Harmonson Law Firm - October 2020

Harmonson Law Firm - October 2020

OCTOBER 2020

HARMONSON HEADLINES

YOUR GUIDE TO PERSONAL INJURY IN THE BORDERLAND

MAKING YOUR LIFE A LITTLE EASIER What Good Customer Service Means to Me

W e live in an age where people expect a lot from businesses and that includes a good customer service experience. A big part of that comes from the internet. Thanks to companies like Amazon, the customer service landscape has changed. Amazon has done a lot to make sure they are able to please as many people as possible. Social media has also influenced customer service by making it easier for consumers to get in touch with the companies they do business with. Over the years, Harmonson Law has adapted to meet the needs of our clients. We’ve embraced a very forward-thinking approach to customer service, which happens on many different levels. For instance, having a great team helps us deliver stellar customer service. Rosie and Beverly help our clients on the front end. Attorney Hadley Huchton took on the huge role of handling our medical malpractice litigation. Bringing on Hadley has

been good for both our team and our clients, as we’re one of the few firms in El Paso that can really handle these types of cases.

I also make sure I’m available to clients without being overrun. For example, I don’t generally take unscheduled calls so I can focus my attention on one case at a time. I believe in giving every client the attention they need and deserve. But I also make sure my schedule is available to those who need to speak with me. I never want anyone’s concerns or questions to go unanswered. This is one of the many reasons why we put a lot of effort into developing top-notch systems and processes. For example, we've developed and streamlined a very specific system for handling car accident cases. This system helps us ensure that the process runs smoothly and efficiently, which allows us to get the best results for our clients. Technology plays a big role in our systems and processes too. This year alone, thanks in part to the pandemic, we’ve upped our game. New clients can schedule appointments right on our website. This may seem like a simple thing, but it’s a great way to make sure you’re getting an appointment on your terms. We’ve also created a new VIP section on our website, ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com. If you click the VIP link, it will take you to our VIP Membership Program page. It’s a new way for us to connect with clients or anyone who needs legal help, and it’s completely free!

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A PROTECTION EVER UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE

When you lead a busy lifestyle, mental health often takes a back seat to other pressing matters. Thankfully, there are a number of easy- to-use apps to help address this concern. Even if you’re pressed for time, these apps can help you maintain your mental health. And if you’re just looking for some simple resources to guide you through mood-boosting exercises, they’ve got you covered there too. Moodfit (GetMoodfit.com) Think of this app as a fitness tracker for your mind. The mood tracker allows you to record your moods and thoughts and follow trends and changes over time. You can look at these trends yourself or set the app to monitor specific areas of your mood. This highly customizable app is packed with tools and resources to help you with your mental health. In addition to the mood tracker, Moodfit offers a range of breathing exercises and a guide to mindfulness meditation.

What happens if you are involved in a hit-and-run car accident or are hit by a driver who has no insurance? What if you are seriously injured in an accident and the at-fault driver’s policy limits will not cover your medical bills alone? Texas has the 16th highest number of uninsured drivers in the United States. According to the Insurance Research Council, there are more than 15 million licensed drivers in Texas, and about 14% of those drivers do not have car insurance — that’s about 2,115,000 drivers! This is where uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance comes in. Every insurance policy has UM/UIM coverage unless coverage is rejected in writing (which you should not reject). Every month, we are contacted by someone who was hit by an uninsured driver, and if the potential client has rejected UM/ UIM, there is nothing we can do. UM protection applies if the at-fault driver has no liability insurance. It also applies if the accident is a hit-and-run. In Texas, there must be contact with the uninsured vehicle for the uninsured motorist protection to apply.

MoodMission (MoodMission.com) If you’re struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, you may feel like this free, evidence- based app was designed just for you. MoodMission asks you a series of questions to assess how you’re feeling, then suggests a series of “missions” you can complete to help you get into a better state of mind. Missions are short, achievable tasks, like taking a walk around the block or cleaning up a room in your home. Of course, like all the apps listed here, it is not a replacement for professional mental health care, but it offers evidence-based exercises and a level of support that’s not often found in smartphone apps. Talkspace (Talkspace.com) While this app contains a number of mental health tools, its primary purpose is to connect you quickly with one of the company’s thousands of licensed and experienced therapists you can message on a regular basis. Unlike traditional therapy where you schedule an appointment and meet in person, Talkspace allows its user to communicate with their therapist through the app’s encrypted messaging system. It also allows you to request a check- in from your therapist and provides a place for them to upload your therapy notes. Talkspace is more costly than some other apps, but depending on your specific needs, it may be worth it.

UM/UIM coverage follows the insured person, not the vehicle. So, you do not have to be in your insured vehicle for your UM/UIM coverage to apply. You could be a pedestrian and your UM/UIM coverage will still protect you. UM/UIM also covers your family members, individuals who drive your car with permission, and all of the occupants of your vehicle. What the Insurance Companies DON’T Want You to Know About YOUR RIG

Claims was written to s with vital information 8-wheeler, work vehicle es to bear in mind that up premiums for their e 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 es ly

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.”

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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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RY DRIVER NEEDS

TRICK OR TREAT?

Here are the minimum uninsured/underinsured policy limits in Texas:

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$30,000 per person personal injury

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$60,000 per incident personal injury

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$25,000 property damage

3 Ideas for a Fun and Safe Halloween

The “per person” bodily injury limit means that your insurance company only has to pay up to the per person limits for any one person involved in the accident. The “per incident” limit means that your insurance company is only required to pay the “per incident” limits, no matter how many persons are in the accident.

Halloween is beloved by kids and adults alike. While some communities have considered canceling Halloween festivities, many people still want to celebrate. It doesn’t help that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, making it feel all the more festive. But with the health concerns of this year's pandemic, is it possible to trick-or- treat or throw a party safely? We all know the risk will still be present on Oct. 31. This means parents and partiers will have to decide individually what they want to do. There are still many ways to have ghoulish fun while staying safe this holiday. Go virtual with your Halloween festivities! This gives everyone a chance to dress up while staying at home. Put on your favorite terrifying tunes and have a costume or decoration contest. Encourage everyone to spruce up their party space and the area visible from their webcam to add an extra layer of spookiness to the digital festivities. You can even set up voting with tools like Google Forms. Get the most out of masks. If you decide to go out for a little fun, remember that practicing social distancing and wearing a mask is important, but don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Incorporate a mask into all your trick-or-treater's costumes. There are many fun and iconic characters that wear masks, so let your imagination be your guide. Sanitize! Whether you go out or stay at home, it’s always good to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes on standby. If you choose to go out, wash your hands and your costume as soon as you get home. If your costume is not washable, hang it somewhere away from other items, such as in the garage or on a back porch, for a few days.

GHTS

Want to learn more about UM/UIM coverage and how it can protect you? See more at ClarkHarmonsonAttorney.com/blog !

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We only just recently launched the VIP Membership Program and I’m excited to see how it goes. I wanted to create something with no cost and no catches. It comes with several pro bono services such as: • Family/small-business contract reviews for contracts, leases, or other similar paperwork • Insurance policy reviews to make sure your home, auto, or business insurance meets your needs • Notary services for a simple way to get your documents notarized without any added costs or time spent • 15-minute legal consultations, because sometimes all you need is one or two legal questions answered With this program, we can literally handle your matter without you ever having to step foot in our office. Though, if you want to visit our office, we’re of course more than happy to bring you in! This program is all about making your life a little easier. For me, that’s a big part of good customer service.

There’s a reason why our motto is “Keeping You First.” Everything we do, we do it with your needs in mind.

915.584.8777 • 3

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

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What Does Good Customer Service Look Like to You?

The Best Mental Health Apps You Can Use From Home

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Yes, You DO Need Uninsured Motorist Protection

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Stay Safe and Have Fun This Halloween

When ‘Star Wars’ Invaded Halloween

The Spooky ‘Star Wars’ Shortage of 1977

A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be.

they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes. In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away. The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.

Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as

.

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