat for beans, tofu, cauliflower, squashes, or a vegetarian soup. Delish.com has a great selection of vegetarian-based meals if you’re ready to start. Shop locally. When you venture into “Meatless Monday” or search for products that reduce your single-use footprint, consider shopping locally. According to Transport & Environment, shipping could contribute to 10% of all carbon emissions by 2050. One way you can help reduce the reliance on global shipping is by focusing on locally sourced products and foods. Shop for produce at the local farmer’s market, seek out local crafters for gifts, and buy your clothes from local retailers who purchased the materials locally. Large store chains can also have local sections that make this endeavor easier! To get started, check with your local chamber of commerce for a list of shops to visit.

Each year, hundreds of people across the U.S. are involved in accidents caused by distracted drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 23,000 individuals died in accidents that were caused by distracted

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