Harmonson Law Firm - August 2022

Harmonson Law Firm - August 2022

HARMONSON HEADLINES YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND AUGUST 2022

LUCY KEEPS US ON OUR TOES DOGS MAKE OUR LIVES WHOLE

Since we are in the middle of the dog days of summer, I want to tell you about our sweet dog Lucy. Before we had our son Winton, my family and I had always talked about getting a dog. I reached out to a friend in the Upper Valley who breeds hunting dogs and sends them all over the United States, and that’s where I found Lucy, our Llewellin setter.

One of Lucy’s many quirks is that she becomes pretty anxious during storms. As most know, we get a monsoon season during the months of June and July, so there are tons of evening thunderstorms that pass through. Normally, Lucy’s anxiety makes her hide in my closet, but recently, she’s had this desire to get out of the house instead.

I had a lot of high hopes and aspirations to go out and teach Lucy how to hunt, but unfortunately, it was something that I didn’t have the luxury to spend much time doing. So, she’s definitely more of

Another incident happened just last month before my family and I left for a vacation — quite literally, the night before we departed. Of course, there was another storm wreaking havoc on El Paso —

a house dog than a hunting dog. She still has those traits and instincts, but she just doesn’t have the hunting part down, which is on me. She does, however, like to come to a full point to butterflies and other flying bugs in our backyard. But more recently, we’ve been having some pretty close calls with her. I’ve come to realize that Lucy is a bit of an escape artist, so she’s constantly keeping us on our toes with her little adventures.

and she escaped again! But, this was one of the only times we couldn’t find her like we normally would. I stayed out until 1 o’clock in the morning, searching and crawling through the arroyos to see if maybe she had gotten stuck or hurt, but I had no luck.

Early the next morning, Sheri and I were trying to figure out what we would do because there was no way we would leave without finding Lucy. We decided to just call the hotel and reschedule the trip, but thankfully, Lucy had been found. She had managed to get into someone else’s backyard during the storm and stayed there overnight. That good Samaritan saved our Lucy — and maybe our marriage. It was pretty intense.

There was a time that a buddy of mine and I went out to go hunting on public land near the

Rio Grande. Since Lucy isn’t much of a hunting dog, I thought it would be good to at least expose her to it. We had our dogs and all our hunting gear, and Lucy was out there frolicking and chasing birds. Somehow, she managed to chase them all the way to the river, so she jumped right in. So here I am in my full hunting gear, ripping everything off until I’m down to my undergarments, and I jump in to grab her. The Rio Grande has its on and off season, and it can get pretty dangerous, but of course, Lucy went in without a care in the world.

The moral of the story is that, though she is an escape artist, she is always found and brought back home to us. We love her tremendously, especially the kids, and she’s a great addition to our family. I sit on the porch a lot at night, and she always joins me as we look over the arroyos together. I’m enjoying the view, but I’m sure she’s planning her next adventure. Until next month, I hope you enjoy the end of the dog days of summer with your favorite pet.

Though I wasn’t planning on getting into the water, for Lucy, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

915.584.8777 • 1

DON’T WAI

In today’s society, we are faced with tragic stories and upsetting information, no matter where we turn. This can quickly lead us to a negative mindset where we believe things can’t be fixed and will only get worse, so it’s even more important now to establish a positive mindset. Though it might be easier to bury your head in the sand, fostering positivity in your life will provide you with many benefits. But doing so is easier said than done. If you’re unsure where to begin, try out some of these methods to help you get started. Focus on the silver lining. When something bad or unfortunate happens, we are quick to think about the negatives and how they will impact us in the future. Instead, we should be searching for a silver lining. You can find a positive in any situation, but you’ll have to put in the effort to flip your perspective. Keep a gratitude journal. When we think about gratitude and thankfulness, our minds usually think about Thanksgiving. But we don’t need to wait for a special day to show gratitude. Things happen to us every day that we should be grateful for. If you’re struggling to acknowledge your blessings, keep a gratitude journal and write a few things you are thankful for each day. Over time, that thought process will seep into your daily life. Surround yourself with positive people. The people we associate with play a huge role in our mental well-being. If you’re constantly around people who put you down or tell you that you can’t accomplish certain things, you will feel worse about yourself — or even believe them. You need to block the negative people from your life and surround yourself with those who think optimistically. Establishing a positive mindset in today’s world may be difficult, but it is not impossible if you develop a strategy and follow through with it.

RIGHT TO

FILE YOUR LAWSUIT SOONE

Life can be unpredictable, and we never truly know when an accident may occur. When it does, it is essential to act accordingly and as soon as possible to obtain compensation if you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Under New Mexico law, you have three years to file a lawsuit that involves an “injury to the person.” These types of personal injury cases include workplace accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, or motor vehicle accidents. In most circumstances, the statute of limitations begins when you are injured. If you wait past this time limit, you may not be able to file a lawsuit and recover monetary compensation for your injuries. But if there is uncertainty about when the injury occurred, the time may not start until you discover that an injury happened. It is rare, but there are certain circumstances in which the court can extend the statute of limitations. It usually requires that you prove to the court that there are exceptional conditions.

SUDO KU

SOLUTION ON PG. 4

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IVE YOUR O FILE ER RATHER THAN LATER

BE CAUTIOUS BEHIND THE WHEEL Rates Won’t Last Forever

These situations include:

It’s no secret that kids can be clumsy. They make mistakes and cause messes, which usually results in a lecture or two. They have not yet been exposed to the harsh reality of the consequences of their actions. So, when they’re a bit older and have more responsibility, teens can get into serious trouble if they’re not careful. When teens finally get their permit or license, they can’t wait to hit the road and experience one of life’s greatest milestones. But with that excitement comes the risk of car accidents. If it does happen and you confirm that your teen isn’t injured, you now have to deal with the mechanical, legal, and insurance consequences. One question that is typically asked in situations like these is this: Will your insurance go up after your teen is in an accident? In the case of a teen, it depends on the situation, but oftentimes, the answer is yes. Under Texas law, you are not held personally liable for your child’s negligent acts. However, if the other party involved proves you negligently entrusted your vehicle to your child, you may be liable for a negligent entrustment suit.

• The defendant was outside the state of New Mexico for a long period of time, and it wasn’t possible to bring a lawsuit against them during the time defined by statute of limitations. • If the plaintiff is under the age of 18, then the statute of limitations does not begin until they turn 18. Instead of being three years to file a lawsuit, the plaintiff only has a year to file suit after turning 18 or three years from the date of the accident, whichever is later. • If the plaintiff is mentally incapable, the statute of limitations will freeze until they regain their mental capacity. Once recovered, they have a year to bring a lawsuit. It’s imperative that you hire an experienced attorney and initiate legal proceedings sooner rather than later. Our personal injury attorneys here at the Harmonson Law Firm can make the process easier by keeping you first and helping you get the monetary compensation that you deserve. Feel free to reach us at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com/contact to schedule a free consultation!

Restaurant-Style Chicken Marsala Inspired by FoodNetwork.com

You may be liable for causing an accident if your teen borrowed your vehicle even though you knew that your teen:

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Doesn’t have a driver’s license Has a history of reckless driving

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Was under the influence at the time of driving

INGREDIENTS

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1 cup flour, for dredging Salt and pepper, to taste

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4 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced

If the court doesn’t penalize you for your teen’s accident, it doesn’t mean your insurance company won’t. If your child is included on your car insurance plan, their accident can cause your insurance company to raise your rates during the next policy renewal. There are times when car accidents can result in insurance rate spikes, but thankfully, rates don’t last forever. If your teen is on their best behavior and stays clear of trouble on the roads, your rates should go back to normal within six months to three years. In order to avoid any legal or insurance issues in the long run, encourage your teen to be cautious while behind the wheel. And if you do face issues after your teen is in an accident, we at Harmonson Law are here to help. Contact an El Paso car accident lawyer at 915.584.8777 , where our firm is available around the clock to take your call!

8 oz mushrooms

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thick

1/2 cup Marsala wine 1/2 cup chicken stock

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1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp butter

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and pepper until evenly distributed. 2. Add chicken to flour mixture and coat all sides. Shake off any excess.

3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add chicken to the skillet. Work in batches if pieces don’t all fit in the pan. Cook each side for 5 minutes until golden brown. 4. Remove chicken to a platter. 5. Lower heat to medium. Add prosciutto to pan and sauté for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. 6. Add Marsala to skillet. Let it come to a boil, then add the chicken stock and simmer for 1 minute. 7. Stir in the butter and add chicken back into the skillet. Let simmer gently for an additional minute, then serve.

915.584.8777 • 3

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

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The Best Addition to Our Family

Dealing With Negativity? Try These 3 Things!

Understanding the Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury

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Restaurant-Style Chicken Marsala

Navigating Insurance Rates After a Teen’s Accident

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4 Reasons to Start Golfing This Summer

Tee Off This Summer

4 GREAT BENEFITS OF GOLF

Golf is an enjoyable sport anyone can participate in regardless of experience, ability, and age. There’s nothing quite like teeing off on the first hole after a difficult week of work. Though it can certainly be frustrating at times, golf is a fun sport with many amazing perks. Reading the following benefits will make you want to head to your local course, even if you’re not a regular golfer.

or on the course for the first time, you are not going to have a perfect round. You may miss a putt or end up in the sand trap, but you decide how you react to the situation. You can get mad and potentially play worse or understand that everything is not always going to work out in golf. That lesson can even be applied to your everyday life. It’ll draw you outside. Most of us can use some additional time outdoors, and golf provides the perfect opportunity. Between rolling hills, picturesque ponds, and lush trees, the golf course is a beautiful setting. Even if you’re playing poorly, you can still enjoy being outside for a few hours out of your day. It’s fun for the entire family. Golf isn’t just for businessmen. Anyone can find enjoyment in the game. It can be a great weekend activity for the entire family or the

It’s great exercise. Playing a full 18 holes of golf can be

exhausting and for good reason. Swinging a golf club works your forearms, core, shoulders, and back muscles. If you choose to walk the course, you’ll be getting in a great workout as the average course length is about 4 miles. You can also carry your golf bag for an even better workout.

perfect bonding experience between relatives. There are par 3 courses across the country that offer an easier experience for new golfers, and you can always play nine holes instead of 18 to cut down on time and conserve energy.

It builds character. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned golfer

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