Coye Law March 2019

COYE LAW

Chronicle March 2019 Edition How Much Danger is Acceptable? How to Mitigate Motorcycle Risk Wade Coye Attorney

To an extent, Joan and my mother are right. I can’t believe I’m putting that statement on the record for perpetuity, but it’s true. There’s no denying that riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous proposition. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities from an accident involving a motorcycle are 28 times more likely than those resulting from accidents between other vehicles. That’s a sobering statistic, but it doesn’t mean we should ban people from riding motorcycles. It just means we have a duty to put laws in place to protect riders and mitigate the risk of firing up a Harley. When you really think about it, we all do dangerous things every day. Getting in a car is dangerous, eating too much junk food is dangerous, smoking is dangerous, and the list goes on. For some reason though, we have designated certain habits as extra-ultra- dangerous. I don’t know quite how you’d quantify danger, but I’d be willing to guess piloting a small aircraft is about as risky as riding a motorcycle. Why is one acceptable for me to do while the other is not? The question, “How much danger is too much?” can only be answered on an individual basis. If you plan on enjoying a bike ride or two this year, you need to take precautions. Always wear safety gear, make sure your bike is running well, and drive defensively. With so much construction happening on the I-4 right now, it’s also important to check road conditions before you head out. These measures don’t inhibit your enjoyment, but rather enhance it. They allow you to ride with minimal risk of something bad happening. No matter how many steps you take to limit risk, there will always be some inherent danger to riding a motorcycle — but you knew that from the start. If you are injured in an accident, we are here to help. -Wade Coye

Florida is one of the best places to ride a motorcycle in the country, if not the entire world. With great weather, seemingly infinite stretches of highway, and a thriving community of riders, the Sunshine State could easily add the Two-Wheeled State to its list of monikers. That’s truer during March than any other time of the year. With Daytona Bike Week kicking off March 8, all of the country’s bike fanatics will be converging on our roads. Florida’s role as the epicenter of Bike Week is a testament to the natural beauty of the state. As somebody who enjoys a solid adrenaline rush — I’m an instrument rated private pilot and have always enjoyed instrument approaches in low visibility — I’ve often considered getting a motorcycle. My wife, Joan, however, is having none of that idea. "A bike is much too dangerous," she tells me, and she’s not interested in having to worry about me every time I opt for two wheels. (What she actually said was a bit stronger than that, but we’ll just say I didn’t buy one). Her response reminds me of when my brother bought a motorcycle. I’m not sure of the exact details, but the bike never left the tool shed after my mom found out. She wasn’t too happy about it, so he never took it on the road.

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Are You Ready for Fido? How to Decide if Your Family Can Care for a Pet

Is your family ready? Every family is different, and it’s important to have an honest discussion about the implications of owning a pet. If you have kids, consider how much they will be able to contribute to such a

While we don’t know exactly why humans keep pets, one fact is certain: Millions of people love them. In fact, nearly 70 percent of households in the U.S. have a pet. But no matter what you see on your favorite dog Instagram accounts, keeping a pet isn’t endless playtime. Ask yourself the following questions before buying or adopting a furry companion. Do you know what you’re getting into? Owning a pet can change your lifestyle. To start, you will have to consider the animal’s well-being when hosting events or taking vacations. You will also have to make room in your budget for pet- related expenses. Additionally, some animals can live for upward of two decades. Discuss how responsibilities will change as a pet ages and what your future will look like before making the commitment. Does an animal fit your lifestyle? When choosing a pet for your family, gather research from animal experts and other pet owners. Calculate the cost of owning a pet, and evaluate how that animal will fit into your lifestyle. For example, dogs are one of the most high-maintenance and expensive animals to own, but they tend to be more involved in family life than a cat or a hamster. That said, your home’s size and location may make it better suited for a smaller pet, as many larger animals require more square footage and plenty of outdoor space.

responsibility. Another factor to consider is how much free time you have to spend with your pet; some animals require more attention than others. To avoid major conflict down the road, discuss care and responsibility plans as a family before welcoming an animal into your home. Keeping a pet can be a source of joy for your family, but it can also be a source of stress. Before making any major choice, talk to your family members and consider what owning a pet would mean for all of you.

Coye Law Attorney Amber Williams Receives Special Recognition for a Truly Selfless Idea

and interests of new lawyers.” Over the past two years, Amber has helped the group spearhead a major new initiative to help provide essential legal services to America’s service people, first responders, and veterans: Wills for Heroes. “These are the people who need estate planning the most given their line of work,” says Amber. To help make sure they received it, Amber set up events where qualifying participants could create a will, living will, and power of attorney (the three foundational documents of any estate plan) in one day for free. “We wouldn’t have cared if only five people showed up,” recalls Amber. “Our goal was to help anyone that needed it and give back. All it took was a few volunteers and few hours on a Saturday.” But a lot more than five people showed up. During its first event in April, 2017, Wills for Heroes served over 80 people in need of estate planning. This year, more than 200 participants have already signed up. The success of Wills for Heroes proves that there was always a need for these services; it was just a matter of making them readily available. We’re extremely proud to work with people like Amber Williams. Congratulations to her and every member of the YLS for donating their time to provide these crucial services to America’s finest.

At Coye Law Firm, we are lucky to have a staff populated with remarkable people achieving amazing things. One such person is attorney Amber Williams, who has been a member of our firm since the days when she was still in law school. Seeing her grow into the attorney she is today has been a wonderful journey. Amber recently accepted the 2019 Chief Justice's Voluntary Bar Assoiciation Pro Bono Service Award on behalf of The Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association (YLS). Amber is a founding member of the YLS and a member of its board of directors. The organization’s mission is “to meet the unique needs

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Donate With Care Spring is in the air, and it’s time to celebrate with another round of spring-cleaning. Banish the clutter and make room in your life for something new! Many charities see a sharp increase in donations as spring-cleaning season starts. Donating your used books, kids’ toys, and gently worn clothing allows your old items to have a second life. However, when filling that donation box, make sure you’re donating each item because it can do good and not just because you feel bad about throwing it away. Charities have a big problem with well-meaning citizens dropping off items that are better left in the trash. There are many items charities simply cannot handle. Most charities will have lists of items they can and cannot accept on their websites. Some items that you should not donate include:

The Right Way to Donate After Spring-Cleaning

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Tangled cords or phone chargers

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Any broken, damaged, or dirty items

These items may be unsafe to sell, costly to ship, or impossible to refurbish effectively. When a charity regularly receives items they cannot use, they have to spend hours of manpower sorting through things that end up in the trash anyway. This process can be expensive for organizations with already-strained resources. Some local charities spend over $1,000 a year on dumpster and trash removal fees for unusable donations. While charities will have no choice but to throw unusable donations in the trash, there are services you can use to make your spring-cleaning eco-friendly, even for items you can’t donate. For example, if you have torn or stained blue jeans, reach out to Blue Jeans Go Green. This program keeps denim out of landfills by turning it into insulation. And while Goodwill can't take your batteries or old flip phone, you can check out Call2Recycle.org to learn how to safely recycle your e-waste.

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Expired medications

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Personal care items, like soap, shampoo, or makeup

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Old TVs

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Mattresses

Your donations can be a big help to local charities. Just don’t “donate” your garbage.

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Cribs

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Carpets

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Loose remote controls

Every month, we give a big shoutout to clients who gave us referrals. This month, we’d like to recognize ...

Coye Law Firm’s Referral All-Stars!

Mary Grissett Lourdes Santiago

Karen Fries Mariela Robles

Thank you all for trusting us with the legal needs of your family and friends!

Laugh!

Have a

EVERYTHING POPCORN

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2 teaspoons granulated garlic

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3/4 cup popcorn kernels

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2 teaspoons granulated onion

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2 tablespoons flaky sea salt

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1/3 cup canola oil

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1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

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4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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2 teaspoons white sesame seeds

1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds. Shake skillet often and cook until white seeds are golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add garlic, onion, and salt. 2. In a large saucepan, combine popcorn kernels and oil. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, until popcorn kernels start to pop. Once popping, continue cooking and shaking the pan intermittently until popping ceases, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl. Pour in butter and toss to coat. Finally, add seasoning, toss again, and serve.

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Accidents & Injuries Workers’

Probate Family Law Veteran's Disability Long-Term Disability

730 Vassar Street, Suite #300 Orlando, FL 32804

Compensation Social Security Disability

407-871-3811

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T H I S I S S U E

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How to Mitigate Motorcycle Risk

Should You Get a Pet?

‘Wills for Heroes’ and Amber Williams

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Why Charities Hate Spring-Cleaning

The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags

An Inside Job Theft is a serious matter, made even more grave when the victims are fallen war heroes. Such was the situation that stumped police in Hudson, New York, in 2012. The crime was first committed in July of the previous year. Flags had been placed around the graves of soldiers in Cedar Park Cemetery — only to go missing right around Independence Day. Veterans groups and locals were outraged and mystified by the crime. Some worried that a hate group was to blame, as the missing flags had adorned the graves of Jewish soldiers. Veterans worked to replace the flags, one by one, and right the wrong. No culprit was found, and the community moved on — until the following July, when the mystery repeated itself. Like the year before, flags were placed on veterans’ graves in honor of Independence Day, and again, they went missing sometime in the night, this time taken from the graves of African American Civil War soldiers. Cemetery caretaker and veteran Vincent Wallace was appalled, as was the rest of his community. “I just can’t comprehend the mindset that would allow someone to do this,” Wallace said.

The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags

Determined to find out who was to blame, police put up surveillance cameras and recorded the goings-on in the cemetery. As they watched the tapes, sure enough, they saw one of the culprits sitting atop a gravestone with an empty flagpole in front of him. It was a groundhog.

Apparently, the wooden flagpoles attract groundhogs, something other groundskeepers have experienced as well.

“I’m glad we don’t have someone who has taken it upon themselves to desecrate the stones and the flags in front of them,” said Hudson mayor Bill Hallenbeck. "We can all rest a little easier knowing that it was a critter and not a human defacing our flags, especially those of the veterans,” added Hudson’s police commissioner.

Turns out Punxsutawney Phil has some very naughty cousins — ones who aren’t subject to the law.

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