Kelly Law's online newsletter for August 2018
OFFICES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTH BEND
From Client to Lifelong Friend Getting Personally Invested in Client Success
W
hen you’re a personal injury lawyer doing your best for the people you serve, you often see clients at their
Over the years of being embroiled in his case, Bill and I became friends. We’d get together and have lunch, chatting not only about the issues related to his case, but about the fresh challenges that he faced in his post-accident life and everything that was going on in his day- to-day. We discovered a lot of common ground between us and shared interests that made our conversations genuinely engaging every time we met up.
lowest point. They’re hurt and stressed out beyond belief, with medical bills mounting and insurance companies denying responsibility at every turn, so it’s important that we, as their attorneys, are wholly there for them throughout the process. As we guide them through their recovery and work to secure the compensation they deserve and need to move on, it’s not uncommon for us to develop lasting relationships with our clients over the course of the months or years we spend handling their cases. Once, I had a client — let’s call him Bill — who suffered a severe leg injury after a brutal motorcycle accident. One day, Bill was broadsided on his motorcycle and sustained a serious fracture to his leg. In the end, the doctors were forced to amputate his leg below the knee. A tragic circumstance, to be sure, but when he came into our office seeking help in paying his immense medical bills, it was clear that he was just grateful to be alive. I visited him after the crash, when he was still bedridden at the hospital. As I listened to his concerns and hopes, I quickly became personally invested in his case. Here was a guy who had just been minding his own business, only to have a horrific accident turn his life upside down.
And in the end, we were able to get him a multimillion-dollar settlement, one that would allow him to survive without a mountain of bills for the rest of his life and help supplement his income when he could no longer do the work he did. And though it’s been a while since I’ve worked with him directly, we still text every now and then. On holidays, he’ll give me a call and check in, or I’ll text him one day, curious as to how he’s doing. While his life will never be the same as it was before the accident — it feels good to have been able to contribute to his peace of mind. I’m grateful to work at a firm that enables us to form these meaningful connections with our clients, and to have a caseload that allows me to see my clients as people, rather than mere numbers on a chart. It’s cases like these — and especially the people behind these cases — that make my work truly worthwhile.
–Michael Massucci
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TRANSPORTATION SAFETY TIPS
Protect Your Children During Their Commute
SERVICE HIGHLIGHT Factors That Determine What You’ll Receive THE VALUE OF YOUR CRASH With the school year fast approaching, families are in preparation mode. Parents are busy buying new clothes and school supplies and thinking about the best way to get their kids safely to school. Keeping your child safe on their commute starts with knowing the transportation method that works best for you and the rules that accompany that method. Taking the School Bus According to the United States Department of Transportation, the school bus is the safest means of transportation to and from school. Buses are built to withstand a hit and distribute the damage throughout the vehicle, keeping its passengers safe and sound. Knowing basic bus safety will help kids be mindful when taking the bus. Before the school year starts, take your children to the bus stop and show themwhere they should stand when the bus approaches — a minimum of three large steps or 6 feet from the street. Tell your kids about the importance of sitting still and not standing in the bus while it’s in motion. Kids on the Road Whether your child is biking, walking, or even skateboarding, it’s vital that they know and follow the rules of the road. All children
should practice road safety behavior, such as riding on the right side of the road, wearing helmets, stopping at stop signs, and watching out for cars. Internalizing these habits will help them stay aware of their surroundings when traveling to and from school. Sharing the Road
When school starts, the roads become even more cluttered than usual. On top of people heading to work, there are large buses making frequent stops, parents rushing to drop their kids off, and young kids biking or walking to school. With the added tension on the road, it’s important to be alert and move cautiously. Slowing down in school zones or around young pedestrians will keep you vigilant and could potentially save lives.
Teach your kids to be prepared and safe on the road to ensure that they have a healthy and safe school year.
DAMAGES
Accounting for damages considers any personal injuries sustained and how severe they are. There are a few factors that can impact the amount you can receive in damages. If you are involved in an accident but are unharmed, there will be no damages to pay. However, if you are injured, then you need to ask yourself how the injuries affect your life, your work, the things you love to do, your mental health, etc. The more impact your injuries have on your life as a whole, the more damages there are to be compensated. INSURANCE accident, but not everyone is insured. If you end up in an accident and the other person or corporation has a large insurance policy, then your case should provide you with enough to cover your expenses. If the person who caused the accident has inadequate or no insurance, you could receive nothing. To protect yourself from this, it is important you have underinsured and uninsuredmotorist insurance included in your policy. Deciding howmuch your case is worth can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. Our attorneys at Kelly LawOffices are ready and willing to help you, and there is never a fee unless you win. Call our office today at 1-800-859-8800 and learn what we can do for you. Whether or not you have insurance is a major component of howmuch your case is worth. Everyone wants to be covered if they’ve gotten into an
THE VALUE OF YOUR CRASH
If you’ve been in an accident, you’ll want to be covered for any medical expenses heading your way. Deciding how much your case is worth relies on several factors. LIABILITY
After you’ve been in an accident, it’s important to know who or what caused it. If it’s clear that the other person or persons
involved are 100 percent at fault, the value of your case will increase. For example, if you are stopped at a red light and are suddenly struck from behind, you are not at fault. In accidents where you’re partially at fault, your liability increases while the value of your case decreases.
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3 Bikes That Stand the Test of Time
Ask anyone who rides about their favorite bike and they’ll immediately get glassy-eyed and wistful. We’re all eager to talk ourselves blue about our dreammotorcycles, whether it’s a trusty model we’ve been riding for years or a vintage collector’s item that’s way outside our budget. But whatever your personal favorite may be, there are some undeniably vital classic bikes that stand out in the ongoing motorcycle arms race. Here are just three: 1915 Harley-DavidsonV-Twin
II, when the Knucklehead surged into popularity, Harley was looking for new innovations to push their bikes into the future. Though other companies had been using hydraulic telescoping forks in some form since the ’30s, Harley really perfected it with the Hydra-Glide, which offered a new standard of comfort for Harley loyalists. The curved design of the bike, coupled with its large front brake, made it a huge hit in the ’40s and beyond, with imitators still aping its style to this day. 1960TriumphT120 Bonneville
In the early days of mass-produced motorbikes, this bike became the industry standard until WWII
Icons flock to icons. There’s a reason, after all, that Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Bob Dylan, Paul Newman, Paul McCartney, and Steven McQueen all rode a Bonneville: It’s simply one of the most attractive bikes of all time. It’s been rebooted and imitated over and over again by both Triumph and its competitors over the years, yet it still maintains its classic look. While it may not win any points for outright innovation, it definitely changed the motorcycle industry forever.
came around and the market shifted. With its signature, powerful (at the time) V-twin engine and three-speed transmission, it was the ideal touring bike for years to come. 1949 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide Bikers that consider the laid- back Harley cruisers the pinnacle of motorcycle design partially have the FL Hydra-Glide and its older ilk to thank. Just after WorldWar
Grilled Leg of Lamb ill f
This recipe is the perfect centerpiece for a late summer cookout or an easy family dinner.
INGREDIENTS
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1 4–5-pound boneless leg of lamb, not butterflied
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2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
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1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 8 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
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Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. On a large cutting board, cut between the muscles on the leg of lamb to divide into 4 pieces, pulling apart with your fingers if need be. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Add lamb and toss to coat. Marinate for 4 hours at room temperature. 3. Heat grill to medium-high. Season lamb with salt and pepper and grill until lamb reaches an internal temperature of 130 F (medium rare). Cook time will vary depending on size of lamb pieces. 4. Let lamb rest, covered with tin foil, for 15 minutes. Slice thinly and serve.
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
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THIS ISSUE Inside
How Michael Massucci Builds Genuine Relationships With His Clients Page 1 Keep Your Kids Safe on the Way to School How Much Is Your Case Worth? Page 2
3 of the Greatest Bikes in History Grilled Leg of Lamb Page 3 The Best End-of-Summer Activity Page 4 Advertising Material
JOURNEYTOTHE GREAT BACKYARD
Summer is drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make some great memories. Camping trips are a summer staple. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find the perfect campsite. Your backyard is right there waiting for you! Here are a few tips to help your family say farewell to summer with a perfect backyard camping trip. Pack for an authentic experience. Your back door is literally a few yards away, which can be great in the event of an emergency. But if the kids are running in and out of the house all night long, they might end up deciding they’d rather be inside playing video games after only an hour. Be sure to pack everything you would need if you were really going into the woods for the night so no one is tempted to go back inside. This means tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, pajamas, books, binoculars, a compass, water bottles, and a cooler of food with snacks and dinner. Treat this like a“real”camping experience right from the beginning! Figure out the campfire. Don’t have an in-ground fire pit? No worries! You can still enjoy hot dogs and s’mores with a charcoal grill or a store-bought fire pit. If
you have enough room in your backyard, you could even try building a bonfire. Just make sure to check your city ordinances and
get any necessary permits first. You can find advice for building the perfect campfire at REI.com/learn/expert-advice/campfire-basics.html. Remember: It’s okay to call it a night. For kids, the most exciting part of camping in the backyard is getting to sleep in a tent — that is, until they actually have to sleep. After stargazing, some kids will want to stay up all night whispering and giggling in the tent, and that’s great! But other kids might decide they’d rather sleep inside, and that’s okay too. Your camping trip isn’t a failure because everyone spent the night in their own beds. It’s not about where everyone sleeps; it’s about howmuch fun your family had together before bedtime.
The best part of backyard camping? It doesn’t take a lot of planning. Just grab your gear and your family and hike out into the great backyard.
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