Dickerson Oxton - August 2020

Dickerson Oxton - August 2020

816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com

AUG 2020

ANIMAL BITES

CAR ACCIDENTS

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

MyRollerCoaster ExperienceatWorldsofFun RIDING THE MAMBA — NEVER AGAIN! L ast year in August, I took my kids to their first amusement park, Worlds of Fun, in Kansas City. A few friends of mine, whom I’ve known since I was a kid, came down to visit from Omaha, and it was the perfect chance to have some fun. My friends and I used to go to Worlds of Fun when we were teenagers. Every summer, we’d plan a road trip down to the big city and the amusement park, which we thought was the coolest thing to do because there wasn’t anything like that in Nebraska.

BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

In all my days, I will never forget the sheer terror of getting to the top of the biggest drop on that first hill we climbed. We started by slowly edging up the hill, and the whole time I was telling myself that I’d be okay and that it was just a regular roller coaster with nothing to worry about — I was wrong. The drop was so high up I thought I was going to die, but I managed to make it through the whole ride okay. Once I got off the ride, I was so mad at her. We went to go see the photo they take of the roller coaster car as it passes

BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES

BURN INJURIES

by, and I remember our photo showed me with my head buried into her shoulder, eyes closed, and absolutely terrified. She still makes fun of me for that today. Ultimately, though, it was a good memory and the both of us can laugh at it now.

"Iwillneverforgetthe sheerterrorofgetting tothetopofthebiggest droponthatfirsthill weclimbed."

CONSTRUCTION INJURIES

I wanted to take the kids down there to relive old times and create new memories with the people I care most for. We went with the kids, my husband, and my good friends, and it was one of the highlights of my summer. The kids were too small to ride any of the big

When we all got together last year and visited Worlds of Fun again, I knew there

NURSING HOME ABUSE

stuff, but there’s a designated zone in Worlds of Fun just for kids called Snoopy Land. We took the kids there and went on a few of the milder rides, which were actually a little more my speed. I’m not a big roller coaster fan. There’s a huge roller coaster at the park, the biggest ride there, called the MAMBA. The MAMBA opened when I was in high school, and when it did, my best friend, who is a huge roller coaster fan, wanted to ride it. Unfortunately, she brought me along for the ride. I believe it was the same year it opened. All my friends were really excited to go, especially my best friend. She’s the type of person who wants to go on the most dangerous, fastest, and tallest rides. I’ve always said we balance each other out, as she’s more of a wild child and I’m a little more reigned in. But that did not stop her from dragging me to the front car of the MAMBA for that very first ride.

was no way I’d be getting on the MAMBA or any of the more intense rides. I learned my lesson. Instead, I enjoyed hopping on a few of the kiddie rides with my kids and the Fury of the Nile, which is a fun water ride that has been there since the park opened. The kids and I were able to ride on that one, and they really loved it. They thought it was the greatest ride ever. My family and all my friends were planning to go again this year, and hopefully we’ll have the chance. It’s been difficult to plan for much this year with the coronavirus, but I think we can make reservations and, if it safely opens up, we’re definitely going to try it. I want to continue making these incredible memories with my family and friends. I know

SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS

BOATING ACCIDENTS

that even if we can’t make it to Worlds of Fun this year, we’ll still find plenty of fun and safe ways to celebrate our time together.

TRUCK ACCIDENTS

–Chelsea Dickerson

PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES

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Refresh Safe Drivin KEEP YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, AND A ugust brings with it the end of summer vacation and the prospect of a new school year. However, at the time of writing, whether or not schools open their doors this fall is yet to be determined. Regardless of what happens in the fall, road safety is always essential this time of year. Now is a great time to refresh safe driving

PrivateWojtek,Heroic BrownBearofWWII Many brave soldiers answered the call to bear arms during WWII, but one Polish artillery supply company took things a step further and armed a bear. That’s right — among the countless animal heroes of WWII was a full-grown brown bear from the mountains of Northern Iran named Wojtek. Wojtek first joined the Polish soldiers as a cub. A young Iranian boy found him after a hunter most likely shot his mother. Then, when a group of Polish prisoners of war, recently released from Soviet gulags to join the Allied forces, passed through the town where the boy and the bear cub lived, they traded some of their rations for the cub and took him with them. The soldiers loved the cub and named him Wojtek, which means “happy warrior” in Polish. They nursed him with condensed milk from a vodka bottle and fed him some of their limited rations. Over time, the bear grew to be 6 feet tall and over 400 pounds, but because he had grown up around humans, he was a gentle giant. He learned several mannerisms from his human friends and even took a liking to beer and cigarettes. For the many soldiers who had lost or were separated from their families, Wojtek was a welcome boost to morale. When the soldiers reached the coast of Egypt, where they were to embark by boat to Italy, British soldiers wouldn’t let Wojtek on board because he wasn’t a soldier. So naturally, the Polish soldiers gave Wojtek a service number, and he officially became a private in their company, complete with a rank and a paybook. Private Wojtek’s moment of fame came when his company fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino. The bear saw his human counterparts carrying crates of artillery shells, and he began mirroring their actions. Throughout the entire battle, he calmly carried crates of ammo, which would have required four men to lift, to his comrades. In honor of Wojtek’s service during the battle, the company changed its emblem to an image of a bear carrying an artillery shell, and Wojtek was promoted to the rank of corporal. After the war, Wojtek was moved to a zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he lived until he was 21 years old. There is now a bronze statue of Wojtek in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens, ensuring that this brave bear will not be forgotten.

practices to ensure everyone’s safety. Practice Caution in School Zones

Unfortunately, the majority of kids struck by motor vehicles are near their schools at the time of the accident. It is absolutely essential to proceed slowly and cautiously while driving in these areas, whether you’re dropping your child off or simply driving through. Be sure to obey the school zone speed limits and come to a complete stop at crosswalks. Also, give yourself a little extra time each day to travel so you’re not tempted to speed. Share the Road With Pedestrians Always keep an eye out for any pedestrians and cyclists who may be using the sidewalks or bike lanes. While bicycles have ProtectYour Loved ones KNOWTHEWARNING SIGNS OF NURSING HOME NEGLECT

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ng Practices

OTHER DRIVERS SAFE

the same responsibilities and rights as vehicles to use the roadway, it’s also up to drivers to be aware of the cyclists. Keep a safe, respectful distance from them, and if you have to pass a cyclist, give them plenty of room and pass carefully. Be Aware of Other Drivers

TAKE A BREAK

In addition to people dropping off school kids or going to work in the mornings, student drivers may be more active on the road. Teens with new licenses are experiencing the freedom of driving for the first time and might

not be as wary as they ought to be on the road. Make sure you stay focused and aware of the drivers around you so you can react quickly to keep yourself, the other driver, and your passengers safe. Even if you are as cautious as you can be, accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, call Dickerson Oxton Law Firm or visit us at DickersonOxton.com. D eciding to put a loved one into an assisted care facility or nursing home can be difficult. When you make this choice, it’s often after long nights and days agonizing over which home is the best fit for your • Mental or emotional abuse • Humiliation or degradation • Identity theft

World ' sBest VeganChimichurri Inspired by Simple Vegan

ingredients

• 1/2 cup oil (extra-virgin olive oil recommended) • 1/4 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar recommended) • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 4 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped • 2 tbsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp salt (Himalayan pink salt recommended) • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper • Cayenne pepper, to taste

loved one. Yet, even if you put in the time and effort to find the best nursing home, nursing home neglect and abuse can still happen, and it’s absolutely devastating when it does. The best things you can do for your loved ones are to be vigilant if something odd occurs and to speak out about it.

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Theft in general

SIGNS TO BE AWARE OF

The best way you can help your loved one is to be vigilant about unusual changes. For example, if your loved one complains about unusual pain, wants to be separated from others, has bed sores, is malnourished, or has any sudden change in behavior, alert the staff. These are warning signs. Never hesitate to ask questions or voice concerns when it comes to the safety of your loved one. At Dickerson Oxton LLC, our attorneys and team members understand that you want the best care for your loved one, and they deserve to be treated with respect and given appropriate care. If your family member or loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experts.

directions

TYPES OF NURSING HOME ABUSE

1. In a bowl, add all ingredients except cayenne and whisk until well mixed. If desired, add cayenne pepper a little at a time until you reach your preferred level of spiciness. 2. Serve immediately or, for an even better taste and texture, refrigerate for 1–2 days.

People might think that nursing home abuse is physical, but that’s not always the case. In fact, any situation causing a resident undue emotional and even financial distress is still abuse. Some specific examples of abuse include the following:

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Assaults or attacks on the resident

3. You may increase the batch size, but keep the ratio of oil and vinegar the same — 2-to-1. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.

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Abandonment

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Medication errors

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THIS ISSUE

Riding the Mamba — Never Again! Private Wojtek, Heroic Brown Bear of WWII Back-to-School Driving Safety Protect Your Loved ones Take a Break World’s Best Vegan Chimichurri Celebrate National Chefs Appreciation Week

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NationalChefsAppreciationWeek the country celebrate with special events and menus, and patrons flock to their favorite places for great food and company and to support the chefs who bring their communities together.

Restaurants have had an especially tough time staying afloat during the pandemic. Most eateries had to discontinue dine-in service, and those that couldn’t adapt to offering takeout or delivery may still be questioning whether they’ll

HOW CAN I CELEBRATE? Now that many restaurants are opening back up for service at a limited capacity, it’s possible to dine in and further support the chefs who make the food you love. But, if you’re still not comfortable eating at a restaurant, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Continue having food delivered or picking up curbside from your favorite places. Whether dining in or carrying out, remember to tip well! You can also post about your favorite dishes on social media or leave a glowing review for your favorite eatery on Google or Yelp. The beauty of this holiday is that celebrating includes doing activities you probably already do, so it’s easy to participate. Chefs play a significant role in the evolution of culture, protection of tradition, and construction of community. Their food brings us together, fills our stomachs, and brightens our moods. We may not have fully recognized all they do for us until recently, but now that we have, we can truly celebrate Chefs Appreciation Week to the fullest.

ever be able to open their doors again. During the pandemic, it became clear to many of us just how important a role our favorite restaurants play in providing not just

tasty chow, but also a sense of comfort and community. Celebrating National Chefs Appreciation Week is a great way to let the chefs who run those eateries know just how much they mean to us. WHAT IS IT? Since the holiday’s inception in 2013, it has most commonly occurred during the third week of August; this year, it’s August 16–22. Restaurants, patrons, and home cooks alike can show appreciation for the art and dedication chefs bring to their craft every day. Several restaurants across

ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.

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