Harmonson Law Firm - October 2021

Harmonson Law Firm - October 2021

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

A HARMONSON HALLOWEEN From ‘Devil’s Holiday’ to Family Fun

As a kid, Halloween was considered off-limits. My family went to an evangelical church, and my mother and my beloved grandmother always called it “the devil’s holiday.” Instead of trick-or-treating, we went to the church’s Fall Festival every year. We’d dress up as our favorite Biblical characters and bob for apples in the church basement. We did our best to pretend it was a good time, but compared to what our friends were doing, it was usually a disappointment. Naturally, I wanted to dress up like Spider-Man and terrorize the neighborhood with the other kids. As I got older and more independent, I would sneak off and go trick-or-treating — but I never got to wear any of the cool costumes. So, it will probably come as no surprise that Halloween wasn’t one of my favorite holidays. I only started getting into the spirit when we had kids of our own. My wife, Sheri, had grown up with more typical Halloween celebrations, so we started going all-out once the children were born. My mom has mellowed a little, and these days we get to enjoy Halloween guilt-free (no more “devil’s holiday” talk). We loved to take the kids trick-or- treating when they were young and enjoyed watching them have so much fun. That said, Sheri and I have never been great at planning costumes in advance, so I couldn’t tell you what they were every year. (Some years, I’d look at the kids’ costumes and not know what they were then!) One favorite memory is when our oldest son Clayton dressed up as the red Power Ranger. He was always a very literal child, so he didn’t quite understand when people would remark on his costume. “Are you a Power Ranger?” they’d ask.

“No,” he replied at every house, “I’m Clayton!”

Clayton and my daughter, Claire, are teenagers now, but they still love to trick-or-treat — though these days they do so with their friends, not their parents. Luckily, Sheri and I still have plenty of trick-or-treating years ahead of us with our 3-year-old, Winn. He was a little too young to understand trick-or-treating last year, but he does seem to understand the jack-o’-lantern T-shirt we got him. It’s too small now, but he still loves to wear it around the house, holding out his arms and declaring, “Daddy, I’m a pumpkin!” Halloween is still a little bittersweet for me, but fall is my favorite season and nothing says fall has arrived more than Halloween. I like to celebrate every year by making a big pot of chili on Halloween — even if it’s still a little hot outside. Somehow, I always think my cooking will usher in the cool air.

Nothing on earth beats our excellent fall weather here in the Borderland, even if we have to wait for it a few more weeks than we would like.

Whether you’re celebrating this Halloween by handing out candy, going door to door with your kids, or just staying home

with a scary movie, I hope you and your family will have a safe and fun holiday.

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Fall brings apple cider, pumpkin patches, fun seasonal outfits, and corn mazes. Unless you are visiting a “haunted” corn maze, you and your family probably won’t be chased by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer while you try to navigate through. However, safety risks are still present. Here are five safety tips to keep the fun coming during your next corn maze experience. Follow the rules. At the entrance to each corn maze, there should be a sign stating the rules for visitors. For the safety of yourself, your children, and others, be sure to read each rule and follow along. Always accompany your kids in the corn maze — it is a maze, after all! Watch for tripping and fire hazards. Keep your eyes peeled for any obstacles on the path, including holes, bumps, ruts, and corn stalks. While navigating a maze, it can be easy to forget to look down while searching for the exit. To prevent fires, you should also avoid smoking and never use matches or lighters. Wear proper footwear. Ensure that you and your family all have proper footwear, preferably closed-toed shoes, while exploring the maze. You never know what kind of critters or potentially harmful hazards may appear in your path. Eat beforehand and stay hydrated. Be sure to eat before setting out into the maze and don’t bring any glass bottles with you, as it can be dangerous if broken. Furthermore, do not consume alcohol before or while enjoying your time at the corn maze. Be prepared. Accidents can happen, usually at the most unexpected times! It is important to always have a first-aid kit handy. Be sure to call 911 in an emergency and let staff know what is going on.

Medical malpractice can devastate victims and their families by causing huge medical expenses, loss of income, and even loss of life. Victims deserve compensation for their injuries, but the law in New Mexico has often prevented them from receiving it for full damages. Thankfully, in 2021, a new law overhauled the New Mexico Medical Malpractice Act. The previous Medical Malpractice Act imposed a $600,000 cap on damages, which was too low to cover the needs of victims with severe injuries and extensive medical costs. The Victim’s Compensation Fund, which helps cover the costs of certain claims, was also running a deficit of $56 million, putting a victim’s right to compensation at risk. Meanwhile, physicians were facing steep increases in their medical malpractice insurance premiums, including a rise of 49% over the past five years. NEW MEXICO CHANGE MEDICAL MALPRACTIC What It Means for Victi

The new law signed by Governor Lujan Grisham in April is going into effect in 2022 and enacts a compromise between victims, lawyers, insurers, and health care providers. For independent physicians, the damages cap has been raised to $750,000. For hospitals and clinics, the cap has been raised to $4 million, with built-in increases that will ultimately reach a $6 million cap by 2026. To ensure a healthier Victim’s Compensation Fund, the law also adds nurse practitioners and 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.

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

As long as safety is the top priority this fall, fun will be had by all!

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!

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The presence of bicycles on roadways has been increasing for years, and the past two years, in particular, have seen a large boom. Sales of bicycles and accessories rose 75% in 2020. There’s no sign the trend is going away, so drivers need to learn how to safely and effectively share the road with cyclists. Drivers often feel that since vehicles are larger and more plentiful on the road, bikes don’t belong. That’s both untrue and a recipe for an accident. No one likes getting stuck behind a bike when they’re in a hurry, but a serious collision is a far worse proposition. Knowing the rules of the road will keep you, your passengers, and cyclists safe. THERE’S ONLY ONE ROAD Share It Safely With Cyclists

ES CE LAWS ims

other medical professionals like chiropractors and podiatrists to coverage and requires third-party administration over the Victim’s Compensation Fund, plus annual audits. If you or a loved one have been a victim of medical malpractice, it’s important

Bike lanes are for bikes. If a bike lane doesn’t exist, cyclists are to ride in the road alongside motor vehicles, but that doesn’t mean your car is also allowed in the bike lane. Driving, standing, or parking in the bike lane can cause a serious safety hazard to cyclists and should always be avoided.

to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Navigating the legal system on your own can be overwhelming, and a medical malpractice attorney can greatly reduce your stress while also increasing your chances of a successful claim. The dedicated team at Harmonson Law Firm has experience representing victims of many different types of malpractice injuries, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our clients get the fairest outcomes possible. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Breakfast Sweet Potatoes

Pass carefully. A bicycle should be passed the same way a car is — in the left-hand lane when

traffic allows. Since a bicycle takes up a relatively small amount of space, many drivers try to squeak by in the same lane, but doing so often results in injuries from sideswipes. Provide a buffer. Just as you should provide space between your car and any other vehicle, allow at least 3 feet between yourself and a cyclist. This allows you to react to any sudden biker movements or errors with sufficient time. Plus, the cyclist will feel a lot safer. (You know how you feel when another car is tailgating you? Imagine that on a bike!) Yield to bikes. Cyclists are expected to follow the rules of the road just like drivers, but since a cyclist has a much higher chance of being injured or killed in a collision with a vehicle, it’s smartest and safest to give them the right of way. Whenever possible, also make eye contact with cyclists to provide assurance that you see them and intend to let them pass. Just a little bit of patience and consideration can go a long way toward preventing a serious injury. We’ve only got one road to use — let’s share it safely.

Inspired by Ambit iousKitchen.com

Finish the end of sweet potato season strong with this must-try breakfast recipe!

INGREDIENTS

• • • • •

2 medium sweet potatoes

2 tbsp of your preferred nut butter

1 banana, sliced 2 tsp chia seeds

Cinnamon and salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F and cover a medium baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. 2. Poke holes in the sweet potatoes and bake on the prepared sheet for 45–60 minutes. 3. Once cooled, split the sweet potatoes down the middle and top with nut butter, banana, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt.

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

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How the Harmonsons Celebrate Halloween

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Corn Maze Safety

Changes to NewMexico Medical Malpractice Laws

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Breakfast Sweet Potatoes

Sharing the Road SafelyWith Cyclists

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Corn Mazes Date Back to Ancient Greece?

A HISTORICAL LOOK AT THIS WACKY FALL TRADITION Corn Mazes Date Back to Ancient Greece?

Exploring a corn maze is a great way to get outside and enjoy the fall season with friends and family — but who came up with the idea of wandering around a corn field for fun? As it turns out, outdoor mazes are an ancient tradition, and the American corn maze of the ‘90s sprouted from the mazes of 17th-century European gardens. Don’t believe it? Here’s a quick tour of corn maze history.

This story isn’t the first recorded example of a maze or labyrinth — according to the World History encyclopedia, “[L]abyrinths and labyrinthine symbols have been dated to the Neolithic Age in regions as diverse as modern-day Turkey, Ireland, Greece, and India, among others” — but it’s perhaps the most famous ancient tale. If you’ve ever navigated a Halloween corn maze staffed by ghouls and ghosts, you can see the parallels! Garden Art to Get Lost In Mazes formed from bushes began popping up European gardens in the 17th century. They were a popular artistic feature of upper-class gardens in England, more for looking at than solving. One famous example is the half- mile-long Hampton Maze, which was planted in 1690 and still stands today. The Corn Maze: An American Invention Garden mazes eventually hopped the pond to America but didn’t become interactive puzzles until Don Frantz, Creative Director of the American Maze Company, came on the scene. In 1993, Frantz created the “first ever cornfield maze for private and public entertainment” to attract college kids in Pennsylvania. Today, every small-town corn maze is a descendant of his “Amazing Maize Maze.” To learn more about that wacky history, visit AmericanMaze.com.

The Minotaur and the Maze Have you heard of Theseus and the

Minotaur? This ancient Greek legend tells the story of the hero Theseus, who ventured into an elaborate maze to kill the half-man, half-bull imprisoned there. The

monstrous Minotaur was known to eat heroes, and the labyrinth was known to trap them, but Theseus managed to slay the Minotaur and find his way home with the help of a string that he unspooled as he walked.

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