Take a look at our August newsletter!
K T C O
CH I CAGO TR I AL L A W Y E R S
Chute O’Malley Knobloch & Turcy
llc
TRIAL ATTORNEYS
AUGUST 2021
AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITIES What I Gained by Learning How to Sail
(312) 775-0042
TheNapervilleLawyer.com
You probably haven’t heard of it, but Aug. 27 is a little-known holiday called Just Because Day. It’s a day to do something, anything, “just because” — without any other reason than just wanting to do it. While I don’t know that I’ll necessarily celebrate it, learning about that day did get me thinking about something I learned how to do “just because” — I learned how to sail. I grew up in Missouri, far away from any sizable body of water. When I moved to Chicago and learned that you could sail all the way across Lake Michigan, something about the idea intrigued me. It took me nearly a decade to work up the guts to finally do it, but about six or seven years ago, I finally signed myself up for sailing lessons. It wasn’t an easy pastime to get into. I took a lot of courses and did around 40 hours of training in the water. Some of the most memorable lessons from that training include sailing toward and “saving” a dummy using only my sails and the wind — no motors allowed. In another instance, I had to figure out how to pilot my boat after my Coast Guard instructor intentionally disabled part of it. Those lessons showed me just how dangerous sailing can be (you can freeze and die in the waters of Lake Michigan in a couple minutes during some parts of the year) and just how much critical thinking, patience, and discipline are necessary to do it well. That being said, I’m so grateful for the places and sights I’ve seen, the people I’ve met, and the knowledge I’ve acquired through learning how to sail. I once spent three days living on a boat near Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. At one point during that trip, a blue whale swam right past our boat. Blue whales are the largest animals on earth, and they’re rare to spot in the wild.
Its eyes were the size of car tires, if that gives you any idea of just how gargantuan they really are.
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As incredible as that was, though, I would have to say that some of the most enjoyable experiences that I’ve had sailing have been with my younger brother. He learned sailing after I encouraged him to try it out — and now he’s a better sailor than I am! He actually owns a boat, which means he’s had more tiller time than me. “I once spent three days living on a boat near Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. At one point during that trip, a blue whale swam right past our boat.” All this to say, I’m glad to have finally acted on my desire to learn how to sail. It’s a pastime that, much like my work as an attorney, involves a lot of focus, patience, attention to detail, and self-reliance. However, it’s different enough from my work to give me a mental break from practicing law. I’m grateful to have something that engages my brain in different ways outside the office that also happens to be a lot of fun. When we’re off the clock, it’s easy to just go home and watch TV or scroll through social media, but we could do so much more than that. What’s an activity or hobby that you’ve always wanted to try “just because”? What would it take for you to finally get the guts to try it out?
PERSONAL INJURY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION WRONGFUL DEATH
–Colin O’Malley
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Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy | TheNapervilleLawyer.com
Start Taking Vitamin D Now, Before the Sun Goes Away Fight SAD Early! Do you get SAD? We’re talking about seasonal affective disorder, which affects 1%–10% of the population depending on the state you live in. Symptoms of SAD are similar to symptoms of depression, but unlike chronic depression, which can occur at any time, people with SAD only experience symptoms during a certain time of year, usually winter. SAD has been strongly linked with shorter days and less sun — although summertime SAD can result from long days that make sleep difficult, resulting in irritability and mood swings. In most cases, however, winter is the problem season, likely due to a link between less sun and a vitamin D deficiency. Depression is one common symptom of vitamin D deficiency, especially in patients who aren’t prone to depression due to other circumstances. Unfortunately, very few foods are good sources of vitamin D. The best source is sunlight itself.
There are a few ways to combat wintertime SAD. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is important, as is an exercise routine and healthy diet. As mentioned, it’s hard to find vitamin D in foods, but milk and other food products are often intentionally enriched with it during processing. The most common solution, however, is taking a vitamin D supplement, which can be purchased over the counter at drugstores and grocery stores. It is commonly recommended for people living in places with harsher winters, and although there are negative side effects if taken in excess, a regular daily dose of vitamin D is a healthy way to ensure you have the right levels in your system. This month is the perfect time to begin that process. Vitamin D can take several months to build up to effective levels in our bodies. It may be the hottest time of the year in many places, but it’s also the ideal time to start fighting SAD early!
‘SPACE LAW’ ARE WE HEADED FOR THE FIRST WAR IN SPACE?
Earlier this year, Russia announced it would abandon its missions to the International Space Station in favor of a new, Russia-only station orbiting Earth. At the same time, China has begun working in earnest on its own permanent space installation, raining construction debris down on coastal Africa and other places. With private American interests gaining traction in orbit (and the confidence of our government), things are getting awfully crowded up there — and not by actors that typically play well together.
The general principles were those of cooperation and goodwill, and that made sense in the 20th century, when it was unlikely any power would be able to seriously colonize stations in orbit or the moon itself, never mind other planets. But in the past 20 years, many countries have been unwilling to seriously commit to more specific agreements or laws. When you see the rapidly increasing presence many countries are seeking in orbit, you start to understand why. Nobody wants to hamstring themselves and compromise their interests when the resources of our solar system are made available through technology. Even though this may be a new arena, the problem is an old one. International Law — of which “space law” is a subset — is not typically enforceable and never has been. Private ventures, like those of Elon Musk, may face crackdown by their governments or the international community. But nations themselves will take what they want, when they want it — and right now, that could make peace on the final frontier a long shot in the 21st century.
All of which begs the question: Will the 21st century see the first violent conflict in space?
We have to delve into “space law” (yes, it’s really called that) to understand this question. It started in the 1940s and ‘50s, when the USSR launch of Sputnik signaled a new ground for scientific competition in the Cold War, as well as fears of more direct, armed conflict. The landmark “Outer Space Treaty’’ of 1967 was the response, and nations continued to deal with space concerns until the end of the century.
2 Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy | TheNapervilleLawyer.com
What Is a ‘No-Contact’ Crash? And What to Do if You’re Involved in One
When you’re involved in an accident with another vehicle, typically both of you will remain at the scene to get one another’s contact and insurance information, talk to the police about what happened, and talk to anyone who witnessed the crash. But what happens when a vehicle causes another vehicle to crash without colliding with them? This is called a no-contact crash, and they can understandably complicate the post-accident process in a few different ways, especially if the other driver doesn’t realize they caused an accident or damage to your vehicle. They drive away, leaving you to literally comb through the wreckage by yourself.
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When the vehicle in front of you brakes hard, causing you to slam on your brakes before hitting them, leading the driver behind you to rear end your vehicle When a driver merges into your lane without seeing you, running you off the road and leading you to hit a tree or a pole
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However, in order for that to work, you have to prove you were in a no-contact crash. That typically means getting witnesses to corroborate your story, whether they be bystanders, other drivers, or passengers in your car. Their accounts of the accident will help prove your case and get your insurance provider to cover your damages. No-contact crashes can put you in a tricky spot, but with the right legal representation to guide you through the process, you can still ensure you’re compensated. For the right representation, call Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch & Turcy today at (312) 775-0042.
In each of these situations, if the at-fault driver keeps driving and becomes impossible to track down and hold accountable, what can you do to ensure you get compensated? Well, if you remember any details about the vehicle that caused the accident, like the make and model or even the license plate, you might be able to track them down and get their insurance provider to compensate you. However, if you can’t, you should be able to get your own insurance provider to pay for it through your uninsured/ underinsured coverage.
Some common examples of no-contact crashes include:
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When a vehicle cuts you off in traffic without using their turn signal, causing you to swerve into another lane, colliding with another vehicle
SUMMER VEGETABLE GREEK SALAD Inspired by CookieandKate.com
BRAIN GAME!
INGREDIENTS For the vinaigrette: • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar •
For the salad: •
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved 1 small cucumber, seeded and chopped 1 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
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1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tsp dried oregano
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1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Optional protein choices: 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 6 oz Genoa salami
DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, honey, and salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking until well combined. 2. In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, olives, and feta (as well as the chickpeas or salami, if desired). 3. If you plan to serve all the salad at once, drizzle the dressing over the salad to lightly coat, then toss to combine. Otherwise, store the vinaigrette and salad separately, then dress each portion before serving.
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218 N. Jefferson, Ste. 202 Chicago, IL 60661
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K T C O
Chute O’Malley Knobloch & Turcy
llc
TRIAL ATTORNEYS
WHAT’S INSIDE
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My Favorite Pastime Outside of Work
Life Hack: Fight SAD Early
Are We Headed for the First War in Space?
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A Crash Course on ‘No-Contact’ Crashes
Summer Vegetable Greek Salad
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Best Places to Beat the Chicago Heat
BEAT THE CHICAGO HEAT At Some of These Fun Spots Around Town
The Chicago Cultural Center This incredible building has seen many uses over the course of its life, and it currently hosts exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, and lectures. It’s air- conditioned and completely free to visit! Check out their calendar for any events you want to see!
We all know Chicago summers — particularly once August rolls around — can be brutal. Temperatures normally hover in the 90s for most of the afternoon, which might be enough to keep you cooped up inside with your AC. However, after spending so much of the last year and a half cooped up inside, why not find some more fun, creative ways to beat the heat this August? Here are a few places you can go in the city to do that. Crown Fountain Families with young children who love splashing around to cool down can do so at Crown Fountain, a 50-foot-tall interactive LED display that spouts water on a black granite pool. It’s a great place to find some relief from the heat radiating off hot concrete and pavement! Mary Bartelme Park If you want the cool sensation of swimming or splashing around without actually diving into the water, Mary Bartelme Park is a great place to cool down in Chicago. The stainless steel arches, which make up the park’s centerpiece sculpture, emit a fine mist on hot days that makes the surrounding area much cooler.
Promontory Point How can this list be complete without one of the city’s most well- known waterfront hangout spots? What it lacks in sandy beaches it makes up for in plenty of places to swim coupled with shady areas under trees in the park. With Lake Michigan so close by, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of the relief its waters provide on a hot day? Though this list is far from exhaustive, we hope it gives you some inspiration for how to beat the Chicago heat in your own unique way. Have fun and stay safe out there!
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