Harmonson Law Firm - April 2021

Harmonson Law Firm - April 2021

HARMONSON HEADLINES YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND APRIL 2021

THE BOOK THAT INSPIRED ME TO DO A DIGITAL DETOX

If you know me, you know how much I love to read. In a past edition of the newsletter, I mentioned that I credit much of my success in life to reading. Books are packed with knowledge and information that’s conveyed in an engaging, entertaining way. My love of reading has also inspired me to write two books about my area of expertise, personal injury law, and car accidents. I bring up books and reading because the month of April is packed with reading and literacy-related days: National Library Week; Children’s Book Day on April 2; School Librarian Day on April 4; National Library Workers Day on April 12; and National Librarian Day on April 16. Needless to say, libraries and librarians get their due this month! My love of books began when I was a teenager. There was a book on my parents' shelf that grabbed my attention: “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” by Alex Haley. This is the book that went on to become the groundbreaking television miniseries starring LeVar Burton — another person who is a huge name in the world of books and literacy. I figured I would give it a read, not knowing how much of an impact it would have. Needless to say, it was earth-shattering. I was completely absorbed by Kunta Kinte’s Story from his enslavement to his journey to America. Since then, I’ve read book after book. There are times when I read fewer books, but for the most part, I’m consistently reading something, though these days it’s most of the nonfiction variety.

My kids have also caught the reading bug, which has me thrilled. Our daughter, Claire, is into “Little Women,” the 1868 book by Louisa May Alcott as well as the “Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling. Before Claire picked up the “Harry Potter” books, I read through them myself and enjoyed them. I also read them to our son, Clayton, when he was younger — or should say I read a few of them out loud, then let Clayton take over. Reading those out loud was an exercise in itself! Since then, Clayton has moved onto books like “Ready Player One” and “Ready Play Two” by Ernest Cline. Our youngest, Winn, our toddler, is also into reading! We read to Winn every single night. He loves it, and we love it. In fact, I can’t think of a night that goes by that we don’t read him a goodnight story. We kept many of the big kids’ old baby books, and we’ve been digging them out of moving boxes to read to Winn. We have a few favorites, including “Cowboy Small” by Lois Lenski. She was an author and illustrator during the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. She’s known for the “Mr. Small” books, “The Little Farm,” and “The Little Airplane” to name a few. She was also the first person to illustrate “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. For me personally, one book I’ve read recently that’s had a major impact on my life is “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” by Cal Newport. It’s a book that goes hand-in-hand with many of the ideas presented in the Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma.”

After reading “Digital Minimalism,” I decided to say goodbye to social media for a month. That detox has now lasted several months, and I don’t have any plans to reinstall the apps onto my phone or iPad. Between “Digital Minimalism” and “The Social Dilemma,” numerous problems were highlighted. We spend too much time on our devices, scrolling endlessly through Facebook, Instagram and the like. They’re designed to addict us to their platforms and keep us coming back for more. Studies have shown they’re doing a lot of psychological harm, especially to the younger generation that has grown up with social media Since taking a break from social media, I’ve had more time for me. And it really hasn’t made a dent in my life in terms of missing out on anything — if it’s important, I’ll find out about it with or without social media. The best thing is that it’s cleared my mind. I don’t feel attached to my phone anymore. I think it’s worth giving a try, if you haven’t already. I deleted the apps and left it at that. It’s more time to read books! Now, I just have to conquer my addiction to email …

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THE MULTI-VEHICLE A

With spring officially underway, April showers starting to bring May flowers, and Earth Day on April 22, now is a great time for outdoor family activities. One for the Birds Making a pine cone bird feeder is a fun and inexpensive project. In addition to creating and hanging your bird feeder, you’ll get hours of extra entertainment from watching the birds it will attract to your yard. If your kids are older, take photos of the birds or note their colors and features and look them up in a field guide or online. This craft just requires a pine cone (the bigger the better), peanut butter, and some twine or string. Top the peanut butter with “sprinkles” of mixed birdseed or small pieces of nuts and fruit to appeal to even more birds. For full instructions, visit TheSpruce.com and search “pine cone bird feeder.” An Egg-cellent Planter Save those eggshells from breakfast (and the paper carton, too!) and use them to start a garden! Your little ones will enjoy planting some seeds, watering them, and watching them sprout and grow into something new. When the sprouts are big enough and it’s warm enough outside, you can plant the shell and carton directly into the ground! This easy project just requires rinsed eggshell halves, some lightly moistened potting soil, and seeds of your choosing. Note that smaller seeds, like those for herbs, lettuces, peppers, or tomatoes, work best for this project. For full instructions, visit GardenBetty.com and search “starting seeds in eggshells.”

Any car accident is tough to deal with, but multi-vehicle car accidents can be even more overwhelming. Victims of these types of accidents are often tasked with making sure all the drivers and passengers are okay, communicating with multiple insurance companies, and dealing with more uncertainty than a typical car accident. The more vehicles involved in a car accident, the more complicated the case will be. Multi-car accidents have a higher risk of injuries and are more challenging to determine who is at fault. An attorney can help you answer the following questions and get you through your case.

How do multi-vehicle accident cases work?

New Mexico, for instance, is an at-fault state. This means the driver who causes an accident uses their insurance to pay for the other driver’s bills from the collision.

If more than one driver is at fault, they will share the blame, and their insurance companies will decide the percentage of responsibility. For example, one driver could be 30% at fault, another driver could be 60% at fault, and a third could be at 10% fault. That will be the percentage their insurance companies will pay. Additionally, being found “at fault” means that the other drivers can sue that person for damages. What the Insurance Companies DON’T Want You to Know About YOUR RIGH

Claims was written to with vital infor ation wheeler, work vehicle s to bear in mind that up premiums for their amount that they are E ONE GOAL— HAREHOLDERS.

Injured in a Car Accident? The Insurance Company Is NOT Your Friend.

Stick With Magic Nature is a magical place. Many kids know this

Written by experienced car accident attorney S. Clark Harmonson, this is a valuable resource with the vital facts you need before talking to the insurance company or hiring a lawyer. In this book, you’ll learn everything insurance companies don’t want you to know, such as: • 12 shady auto insurance company tactics • 10 common myths and

instinctively and often point out things adults take for granted or overlook, like bright-colored leaves, fun- shaped rocks, and acorn “hats.” Making a nature wand is a great way to let your kids explore their environment, whether that’s in your backyard, on a neighborhood walk, or in your favorite park. Let their imaginations run wild with what their magic wand can do! This simple project starts with a stick and masking tape. Your kids add all the extra flair by hunting for natural treasures and sticking them onto their wand. Complete instructions can be found at LaughingKidsLearn.com/ nature-wands-outdoor-pla y.

g e e e e d s y

misconceptions about your car accident claim How we hold negligent drivers accountable

“I wrote this book to help you cut through all the confusion surrounding your accident.”

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WITH: 12 Dirty Tricks the Insurance Adjuster Will Use to Wreck Your Claim

• What you need to do immediately after an accident • Top five worst auto insurance companies in Texas

Get your free copy at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com or by calling our office at 915.584.8777 .

AR ACCIDENT… ET THIS RIGHT!

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ACCIDENT WHAT YOU

NEED TO KNOW

When deciding if you should consult a lawyer after your accident, you should consider that insurance companies are not looking out for you. They want to minimize the amount they pay out. With a multi-vehicle accident, getting what is owed to you from an insurance company can be even more difficult. Ultimately, it’s your decision to hire an attorney to help you through this lengthy and complicated process. However, attorneys are incredibly beneficial and can help you with some important things:

When it comes to car care, there is a lot of conflicting information out there. You might find one thing online and hear something completely different from a friend or family member. Because of this, sometimes you’re left scratching your head and wondering what’s true. To set the record straight, this month we'll look at two myths that have been floating around. HIT THE BRAKES ON THESE CAR CARE MYTHS Myth No. 1: Your new vehicle should only be serviced by the dealership or it will void the warranty. This is false. While many dealerships want you to get your new car or truck serviced at their establishment — they may even tell you it’s necessary — you don’t have to. As the owner of the vehicle, you can take it in for service wherever you want. It isn’t going to automatically void the warranty. That said, you can potentially void the warranty if a non- dealership mechanic makes a mistake or causes damage to your vehicle. Make sure you read your vehicle’s warranty so you know exactly what it covers and what will void it. Otherwise, if you have a mechanic you already trust, keep going to them. Myth No. 2: Premium fuel improves gas mileage and performance in any vehicle. This is mostly false. We’re all familiar with the average fuel pump — it typically gives drivers several options from regular to premium. But for a vast majority of vehicles on the road, premium fuel isn’t going to do anything. A Consumer Reports study found that using premium fuel in a vehicle that does not explicitly require it does not improve gas mileage or performance.

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Understand the jargon of the insurance company

• Make sure the insurance company (or companies) pay you what you’re owed

• Help prepare all documents you might need to give your insurance company and if you go to court.

• Determine the best way to notify your insurance company of your accident in a timely manner

HTS

• Reduce uncertainty in the process and boost confidence in your ability to receive justice and compensation

SHEET PAN CHICKEN DINNER

INSPIRED BY THESPRUCEEATS.COM

INGREDIENTS

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2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks

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1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp lemon juice

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1 tbsp honey

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets

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1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper 2 tbsp canola oil

DIRECTIONS

Now, if you own a vehicle that requires high octane or premium fuel, never use anything less. A finely tuned engine is generally designed to use premium fuel, so using regular can cause serious and costly damage to that engine. On the flip side, if you use premium in a vehicle that does not require it, switch back to regular, and then you start to hear a pinging or knocking sound from the engine bay, switch back to premium.

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. On a large baking sheet, combine chicken, sweet potatoes, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat. 3. Bake for 15 minutes. In the meantime, make the sauce by combining the soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper. 4. Remove pan from oven and use a spatula to flip the chicken and potatoes, then add broccoli florets. 5. Drizzle sauce evenly over top and return to the oven to bake for an additional 15 minutes or until chicken has an internal temperature of 165 F and vegetables are fork-tender.

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5505 North Mesa St. Suite 3 • El Paso, TX 79912 WWW.CLARKHARMONSONATTORNEY.COM 915.584.8777

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The Book That Inspired Me to Do a Digital Detox

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3 Fun Earth Day Projects for Families

Should I Consult a Lawyer After a Multi- Vehicle Accident?

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Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner

Car Care Myths That Could Cost You

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How Lulu the Pig Saved Her Owner From a Heart Attack

Lulu the Pot-Bellied Pig’s Cunning Plan to Save Her Owner Man’s Smartest Friend

the pot-bellied pig saved her owner’s life might persuade you to reconsider.

Lulu made her way to the nearest road, scraping her skin in the process and leaving it torn and bleeding. Once she reached the road, she laid down as if to play dead. Not long after that, a passing driver saw Lulu and stopped to check on her. Once Lulu was sure she had the driver’s attention, she got up and waddled back toward her home, leading the driver to where Jo Ann lay on the floor. When the driver found Jo Ann, he immediately called 911, and emergency services took her to a medical center for open-heart surgery. Had just 15 more minutes passed without help, Jo Ann would have died. For her heroism, Lulu received the Tiffany gold hero’s medal from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and made multiple television appearances as her fame spread. Hopefully, she was smart enough to know just how much she was appreciated.

Back in 1998 (otherwise this story would have certainly gone viral), Lulu the pig was a permanent fixture at Jo Ann and Jack Altsman’s property in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. They had initially only taken Lulu from her original owner, the Altsmans’ daughter, for a temporary stay, but they ended up bonding with Lulu, and she was with them for much longer than expected. On Aug. 4, Jo Ann suffered from a heart attack. Jack was out of town on a fishing trip, and even though Jo Ann cried for help and even threw an alarm clock out the window, no one heard her cries from their somewhat secluded home. The family’s dog, Bear, barked and barked to no avail. Lulu, however, knew Jo Ann needed help quickly and waddled into action.

According to animal experts, pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal, including cats and dogs. That may seem hard to believe, as you probably associate pigs with a pink, smelly animal that oinks and rolls around in the muck. However, the story of how Lulu

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