VanMeveren Law Group - December 2021

VanMeveren Law Group - December 2021

123 North College Ave., Suite 112 Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-495-9741

DECEMBER 2021

Protect Others on Colorado’s Roads This Holiday Season Challenge Yourself to Drive Better!

As a personal injury attorney, this can be hard for me to admit: I think we are all guilty of neglectful driving. We get so busy in our daily routines, shuffling kids from one event to the next or running errands while trying to beat traffic, that it’s only human nature for us to tune out our surroundings or take our focus off the road.

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Do you turn without signaling first?

• Do you regularly speed, or do you receive speeding tickets on a frequent basis? • Do you tailgate other drivers or slam on the brakes regularly? • Do you change lanes without checking your mirrors? • Do you display aggression or impatience behind the wheel? • Do you pick up trash or other items on the floor when driving? • Do you drive on the shoulder? No one is perfect behind the wheel, but there are ways in which we can improve our driving skills and create safer road ways. I would encourage you to consider making changes to your driving habits or routines if you can relate to any of these questions. If you’re not sure where to start, take it slowly. For example, if you struggle with speeding, try using cruise control. This setting allows you to set your speed and forget about it — until the speed changes, of course. You won’t feel as though you are traveling “too slowly” because your speed will remain constant. By doing this, you can train yourself to travel at safer speeds when cruise control is not a viable option.

This holiday season, I encourage you to beat this habit.

As the weather dips and snow continues to fall, our roadways become more treacherous. Plus, as if that isn’t enough, more drivers are on the road for travel and holiday shopping, and more activities involve alcohol. All these factors combine together to create the perfect storm; in fact, we often see collisions and calls for case inquiries spike around the holidays. While I’m not immune to neglectful driving, I find that I’m more attuned to neglectful habits as an attorney who helps survivors of the very incidents these habits cause and as a bicyclist who has come inches away from being more personally involved in a personal injury case. Sadly, about two-thirds of these incidents involve drivers who aren’t even looking at the road! Their head is facing their lap as they text, or they are fiddling with the radio. It’s scary to witness and completely preventable. The biggest way you can prevent neglectful driving is to put your phone away. Place it in the glove compartment or put it on airplane mode in a purse or bag. This will eliminate the temptation to scroll, change the song, or respond to a text while you’re driving, which will increase your attention to the road. However, there may be other obstacles limiting your ability to focus on the road. Consider these questions, and if you engage in any of these behaviors, you may be a dangerous driver or inattentive on the road.

This holiday season, challenge yourself and your loved ones to make attentive driving a priority. Don’t allow the “perfect storm” to overwhelm your driving habits, and let’s all do our part to make Fort Collins’ roadways safer for everyone. I’m taking the challenge — will you?

–Bryan VanMeveren

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Merry and Bright

‘I Can’t Thank Them Enough!’

Decorating your Christmas tree should be fun, but the process often turns into anything but. Between finding decorations, untangling lights, and trying to get the tree picture-perfect, the happy event can quickly become stressful. CUT THE STRESS FROM DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE

“I had no idea what to do when I was injured. I called around and had one name brought up by many. So, I called VanMeveren and set up an appointment. Jolene Blair met with me and explained how things work. Jolene and Andrea Harokopis went to bat for me. They led me through the process and got me through to a successful ending. I can’t thank them enough for their work and direction for me. I would definitely recommend VanMeveren to anyone for any personal injury! Thanks again.”

Even if you love decorating the tree, you can likely make the experience (and the end product) even better. Here are the most common sources of frustration and how to fix them with minimal fuss. Bare Spots Whether your tree is natural or artificial, you need to fluff the branches. However, as important as this step is, you don’t need to spend more than 10 minutes on it because let’s face it: There are some bare spots no amount of fluffing will fix. Luckily, tinsel garland hides a wide variety of flaws and might be the easiest solution. If you don’t care for tinsel, tying large gift bows to the tree is festive and covers a lot of space. You can also buy fake twigs that have berries, look like real tree branches, or are covered in glitter. Stick them in the bare spots to fill out your tree, then save them for the next year. Lights If you use an artificial Christmas tree, we strongly recommend buying one that is pre-lit. If your holiday just doesn’t feel complete without a real tree in the house, hanging the lights can be one of the most frustrating parts of the tree-decorating process. Get on the right track by setting yourself up for success. Instead of shoving your lights in a box or bag at the end of the season, wrap them around the outside of the box or around a clothing hanger instead. Getting your lights hung properly around the tree can be a pain, too. This year, try hanging them vertically on your tree, from base to top and back again, until the tree is covered. It’s easier to do and helps camouflage the cord. Beaded Garland Beaded garland always looks so much better in the store than it does on your own tree. No matter how much you fiddle with it, it just doesn’t lay right or have the even, dramatic swoops you see in display windows. The true problem is probably that you’ve been hanging your beaded garland incorrectly. You may think there can’t be too many ways to drape beads over branches, but draping itself is the entirely wrong approach. Instead of simply wrapping the beads around the tree and hoping they fall into place, you should attach ornament hooks to the garland along the string. Use the hooks to gracefully hang your garland from the branches and marvel at the simplicity. When your Christmas tree goes up this year, these tips should make the experience faster, easier, and more joyful. You can now use all that time you would have spent wrapping garland to wrap presents instead.

–Nathan B.

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MEET ADOPTABLE PETS AND LEARN HOW 300 KIDS RECEIVED NEW BIKES! VANMEVEREN IN THE COMMUNITY We strive to be more than a law firm at

We were also on-site when about 50 kids were given their bikes and complimentary helmets. We’ll never forget the excitement of each kid as they took off on their brand-new bike! Thank you for your continued work, Wish for Wheels. You can learn more at WishForWheels.org .

VanMeveren Law Group. As members of the Fort Collins community, we’re committed to making it a better, safer place for residents of all ages — regardless if they have two legs or four paws. Recently, we continued that mission through our ongoing partnership with the Animal Pet Alliance and a recent event with Wish for Wheels. Learn more below! A Bike (and Helmet!) for Every Kid In 2004, Brad Appel founded Wish for Wheels with the mission of supplying new bikes to children in impoverished communities. Today, Wish for Wheels works with organizations, businesses, and even the Denver Broncos to build and gift bikes to children at Title-I schools in the region. Given our founder’s passion for cycling and enjoying our local landscape, this sounded like the perfect organization for us to support!

Adopt Calla Lily! After a long journey to Fort Collins from southeastern Kansas, Calla Lily is eagerly

awaiting her new home. She loves a good scratch on her head and under her chin, and you’re sure to catch her napping sweetly, snuggled up in her favorite blanket. Calla Lily does need to lose some weight and would benefit from regular brushing! She would also need a slow transition to meet pets, but she has lived (and gotten along with) teenage children. Calla Lily, the Kansas kitty in need of a fresh start and soft blanket to call home, just might be the furry friend for you! Meet her and other lovable pets at the Animal Friends Alliance. Visit SavingAnimalsToday.org to learn more.

In October, VanMeveren Law Group helped Wish for Wheels build 300 bicycles for local children.

SUDOKU

Crispy Fish With Brown Butter Sauce

Inspired by BonAppetit.com

Want to enjoy the decadence of the holiday season without adding too much to your waistline? Swap red meat for fish and serve this delicious, easy dish. Ingredients:

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1 tbsp olive oil

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1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, chopped

4 5-oz Chilean sea bass or salmon fillets, skin-on Salt and pepper, to taste 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces

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2 tsp lemon juice

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Lemon wedges, for garnish

Directions:

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In an unheated skillet, add oil. Season fish with salt and pepper, then add to skillet (skin-down). Heat the skillet to medium and cook for 4 minutes. With a spatula, press each fillet down, rotating between fillets every few seconds. When the skin begins to crisp, stop pressing and cook 8–10 minutes, then

flip and cook for another minute. Remove the fish.

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Wipe the skillet clean and return to medium heat. Add the butter and hazelnuts. Heat, swirling continuously, until butter foams and browns. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and season to taste. Pour over fish, garnish, and serve with salad.

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123 North College Ave, Suite 112 Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-495-9741 www.vanmeverenlaw.com

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INSIDE This Issue

How to Be a Better Driver Page 1 Make Decorating Your Christmas Tree Less Stressful What Our Clients Are Saying Page 2 We’re Proud to Get Involved Crispy Fish With Brown Butter Sauce Page 3 Find Your Holiday Spirit at These 3 Events! Page 4

3 Events With Holiday Spirit

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means it’s also the most wonderful time for events! Check out these must-see attractions across Fort Collins to celebrate the holidays in style.

Garden of Lights at The Gardens on Spring Creek Where: 2145 S. Centre Ave. When: Dec. 10–26 from 5–9 p.m. Admission: $5–$10, free for children ages 4 and under There’s no scene quite as picturesque as a garden full of Christmas lights! Check out the twinkling lights at The Gardens on Spring Creek to get in the holiday spirit. The Gardens decks out their flower beds, sculptures, and other botanical favorites, transforming their space into a little holiday village of sorts. Take a stroll around the half-mile loop and don’t forget to snap a few photos! Tickets are on sale now, and more details can be found at FCGov.com/Gardens .

‘Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”’ Where: Lincoln Center Performance Hall, 417 W. Magnolia St. When: Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Admission: $15–$46

‘How to Survive Your Family at Christmas’ Where: Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine Street When: Fridays through Sundays Dec. 10–26 at select times Admission: TBA Who says the holidays have to be stuffy and proper? This winter, the Bas Bleu Theatre is poking fun at holiday traditions and offering some humor to help us cope with the holiday stress and complications of gathering with family. Join in on the family antics as law student Loretta brings her boyfriend, Langdon, home for the holidays. However, Langdon may be in for more than he realizes, as the Nutt family’s antics go beyond the strange! Find your tickets at ColoradoTheatreGuild.org.

Watch as one of the most classic holiday tales comes to life on the Lincoln Center stage! You know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the fateful night he was visited by three kindly ghosts, but you won’t ever see the story told quite as poignantly

as you will in the theatre! Share the lesson with your loved ones and soak up the holiday spirit. Tickets can be found online at LCTix.com .

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