Harmonson Law Firm - November 2021

Harmonson Law Firm - November 2021

HARMONSON HEADLINES YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND NOVEMBER 2021 THE GLUE THAT HOLDS OUR NATION TOGETHER Honoring Service Members This Veterans Day

means our population is somewhat transient, we’ve made so many good friends with military families through our church. Even if we only get to know them for a couple of years before they move away, they’re still valuable relationships we cherish. We’ve also had a lot of clients who are active duty, and we’re glad to help them. There have been many folks from all different parts of the country who are only living here for a short while but have been injured and need our help. We’re proud to be a part of the community and grateful to contribute in this way. I don’t have to tell you that our country is in a rough spot right now. We’re so politically divided, and patriotism and morale are low. That’s why I think it’s especially important today to recognize our military. They serve as a reminder that despite our political differences, America is still the world’s best country.

Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, we should all be able to agree that we need our soldiers. As we’ve seen recently in Afghanistan, they perform a dangerous duty. We are responsible for honoring the commitment our service members have made. They’re the glue that holds us together and the reason we have the lifestyle we do today. While neither my grandfather nor my father-in- law are with us anymore, I’m still thankful for their service all those years ago. (In fact, our son Winton Bailey is named in their honor.) To all of the veterans and active duty service members reading this, I’m grateful for your service as well. Thank you for all that you’ve done. Happy Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is just around the corner, which means it’s the perfect time to stop and give thanks to the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Specifically, I want to express my gratitude to the members of my family who have served. During World War II, my grandfather Jerry Winton Beavers served in the Marines as a drill sergeant. While he was never deployed, I still think military service was hard on him. I remember him telling me to “never join the Marine Corps!” I think he was mostly joking about that, but he was serious when he said that military service was a big commitment and not something to be taken lightly. My wife’s father, Bailey Anderson, served in the military, too. When we decided to move to El Paso, he opened up and told us that he did his basic training at Fort Bliss. He hadn’t been back to El Paso until we moved here, but when he came to visit us, he was amazed by how much had changed. He used to tell us stories about when he served in the ‘40s and ‘50s, and he said that back then, Fort Bliss was in the middle of nowhere. For fun, he and his friends would have to go over the border to Juárez.

The city has changed a lot since my father-in-law served, but it’s still a military town. Though that

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If you’ve been in a serious car accident, you’re legally obligated to report the collision to police. The responding police officer will prepare and file an accident report, which is a major piece of evidence used to determine fault in the collision. Once your copy of the report arrives, you might wonder what it all means! In New Mexico, accidents that require a police report resulted in injury, death, or property damage that appears to be $500 or more. The police officer preparing the report will include details like the location and time of the accident, a description of the involved vehicles and their drivers, and statements from the drivers and any witnesses. The officer may also record additional observations, such as if a road obstruction is present or if one of the drivers is suspected of being under the influence. New Mexico is a fault state, so the insurance policy of the at-fault driver pays for damages. Other people involved in the accident can also sue the at-fault party. That’s why it’s so crucial to have an accurate accident report — and why you need to review yours as soon as possible. UNDERSTAND CAR ACCIDEN What It Means and W

Every Thanksgiving, we gather with our families and friends and pig out. Turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing, oh my! But did the Pilgrims actually eat all the same foods we do today? When we sit down at the Thanksgiving table, we are blessed with mashed potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. However, if we wanted to be historically accurate, we would need to change up that dinner spread a bit. Historians know of a few foods on the table that Pilgrims and Wampanoags shared at Plymouth Colony in 1621. Wildfowl, corn (in grain form for porridge), and venison were sure to be served at the first Thanksgiving. Wild turkey was also a common and abundant food source but wasn’t likely the main course as it is today. A few days before the first Thanksgiving, the colony’s governor put four men in charge of hunting for birds for the feast, and they very likely returned with some turkey. However, as far as mashed potatoes are concerned, in the early 1600s, most Europeans and the Wampanoag had no idea what a potato was. They weren’t cultivated in North America until the 1700s. Likewise, cranberries were still very new to the Pilgrims, and they didn’t yet use them for food — instead, they used them to make dyes for fabrics! For dessert, pumpkin pie was not yet a thing either. Although the Pilgrims liked pumpkins, they didn’t have the butter and wheat flour needed to make pie crust. Instead, they hollowed out the pumpkins (just like Halloween!) and filled them with milk and honey to make a custard and then roasted them. Although our Thanksgiving meals have changed over the years, it still is a fantastic time to get together and celebrate. In the spirit of evolving traditions, don’t be afraid to innovate to add your own personal traditional twist to the holiday as well!

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DING YOUR NT REPORT Why It’s Important

DRIVING THIS THANKSGIVING? 3 Tips to Stay Safe

Police officers are only human, which means they make mistakes. In the chaotic aftermath of an accident, details can also be lost or misconstrued. So, when you receive your report, you should read it carefully and verify that all statements are accurate. If there are errors in the report, you will need to contest it. Contesting the report alone can spark an investigation, but you will generally need evidence to show the report is inaccurate. Such evidence can include photographs from the scene or witness statements. If you know you are partially but not fully at fault, this is also crucial information for limiting your damages. If you need help understanding your accident report or have to contest the information within it, Harmonson Law can help. Our experienced attorneys can help you confirm that your police report is 100% accurate and, if necessary, dispute any errors. Call us today for a free consultation.

Compared to 2020, experts are expecting significantly more travelers to visit their relatives this Thanksgiving. If you’re one of many who stayed home last year, your holiday travel readiness might be a little rusty. And if you’re traveling by car, that can lead to dangerous situations and avoidable accidents. Keep yourself and your family safe this year by knowing what to expect. Here are three tips to get you to grandma’s house intact and with minimal fuss.

Be prepared. Before you buckle up and head out, make sure your ducks are all in a row. You should have a full tank of gas, a GPS, and snacks ready in the car. Just in case, you should also have an emergency car kit. If you are traveling with kids, make sure to bring along something to keep them occupied — children can be amazingly distracting when they’re bored. Lastly, check the weather so you know what to expect before you start your journey. Be patient. Chances are you’re going to hit some traffic — the day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year. If this is the day you plan to drive, you should probably leave early, but you’re still going to need to practice patience. Getting angry or frustrated will negatively impact your driving skills and increase the likelihood of an accident. Remember, everyone wants to get off the freeway and to their destination as badly as you do; aggravation won’t get you there any faster. Be alert. Drowsy drivers are a major threat to road safety, so ensure you’re well rested before you get behind the wheel. If you get tired, don’t try to power through it — pull over. You can eat or exercise until you’re awake enough to drive or nap if you just can’t keep your eyes open. Even if you’re not feeling sleepy, you should take breaks from driving every couple hours and switch out drivers if you’re traveling with another adult.

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Inspired by Delish.com

INGREDIENTS

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1 small onion, sliced

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8 oz can mushrooms, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb green beans, cooked

7 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided 1/4 cup and 3 tbsp flour, divided

2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs

3 cups almond milk

2 shallots, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Set the oven to broil. 2. In a shallow baking pan, combine onion, 1 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp flour, and panko breadcrumbs. 3. Broil for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Afterward, preheat the oven to 375 F. 4. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add shallots, mushrooms, and garlic, stirring until tender. 5. In a large bowl, mix mushroom mixture with the cooked green beans. 6. In the same skillet, add 4 tbsp olive oil and 1/4 cup of flour, whisking until golden. Gradually add the almond milk until it thickens, then toss with the green beans. 7. Transfer mixture into a baking dish and cook for 20 minutes. 8. Add onion and breadcrumb mixture on top, then bake for another 5 minutes.

If you’re prepared, patient, and alert, driving to see your relatives this Thanksgiving should be a smooth and uneventful affair. Stay safe and enjoy the holiday!

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

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Clark Reflects on the Meaning of Veterans Day

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The First Thanksgiving Menu

Understanding Your Car Accident Report

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Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Thanksgiving Safe Driving Tips

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Traveling With Kids Made Easy

TRAVELING WITH KIDS MADE EASY Bon Voyage!

Charge Up

The holidays are here, and that calls for some cheer! However, traveling with your kids can be a hassle, especially while trying to remain healthy and safe! Getting out of town should be fun and exciting, so here are some tips to make

Make sure all of your electronic devices are charged up well before you leave. You should also have some games and movies downloaded to entertain your children in the car or airplane. Even though most airlines have TVs, it’s better to always be prepared — and don’t forget the headphones! Have a Quality Stroller You won’t understand how helpful it is to have a good, quality stroller along with you on vacation until you have one. If you are visiting a theme park or other outdoor area or sightseeing on foot, you’ll thank yourself later for bringing along a lightweight, foldable, and reliable stroller. Bring the Snacks Nothing is worse than hungry, cranky kids! Before your trip, it’s a good idea to take the kids along with you to the store to pick out an abundance of their favorite snacks — this adds a level of excitement for them too!

traveling a little easier and less anxiety-inducing. Unruly kids don’t stand a chance with these tricks!

Departure Matters Aim for late morning or early afternoon when booking flights or deciding what time to hit the road. The last thing you want is the added stress of being late or hitting rush-hour traffic when you’re already worrying about making sure everyone packed the essentials. Also, waking the kids up super early for travel can be difficult, and nobody wants grumpy children.

Time Is Your Friend When putting together a vacation itinerary, allow for lots of extra time in between events. The one thing about kids is that you never know when someone will need to use the bathroom, be sick, throw a tantrum, or need your assistance. Everything takes longer with kiddos! You can even set a false deadline for when you want to leave the house to ensure you get out on time.

Going out of town with kids is never an easy feat, but these tips can help create a trip to remember this holiday season! Bon voyage!

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