Shannon Law Group September 2018

312-578-9501 | www.shannonlawgroup.com SEPTEMBER 2018

This summer, I drove over 3,000 miles on expressways across the U.S. It was great to see this terrific country and its scenery again. But I’ve got to tell you — I sure did notice how many large trucks there were on the highways. The statistics do not paint a pretty picture in terms of how dangerous our roadways are. Every day in 2016, 10 people were killed and 284 people were injured in large truck crashes. With the increase in the volume of cargo being shipped and the shortage of qualified truck drivers, do you think this problem will get any better? Over the last 20 years, we’ve represented individuals and their families who have been victims of these types of crashes. Before the crash, they were living a life like you and me. They lived independently. They could visit their elderly parents, commute to work, and drive to the grocery store. Because of these crashes, many of these folks sustained severe injuries that impaired their ability to do tasks that we take for granted every day. In serious cases, they may not be able to shower or eat without the assistance of others. The privacy and independence they once enjoyed has been ripped away from them — ultimately because a large truck hit their vehicle. These types of cases are complex on both the liability end and on the damages end, as we must evaluate how much our client has suffered because of the crash. As such, we make a point to continually educate ourselves on the latest trends and share that information with you. This summer was no different. In July, our attorneys Pat Cummings and Jon Svitak attended the annual American Association for Justice (AAJ) convention in Denver. AAJ is a nationwide association of trial lawyers with the same goal in mind — ensuring that our injured clients obtain the justice they deserve. Each year, the convention hosts excellent speakers from around the country to educate fellow attorneys regarding new laws, best practices, and other insights on the issues affecting our clients. EDUCATION DRIVES OUR PRACTICE

In particular, Pat found that the traumatic brain injury litigation speakers provided tremendous information, including strategies to help rebut the all-too-common defense strategy — accusing an injured victim of malingering. We recently had a case in which insurance company attorneys continually accused our client of malingering when she was unable to engage in physical therapy after spinal surgery. The truth of the matter was that as a complication of her spinal surgery, she had developed more fractures in her spine which debilitated her. If we don’t understand the medicine in these cases, we allow the insurance company lawyers to win. We will not let this happen. We want to make sure our staff continues to be educated as well. In April, our legal assistant Brittany Peterson attended a two-day conference near Washington, D.C. There, she learned how we can improve the ways we communicate and engage with our clients. As a result of her continuing education, Brittany makes sure that you are apprised of the latest developments in our practice areas as well as new developments at our firm. This year, Brittany has also added 38 articles to our website at ShannonLawGroup.com. We welcome your feedback on our website or Facebook page. All of this education provides us with real world application when we handle our cases. As fall approaches, we are preparing for some jury trials in trucking cases. We will report on those in our upcoming editions.

–Joe Shannon

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CROSS CORRECTLY Some pedestrians assume that they have the right of way in all situations. That’s just not true. In Illinois, you only have right of way in a crosswalk. In busy areas, it’s best to avoid crossing anywhere but at marked crosswalks. If you absolutely must cross away from a crosswalk, remember to make your presence known, rather than darting out into the roadway, and fully yield to all oncoming traffic. DON’T ASSUME Even if you’re wearing a reflective neon jumpsuit, it’s never a good idea to guess that a driver will behave a certain way. Always walk defensively and give yourself an out in the event that a distracted or reckless driver does something crazy. Following these tips will ensure that you’re the safest pedestrian possible. However, if you’ve been injured in an accident, whether on four wheels, two, or none at all, call the Shannon Law Group to find out how we can help.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 4,749 pedestrians were injured in car accidents in 2016, the last year on record. Of that number, the vast majority (4,668) occurred in urban areas. The statistics demonstrate how important it is to be vigilant and stay safe while sharing busy roads with motorists. With that in mind, here are our tips for pedestrian precautions, no matter where you walk. STAY ALERT Texting and driving may get all the headlines, but texting and walking can be just as dangerous in urban areas. Even if you’ve walked the same route 1,000 times, you should always keep your eyes on intersections. It’s also a good idea to make eye contact with pedestrians as you cross the street. This subtle gesture will ensure that they are aware of your presence and won’t make any unexpected movements. USE THE MOST APPROPRIATE WALKWAY Sidewalks are prevalent in the Chicago area for a reason, and that reason is to give pedestrians a space to themselves. So use it. You should only walk on the shoulder of the road when you have no other option. If that happens, stay as far to the side of the road as possible and walk against traffic on a two-way street.

Shannon Law Group, P.C. is a plaintiff’s trial law firm located in the western suburbs of Chicago. We’re looking for a hardworking and skilled paralegal/legal assistant to join our team. We try cases and therefore, prepare each case file as though we will be trying it in front of a jury. The ideal candidate will possess excellent written and oral communication skills (telephone/email); have exceptional legal researching and writing abilities; possess phenomenal people skills; and have a drive to complete tasks. They must also be proficient in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). To be successful here, you need to possess high ethical standards and the ability to work with grace and a sense of humor, while also handling a high volume of work in an occasionally demanding environment. You must also possess the desire and ability to thrive in a team-based environment. WE’RE HIRING: Seeking a Paralegal/Legal Assistant

• Managing our client intake process from start to finish

• Retrieving and maintaining medical records, bills, police reports, etc.

• Drafting discovery responses

• Maintaining a calendar of court dates, statute of limitations dates, due dates for motion and discovery responses, and depositions

• Electronically filing court documents in state and federal courts

• Handling, scanning, and filing large amounts of records and paperwork

• Organizing evidence for trial

• Assisting our attorneys with various projects and tasks

• Coordinating and scheduling firm meetings, special events, depositions, etc.

• Answering the main telephone line

Three to five years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant in a litigation environment is a definite plus. Our office is located in Woodridge, Illinois. Salary is commensurate with experience. Please submit your resume and three references to joseph@ shannonlawgroup.com.

In this position, you will be responsible for the following tasks and more:

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ORDER IN THE COURT Going to Trial vs. Settling Out of Court

This month, our team at Shannon Law Group, P.C. is working hard to prepare for upcoming trials. Preparation for trial begins the day a client hires us to represent them. From day one, our job is to compile evidence to support a jury verdict in favor of our clients. Between that day and the trial date, a large amount of investigation occurs. The parties depose liability witnesses and damage witnesses, as well as experts for both sides. By doing so, each side evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of their cases. At our firm, we try civil cases on behalf of people who seek compensation for damages they sustained as a result of the negligence of a corporation or individual. However, going to trial is not the only way to resolve a case and receive compensation. The plaintiff may also accept a settlement offered by the insurance company before trial. If an offer is accepted, the plaintiff forgoes their right to a trial by jury, and the case is subsequently closed. There are benefits to both trial and settlement. The benefit to a trial is that you get your day in court. That is, a jury decides how much you should be awarded based on your injuries and other factors, such as pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and disfigurement. The jury may award you a sum of money larger than what the defendants have offered before the trial.

However, the risks of going to trial must be weighed as well. If the jury finds you over 50 percent at fault, you may walk away with nothing. Further, the costs of putting on a great trial are high. As such, the chances of a significant recovery on your behalf must justify the risk of a jury trial. Most cases will settle because both sides understand the risk of placing the decision of who wins and who loses in the hands of a jury. The plaintiff understands that he or she may lose and the insurance company understands that the jury may award damages to the plaintiff far in excess of what they want to offer. In the last few years, we have had a number of trials where the jury award exceeded policy limits of the defendants’ insurance policy. That is the climate of litigation. Insurance companies will force folks to try legitimate cases before juries, even though it means exposing their insured party to excess exposure. In those cases, the insurance company should have settled the case before trial.

Although attorneys make recommendations, the decision to settle or go to trial ultimately rests with the client.

SEPTEMBER 2018 DATES OF CONSEQUENCE

Sept. 8

Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

LATE-SUMMER PANZANELLA Panzanella, a Tuscan favorite, is a salad that features hearty chunks of bread instead of leafy greens as its base. What could be better for a late-summer cookout?

Sept. 12

Irish Angels Golf Outing

Sept. 15

South Florida at Illinois Football

Ingredients • 1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large tomatoes, cubed • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced • 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds • 20 basil leaves, chopped

Directions 1. Place a large sauté pan over medium- low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon salt, and toss often for 10 minutes or until toasted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Sept. 21

Ninth Annual Eschtivus Golf Outing @ Tamarack Golf Course St. Francis Father’s Club 3rd Annual Tailgate

Sept. 21

Sept. 27

Feast of St. Vincent de Paul

Sept. 29

Stanford at Notre Dame Football

• Salt, to taste • Vinaigrette

Inspired by Food Network

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312-578-9501

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Phone: 312-578-9501 www.shannonlawgroup.com

3550 Hobson Rd., Ste. 203 Woodridge, IL 60517

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

page 1

Education Drives Our Practice Pedestrian Safety Practices

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We’re Hiring: Seeking a Paralegal/Legal Assistant Going to Trial vs. Settling Out of Court

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Late-Summer Panzanella

SUDOKU

DANA WOLAK CLEANING SERVICES

We are pleased to recommend Dana Wolak for cleaning services for both the office and home environment. We were first introduced to Dana by Tony and Julie Carballo and Todd and Sue Jennings. For over 5 years, Dana has made sure our office and home are kept clean. Dana is friendly, trustworthy, and dedicated to details. She is also reliable and accommodating to your schedule. I am always happy to pass along information on locally owned businesses that do a terrific job serving the needs of our community. Need cleaning help? Dana can be reached here: Dwolak49@yahoo.com | (773) 415-1322

REFERRALS WELCOME We thank you so much for referring clients to us over the years. We are grateful that you have trusted us with taking care of those who need our services. For any referrals, please contact us at (312) 578-9501 or fill out our online contact form at ShannonLawGroup.com.

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