Law Tigers July 2018

THE TIGER TIMES

July 2018

A COMMUNITY WE BELIEVE IN For Us, Riding IsMoreThan a Hobby

A

fter a long and eventful career, I found myself amid some changes in my life, especially as a father of three kids fresh

out of college. So about 10 years ago I bought my first newmotorcycle, although I had first ridden as a teenager. With this newfound personal freedom and a new bike, I rode as often as possible. Needless to say, there was a fresh sense of exhilaration that came with the freedom of the open road. Whether I was solo trekking along the open highway or cruising alongside some of my closest friends, I became addicted to the thrilling sense of joy and possibility that riding brought me. I immersed myself in the motorcycling community and became intimately acquainted with the challenges bikers face on the road. I joined LawTigers as Marketing Manager this April. I’m not a lawyer; the attorneys with their combined decades of experience and hundreds of successful cases handle that end of the business. What I am is a rider, with thousands of hours in the saddle and a passion for fostering safety within the biker community. The reason I picked this law firm is they have the same philosophy and put their money where their mouth is by contributing tens of thousands of dollars to charitable motorcycle events across Illinois and Indiana each year. I’mworking to make a difference in the motorcycle community through advocacy, support, and listening to my fellow riders who are eager to do the same. Six or seven days a week, I’m out connecting with the public. It never gets old, whether I’m going on rides or hanging out at bike nights, mingling with

other riders. Whenever there’s a motorcycle event, I’m there, shaking hands, having fun, and laughing right alongside a huge variety of bikers. Sometimes, I’m amazed that I’m even able to call it work, I enjoy it so much. I also work to engage community organizations in support of motorcyclists, like my H.O.G. chapter or the local ABATE chapter. Our missions align on such a personal and professional level that it’s a natural fit for the law firm and me. And, of course, as any rider knows, there’s no group more generous than the motorcycle community. I don’t care if they’re a buttoned-up corporate rep, an employee at a motorcycle shop, or a badass biker decked out in leather, I’ve seen time and time again that riders will drop everything they’re doing to donate their time and money to a good cause. My days are spent working with charities and biker related organizations to raise awareness for those charitable causes.

-Steve Graef Frankly, I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to do this marketing work for a firm that I’m truly passionate about supporting. They’re the kinds of lawyers who go to great lengths to serve the needs of the client. It was important to me when I joined that I felt fully confident in the integrity, compassion, and experience this firm had to offer and having met former clients at events and seeing how happy they were they hired us, I can say I made the right choice. For me, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.

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HowHot Dogs andHamburgers Became National Treasures THIS AMERICAN GRUB

The Burger

SERVICE HIGHLIGHT The Timeline of an Accident Case HOW LONGWILL IT TAKE? Though the experienced attorneys at our firm always try to achieve the best possible results and the swiftest possible resolution, things can, unfortunately, still drag on occasion. Though a case can settle at different points and each varies widely in terms of time, here are the steps you can expect: Before a Suit Is Filed (30–90 Days) A Jewish immigrant from Poland, Nathan sliced buns for a hot dog stand on Coney Island. After scraping together enough money, he quit his job and opened a stand of his own, undercutting his former employer’s prices by half. Not only did Nathan’s hot dogs outsell the competition, the Great Depression made them the perfect food for a nation suddenly living on a tight budget. By the 1930s, hot dogs had become so unquestionably American that Franklin Roosevelt famously served them to King George VI during his royal visit in 1939. If your plans for this Independence Day involve firing up the barbecue, you’ll probably be cooking two American classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. Come the Fourth of July, families will be grilling up burgers and dogs from sea to shining sea, but it wasn’t always this way. The story of how beef patties and sausages became culinary symbols of our nation will give you plenty of food for thought. The Hot Dog It was German immigrants who brought the“frankfurter”and the “wienerwurst”to American soil in the 1800s. There is much debate over who first decided to place one of these franks in a bun, but by the opening of the 20th century, hot dog stands had popped up all over the Eastern Seaboard. We do know the identity of the man who took the hot dog’s popularity to a national level: Nathan Handwerker.

Like the hot dog, the exact origin of the beef patty’s eventual“sandwiching”is lost to history. Once again, it was German immigrants who brought their recipes for“Hamburg steak”with them across the Atlantic, but reports vary as to who first sold the meat patty inside a bun.

Multiple diners and fairgrounds across America claim to be the home of the first hamburger. All of these claims date to the turn of the 20th century, a time when our nation was faced with feeding a growing working class quickly and cheaply. By the 1950s, the burger had become a symbol of the American everyman. Both the hot dog and hamburger embody the history of our nation. Immigrant traditions merged with blue-collar needs to create two uniquely American foods. It’s fitting that we celebrate America’s birthday with the grub that has grown along with it.

Discovery (6–12months)

If you are forced to file a lawsuit, the case enters discovery, during which information pertinent to an eventual trial is exchanged between the parties involved. This is when both parties start to gain a clearer picture about the exact circumstances of the accident and the associated injuries, as well as the defendant’s defenses. During this phase, settlement is possible and especially likely if the information clearly supports a single party’s case over the other’s. Trial (2+ years)

Though you probably imagine your case going all the way to court, a very small percentage of cases actually end up in the courtroom. In reality, your claimwill probably settle in one of the previous stages or during a settlement conference before it goes to trial. Nomatter how long it takes, the legal process can be incredibly complicated. To give your case the fighting chance it deserves, call the motorcycle injury lawyers at our firm. We’ll give you the personal attention you need to help you get every dollar of compensation you deserve, and there is never a fee unless you collect.

Many times, motorcycle accident claims can settle before you even file a lawsuit. This will usually only happen if your attorney can convince the insurance company of what happened and the extent of the damages. This takes investigating the facts, gathering all medical bills and records, and consulting with experts— because you still need to support your claimwith a lot of evidence.

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KEEP COOL ON YOUR BIKE It’s Hot OutThere—PrepareYourself BeforeHeadingOut

Get wet. You’d be amazed what wearing a dampT-shirt and bandana can do to regulate your temperature. If you’re worried about staying soaked, don’t sweat it — if it’s hot out, it shouldn’t take muchmore than an hour for your clothing to dry. Every hour or so, find a rest stop and soak your shirt and rag. While you’re at it, take a hearty drink of water and fill up that bottle or Camelbak you brought with you. You’ll needmore water than you think. There are few things easier to do—andmore dangerous— than becoming seriously dehydrated on your bike. Be smart. If you ever find yourself dazed by the heat and humidity, your mind growing foggy and a headache starting to set in, don’t try to tough it out. Pull over, take off that helmet and gear for a fewminutes, and take a swig of water. While riding in the heat can actually be a great time if you’re prepared for it, heat exhaustion is a serious concern that’s not to be trifled with.

There’s nothing better than a ride in the summer sunshine; the hum of the wind in your ears as you cruise down the highway is pure bliss. But around here, especially if you’re out for a long ride, it can get blazing hot and brutally humid. Here are three tips to keep cool on your next ride. Gear up. In 90-degree weather, it can be tempting to chuck all that stuffy safety gear aside, but in addition to exposing

yourself to serious injury, it increases your risk of heat exhaustion. Plus, motorcyclists who ride without safety gear tend to become dehydratedmore quickly than their covered- up counterparts, since sweat evaporates more readily off their skin. Instead of abandoning your gear altogether, pick up some gear that’s specifically designed for warmer climates. Look for light-colored jackets and pants with a ton of ventilation, with a layer of breathable fabric beneath. Consider getting yourself a cooling vest, which is perfect when airflow alone isn’t enough to cool you.

and Celery Slaw BLUE CHEESE BUFFALODOGS

Nomatter where you stand on the great ketchup versusmustard debate, you’ll love these spicy, tangy, easy-to-make buffalo dogs. They’re the perfect way to elevate your Fourth of July cookout.

INGREDIENTS

FOR CELERY SLAW: •

• • • •

1 package of your favorite hot dogs

1 package hot dog buns

4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced

1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese

• • • •

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon olive oil

Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve.

[Recipe inspired by Real Simple]

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70West Madison St. Three First National Plaza Suite 1400 Chicago, IL 60602

MOTORCYC L LAWYER S

THIS ISSUE Inside

Why Steve Graef Loves the Motorcyclist Community Page 1 The History of Hot Dogs and Burgers How Long Do Accident Cases Take to Settle? Page 2 Tips to Keep Cool on Your Bike Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw Page 3

Must-See Swimming Holes of the World Page 4

LawTigers is not a law firm or a lawyer referral service, but a service mark used to identify Kelly Law Offices LLC’s membership in, and status as, a representative of the American Association of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers

Advertising Material

SECRET SWIMMINGHOLES OFTHEWORLD

Summertime is for swimming, but why settle for a community pool when you can have access to the most beautiful swimming locales in the world? These three exclusive, little- known spots are sure to take your breath away. Hali’i Falls, Hawaii With its spiral staircase of waterfalls, this remote jungle location offers upmore than one unique spot to take a plunge. Visitors never fail to be awestruck by the deep blue-green hue of each pool created by the four cascading waterfalls. Hali’i means“to spread out,”which is precisely what each waterfall does, showcasing a serene experience unlike any other. But the beauty of this one-of-a-kind experience is only outdone by its exclusivity. To reach these pools, you’ll have to hike through dense forest, deepmarshes, and wide-open pastures of sugar cane. Dos Ojos, Mexico The Spanish translation of the name for this magical systemof caves is“two eyes,”and you’ll want to have yours checked after you see this swimming hole. When limestone bedrock collapses, a sinkhole called a“cenote”is formed. The unearthed water from the natural aquifer

balances a color palette of earth tones with the most majestic shades of blue you’ll ever behold. The calling cards for these bodies of water are the

Blue Eye and the Black Eye. Both offer unforgettable experiences, but the price of entry is a hefty sense of adventure. You’ll need a full set of scuba gear to get to either hole. The Baths, Virgin Gorda A day in the Caribbean is like living every moment inside a beautiful pastel painting. The elegance of this location in the BritishVirgin Islands will make you feel like you’ve been transported into a cathedral. The large boulders and natural rock formations create shallow caves that will captivate your eyes as you wade through the water in wonder. When you exit, you’ll witness the sight that gives this beautiful spot its name: A handful of 40-foot granite boulders formprivate pools as if that was what they were made for.

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