GA Injury Advocates - January 2022

GA Injury Advocates - January 2022

Auto Injury T R I B U N E

January 2022

DROPS,

FIREWORKS, BALL AND RESOLUTION S

The Origins of New Year’s Celebrations Today, Americans celebrate New Year’s Eve with parties, champagne, and Ryan Seacrest. But humans have celebrated the dawn of a new year for at least 4,000 years, long before anyone conceived the ball drop — or even our modern calendar. The earliest-known celebrations of the new year originate in ancient Babylon. Babylonians marked the new year after the first new moon following the spring equinox. They considered the equinox significant because the day is split evenly between sunlight and darkness. Celebrations were religious and lasted for 11 days, and Babylonians would attempt to ensure good luck in the new year by making promises of good behavior to the gods. Other civilizations also celebrated the new year in their own ways, but there was no consensus on when the new year began. Some cultures celebrated it based on weather, agriculture, or astronomy. Most famously, the Chinese New Year is marked using a lunar calendar. Early Rome, which has continued to influence modern society, originally used a calendar with only 10 months. When the calendar fell out of sync with the sun’s movements, Julius Caesar asked astronomers to redesign it. The results closely resembled the Gregorian calendar most countries use today. Caesar also instituted Jan. 1 as the start of the new year in honor of Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings. Today, the biggest New Year’s celebrations actually take place on Dec. 31. The annual festivities in Times Square started the same year the location earned its modern name. The New York Times took up residence in what was then Longacre Square and convinced the city to rename it. At the end of 1904, their first year in the new location, the newspaper threw a New Year’s Eve party, accompanied by a giant fireworks display.

It became a mini-tradition until New York City banned fireworks in 1907. They needed a creative new means of celebrating, and they took inspiration from the current trend of “time balls” that dropped to mark a significant time of day. The first New Year’s ball was made of wood, iron, and lightbulbs and lowered manually with a rope and pulley system. The process is now automated, and the ball has undergone several redesigns since its inception. Fireworks, of course, became legal again, and they now follow the ball drop. Though its origins are unclear, superstition holds that what you are doing as the new year begins will foretell your luck for the rest of the year. Some historians believe this may have kick-started our tendency to celebrate by having a party surrounded by friends. It’s also believed to be the origins of the traditional New Year’s Eve midnight kiss, an act of tying yourself to the person you want to spend the rest of the year with. Resolutions, meanwhile, may date back to the Babylonians’ ancient promises to the gods — or, they may simply reflect the human inclination toward symbolism and tendency to seek out new beginnings. If you make New Year’s resolutions, I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors. And whether or not you see it as a chance for self- improvement, I hope you have a happy, safe, and healthy New Year.

El Abogado Ramiro (El Abogado Amigo) y su equipo hablan español

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YOUR GUIDE TO WRITING A THANK-YOU NOTE BRINGING BACK A LOST ART A 2019 survey by Ask Your Target Market showed 80% of respondents appreciate receiving thank-you notes — but only 22% of respondents report regularly sending them. That’s a pretty big discrepancy. During the holiday season, you probably received several gifts and may have been hosted at a family member’s house, so now is the perfect time to revive the dying art of the thank-you note. If it’s been a while since you last wrote one, fear not. Here’s everything you need to know to get started. Know when a note is needed. You should strongly consider sending a thank-you note any time you receive a gift, but they are particularly expected after big events like weddings or showers. It’s also good form to send a note whenever someone has done you a big favor or hosted you at their house. Professionally, thank-you notes should always be sent after job interviews. Notes should be sent as soon as possible, ideally within one month of the gift or event. Use paper. It may seem old-fashioned, but that’s exactly what makes it special. In fact, the Ask Your Target Market survey found that 72% of respondents thought handwritten notes were more meaningful than electronic ones. Even if your handwriting is messy, your recipients will appreciate the personal touch. Exceptions apply for thank-you notes sent after job interviews — due to time sensitivity, these are best sent via email. Be specific. Especially when you’ve got a large stack to get through, it’s pretty tempting to write the same note over and over again, changing only the salutation. Don’t give in! While it’s fine to have a template, recipients will recognize when the note you sent them is generic. Be sure to mention exactly what you’re thankful for (not just “the gift”) or how you plan to use the gift. Now, you’re ready to let people know how much you appreciate them in a way that’s both simple and classic. Your family, friends, and colleagues will be impressed, and who knows, you just might start a trend.

You’re Not a Snowman So Don’t Feel Frosty

Winter is here, and the cold has settled in. You’ve gotten out your fuzzy slippers and put on an extra sweater, but maybe you still can’t shake that chill. Before you crank up the heat again, is there anything else you can do to keep warm? Here are a few ideas you can try! Use the sun. While winter brings plenty of cloudy days, the sun is still known to make an appearance. When it does, open your curtains wide and let the natural heat fill the room. Just be sure to keep that warmth inside by pulling the curtains closed when the sun goes down.

Bonus tip: Park your car facing the sun! It will be warmer when you get in, and you’ll have less snow and ice on your windshield.

Stay hydrated (the right way). Did you know that your body is able to retain heat better when you’re hydrated? That’s just one more good reason to ensure you’re drinking enough water. But you should be wary of hot beverages like coffee and tea. Though they make for a great hand warmer and temporarily leave you feeling toasty, caffeine restricts your blood vessels and makes it harder for your body to stay warm. Similarly, alcohol feels warm going down, but it both increases perspiration and lowers your core body temperature. Keep your bed cozy. No one wants to go to sleep shivering, so your bed should ideally be the warmest place in the house. You can achieve this by layering your blankets properly: Fluffy layers go right over the sheet, and dense layers go on top to provide a thermal barrier. To up your game further, get a hot water bottle and leave it under the sheets for 20 minutes before you climb into bed. No hot water bottle available? Spend a couple minutes running a blow-dryer over the sheets instead. With these tips, you’re ready to have your warmest winter ever — without racking up your highest energy bill. Catch some rays, snuggle up, drink some water, and remember that spring will be here soon enough.

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DOES YOUR CAR HAVE OPEN SAFETY RECALLS?

How to Find Out

In a collision, airbags are supposed to keep us safe. That’s why the problems identified with Takata airbags are so concerning — they turn a universal safety device into a risk of grave injury or even death. Throughout 2021, you may have heard about the Takata airbag recall. Or maybe you didn’t — many people are still unaware that they have potentially deadly airbags in their cars or trucks. Even Ramiro had read the news but didn’t realize it might affect his vehicle until he got a recall notice in the mail. “I thought they were only on newer imported cars,” he admits, “but mine is an American-made truck from 2012. This affects older vehicles and may be a much bigger deal than people think.”

affected brands include Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, Mazda, Toyota, BMW, and Nissan. The defect involves the airbag’s inflation mechanism, which occasionally explodes upon deployment. When the inflator ruptures, it can send metal shards flying through the vehicle. To date, there have been 400 injuries and at least 19 tragic deaths in the U.S. The New York Times first reported on the defect in 2014. A recall schedule was created in 2016, and since manufacturing new parts takes time, it prioritized the vehicles with the highest risks. In 2017, Takata pled guilty to intentionally misleading motor vehicle manufacturers about their airbag’s safety. Yet, despite replacing more than eight million airbags, new recalls continue to be announced, and an estimated total of 42 million vehicles are affected.

It’s important to note that injuries and death associated with the defective airbags are extremely rare. Compared to the number of impacted vehicles, the number of deaths has been minuscule. Still, it’s unnerving to know there are hidden dangers in the cars we use every day. And each death caused by the Takata airbags is a tragic loss. You can help protect yourself by finding out if your vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls, Takata-related or otherwise. Visit NHTSA.gov/ recalls , enter your VIN, and quickly find whether your vehicle has any open recalls. It will give you peace of mind and could save a life.

Takata airbags were used by at least 19 vehicle makers, mostly between 2002 and 2015. The

SUDOKU

ROOT VEGETABLE BUDDHA BOWLS

RECIPE:

Root vegetables are the cream of the crop during winter, and this recipe makes the most out of them by pairing them with other protein-packed ingredients. To level it up, add grilled chicken or fish!

Ingredients (for 4 bowls)

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

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8 cups root vegetables of your choice, chopped

• • • • • • • • •

2 tsp olive oil 1/2 tsp salt

2. On a large sheet pan, toss root vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them evenly and roast until fork tender, about 40 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through. 3. In a serving bowl, layer 1/2 cup warm quinoa with 2 cups root vegetables, 2 tbsp hummus, 1 handful of baby kale, and 1/2 an avocado. Repeat for the 3 remaining bowls, drizzle with balsamic glaze and any other desired toppings, then serve and enjoy! (If you don’t want individual bowls, you can mix everything together into a salad!)

1/4 tsp black pepper 2 cups quinoa, cooked

1/2 cup hummus

4 handfuls baby kale 2 small avocados, sliced

Balsamic glaze

Optional: Garnishes of your choice (lemon juice, fresh herbs, etc.)

Solution on Page 4

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Solution from Page 3

Inside

Why Do We Celebrate the New Year?

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How to Stay Warm This Winter

The Lost Art of the Thank-You Note

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Takata Airbag Safety Recall

Root Vegetable Buddha Bowls

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Georgia’s Move Over Law

On average, 124 construction workers lose their lives every year while performing their jobs on roadsides. But they’re not the only ones at risk. Police officers, paramedics, utility workers, and tow truck drivers also regularly find themselves in danger of being struck by a vehicle while working on the shoulder of the road. That’s why Georgia has a Move Over Law. Georgia’s Move Over Law affects first responders and construction, utility, and maintenance vehicles. On roads with two or more lanes, drivers cannot use the lane closest to the shoulder when one of these vehicles is stopped and using flashing lights. Drivers must move over, providing a buffer lane between themselves and the working vehicle. If moving to the left lane is impossible or unsafe due to MOVE OVER! IT’S GEORGIA LAW

traffic or road conditions, the motorist must instead slow down significantly below the posted speed limit. This law reduces hazardous working conditions, but many motorists are unaware that it exists. They unintentionally pose a danger to people working on roadsides, not to mention their licenses and pocketbooks. Failure to follow the law can result in a ticket of up to $500 per state law. The total fine could be several hundred dollars higher due to additional local fees. Motorists will also see several points added to their licenses, and they could experience insurance increases as a result.

If your failure to move over or slow down causes a collision, you could be liable for any resulting injury or death. Penalties can include a loss of driving privileges, a requirement to pay restitution to a victim or their family, or even time in jail. Georgia is not the only place with a Move Over Law; in fact, all 50 states have some sort of statute on the books. Moving over is not only your legal responsibility but also good common sense. The next time you see a working vehicle with flashing lights, remember: Move over one lane to the left, and if that’s impossible, slow down significantly. It’s well worth the minor inconvenience.

You may think the penalty sounds steep, but it’s nothing compared to the effects of an accident.

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