Bigger & Harman, APC - September 2020

Bigger & Harman, APC - September 2020

BIGGER

THE DAILY DRIVER Attorneys Defending Your Right to the Road

Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS , APC

SEPTEMBER 2020

GRANDPA BOB’S ENCOURAGEMENT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY

For National Grandparents Day, I want to write about my mother’s father, my grandpa Bob. Grandpa Bob was always someone who gave back to the community in any way he could and encouraged both my brother and me to do the same. He worked both as a volunteer EMT and a fireman for most of his life. Even though he worked on the opposite side of Connecticut from us, I remember hearing his stories and feeling like I should also do what I can for my community. I grew up in the small, sleepy town of Simsbury, Connecticut, which had quite a few volunteer opportunities. My brother was always a lot more excited about the medical side of things when we were growing up, so it wasn’t a surprise that he started to volunteer first. I followed him three years later, getting certified as an EMT when I was around 17 years old. I stayed on for about two years before I moved out of the state to pursue a legal career. My brother went on to become a nurse and has since moved to Texas, where he now works in the ER and continues his EMT volunteer service on the side with his local fire department. While I did follow in my brother’s footsteps to become a volunteer EMT, it was largely Grandpa Bob’s influence that spurred both of us to give back to our community in this way. When my brother and I first started our volunteer service, Grandpa Bob gave us a few supplies to help us out in our new positions. He gave us extra first aid kit supplies and EMT equipment, such as blood pressure cuffs, bandages, and our very own EMT bags we brought with us while we worked.

Even though we were working in different areas of the state and never served together, it was still something the three of us did together for quite some time. I knew that Grandpa Bob was really proud of us for doing something to help the community in the same manner as he had for many years. When Grandpa Bob passed away, I inherited his stethoscope that I used for my remaining time serving on the ambulance — and I still have it today. While I may have strayed away from a medical profession, Grandpa Bob’s encouragement to help my community has stayed with me my whole life. Today, I am on the board of our county bar association where I volunteer my time to help our legal community meet the needs of the public. I also volunteer my time with my church, where I lead our youth ministries. In addition to this, I’m often able to use my legal training to assist the church and members with various legal needs. Taking the time out of our busy schedules to help those in our community is something I feel very passionate about. It’s very rewarding to do what you can to help the people around you, and I think that’s what my Grandpa Bob was really about.

–Paul Harman

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Is Stress Harming Your Memory? HOW TO COPE WITH DAILY TRIGGERS

Stress can cause more than just a bad mood and low energy. Over time, mental exhaustion from stress can lead to forgetfulness and reduced cognition. This can hamper your ability to do your job and enjoy life. Though stress is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to mitigate some of the negative effects of mental exhaustion, including forgetfulness. First, consider the source of your stress. These days, a common stressor is social media. If your feeds are full of bad news and negativity, shut them down. Many researchers suggest that spending less time on the internet leads to better health. Several studies have found that constant internet use, including time spent on social media, is negatively impacting our memories. Research from Harvard, Oxford, King’s College London, and Western

Sydney University all confirm this: Too much internet use is a bad thing.

Of course, it can be easier to delete a social media app than it is to eliminate other types of stressors. Coping with a stressful coworker, for example, can be difficult. You have to figure out why they’re causing you stress and how the situation can be remedied. Dealing with a work-related confrontation can be hard, but having that difficult conversation and resolving the problem can ultimately lead to less long- term stress and improve your mental health. Another thing you can do to reduce stress is avoid multitasking. Taking on multiple projects or doing too much in too little time can leave you feeling overworked. Plus, studies have found that multitasking is not effective. You cannot deliver the same

results when your attention is scattered as you can when you are focused on one thing. To make matters worse, multitasking takes a major toll on memory and cognition, according to a study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. If stress is impairing your memory, judgment, or cognition, take the above steps to reduce it. If you find your memory and cognition aren’t improving, consider speaking with a mental health professional to discuss your best next steps. Mental health and stress management are important, and the more we do to improve these areas of our lives, the healthier and happier we will be.

A TRAFFIC VIOLATION DURING LOCKDOWN

YOU CAN STILL TAKE ACTION AND REACH OUT

Over these past several months, Californians have been stuck in their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this has been received with a variety of responses, one of the more regular reactions was stress and anxiety. This was especially apparent for those individuals who had received a traffic ticket immediately before or during the lockdown. Fortunately, attorneys are allowed to function as an essential operation during the pandemic. This has allowed us to provide our services and assist drivers during the widespread lockdowns. While some courts are still operating in a limited capacity, most of the courts that we deal with are fully operational, at least when it comes to traffic violations.

of the due date at the bottom of their ticket because they think that “courts are closed.” This leads to Failure to Appear fines and penalties and, in the case of a misdemeanor violation, a warrant being issued.

If you have received a ticket during this time, please give us a call so we can go over the details of the ticket and the options you have. The worst thing you can do is ignore the ticket completely. Don’t wait to take action; call Bigger & Harman at (661) 859-1177.

Something our firm sees far too often is that many drivers are too dismissive

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE? ENCROACHING PLANT LIFE INTO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTIES

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION Thanks to your referrals, we were able to give $700 to fight human trafficking. To learn more about International Justice Mission, please go to IJM.org. MISSION: To protect the poor from violence by rescuing victims, bringing the criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts. Our long-term vision is to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice for the poor unstoppable.

A driver needs to be aware of their surroundings while out on the road. This includes minimizing distractions, staying alert to other vehicles on the road, and paying attention to traffic signs, pedestrians, and even wildlife. However, there are situations where that much needed visibility is not the fault of the driver. When tree limbs, weeds, grass, or other vegetation intrude into our sidewalks and roads, it is not only a nuisance but also a safety hazard.

Neglected plants, both on public and private property, increase the risk for potential accidents. For example, if a driver is approaching an intersection and their view is blocked from the road on the right, they cannot see if something or someone is approaching from that side. This makes it nearly impossible for the driver to react accordingly. Yet, if the overgrown vegetation had been trimmed back, the risks of a crash and the ensuing injuries are significantly reduced.

This type of circumstance begs one question: Who is responsible to maintain that vegetation?

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

A homeowner whose plant life encroaches on public property or their neighbor’s property is responsible to ensure that plant life — such as trees, shrubs, grass, or weeds — is under control. In the state of California, it is considered the landowner’s duty to maintain their yard and plant life. Typically, when branches or roots of plant life extend into an adjacent property, the owner of that property has the right to remove them, especially if vegetation threatens foundations, walkways, or structures. However, while they can trim, they must keep in mind the safety and health of the plant. Any improper pruning that results in the injury or death of a plant is not allowed. When overgrown vegetation is found on public property, it is often up to the state or local vegetation management, often overseen by the fire department, to take care of the problem. However, in some cases where a property owner receives the benefits of the plant life, such as enjoying the shade, aesthetic, and property value provided by a tree, they would be considered responsible for it. If you were involved in an accident or received a ticket due to an obstruction of view caused by vegetation, it’s important to call an attorney. A well-versed lawyer can discuss which options are open to you and advise the best course of action.

–MARK 12:33

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, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER

Toll-Free (661) 859-1177 Se Habla Español www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com

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1701 Westwind Drive Suite 203 Bakersfield, CA 93301

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A Passion for Volunteering My Time. ........... PAGE 1

Is Stress Making You Forgetful?...................... PAGE 2

Traffic Tickets and Stay-at-Home Orders.... PAGE 2

When Overgrown Vegetation Becomes Too Much........................................... PAGE 3

How 11 Days Were Deleted From History.... PAGE 4

Have a ticket in California? Give us a call, and we’ll help you out! Regardless of the location, we can point you in the right direction free of charge!

For centuries, Europeans used the Julian calendar, created by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. It was based on the solar calendar, so most of Europe thought it was the most accurate calendar. However, over the centuries, dates had “drifted,” and many important days, like Easter and the spring equinox, were no longer falling on the dates they were supposed to. To compensate, the new Gregorian calendar was developed and put to use by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It helped put things back in order and eliminated the extra day every 128 years. However, not everyone adopted the Gregorian calendar right away, such as the British. That meant that Europeans were using two diverging calendars for over 200 years. Talk about confusing! People realized that as the world started to expand and as countries became more connected, having a single calendar system was critical. 11 Days Deleted from History HOW THE BRITISH CHANGED THEIR CALENDAR SYSTEM AND CAUSED CHAOS

instance, 1751 could only be 10 months long — starting with March and ending with Dec. 31, 1751. But even that adjustment didn’t quite bring the English up to speed in time to make the shift. They also had to cut 11 days from 1752. The unlucky dates that were cut were Sept. 2–14, 1752. The people were not happy. English historians found research that British citizens chanted “Give us our 11 days!” in the streets. The phrase became so popular that some politicians even campaigned with that as their slogan. Several other historical accounts state that many people were worried that by cutting the calendar, their own lives would be cut 11 days shorter. There was a lot of confusion and chaos, but over time, dates fell where they were supposed to, and everyone lived their full lives, those 11 days included.

Finally, the British chose the year 1752 to make the change. But, in order to make it work, they had to “jump” forward. For

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