DiBartolomeo Law Offices - September 2019

Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER

September 2019

Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability

1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com

IT’S FALL FESTIVAL SEASON

After Labor Day, things quiet down a little bit on the Oregon Coast, but not too much. The Rod Run to the End of the World happens on the Long Beach Peninsula the weekend after Labor Day, and Astoria’s Sunday Market runs to Oct. 13. We looked far and wide and offer these other possibilities to get that last trip in before the rains. Bend’s Fall Festival happens Oct. 4–5 and features a harvest market, a fine art promenade, and a family play zone. Check out the details at BendFallFestival.com . Closer to home in Garibaldi, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is offering a Fall Splendor Excursion on Oct. 6 beginning at 11 a.m. Go to Eventful.com/Garibaldi to check out the details. The Oregon Heritage Farm is putting on its “AppleFest” in Hillsboro on Oct. 12. The festival features hay rides, music, and caramel apples. Details can be found at OregonHeritageFarms.com . This music and art festival celebrates the wildlife refuge with events sprawled throughout the town, including live music, art, craft vendors, nature walks, a salmon bake, and kids’ activities. Details can be found at RidgefieldFriends.org/Birdfest- bluegrass/ . Up river in Ridgefield, Washington, BirdFest is set for the first full weekend in October.

MCKENZIE RIVER

Astoria hosts the Great Columbia Crossing 10K Run/Walk on Sunday Oct. 13. Runners and walkers cross the Megler Bridge from Washington to Oregon. This is a popular event, and, if you are interested, go to GreatColumbiaCrossing.com soon to register. Looking for fall foliage? In the Columbia River Gorge, take the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway around the base of the mountain. This route descends through farmland and orchards in the Hood River Valley to the Historic Columbia River Scenic Byway, and offers not only fall colors but also 11 waterfalls.

If you are headed further south, the McKenzie River Highway (Route 126) headed east out of Eugene offers some of the best fall colors in the Pacific Northwest. Make a day out of it and check out Clear Lake, a great spot to fish, hike, and picnic. For the adventurous, take the side trip up along Highway 242 over the McKenzie Pass for spectacular view, but act quickly before the winter weather closes the pass.

Enjoy the season!

–Joe Di Bartolomeo

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

| 1

STOP THE SPREAD Prevent Colds and the Flu With Kid-Friendly Teaching Tools

AHH ... AHH ... ACHOO!

School is back in session, but your child may be bringing home more than just random facts. Germs and bacteria that spread the common cold and flu are most prevalent in schools, but while these illnesses are strong, prevention is simple. Teach your kids how to prevent the spread of bacteria this season with these helpful tips. Kids learn more by watching what you do rather than listening to what you tell them to do. Get in the habit of covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands. Make hand sanitizer and facial tissues readily available in your home and be sure to wash your hands before every meal. In addition, stick to healthy habits when you do feel sick. Drink fluids, get plenty of rest, and seek medical attention when it’s warranted. If your children see you taking care of yourself, they will be more likely to do the same for themselves in the future. BUT MOMMY DOESN’T COVER HER NOSE!

Hand washing and nose blowing are about as fun as … well, just that. It’s no wonder children don’t want to take time out of their busy play schedules to combat nasty germs. Instead of making these important steps a chore, make basic hygiene fun. Use fun songs to teach the proper way to cover a sneeze, or do a science experiment to teach your children about the germs that are spread through just one sneeze. (According to research, sneezes can travel anywhere from 19–26 feet at 100 miles per hour!) For crafty kids, let them decorate tissue boxes or hand sanitizer containers to give hygiene some flair. Soon enough, you’ll find them being smarter about their health. As kids pack into classrooms this fall, germs will fly faster than this past summer did. Prevent the spread of the common cold and flu by learning more tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online at CDC.gov.

WILL FILING A CLAIMGETME FIRED? Your Rights as an Employee

For many people, filing a workers’ compensation claim can be intimidating. Not only are you injured and face an uncertain future, but you and your employer might soon be squaring off in court. For this reason, some workers fail to submit claims, worried they might get fired or punished as a form of retaliation by their boss. This is a mistake.

are required to keep your job for you. In cases with large companies, jobs can be held in this way for up to three years. This lets you focus on getting better without the risk of being replaced.

THE ONE EXCEPTION

There is one case where an employer can and will let you go after a workplace injury: if you’ve suffered a permanent disability. This applies when a doctor declares that you will be unable to return to doing the types of activities required to do your job. Thankfully, in these situations, workers may be entitled to additional compensation, such as vocational retraining, to make up for the fact they can’t return to their old profession. Too many workers make the mistake of not filing a claim out of fear it will leave them unemployed. That’s why it’s important to know your rights as an employee and file your claim in a timely manner. Feeling like you’re “going against” your employer’s wishes will always be intimidating, but know that the law is on your side.

THE LAW PROTECTS YOU

Under Oregon law, any form of retaliation against workers who have filed a claim is deemed discrimination. This includes actions like firing the worker in question or cutting their wages. If your employer has even threatened to do this to you or a coworker in response to a claim, contact a lawyer immediately.

EMPLOYERS CAN’T JUST REPLACE YOU

On top of the restrictions surrounding discriminatory firing, there are also protections in place to keep your job available to you as you heal. In many cases where a worker needs time to recover from an injury, employers

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

2 |

With football season fast approaching, we’re sure many of our readers are eager to see their favorite team take the field. We have our share of fans here at the firm and look forward to the many exciting games to come. But working in personal injury and workers’ compensation law, we can’t ignore a painfully common injury faced by both the players we root for and the clients we serve: concussions. Unlike many injuries you might associate with a car accident or taking a hard tackle, concussions are easy to miss even if you’re the one who’s concussed. The symptoms of this brain injury can vary in type and severity depending on the person, and some may remain undetected for a time. But failing to notice and treat the problem quickly can lead to even more problems. DANGEROUS AND INVISIBLE

GET HELP

eyes peeled for these symptoms even if it’s been several days since the injury:

As you can tell, these symptoms range from more innocuous discomforts to very serious threats to your health. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor after sustaining any sort of blow to the head even if you don’t feel injured. Unlike football stars, we don’t have a full team of medical professionals that will run out and check us for injuries the second we get hurt. Taking the initiative to catch a concussion early is the best step you can take toward recovery.

• Headaches • Dizziness

• Nausea • Vomiting • Slurred speech • Delayed response times • Ringing ears • Not remembering the event that caused the injury • General confusion • Loss of consciousness

KNOW THE SIGNS

After you or a loved one is exposed to any kind of head trauma, keep your

CLASSIC APPLE CRISP

Inspired by Food Network

Ingredients

Filling : • 5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped • 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour

Topping: • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces • 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling. 4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

| 3

503-325-8600 JoeDiBartolomeo.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103

What’s Inside

1 2

It’s Fall Festival Season

Teach Your Kids Flu Prevention

Injured at Work? Don’t Fear the Filing

3

Football, Car Crashes, and Concussions

Classic Apple Crisp

4

Honoring the Canines of 9/11

THE 4-LEGGED HEROES OF GROUND ZERO HONORING THE CANINES OF 9/11

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets to clear rubble, offer supplies, and search for survivors. It was a powerful act of resilience in a deeply trying time, and while most of the individuals helping with the disaster stood on two feet, more than 300 canines also answered the call to service. Dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, including search and rescue dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, were brought in to help find and care for survivors in the wake of the destruction. They worked tirelessly alongside rescue crews as they searched through the debris. Search and rescue dogs and their handlers worked 12–16-hour days, searching for survivors and victims. They worked through dangerous conditions: Many dogs burned their paws as they dug through hot rubble, and both handlers and canines inhaled toxic dust. The

task was both physically and mentally exhausting for the dogs during their shifts. Some dogs that found deceased victims refused to eat or interact with other animals. Search and rescue dogs became increasingly stressed and depressed the longer they searched without any results, mirroring their handlers. It wasn’t uncommon for handlers to stage mock “findings” of survivors to keep the dogs’ spirits up. Fortunately, the sacrifices these dogs and their handlers made did not go unnoticed. Many dog owners were inspired to earn their search and rescue certifications after the events of 9/11, promising to aid in future disasters and hopefully lessen the impact of such catastrophes. After 9/11, various researchers conducted many studies examining the effect this kind of work has on animals, both physically and mentally. Many of these studies wouldn’t be possible without the AKC Canine Health Foundation, so if you’re looking to give back this September, visit them at their website to see how you can help: AKCCHF.org.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

4 |