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Bike Safer & Know What to Do if You're Injured
With weather warming and the pandemic pushing us to find more activities to do outside, expect to see more bikes on the street than normal. If you're the one on the wheels, be sure to check out Calbike.org to keep current on safety tips and California bicycle laws - and be especially cautious at intersections.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, one-third of the bicycle fatalities in the United States occur at an intersection. It has been proven that off-road paths or on-road bike routes are the safest for bicyclists, but many riders do not have the luxury of using them.
Reports show that three out of four fatal bicycle accidents involve deadly head injuries; it is imperative to the safety of cyclists that they wear a helmet whenever they ride. A cyclist is 14 times more likely to die in a bicycle accident if he or she is not wearing a helmet. The injuries that can result from even a minor accident can result in costly medical treatments and the victims of these accidents deserve to be compensated for their pain and suffering.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident because of the negligence of another, a personal injury attorney can review your particular case and determine how to best assist you. The majority of personal injury claims are actually settled out of court, but your legal team should approach each case with enough preparation to go to civil court if that is what's best for the client.
The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus 296-2992

Valencia Acura Awarded Acura's
Council of Excellence & Coveted Precision Team Award
Valencia Acura received Acura's Council of Excellence Award for its 16th year (2004-2018 and 2020!) and the brand's prestigious 2020 Precision Team Award, which marks the Friendship Dealership's 15th year receiving the distinction.
"As challenging as 2020 was for the auto industry, the Valencia Acura team pulled together to maintain the high standards our customers expect from us," said Don Fleming, Valencia Acura owner. "It is bittersweet that my wife, Cheri, who was a driving force for excellence these past 24 years of ownership, is not with us now to celebrate these honors. She would be thrilled! Valencia Acura will continue going above-and-beyond providing outstanding customer service to honor her legacy."
The Council of Excellence is reserved only for dealerships who display outstanding performance in providing finance options for clients. With excellent financial services and expertise, Valencia Acura has excelled in offering the level of service and support that Acura clients expect from the Acura brand.
The Precision Team recognition is an exclusive honor for select dealerships that deliver an outstanding client experience while achieving operational excellence. Acura dealerships recognized for the Acura Precision Team honor deliver exceptional results across their business operations as measured against performance criteria in the areas of client treatment, sales performance, service performance, facility and finance.
Valencia Acura 255-3000

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April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Put the Phone Down & Pay Attention
According to the CDC, in the US in 2018, over 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. Do not drive distracted and become a statistic. Keep yourself and others safe by avoiding the most common distractions below - and model good driving habits for your future drivers!
Cell phone use while driving, including hands free.
Social media, text messages and calls can wait!
Unless for emergency situations only, it's best to pull over safely to make your call.
Avoid eating and drinking while behind the wheel.
Listening to loud music and/or adjusting the station can be hazardous -
set your playlist before you go.
Applying makeup behind the wheel is anything but pretty when it causes an accident.
Anything that takes your eye and focus off the road is dangerous -
discourage passengers from distracting behaviors and stay safe.
Nick Rose Insurance 253-1131

The Emotional Toll of Move-away Trials & the Joy of Two Back-to-back Wins
by Denise Lite
Being a family-law specialist is so emotionally difficult. When you do it right, you take on every client's problem as your own and you worry about their kids just as you would worry about your own niece or nephew.
In December, I had a four-day trial to stop a mom from moving with the kids to Kentucky. It was grueling. A month later, I had another move-away trial to stop a mom from moving with their child to San Diego.
For every one day of trial, there are at least two days of prep - sometimes more.
But beyond the prep work, I carry the emotional weight of a parent losing day-to-day physical contact with their kids in these move-away trials. It's heady stuff. I feel like they will permanently lose their kids if I can't secure a miracle on their behalf. I feel like I will let them down and their kids down - but I am not a magician.
I kept telling myself that these were both long shots, but that no one would prepare more than me.
Just a few weeks ago, we got the first ruling from the December trial. It was 23 pages! We won, against massive odds.
I quietly told myself to be grateful I won one of the two and started to mentally prepare myself for losing the second trial. I was bracing myself over these last two weeks, worried about how my client would take the news, whenever we got it. I told myself to not expect to go two for two in a 30-day period of time. No way. Those are impossible odds on move-away cases like these.
Today, I got the second decision. 30 pages.
We won.
A loss kicks you in the soul and you feel it for days and weeks afterwards. You cry for your client and you analyze every decision you made. A win is a party with poppin' corks and dancing.
I've been honored to pop a lot of celebratory corks during my many years as a lawyer, but these two feel especially good.
Denise Lite, Esq. is a certified family law specialist with DaCorsi Placencio, PC, a client-focused, outcome-driven law firm. 877-317-8080


The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S Class will Make You Grin
It's the most advanced sedan Mercedes-Benz has ever produced - and, considering the brand's history, that's really saying something. For more than a century, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has stood as the ultimate expression of what the automobile can be. Now, updated with innovations throughout, the S-Class has never been more focused on the comfort and well-being of its passengers.
Experience it for yourself at Mercedes-Benz of Valencia. 753-5555

Consider These Types of Tax-Smart Contributions
April 15 is around the corner, but you still have time to make your tax returns more favorable by considering some tax-smart contributions.
You have until the April 15 filing deadline to contribute to an IRA - or to open one for the 2020 tax year. Traditional and Roth IRAs both offer potential tax benefits.
If you were 59 or younger in 2020, and you withdrew funds from your IRA or 401(k) to take advantage of the suspended 10-percent penalty, you may be able to recontribute some of that money by the tax deadline, excluding this amount from your taxable income.
Finally, even if you don't itemize your taxes, you can claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash gifts you made to qualified charitable groups in 2020. And you can do it again in 2021 - plus, married couples filing jointly can now claim a $600 deduction.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Dwight Wolfe. Member SIPC
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