Kelly Law's online newsletter for October 2017
OFFICES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTH BEND
Will My Personal Injury Settlement Cover My Medical Bills?
P ersonal injuries can change a person’s life in a flash. Daily pain, surgeries, doctor visits, permanent handicaps, and disabilities all affect daily living, not tomention the medical bills that come with all the treatment for the injuries. All of this takes an emotional toll on the injured person and their family. As personal injury lawyers, we educate people to prevent injuries and hold those responsible for causing injuries accountable. We do this all in an effort to prevent future injuries to others. We also help the injured in their time of need. When an injured person calls, one of the first things they or a family member asks is, “Will my personal injury settlement cover my medical bills?”In cases where the injuries are catastrophic, at first glance, there may not be enough insurance coverage to pay for all of the bills. This is why you need an experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyer. Youmay be thinking,“There is only $100,000 in motor vehicle insurance coverage andmy bills are over $500,000. I should not bother hiring a lawyer because they will just take a fee from what I get.”Yet, this is exactly when you need an experienced personal injury lawyer most. I use these numbers as an example because this is a true scenario we encountered in a recent case. Rather than throwing their hands up in the air or deciding not to hire a lawyer because they did not want to pay a fee, this injured couple called Kelly LawOffices.
In this case, a woman was injured in a motorcycle crash. There was only $100,000 available in insurance coverage, but over $594,000 in health insurance liens. Fortunately, we were able to get that $594,000 lien reduced to just $10,000. That is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can help an injured person and their family when things seembleak. We also substantially reduced our fee from the standard 33 1/3 percent attorney fee because we wanted to help this injured woman as much as we could. That is why it is important to have a compassionate personal injury attorney.
1 So, to answer the original question,“Will my settlement pay for my medical bills?”No attorney can answer this question with a yes 100 percent of the time, but we make every effort to make it happen. Not every case can work out the way this one did. We do not always get such tremendous reductions and we are not always able to reduce our fee so much, but we will always reduce our fee if necessary to make sure the client gets more money than us. In my 14 years of practicing law, no client who has settled their case has ever walked away with nothing, no matter howmuch their medical bills were and no matter howmuch insurance coverage was available. So, the next time you or a friend hires an attorney, make sure to ask, “Will the attorney I hire reduce their fee as much as necessary to make sure I get more money than the lawyer, no matter what my medical bills are?”If the attorney you are talking to answers,“No,”call Kelly Law Offices. Last, this scenario shows why we educate people on getting proper insurance coverage before getting out on the road. It is so important to cover yourself with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage so you have more money available to you if you are hurt. You should buy the highest amount you can afford. Call us if you want to discuss this insurance issue more. *The results of this case are not indicative of future performance, but simply an example of how Kelly LawOffices treats its clients. This example is in no way a promise of future outcomes, as nothing in the law is ever guaranteed. Each case has its own facts, laws, and circumstances.
1
800-859-8800
Is the Great Chicago Fire History’s Most Bizarre Tragedy? THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
By the time the last flame of the Great Chicago Fire fizzled out on October 10, 1871, 300 people were dead, a third of Chicago’s population were homeless, and 4 square miles of city were destroyed. Reflecting on the disaster begs the question: Was it the most bizarre tragedy ever?
As the fire grew, the firefighters hoped the Chicago River would be a natural firebreak, but the city’s riverside had recently gained more lumber and coal yards, causing the fire to jump the river. As the air over the city overheated, it came into contact with cooler air, and a spinning fire tornado developed.
Can Oils Assist in Your Recovery? SERVICE HIGHLIGHT If you’ve stopped by a health store recently, you’ve no doubt seen a huge selection of essential oils. These liquids, which contain concentrated, natural aroma compounds found in plants, are the basis of aromatherapy, one of the most popular trends in holistic health. Aromatherapy involves applying these oils to the skin or spraying them into the air. Skin application requires that you use diluted oils, because aromatic compounds are strong and can cause irritation. As a result of these concerns, many essential oil acolytes have turned to diffusers to get the benefits of aromatherapy in a safe, wonderful-smelling manner. In addition to filling your house with an all-natural, appealing perfume, aromatherapy has been touted as a way to help with everything from stress and insomnia to cognitive function and mood enhancement. To receive these benefits, you’ll need to pick up a diffuser and some oils. With so many options, though, how do you know which one is right for you? By October, 1871, Chicago only had 1 inch of rain all year, which is far less than the annual average of 35 inches. While the exact cause is unclear, historians commonly accept that a cow belonging to a Mrs. O’Leary started the fire in a barn on DeKoven Street by kicking over a lantern. Firemen responded immediately, but a watchman sent them to the wrong place by mistake, giving the unusual Southwest winds time to send the fire roaring toward the heart of the city. Most of Chicago’s buildings were made of wood, and the newly developed tar on the rooftops was incredibly flammable.
After the fire jumped the river, a burning piece of timber lodged on the roof of the city’s waterworks building, destroying it and halting the city’s water supply. By the time the fire died over a day later, 73 miles of roads and $4 billion (in 2017 dollars) of property were destroyed. All this came about because of a cow, a drought, a bad watchman, some short-lived building materials, and a literal fire tornado. Modern safeguards wouldn’t allow this to happen today, which is very fortunate. If the disaster happened the same way today, it wouldn’t displace 1,000 people; it would displace 1 million. There is no shortage of methods to diffuse essential oils. Nebulizing diffusers don’t require any heat source, instead atomizing the essential oils. They are extremely effective, but they are also large and expensive. Ultrasonic diffusers are similarly heatless, preserving the oils. This type of diffuser can also work as a humidifier, making it a valuable multitasker. Heat and evaporative diffusers are cheaper options, but they tend to alter oils or separate particles according to size. Once you decide on the best diffuser for your home, you need to select a few essential oils and put your new toy to use. Lemon oil is antibacterial and antiseptic, and will freshen your environment. Cinnamon oil can clear congestion and has a homey, autumnal scent. Eucalyptus oil is an air purifier, but its scent is strong and not for everybody. If you want to de-stress, try rosemary oil, which decreases your cortisol levels. Take note that you should alert your doctor before partaking in aromatherapy if you’re pregnant, nursing, or on any medication. While most essential oils are perfectly safe to diffuse, the compounds in certain oils can combine with medication and trigger adverse side effects. Once you begin diffusing, you’ll never go back to commercial, chemical scent sprays. The benefits are evident, and the results smell sweet.
2
www.kelly-lawyers.com
I’ve been working at Kelly Law for over 25 years and have been in the legal field since I was 17. Both of those facts sound a little crazy to be able to say, but it’s true: I’ve been working in a law- related capacity for almost as long as I can remember. It all started back in high school when I joined a program that allowed students to get out there and work in real-world business settings. We’d spend half of the school day fulfilling whatever jobs we’d been given, parceled out to us based on our unique skills. I consider myself lucky that I got placed in a law firm over in Hammond, Indiana. Basically, I was the file clerk, organizing these haphazard stacks of documents into coherent, easily accessible files and running whatever errands the staff asked of me. I jumped at the chance to help with any task they needed, eager to learn every new thing that I could. I continued doing various kinds of legal work as I got older, moving into dedicated paralegal work as soon as I could get my certificate of paralegal studies. I guess my keen desire to learn and be as irreplaceable as possible paid off, because years later, I ended up at Kelly Law, working the front desk as a secretary. Coincidentally, they had no idea I was a certified paralegal until a co-worker spilled the beans. From then on, Tim Kelly promoted me to a full-time paralegal, and I haven’t looked back. I love going out and meeting with clients, learning their stories, and educating them on the legal process. As an avid motorcyclist, I understand the struggles our clients go through more than almost anyone. I’ve been a
Orange-Balsamic LAMB CHOPS Lynn Shively whether it’s a panicked client or an overloaded co-worker, everyone is more than ready to lend a helping hand. I’m proud to be a part of a team that gives such personalized service to our clients while working together to achieve the greatest possible result for each and every person we serve. passenger on bikes since I was a little kid, cruising around with my dad, who was a staple of the local motorcycle community. However, it wasn’t until my kids got a little older that my husband encouraged me to learn to ride on my own, and I set out to get my license. In fact, for a time after I aced the basic riding class, I worked as a motorcycle instructor, in addition to my job at Kelly Law. It was fantastic being around all those budding riders, enmeshed in the local community, but it was tough holding down two jobs at once. When you spend 17 hours over three days on your feet, it makes you question whether the double-shift thing is working. In the end, I had to let it go so I could focus on my work for the law firm. I love what I do, and I especially love the people I work with. You don’t stick around for 25 years without a team of incredible colleagues by your side. Many of us have been working together for over a decade and a half, creating a team so close-knit I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. If there’s ever a problem,
Impress any dinner guest with this surprisingly quick and easy-to-make meal.
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided 2 teaspoons grated orange rind 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice 8 (4-ounce) lamb rib chops, trimmed
• •
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• •
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
DIRECTIONS
1. Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, rind, and juice in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add lamb to bag; turn
cooking spray. Add lamb and cook 2 minutes each side. 3. Place vinegar in a small skillet over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes or until vinegar is syrupy. Drizzle vinegar and remaining teaspoon oil over lamb.
to coat well. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Remove lamb from bag and add salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large grill pan over
medium-high heat. Coat pan with
(Recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com.)
3
800-859-8800
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
5521West Lincoln Highway Suite #101 Crown Point, IN 46307
THIS ISSUE Inside
Will My Personal Injury Settlement Cover My Medical Bills? Page 1 Is This the Most Bizarre Tragedy in History? The Benefits of Essential Oils Page 2
25 Years at Kelly Law and Counting Orange-Basalmic Lamb Chops Page 3
5 Fascinating Facts About Fall Page 4
Advertising Material
Fascinating Facts ABOUT FALL 5 The end of summer doesn’t have to signal an end to fun. How about sweater weather, Halloween parties, and football season? The list goes on and on. In fact, fall might be the most interesting season of them all. Here are five facts you probably didn’t know about the season. 1. It was originally called“harvest.” The reasons for that should be fairly obvious. In a world that was far more agricultural, the season was defined by the harvesting of crops. It’s also a reference to the harvest moon, which was essential to farmers during the season. The name“fall”is used almost exclusively in America. 2. Fall babies tend to be impressive. Not only does the world’s most common birthday, October 5, land in fall, but those babies have built an impressive resume. The British Department for Education found that they tend to do better in school and also tend to live longer. 3. Weight gain is most common in the fall. It’s not only the Halloween candy or Thanksgiving turkey. Researchers believe it’s primarily caused by lower levels of vitamin D. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we tend to get less sun. It’s another reason to be careful about diet and exercise this season.
4. Autumn is good for the economy. “Leaf peeping,”which is a slang term for fall foliage tourism, is more than just a funny name. It’s also a $3 billion industry in New England alone. So, if you thought winter and summer were the only seasons that brought along seasonal tourism spikes, you thought wrong. 5. People fall in lovemore in the fall. Men and women’s testosterone levels tend to spike in the autumn, whichmakes women evenmore attractive tomen than in the summer months. A data study on Facebook also found that more people change their relationship status from“single”to“in a relationship”during the fall than any other season.
4
www.kelly-lawyers.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog