Harmonson Law Firm - June 2021

Harmonson Law Firm - June 2021

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

3 HARMONSONS, ONE ADVENTURE

O verall, 2020 wasn’t a great year for my dad. Not only was it harder to simply see family in person, but he also had some health issues and has had trouble getting around. It’s always difficult to see someone who was once strong and vigorous get older, but it’s a part of life. Despite that, he continues to have a positive attitude and still gets out to work on building pools. The great news is that thanks to the vaccinations, we’ve been able to start spending more time together — and we’ve been making the most of it! My son, Clayton, turns 16 this summer, and God willing, he’ll be getting his driver’s license. As part of this event, he’s set to inherit our family’s 10-year-old Honda Pilot. It’s been my daily driver, but now, I pass it to him. Of course, this means I need a new car. As I prepare to hand over the keys to the Pilot, I’ve been researching semi-new cars. I didn’t really want to put money down on a brand-new car, especially when there are a lot of great used cars out there. Clayton and I have been bonding over car shows and auctions. In my search for a car, I ended up finding a very low mileage used car that I decided I had to have. The only problem was that it was located in New Orleans. After some back and forth with the owner, they arranged to have it shipped to El Paso. But when I saw the shipping cost of $1,000, I thought we could do things a little differently. With a few Southwest Airlines points to spare — and adventure on my mind — we decided to fly to New Orleans to pick up the car and drive it back to El Paso.

When I told my dad about the idea, he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. So, three generations of Harmonsons packed our bags and flew out to New Orleans. Thankfully, Clayton has asynchronous Wednesdays at school, so we left on a Wednesday to minimize the impact on his school work. He did virtual school that Thursday and Friday while Dad and I ate our way through New Orleans. And when I say eat, we really packed it in. We used shows like “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” as inspiration as we tried different cuisines around the city, eating everything from oysters to fried chicken. One of the highlights of the trip was sharing a bananas foster at Brennan’s and then wandering around the French Quarter with my son. The low point of the trip happened the second day after I picked up the car. I managed to hit the rim on a curb, breaking the rim and popping the tire. It was heartbreaking when it happened, but after an emergency trip to a tire shop, we got it taken care of. Finally, it was time to head home. That weekend, we added about 1,000 miles to my almost-new car. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and I’m glad the three of us were able to take some time out of our busy lives to make a memory that will last forever.

"We used shows like 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' as inspiration as we tried different cuisines around the city, eating everything from oysters to fried chicken."

With that, I wish you and your family a happy Father’s Day!

915.584.8777 • 1

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, so let's explore one popular way to get more fresh produce into our lives: subscription-based delivery services like Full Circle and Imperfect Food. Are these services actually worth it? Do they save money and provide what they promise? Here's what the research turned up.

THE TOP QUESTIONS TO E INSURANCE COMPANY AF

Can they save you time? The Verdict: Yes, without a doubt.

Talking to your insurance company after a car accident can be stressful. While they’re theoretically there to help you, insurance companies will try to minimize the amount they have to pay out in settlements. For this reason, it can help to go into a conversation with your insurance company with an idea of what they’re going to ask you. Here is a list of common questions insurers often ask after an accident (along with which questions you shouldn’t answer).

Subscription-based grocery delivery services appeal to consumers because they save time. With somebody else doing your grocery shopping, you don’t have to think about when you’re making a trip to the grocery store this week. Someone else is doing it for you! Plus, some services even offer meal kits if you can’t decide what to make. There’s no argument here — these services definitely save you time. Can they save you money? The Verdict: Sometimes, since it depends on your existing shopping habits. If you find yourself making impulsive purchases while strolling down the aisles at the grocery store, then a set (but customizable) weekly list of delivered groceries might be a great way to stick to your budget. Unfortunately, not many grocery subscription-box delivery services offer nonfood items like toilet paper or cleaning products, so you may still have to make a trip to the store every once in a while. Is the food quality great? The Verdict: Yes, but it depends on your area. You have a higher chance of getting better grocery items if you buy from an organic grocery box service, like Imperfect Foods or Farm Fresh to You, since these companies work closely with your local farms. Keep in mind that some services, like Imperfect Foods, are designed to deliver fresh foods that are a little “imperfect” in size, shape, or color

The first thing your insurance company is going to do is ask some basic fact-finding questions about the accident:

• When and where was the accident? • Who was involved with the accident: passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, etc.? • What happened?

• How much damage did your vehicle sustain?

• Were you or any passengers injured? • Who was at fault for the accident? • Did you file a police report? • Did you get medical attention? What the Insurance Companies DON’T Want You to Know About YOUR RIGH

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

All of these questions provide information that your insurance company needs to know in order for you to file a claim. Answer them to the best of your ability,

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

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

g e e e e d s y

to help prevent food waste — but, as a benefit, it’s more affordable! However, we’ve found some services, like Full

Circle, will prepackage their boxes from warehouses that may not be local to you, so do a little research before picking one. All in all, we’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that these boxes aren’t such a bad idea. Consider looking into it if you’re tired of the weekly grocery store time crunch!

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.”

•

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!

2 • www.ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com

THE CAR TRUTH

EXPECT FROMYOUR FTER A CAR ACCIDENT

but make sure not to admit any fault. Doing so will allow your insurance company to deny your claim immediately.

While these initial inquiries are pretty standard procedure, there are also some other tactics that insurance companies might use to deny your coverage. There are some questions you do not want to answer. For example, if your insurance company asks you to make an official recorded statement or sign a written statement, it’s important to say “no” until you’ve spoken with a car accident attorney. Similarly, never sign any form that includes a medical authorization without consulting an attorney first. These medical authorizations give your insurance company full authority to look through your medical history and find something they can claim as a “preexisting condition” that caused your injuries. Finally, it’s important to know that you are not obligated to talk to the other driver’s insurance agency. This agency’s only goal will be to find some piece of evidence to blame you for the accident or prevent you from getting coverage. If you get a call from the other driver’s insurance company, talk to your attorney immediately! EASY TUNA POKE BOWL

Debunking 2 More Automotive Myths!

Over the past few months, we’ve touched on a few auto myths here and there — and this month, we have two more. These are myths you may have heard of, but could never find a clear answer on the matter. Well, we have your answers! You can grab any clean towel to wipe down the surface of your car. With more dust in the air, people tend to wash their cars more often in the summer months. However, when they wash their cars, they often rely on a towel to wick away any remaining water. It’s a great way to cut down on water spots. But not just any towel will work. Some towels are actually abrasive when wiped over automotive paint and finishes. Some towels will trap dust and dirt in their outermost fibers, which means those particles may come in contact with the surface of your vehicle, leaving microscopic scratches. Old T-shirts are the worst culprits. The best type of towel to use is a microfiber terry cloth towel. Rolling down the windows lowers your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Of course, in Texas and New Mexico, seeing the windows down in the summer is a common sight. But there’s the myth that rolling down the windows (or putting

HTS

INSPIRED BY THEKITCHN.COM

This protein-packed recipe is the perfect dinner for two on a hot summer night when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

INGREDIENTS

• • • •

2 tsp soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil

• • • • • •

2 tbsp cilantro leaves, chopped 1 scallion, finely chopped 1 cup rice, cooked and cooled 1/4 cup avocado, cubed 4 cherry tomatoes, quartered

down the top of a convertible) will hurt fuel efficiency. There’s also the myth that running the air conditioner can hurt fuel economy. So, what’s the reality? This is a myth that’s been tested by Consumer Reports and Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters.” Both found that rolling down your windows has no effect on fuel efficiency. It doesn’t matter the type of vehicle or speed. However, when it comes to blasting the A/C, if you set it to maximum on a hot day (85 degrees or more, as noted by Consumer Reports) fuel efficiency can drop by 1–4 miles per gallon.

2 tbsp orange juice

1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced

•

10 oz canned tuna, drained

1 tbsp sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. First, make the dressing. In a jar, add soy sauce, sesame oil, orange juice, and ginger. Secure the lid and shake until emulsified. 2. In a small bowl, empty the drained tuna and pour the dressing over top. Add the cilantro and scallions and stir until well coated. 3. Divide rice between two serving bowls. Top with the dressed tuna, avocado, tomatoes, and sesame seeds.

915.584.8777 • 3

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

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That’s One Way to Spend a Weekend in New Orleans

2

Are Grocery Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Questions to Expect From Your Insurer After an Accident

3

Easy Tuna Poke Bowl

It’s Nothing but Fumes for These Automotive Myths!

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Have You Explored a National Forest?

On National Get Outdoors Day Explore a National Forest for Free

Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list. While Zion, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), so if your home state doesn’t have one, it’s very likely a neighboring state does! And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day!

open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and accessibility. Visit FS.fed.us/ivm to access the map and see what’s near your hometown!

If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests.

• El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. • Tongass National Forest: Spanning 16.7 acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest. • Salmon-Challis National Forest: This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness. • Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north- central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.

While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days

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