Zinda Law - February 2020

Zinda Law - February 2020

Principal Office 8834 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. Suite 304, Austin, TX 78759 877-545-9251 OUR LOCATIONS FEBRUARY 2020

ZDFIRM.COM | 877-545-9251 PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

TEXAS Austin Downtown Office: 1601 Rio Grande St. Suite 345 Austin, TX 78701 Arlington Office: 3901 Arlington Highlands Blvd. Suite 200 Arlington, TX 76018 Carrollton Office: 2340 E. Trinity Mills Suite 300 Carrollton, TX 75006 Corpus Christi Office: 3205 Rodd Field Rd. Corpus Christi, TX 78414 Dallas Office: 3131 McKinney Ave. Suite 600 Dallas, TX 75204 El Paso Office: 2300 George Dieter Drive El Paso, TX 79936 Fort Worth Office: 201 Main Street Suite 600 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Houston Office: 1700 Post Oak Boulevard 2 BLVD. Place Suite 600 Houston, TX 77056 Midland Office: 6 Desta Drive Suite 4600 Midland, TX 79705 Plano Office: 6860 North Dallas Pkwy. Suite 200 Plano, TX 75024 Round Rock Office: 1000 Heritage Center Circle Round Rock, TX 78664 San Antonio Office: 18756 Stone Oak Parkway Suite 200 San Antonio, TX 78258

Temple Office: 319 South First Temple, TX 76504 Waco Office: 7215 Bosque Blvd. Suite 107 Waco, TX 76710 COLORADO Aurora Office: 3190 S. VaughnWay Suite 550 Aurora, CO 80014 Boulder Office: 1434 Spruce Street Suite 100 Boulder, CO 80302

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PAID IT FORWARD?

A little kindness goes a long way in the world. You might have heard stories of someone paying for the person behind them in the coffee shop drive through and that sparking a chain reaction, where the customer behind them pays for the next person in line and so on and so forth. Random acts of kindness are contagious and worth spreading. In fact, there’s a holiday this month on Feb. 17 called Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Day, created for the celebration and proliferation of little kindnesses everywhere. It’s not quite clear who started this holiday, but a few sources point to a small team of do-gooders in New Zealand back in 2004, who wanted to dedicate one day a year to paying it forward. The holiday is celebrated on Sept. 1 in New Zealand. In the United States, the origin of the holiday could possibly be traced back to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which has encouraged its “RAKtivists” to spread kindness wherever they find themselves since the nonprofit was founded in 1995. Even though the origins of the holiday might not be clear, what is clear are the multiple ways people everywhere can observe the holiday. The Random Act of Kindness Foundation’s website shares quite a few different ways you can spread some kindness in your home, workplace, and community. These ideas range from next-to-effortless tweaks to your routine to minor life changes, but all of them have the potential to cause ripple effects within your spheres of influence.

notes sitting on your desk gathering dust, try writing some encouraging notes on them and putting them in different places around the office. You never know whose day you’ll make a little better for doing so. PLANT A TREE Trees play a huge part in keeping our air clean and breathable. Planting just one tree can have positive ramifications on our air quality for generations to come. While you might not see the positive effects of that tree in your lifetime, you can rest assured it’s an act of kindness that will keep on giving. GIFT AN INSPIRATIONAL BOOK What books have shaped your personality for the better? Do you know someone who you think could benefit from that book as well? The best reads shape who we are and are worth sharing with others, so gift your favorite book to a person you think would like it, too. You could even host a book exchange for a group of friends where everyone gives away a copy of their favorite book and receives someone else’s favorite in return. Even though Random Acts of Kindness have their own holiday, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out of your way to be kind during the other 364 days — just the opposite. RAK Day should remind us all that it’s not always hard to be kind. It will, however, always be worth the effort, and then some.

Colorado Springs Office: 102 S. Tejon Street Suite 1100 Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Denver Office: 600 17th Street Suite 2625S Denver, CO 80202

Fort Collins Office: 155 E. Boardwalk Drive Suite 455 Fort Collins, CO 80525 ARIZONA Phoenix Office: 4742 N. 24th Street Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85016 Tucson Office: 2 E. Congress Suite 900 Tucson, AZ 85701 NEWMEXICO Albuquerque Office: 6565 Americas Parkway, NE Suite 200 Albuquerque, NM 87110 Las Cruces Office: 1990 E. Lohman Avenue Las Cruces, NM 88001

POST SOME POSITIVE NOTES AROUND YOUR WORKPLACE You might not know everything your

coworkers are going through, but everyone could use a little encouragement every once in a while. If you’ve got a stack of colorful sticky

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GIVE THE GIFTOF LIFE FEB. 14 IS NATIONAL DONOR DAY

JOIN A DONOR DASH. Donor Dash fundraising events pop up all over the country on National Donor Day. These noncompetitive 5K running and walking events are designed to bring donors and recipients together and keep hope alive for those who are currently waiting for a donation. To learn more, or to register for an event, check out DonorAlliance.org. PARTICIPATE IN #STARTTHECONVERSATION. Donor Alliance, a nonprofit that works to promote organ donation, began the #StartTheConversation campaign as a way to help spread awareness about organ and tissue donation. Starting the conversation can be as simple as sharing that you registered with your friends and family or as personal as sharing a story about how organ donation has touched your life or the lives of your loved ones. Don’t let another Valentine’s Day come and go in a tide of cellophane, candy hearts, and cheesy cards. This year, get involved in National Donor Day. After all, what better way is there to express the value of love than giving the gift of life?

There are quite a few modern misconceptions about Valentine’s Day — one of them being that it’s strictly a Hallmark-invented holiday to celebrate romance with commercialized chocolate and cards — but its beginnings are quite gruesome and mysterious. The celebration begins with the myths of three different Roman Catholic saints named Valentine or Valentinus. It’s a contentious issue as to which one is the true namesake of the holiday. Most of these myths begin after Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, contending that single men made better soldiers. Valentine, a priest, rejected the law and married young couples in secret. When he was found out and thrown into prison, he met and fell in love with the jail keeper’s daughter. In his final letter to her before execution, he wrote “From your Valentine,” from which many historians credit the ongoing usage and variations of the term. Another legend suggests that Valentine went to jail for different reasons: He was trying to help beaten and tortured Christians escape Roman prisons. Other stories suggest a different origin altogether: a bishop named Saint Valentine of Terni who was also beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome. You could say the Catholic Church avenged the martyred Saint Valentine men by reforming a pagan Roman holiday as their own. Lupercalia was a fertility festival in February dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus. Men would gently slap the backs of With all the cards, chocolates, and expensive dinners, it’s easy to get cynical about Valentine’s Day. However, National Donor Day also falls on Feb. 14, and it can refocus our attention back on the real meaning of the day: love. In the U.S., 20 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant. Losing loved ones is one of the most painful aspects of the human experience, and while it is unavoidable, organ donation offers a pathway to help prevent that loss and keep more love in the world. In the spirit of that love, here are a few ways you can get involved with National Donor Day this Feb. 14. REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR. Signing yourself up is easy and can be done either online or in person at your local Department of Motor Vehicles. You’ll need official identification to register. Registration is not permanent and you will always have the option to change your mind. Once registered, you will not need to carry your donor card with you, as your status exists in the registry. WHO WAS SAINT VALENTINE?

women with goat skin, dipped in sacrificial blood, to encourage their fertility in the upcoming year. Then, the names of women would be tossed in an urn and men would draw out the name of their girlfriend for the rest of the year. By the end of the 5th century, the festival was outlawed as “un-Christian” and Feb. 14 was dedicated as St. Valentine’s Day.

Valentine greetings were popular through the Middle Ages, but the first written Valentine appears in 1400s from an imprisoned duke to his wife. Finally, lovers began sending each other poetry and dedications. Chaucer and Shakespeare further romanticize the holiday in their work, only encouraging the popularity of the celebration.

Next time you send out a Valentine, remember you’re participating in an ancient holiday even if the chocolate and cards are more recent additions.

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PREVENT LOSSES AFTER AN 18-WHEELER CRASH What You Should Do Right After a Truck Accident

Getting involved in a truck accident can be

TAKE PICTURES, GET WITNESS INFORMATION Walking might be challenging after an accident. If you’re lightheaded or unbalanced for any reason, it’s best to rest in one spot. However, if it’s safe for you to do so, you should approach any witnesses and get their name, phone number, or email. Your lawyer might be able to get some useful information from them. Taking several pictures of the scene, such as an overview including traffic signals and the weather conditions, can help your case tremendously. Any visible damage to each vehicle should be accounted for as well. CALL A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER As soon as possible, get a truck accident lawyer. These aren’t auto accidents; many more parties can be involved, and the federal and state laws that apply differentiate greatly. A lawyer can get the settlement amount you need to cover medical costs and lost wages, past and future. If you or a loved one has experienced a truck crash, don’t hesitate. Zinda Law Group can help you through this distressing event, fighting for you and taking it off your hands. Call us for a free consultation. And, whatever you do, don’t post these pictures to social media.

overwhelming, emotionally and physically. It’s best not to get too lost in all the complexities; instead, focus on one step at a time.

CALL THE POLICE Your first step is, most often, to put yourself in a safe place and call 911. There can be very serious damages, injuries, or even fatalities involved. Even if damages seem minimal, you’ll want police on the scene as soon as possible. A police report will give you immediate documentation of the accident and all the involved parties, which will prove useful for your insurance claim. SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT The adrenaline will wear off — make sure you and any passengers seek medical attention immediately. Later on, if there are issues, it could be difficult to prove they’re related to the accident. Get a full evaluation from a doctor after your on-site evaluation from the emergency technician.

WORD SEARCH

EASY SHRIMP SCAMPI Make date night simple with this easy shrimp scampi recipe.

ingredients • 4 tbsp butter • 4 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp minced garlic • 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined • 1/2 tsp oregano • 1/2 cup dry white wine • 1/4 cup lemon juice • 8 oz cooked linguine • 1/4 cup parsley

directions

1. In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp of butter with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. 2. Add shrimp and oregano, stirring frequently until shrimp is pink. Remove shrimp from skillet. 3. Add wine and lemon juice to skillet and bring the mixture to a boil. 4. Stir in remaining butter and olive oil and cook until butter is melted. 5. Add cooked shrimp to skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. 6. In a serving bowl, top cooked linguine with shrimp mixture. Garnish with parsley and serve.

AQUARIUS ASH CHOCOLATE CUPID DONOR

GROUNDHOG LOVE PISCES PRESIDENTS ROMANCE

ROSES SKIING SNOWBANK SUGAR VALENTINE

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inside this issue

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C elebrating R andom A cts of K indness D ay G ive the G ift of L ife T he A ncient , B loody H istory of V alentine ’ s D ay

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W hat to D o A fter a T ruck A ccident E asy S hrimp S campi

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A bout U s

ABOUT US Zinda Law Group is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that serves clients across Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and throughout the United States. Our accident lawyers have extensive experience handling a wide range of personal injury claims, including car accidents, 18-wheeler wrecks, wrongful death cases, motorcycle accidents, dog bites and animal attacks, drunk driver crashes, and much more. Our firm is devoted to providing each client with all the resources of a large firm and the individualized attention of a small practice. Unlike many other injury firms, we have the ability to conduct investigations, hire expert witnesses, and utilize cutting-edge technology to help you build the strongest case possible. The personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group can help you seek the full and fair recovery you deserve. With offices located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, Zinda Law Group has a nationwide reach to meet your needs where you are.

Visit ZDFirm.com or call us at 877-545-9251 to schedule your free consultation today.

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