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135 S. LaSalle St., Ste. 2200 Chicago, IL 60603
3550 Hobson Rd., Ste. 403 Woodridge, IL 60517
312-663-7016 | www.shannonlawgroup.com Text: 312-847-2428 FEBRUARY 2022
FROM REPRESENTING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE: HOW I GOT HERE
For my first 10 years as a law clerk and then as a lawyer, I served the interests of insurance companies and large corporations. I represented some of the largest automobile and machine manufacturers on the planet. These companies paid top dollar to have highly qualified lawyers on their side. As such, I learned a lot from some of the best attorneys in the country — like how large companies handle disputes. I also learned about insurance companies and how they operate. I learned where the money comes from to pay seriously injured people. I also learned why and when companies pay the most money to injured people. These lessons, and the skills I developed from this experience, have become invaluable as we push our clients’ cases to resolution. On Feb. 14, 1996, over 26 years ago, I walked into my downtown Chicago office where my boss worked and let him know I planned to leave the practice so I could start representing people. At the time, Michelle and I had two daughters under 2 years old (Emma and Clare), and Michelle took care of them at home. The pressure was on to create a great trial practice because my family and future clients counted on me. During the first couple of years, I learned firsthand what our clients go through after experiencing a bad injury. The process can be quite painful for our clients who have to wait years for the court system to provide a trial date so their case can be heard and reviewed by their peers. When I represented large corporations, I received a monthly salary, and the outcome of the case did not determine my pay. Then, virtually overnight, I became a 100% commission worker. I felt especially bonded with our clients. If we did not deliver for them, we did not get paid. The first few years were rough. I had few clients and no trial dates set because I had to create a trial record.
The lessons I learned from those early days have stuck with me. It is good to feel the pain of our clients. We are in this together. We have no incentive to drag out or postpone a case. We want to get their case to trial quickly. That’s why we file our clients’ cases as soon as we can. We want to push toward resolution so they will get fair compensation. To our clients: We feel your urgency to have a resolved case, but we counsel you that the truly fair amount for your injury is not offered right away. It is usually offered near trial. We are not here to settle your case for pennies on the dollar. We are here to get you fair compensation. Thank you for allowing us to represent you. We are grateful for the opportunity.
Gratefully,
– Joseph Shannon
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WHAT SHOULD I DO IF YOU’RE INJURED IN A BIKE ACCIDENT? KNOW STEPS TO TAKE FOLLOWING A BICYCLE INJURY
2. Take photos and gather evidence. As you continue treatment, start gathering evidence to support your case. First, take photos of the damaged bicycle and car. Snap photos of the license plate of the car. Hopefully, you or someone else took photos at the scene of the crash. If not, the responding police officers may have taken some.
Let’s say a driver doesn’t see you riding your bike in the crosswalk while they’re turning left. You barely have a moment to react before the impact. You wake up on the pavement, your right leg hurts like never before, and you’re trying to remember what just happened. The at-fault driver calls 9-1-1, and an ambulance takes you to
the nearest hospital. The doctors discover that your femur is fractured, and you have to undergo surgery immediately. Now, your medical bills are piling up, and your doctor says you can’t go back to work for at least six months. You may lie awake at night, tossing and turning, wondering, “Who should I contact? What
Also, photograph your injuries and film your process as you recover. Next, gather any and all documents related to the bicycle crash, including the Illinois Crash Report, medical bills, and medical records.
3. Call a bicycle accident lawyer FIRST before talking to an insurance adjuster. Insurance adjusters are not your friends — no matter how nice they seem over the phone. Avoid talking with them about the accident and contact an experienced lawyer first. Why? Whatever you tell them may be used against you in the future. When you hire a bicycle accident lawyer like Shannon Law Group, the insurance adjuster has to speak to us. You don’t have to deal with the stress of answering their questions or sending them documents. Your attorney will handle those interactions while you focus on your family and getting better.
should I do next? How do I keep the lights on, food on the table, and the mortgage paid?” Through no fault of your own, you were injured in a bicycle accident. The person who hit you should be held accountable in the courtroom. But how do you do this? At Shannon Law Group, we help people injured in bike crashes hold these negligent parties accountable and secure the necessary compensation they need to live a normal life. Based on our experience, here are three things to do after getting injured in a bicycle crash: 1. Continue seeking medical treatment. Your health is always a top priority. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and keep going to your appointments. Believe it or not, people may actually sustain a shoulder injury from a vaccination. This medical condition is known as a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (or SIRVA for short). SIRVA can happen to anyone following an injection in the shoulder. Why? Because it is caused by improper administration of a vaccination, rather than a reaction to the vaccine itself. IS SIRVA PERMANENT? DOES IT GO AWAY ON ITS OWN?
– Joseph Shannon
When a patient goes to the doctor with shoulder pain, the doctor will perform a physical examination and may order several tests, including an MRI. The patient may be diagnosed with one of many shoulder injury diagnoses associated with SIRVA, including frozen shoulder syndrome (adhesive capsulitis), rotator cuff injury, bursitis, and tendinitis.
Can SIRVA Go Away on Its Own?
SIRVA can go away on its own, but that’s not always the case. For some, their SIRVA injury needs a robust treatment plan to heal completely. A SIRVA injury may heal within a few months with the right treatment plan. Others may experience chronic pain, and they will continue to go to physical therapy or take painkillers to manage their symptoms for an extended period of time. A doctor may prescribe a combination of physical therapy, steroid shots, and prescription pain medication to treat a SIRVA injury.
The good news is that if you suffered a shoulder injury from a vaccine like the flu shot, you may be eligible for compensation from the federal government in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). In 2017, the United States government amended the Vaccine Injury Table in the VICP to include shoulder injuries caused by all covered vaccinations.
What Is SIRVA?
SIRVA happens when a vaccine is injected into the shoulder capsule, rather than the deltoid muscle. After this improper injection, inflammation often develops in the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles and ligaments. Patients with SIRVA may experience pain within 48 hours of getting a vaccine and a decreased range of motion in the affected shoulder. As a result, the patient’s quality of life diminishes. Simple tasks such as getting dressed or unloading the dishwasher are now difficult.
In some cases, he or she may recommend surgery to repair damaged tendons or ligaments.
To learn more about SIRVA and the VICP, read my book, “Understanding the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.” To get your free copy, text “VICP” to 312-847-2428.
–Jon Svitak
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ILLINOIS SEMI TRUCK ACCIDENT STATISTICS YOU SHOULD KNOW
more likely to occur compared to work zone accidents involving single unit trucks, which accounted for only 343 total accidents. Of the total work zone accidents, there were 22 fatal crashes. However, 19 of them involved a semitrailer and tractor. Not only are work zone semi accidents more likely to happen, but they’re also the deadliest as well. If you examine these 22 fatal crashes, almost 60% of them occurred between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., which are the typical work hours. On the other hand, there were no fatal crashes between the times of 4 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. throughout the entire 2019 year. What were the most dangerous days to be in a work zone? Statistically, most work zone crashes involving CMVs happened on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays. Combined, a total of 61% of the crashes occurred on these three days of the week. It’s important to keep in mind that all semitrailer accident deaths and injuries are preventable. Improper training and hiring in the trucking industry places bad drivers on the road who cause these devastating crashes. And when these accidents do happen, they’re catastrophic for the other party. In fact, truck accidents are five times more fatal when compared to any other vehicle crash. Always drive defensively while sharing the road with semitrailers. You never know who is behind the wheel and if they can see you.
Every year, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) collects data on all types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in the state. IDOT then compiles and analyzes this data, publishing a report on the crash facts and statistics from that year. The last report published was the 2019 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics. These reports explain when, where, and why these crashes occur. IDOT uses these reports to help decrease the number of crashes and reduce the number of traffic fatalities in Illinois. In 2019, there were a total of 22,008 truck accidents in Illinois. There were 1,337 total accidents involving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that took place in a work zone. Of the 1,337 accidents, 859 included a tractor with a semitrailer attached. Based on these facts, work zone crashes involving big rigs were three times
– Pat Cummings
JOIN SLG’S 2022 MARCH MADNESS BRACKET CHALLENGE TODAY!
Every season, we host our own bracket challenge to celebrate one of the best sporting events of the year: March Madness. Anyone can enter (even if you know nothing about NCAA basketball, like our marketing specialist Brittany). There are also cash prizes for the top three winners. When you enter, you have a chance to win the following:
1st Place: $300 2nd Place: $200 3rd Place: $100
To enter, text “MADNESS 2022” to 312-847-2428, and you’ll get a link to start your bracket. You can also email Katelyn at kpater@shannonlawgroup.com for the link and any questions you may have. See you in the pool!
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312-663-7016
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Phone: 312-663-7016 Text: 312-847-2428 www.shannonlawgroup.com
135 S. LASALLE ST., STE. 2200 CHICAGO, IL 60603
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Representing People, Not Insurance Companies What Should I Do If You’re Injured In A Bike Accident? Is SIRVA Permanent? Does It Go Away On Its Own? Illinois Semi Truck Accident Statistics You Should Know Join SLG’s 2022 March Madness Bracket Challenge today!
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Take A Break
TAKE A BREAK
BEADS CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL FOOTBALL
HISTORY LUNAR PINK PRESIDENTS
SWEETHEART TIGER VALENTINE VIOLET
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