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Jul 30
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Summer Safety Tips

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As fun as summer is, the season brings about a few dangers that we don’t often think about during the cold months. The heat and large crowds are mostly to blame, but luckily it’s relatively easy to stay safe if you take the right precautions. Below are some tips for staying safe this summer!

Staying Safe in the Heat and Sun

  • Always wear sunscreen! This may seem trivial, but many people forget. Get in the habit of applying every time you leave the house. Carrying a small bottle with you will help make sure you always have some SPF handy.
  • Don’t overdo it. If you’re starting to feel tired from the heat or sun, seek shade. The CDC reported a total of 7,233 heat-related deaths in the U.S. between the years of 1999-2009, which equals an average of 658 people died of heat-related causes each year.
  • Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day. Depending on where you live, the hottest part of the day is usually between 2-4pm.
  • Wear proper clothing. Think: lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting.
  • Treat sunburns properly. Drink lots of water, don’t peel your sunburns, generously apply aloe vera lotion, and try to remember your sunscreen next time!

 

Staying Safe on Water

  • Wear a life jacket. This may seem like an easy one, but plenty of adults forget to wear life jackets when on boats! This one is especially true for kids.
  • Drink extra water. It’s too easy to forget to drink water, especially when you’re in the water! Remember to hydrate properly, as it’s common to become very dehydrated when you’re in the sun.
  • Avoid alcohol. Not what you want to hear when you’re trying to have fun on a boat, but alcohol brings with it a few problems like dehydration and lowered inhibitions. Plus, the probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved.

 

Staying Safe in Crowded Places

  • Know where your nearest exit is. When you arrive at a crowded place such as a concert or festival, take a mental note of all the nearest exits in case you need to run for it.
  • Consider leaving if the crowd gets out of control. Keep an eye on the general vibe of the crowd. If it feels like it’s getting a little too crazy, it’s probably best to leave.
  • Pick a meeting point to rendezvous with your group if you get separated. Pick the rendezvous point before you get inside and make sure everyone knows where it is.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, and alert an official if something seems off. Better safe than sorry!
  • Write your phone number on your kids’ arms. If they get separated from you, someone will be able to call you to alert you of their whereabouts.
  • Keep your phone fully charged. Make sure it’s charged before you leave, and bring a spare battery if your phone tends to die easily. Having a fully-charged phone is important should you get separated or an emergency arise.

 

Have fun this summer! If an accident or injury occurs (and we hope it doesn’t!), schedule a FREE consultation with Chicago personal injury law firm Lyndsay Markley Law by calling (312) 523-2158 or emailing info@lmarkleylaw.com.

Jul 17
0

How to Sue a Doctor

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In cases of negligence and malpractice, it can be hard to make the decision to sue your doctor. You may not be “the suing type,” or you may not know how to sue a doctor in the first place. You may even really like your doctor, and don’t want to cause any hard feelings. However, when you or a loved one has been mistreated by someone you trusted, and especially if it results in emotional, physical, or monetary loss, you are entitled to take the steps necessary for potential  compensation.

If you decide you want to sue your doctor, here are the steps to take:

Build a case

If you have injuries, document them with photographs. Write down often how you are feeling physically and mentally, what medications you’ve been prescribed (and the dosage), and any other information you think could be useful in court. It’s also helpful to gather all of your medical records. HIPAA laws require patients to have the rights to all of their medical information. You may have to fill out a form, but it will be worth it in the long run. If you are denied your records, they can be subpoenaed later.

Hire a lawyer

You’ll need a medical malpractice lawyer, and you’ll need to find them as soon as possible. Every state has a different statute of limitations, and some of them have the “discovery rule,” which means that the statute of limitations begins after you find your injury or complications. Your lawyer will also be able to tell you if this case is even worth pursuing. If it’s worth pursuing, your lawyer and yourself will work together to file the complaint.

Engage in “Discovery”

Before this goes to court, both sides will have the opportunity to request documents from the other parties, like paperwork, photographs, and any other evidence you or your doctor may have collected. At the deposition, you will be speaking under oath about your experience, and anything you or the other party says can be used in the trial.

Settle, Mediate or Trial

No matter how you choose to settle your case, your lawyer will work hard for you to win as much compensation as possible. They will fight on your behalf so you can hopefully have closure.

Medical malpractice lawyers like our firm, Lyndsay Markley Law, handle a variety of medical malpractice cases including but not limited to: failure to diagnose, incorrect diagnosis, defective medical devices, emergency room errors, delayed treatment, surgical errors, lack of informed consent, improper treatment, anesthesia errors, pharmaceutical errors and incorrect dosage, birth injuries, and hospital negligence.

If you are looking for a medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago, schedule a FREE consultation with Lyndsay Markley Law by calling (312) 523-2158, or emailing info@lmarkleylaw.com.

 

Jul 09
0

Finding the Right Lawyer

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When you’re in a situation requiring a lawyer, odds are that you’re stressed and might be a little confused on where to start looking for legal advice. After all, finding the right attorney can make a profound difference for both you and your case. To make it a bit easier, we’ve summed up the steps you should take to find the right type of lawyer for your case.First, you need to determine which type of lawyer you need. There are many different specialties of law practice and finding which kind of lawyer to use will help your chances of winning your case. There are numerous types of lawyers, including but not limited to:

  • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
  • Bankruptcy
  • Criminal
  • Disability
  • Immigration
  • Trusts and Estates
  • Family
  • Personal Injury
  • Employment
  • Small Business
  • Corporate

For example, our firm, Lyndsay Markley Law, is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm in Chicago, and can help represent the rights of victims in personal injury and wrongful death claims.

When you are vetting potential lawyers, keep these tips in mind:

Seek Those With Experience

Look at online reviews and success rates of potential lawyers. You want to make sure you have somebody that has won most of their cases! A proven track record is a better indicator of how your case could go.

Price Range

See if your workplace offers a prepaid legal services plan. Many workplaces do, and it can save you quite a bit of money. Be sure you are familiar with coverage and know in advance if you will incur out-of-pocket expenses–you don’t want to get any surprise bills!

Ask Questions

Make a list of questions to ask potential lawyers. There is no such thing as a stupid question, and you want to feel 100% comfortable with everything he or she has to offer. Some example questions:
Do they have office hours?
How fast will they respond to calls and emails?
What are their fees and how are their fees structured?
How often will you be billed?
Can they provide references from other clients with similar cases?

Choose Comfort

Make sure you feel comfortable with that lawyer. Your lawyer will be helping solve some possibly very personal problems for you, so you should feel comfortable honestly answering any questions he/she might have, and giving them all the facts necessary to properly resolve your case.

Finding the right lawyer is crucial to your case. If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer in Chicago, schedule a FREE consultation with Lyndsay Markley law by calling (312) 523-2158, or emailing info@lmarkleylaw.com.

Jun 03
0

9 Things to Know About Asking for a Raise

By | Blog, Professionalism, Uncategorized

Compensation reviews can be unpredictable and unpleasant. There can be an uncertainty about when is the appropriate time to ask for a raise, causing hard feelings on both sides. I’ve been on both sides of the fence when it comes to raises and it’s difficult for all parties involved if the process isn’t handled professionally. Here are my nine top tips for anyone who is considering asking for a raise: 

1) Be scheduled
If compensation/performance reviews are not discussed during your final interview, I recommend addressing them as part of your overall package. By providing all parties involved with a clear time frame, an employee is saved the anxiety of the unknown and for the partner it prevents random requests for compensation at a time that’s usually less than ideal.

Side note for employers: I have heard some less than savvy employers say that they prefer to ‘surprise’ employees with random raises and bonuses, as opposed to providing a set structure like the one I have described above. Although I agree that many employees would be delighted to have a random compensation increase, this should occur in addition to and not in lieu of a real meeting where the employee is able to prepare and present themselves for feedback. It just isn’t fair to keep your employees guessing.

2) Be prepared
Prepare answers to the following: Why do you deserve a raise? What positive impact have you demonstrated? What qualities do you have that will serve the firm in the future (meaning you are worth the investment)? List out the qualities you have now that will benefit your employers in the future and give concrete examples. Refer to hard financial data on your performance, too.

3) Don’t be entitled
Several years ago, an associate in my firm attended her compensation review with only one factor in mind that – apparently, she was due an obligatory one-year salary increase. She had no idea what positive or negative impact she brought to the company, nor did she seem to care. On a side note, this first year associate had taken 17 days of vacation – not including ‘half’ days. Although her raise request was done with a straight face, it was hard to avoid disbelief on mine. The asker should be prepared to demonstrate objectively and subjectively, why they deserve an increase in pay. 

4) Be aware of your company’s financial climate
A successful request for a raise will depend a lot on timing, even if the meeting is scheduled. Look at the circumstances going on at your office: Did your company just lose a big client? Are you hearing about budget cuts? If so, it might be good to delay the meeting for a few weeks.

5) Be conscious of your value
There are many reasons why you might not be an ideal candidate for a raise and the best thing you can do is hear these out, improve upon them and try again. If you’re denied a raise based on some performance issues, commit to your employer that this is going to change and ask for a six-month performance review.

7) Be calm
Appearing hot and defensive when you ask for a raise won’t go well. You have to be an advocate for yourself while remaining level headed – not an easy thing to do. Be in a good place before this discussion by trying to schedule it at a time when you are not rushed, hungry or stressed out. Visualize the success of the meeting on a regular basis as much as possible before it happens and, if you’re into this sort of thing (I am!), mediate beforehand. Calm, cool and collected are three huge assets any employer would want to celebrate.

8) Be creative
Cash flow is a problem in most businesses. If your employer informs you that you deserve a raise but money is too tight, be prepared with a creative solution. An idea from my business (plaintiff’s personal injury and wrongful death), would be asking for commission on business you bring into the company. Other ideas are amenities: gym or club memberships, increased vacation days and a flexible schedule. Try to think about all of the possible ways you can get what you want, without breaking your employer’s bank to get it.

9) Be clear
Ask for what you want, plus a little more. This is a negotiation. You want room to move. If you’re granted your first demand that’s wonderful, but the odds are strongly in favor of a counter, which is less than your wildest dreams. If you build in room to move in your request, you can have real dialogue that also makes you look reasonable.

 

This blog was originally posted on BeLeaderly.com.