Sevenish Law - September 2020

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2020 www.sevenishlaw.com

Fierce Protectors of the Injured

BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER THIS MONTH The Secret to Maintaining Excellent Focus

The ability to focus can seem like a superpower to many, but it’s often more about your mindset (and having years of practice) than you think. Let me tell you about a time when I was wiped out by a 90-year-old Chinese master during the height of my marital arts career. When you get to a very high level in martial arts, you may feel that there’s hardly anyone who can truly compete with you. And as a young master who owned two large martial arts schools, I figured I was a pretty big fish in a little pond. I had kid and adult students who were national champions! I was a SWAT commander! Blah, blah, blah. It goes to show that, if you focus on the wrong things, you can get corrected pretty swiftly. On an Indiana campus in Bloomington, there was a martial arts seminar with a professor from China. We were invited to join and, of course, my school went. It just so happened that there was an uneven number of students, so my sparring partner ended up being the teacher. He was a tai chi master, which, if you’ve read my previous newsletters, is very similar to qigong. He spoke in very broken English and seemed very old. Additionally, I was 5-foot-10 while he was 5-foot-4 — the odds seemed in my favor. I knew the maneuver we were practicing pretty well; at least, I thought I did. BOOM! As soon as we started, I didn’t even realize how I got to the floor. I thought, “Huh. I didn’t know the ceiling lights looked like that.”

That’s the power of lifelong focus. It might seem like a superpower, but it’s actually very simple: Envision the most optimistic version of your future. What do you really want out of life? Narrow your routine to the most important things you want to master and the things that truly enrich your experiences. Over time, it’ll be part of your lifelong journey — like a reflex. We can lose focus when we compare ourselves to others, but why bother? Observe their journey. These times have put strains on our relationships and maybe even our hope in humanity — but one of the best reminders for this month (which is Self-Improvement Month) is that we should allow ourselves to be in awe of other people. It’s healthy, humbles us, and encourages us to push beyond what we thought was possible.

“ As a young master who owned two large martial arts schools, I figured I was a pretty big fish in a little pond. ”

Okay! Let’s try again. I snapped up immediately. I wasn’t sure what he did, but I started watching him; I felt ready.

BOOM! I was on the ground again.

The Chinese professor wasn’t rude about it. He was pleasant and incredibly focused! I could tell he’d done this for decades and decades. He could probably do it in his sleep, and I was in awe of that.

–Randall “Randy” Sevenish

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WHAT DAMAGES CAN YOU BE CHARGED FOR IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH? It can be emotionally and mentally overwhelming to be involved in a motorcycle crash. That’s why, at the law firm of the Lawyer Who Rides™, our team is here to explain the process that follows a motorcycle crash, how insurance companies decide who’s at fault, and what can happen afterward. Who’s at fault? Insurance companies use police reports, physical evidence, statements (taken from the motorcycle rider, the insured, and other witnesses), and other facts and details to decide who is at fault. In other words, insurance companies will quickly try to build a case against the rider in order to justify either denying a motorcycle claim or to reduce the claim value. As a strategy, insurance companies will often assume that the rider is at fault. Once they dig in their heels, they rarely budge — unless the rider has professional help on their side to fight against these tactics. What type of damages are involved in motorcycle crashs? Generally speaking, under Indiana law, if someone is involved in a motorcycle crash or injured through no fault of their own, they are entitled to recover “damages” to compensate them and make them “whole” again, at least in theory. This includes (but is not limited to) the following “special” and “general” damages:

‘DAD, HOW DO I?’

How 1 Father Is Passing Along Life Lessons

Being abandoned by a parent is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a child. Rob Kenney experienced this trauma firsthand when his father said he no longer wanted any of his eight children. Kenney was only 12 years old when his father walked out of his life. In an interview with Q13 News in Seattle, Kenney explained that after that experience, he decided that when he had children of his own, he would raise them into good adults and make sure they didn’t have a fractured childhood. But he didn’t stop there. Now 50, Kenney has a 29-year-old daughter and 27-year-old son who are living successful lives thanks to that decision he made many years before. However, even with an empty nest, Kenney realized he still had life lessons to pass on. After thinking about other young people in the world who have gone through the same unfortunate experience as he did, he decided to do something about it. In early April 2020, Kenney created a YouTube channel called “Dad, how do I?” and uploaded his first video, titled “How to tie a tie.” In the video, he gives a helpful hint for choosing a tie. Then he talks viewers through the process of how to tie a tie while demonstrating it on himself. As April progressed, Kenney uploaded a number of videos on other seemingly simple tasks, including how to unclog a sink, check the oil in a car, install a shelf, and even how to shave. As he continued uploading videos, he started to include dad jokes along the way. “So today I’m going to show you how to use a stud finder,” Kenney begins in one video. “If you came here looking for help finding a boyfriend, that would be a different stud finder.” Kenney hopes that, by uploading these videos, he can be there for someone who doesn’t have a parent around to teach them these things. And in the course of just two months, it looks like he is already doing just that. At the end of May, Kenney’s channel had over 2 million subscribers and thousands of people have reached out to Kenney to share their own similar experiences and express their gratitude and appreciation for everything he’s doing.

Medical bills

Lost wages

Pain and suffering

Impaired earning capacity

Future medical bills

Future lost wages

Inability to function as a “whole person”

Disfigurement or scarring

• Loss of relationship with a spouse (loss of consortium)

If the crash resulted in a wrongful death claim, there could be additional damages that can be claimed, such as “loss of love and companionship”, “emotional distress”, “funeral/burial expenses” and others to be discussed with your attorney. Because motorcycle crashs are more costly to the insurance company because they usually involve more serious injuries, they may, and frequently do, try to blame you for your own injuries rather than paying up. An experienced motorcycle injury lawyer who rides and understands the “rules of the road” will conduct another investigation, protect your rights, and get you the full settlement you deserve.

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THE FIRST DAY OF FALL IS HERE! What to Plant in Your Vegetable Garden

While spending more time at home, maybe you’re still itching to start a garden. Well, fall isn’t too late to start! At Sevenish Law, we love gardening too; in fact, our own Regina is an avid gardener. We’re excited for fall, and with September being the start of fall, many other gardeners are also considering what to plant in their vegetable gardens. Here’s our advice: How do I transition the garden this fall? First, your garden will need a fall cleaning! Remove all of your past crop residues and any weed growth. Then, rototill or spade (or turn by hand if your soil is soft enough) at least 6–8 inches deep into the soil. You’ll use one or two pounds of a general analysis fertilizer (we suggest 12-12-12) per 100 square feet of bed area, and remember to thoroughly mix the fertilizer with the soil. Also keep in mind that, in late summer, hot soil and insufficient water can cause your soil to form a hard crust, interfering with seed germination. What should I plant? Not all plants immediately die after the first frost. You can actually grow plants for several weeks after winter’s first arrival! For plants that will tolerate light frost, consider growing beets, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, Chinese napa cabbage, endive, lettuce, parsnips, potatoes, and salsify. You can grow them all through fall and even the beginning of winter. Although these plants will withstand light frost without protection, you can shield your plants with blankets to prolong their lives, too.

There are hardy vegetables that tolerate hard frost, as well! These include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, onions, parsley, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips. Doesn’t that sound awesome for a late fall, early winter harvest?! Are you preparing a fall garden? We’d love to know! Tell us all about it the next time you chat with your friendly neighborhood Sevenish Law team.

Brain WORK!

ASTER AUTUMN CHILLY COLORFUL EDUCATION FOOTBALL HARVEST LABOR LIBRA SAPPHIRE SEPTEMBER SQUASH

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Inside THIS ISSUE The Secret to Maintaining Excellent Focus Page 1

Rob Kenney Is a Father to Many What Damages can You be Charged for in a Motorcycle Accident? Page 2

What to Plant in Your Vegetable Garden Page 3

Is Stress Making You Forgetful? Page 4

confrontation can be hard, but having that difficult conversation and resolving the problem can ultimately lead to less long-term stress and improve your mental health. Another thing you can do to reduce stress is avoid multitasking. Taking on multiple projects or doing too much in too little time can leave you feeling overworked. Plus, studies have found that multitasking is not effective. You cannot deliver the same results when your attention is scattered as you can when you are focused on one thing. To make matters worse, multitasking takes a major toll on memory and cognition, according to a study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. If stress is impairing your memory, judgment, or cognition, take the above steps to reduce it. If you find your memory and cognition aren’t improving, consider speaking with a mental health professional to discuss your best next steps. Mental health and stress management are important, and the more we do to improve these areas of our lives, the healthier and happier we will be. IS STRESS HARMING YOUR MEMORY? How to Cope With Daily Triggers

Stress can cause more than just a bad mood and low energy. Over time, mental exhaustion from stress can lead to forgetfulness and reduced cognition. This can hamper your ability to do your job and enjoy life. Though stress is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to mitigate some of the negative effects of mental exhaustion, including forgetfulness. First, consider the source of your stress. These days, a common stressor is social media. If your feeds are full of bad news and negativity, shut them down. Many researchers suggest that spending less time on the internet leads to better health. Several studies have found that constant internet use, including time spent on social media, is negatively impacting our memories. Research from Harvard, Oxford, King’s College London, and Western Sydney University all confirm this: Too much internet use is a bad thing. Of course, it can be easier to delete a social media app than it is to eliminate other types of stressors. Coping with a stressful coworker, for example, can be difficult. You have to figure out why they’re causing you stress and how the situation can be remedied. Dealing with a work-related

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