Harmonson Law Firm - January 2021

Harmonson Law Firm - January 2021

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

Playing Through the Pandemic REDISCOVERING OLD INTERESTS

One of the benefits of the pandemic is that I rediscovered my love of golf. When I started Harmonson Law Firm in 2012, my golf game evaporated. I've only played a handful of times in the past eight years. With limited opportunities to do much of anything during this pandemic, I decided to take up golf again in order to give myself something to do outside of the house.

or 18 holes by myself. For those few hours, I turn off my phone and become as unreachable and solitary as possible. I can forget all of my concerns over work or family and focus solely on the next shot. Self-improvement is also another benefit of playing golf. Whether it’s golf or another pursuit, everyone should have something that piques their interest. Will I ever be a master golfer? No. Will I improve with practice? Yes, I will. Does it matter? Absolutely. Another benefit is that my son Clayton has taken up golf during the pandemic as well. My dad taught me how to play. While I am certainly not the best teacher for Clayton (he’s 15 and I tend to be a bit too impatient), I hope that he will continue to pursue golf so we can enjoy playing together well into the future. I want to leave you with a quote from Dale Carnegie that means a lot to me and I think is poignant during this time (it also helps that January is National Hobby Month!): “Today is life — the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” I encourage you to set aside some time to rediscover an interest that you love. Maybe it’s an old hobby or just a general interest. Maybe there are a few books on your shelf that you haven’t gotten to. Or maybe you have a brand- new hobby that you want to take up in 2021. No matter what it may be, jump into it. I can’t think of a better way to start the new year.

One of the main reasons we moved to El Paso was because of the great golf courses. I also assumed that El Paso would be more conducive to establishing a healthy work-life balance versus what I was experiencing at the major law firm in downtown Houston. However, between building my firm and supporting my family, golf became nonexistent. It took a pandemic to help realign my priorities! When I was a kid, Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course in Lubbock was my mother’s go-to babysitter. My mom would drop me and my friends, Homer and Justin, off at the course, and we’d usually walk 18 or 36 holes. The course wasn’t in the best shape, but it was in a beautiful canyon in the otherwise flat and dusty Lubbock. I learned to play on my dad’s old set of Wilson Staff irons. If I hit off-center, my hands would shake violently from the vibrations of the club. But a solid shot with those blades was magic. I still get that same rush of adrenaline every time I hit a pure shot. One pure shot will keep me coming back for more even if I don’t have the best round.

But as much as I love the camaraderie of a good golf match with friends, what I love the most is playing nine

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IN THE COMP WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET INTO AN A

Just this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be described as one of the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup. FOXTROT’S HEROICS WITH THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP) for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide.

We frequently run into situations where a person was in an accident with someone who was on the job and in a work vehicle. While there are many similarities with a regular car accident, there are key differences that need to be addressed in order to help recover the most money for our injured client.

What are the main differences when an accident involves a work vehicle?

Insurance is the biggest difference. In a typical car accident case, the other driver most likely has the minimum amount of liability insurance, which is $30,000 per person in Texas. In a work vehicle accident case, however, the insurance is much higher than the minimum limits. We have seen insurance limits as high as $1,000,000 — sometimes even higher. In a major crash, the increased limits can help our injured client get necessary medical treatment and surgeries that may not be otherwise available. Additionally, with any lawsuit we file involving an employee driving a work vehicle, we always sue the employer as well as the employee. An employer is liable for the conduct of its employee when the employee is working in the course and scope of their employment. This type of vicarious liability, known as respondeat superior, allows us to sue the employer and potentially access much deeper pockets than the employee’s.

Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission. After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.” If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work that won them the Nobel Peace Prize, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.

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

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

PANY CAR ACCIDENT WITH A WORK VEHICLE

DASHBOARD DETECTIVE

We have sued major publicly traded companies in order to get as much leverage as possible. Employers are responsible for negligent hiring, training, and supervision. If an employee has a bad driving record prior to employment, the employer should know and not allow that driver to operate a company vehicle. We have also seen situations when employers fail to provide training to drivers on the rules of safe driving. This can lead to a lawsuit for negligent training of the driver.

Four Common Dashboard Symbols and What They Mean

Here are a few examples of work vehicle cases we have handled:

As you run around town in your vehicle of choice, there is one thing you hope to never see inside that vehicle: the check engine light. This symbol, like many of the other symbols on the dashboard, usually tells you that something is wrong, but it’s not always clear what that is. Well, here’s a little help! Battery Warning This straightforward light looks like a battery with plus and minus signs. When it lights up and the engine is off , it can mean your car battery is draining and the alternator isn’t feeding a charge to the battery. If left unaddressed, the battery will die and you may need to jump-start your vehicle. Should this light come on while the engine is on , something may be wrong with the battery or the charging system. Check Engine Warning This light looks like a little motor. When it comes on, it means the vehicle’s computer detected a malfunction. You can purchase a car code reader to plug into your car, which will give you a code to look up online to find out what the problem is. (Some higher-end readers will tell you the problem outright.) In many cases, you will not be able to address the problem on your own. Engine Temperature Warning This symbol looks like a thermometer in water. If it lights up, the engine temperature is above the normal range. Check coolant levels and ensure there's not a coolant leak. While checking the coolant, make sure the engine fan is running properly and the radiator cap is secure. If all of these check out and the light stays on, further professional diagnostic and repair may be needed. Oil Pressure Warning This light looks like an oil can. When it lights up, it can mean the engine has lost oil pressure or there is a lack of proper lubrication in the system. If driving, find a safe place to pull over and check the oil level and pressure as soon as possible. If this isn’t taken care of, it can result in serious damage to engine components and a costly repair bill.

• A traveling salesperson for a multinational company violated the safe driving rules and crashed into our client in a rental car.

• A construction worker in a work truck failed to yield the right of way by exiting a private drive into oncoming traffic and injured our client.

• A dump truck driver did not pay attention to road conditions and rear- ended our client’s vehicle.

HTS

• A taxicab driver failed to follow the rules of the road and slammed into our client, causing neck and back injuries.

BIRTHDAY CAKE BAKED OATMEAL FOR ONE (YES, REALLY)

INSPIRED BY ITSTAYLERMARIE.ORG

Did you know that January is National Oatmeal Month? If you tend to think of oatmeal as boring, this fun dessert-themed recipe just might change your mind. To go all out, top with a candle and a dollop of whipped cream.

INGREDIENTS

• • • • •

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1 browning banana, mashed

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Splash of vanilla extract

1 tsp brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder

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2 tsp sprinkles

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F and prepare a small oven-safe dish. 2. In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the sprinkles. 3. Pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish. 4. Bake for 25 minutes or until the oatmeal is golden brown. 5. Let the oatmeal cool slightly, top with sprinkles, and dig in!

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

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Swinging Into the New Year!

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The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize

What Happens if You Get Into a Wreck With a Company Car?

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Birthday Cake Baked Oatmeal for One (Yes, Really)

What Do These Dashboard Symbols Actually Mean?

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Give Yourself the Boost of Getting Outside

Let That Fresh Air Fuel You

4 Tips to Make Getting Outside Easier

Hunkering down and waiting for the dark and chilly winter season to pass sounds pretty nice. But the reality is, if we deprive ourselves of time outside, we do ourselves a big disservice both mentally and physically. Staying indoors all day affects your energy and mood, which makes it hard to get anything done, so here are four easy tips to make it easier to get a little fresh air. 1. Make it a priority . Getting outside means making the conscious effort to do so. If you want to reap its benefits, you have to decide to make it a priority in your day-to-day schedule. If you make the act important to you, you have more motivation to actually do it. 2. Use mornings effectively. Waking up and getting the day started can be hard. But studies have shown that natural light helps decrease your melatonin

production, which means you feel ready to face the day sooner. So, set yourself a second alarm to head outside and take a quick walk around the block just after waking. Don’t even wash your face or grab coffee. Just get out there. 3. Take your work outside. If you’re working from home, take some work outdoors. Phone and virtual meetings are a great outdoor option, especially if you’ll just be an active listener and aren’t required to do any work simultaneously. Attach a note to your meeting reminders to get yourself set up outside five minutes before you start. 4. Create a schedule. It might feel strange to set reminders throughout the day to step outside, but you easily get wrapped up in activities and overlook breaks, and these reminders are exactly what you need. Start with 10-minute blocks three times a day. If you stick to them, soon you won’t need a schedule to get outside anymore. Winter weather may be cold, but even when you’re bundled up under a jacket and scarf, just 5–10 minutes outside can do wonders for your mood and energy for hours.

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