Sandusky Personal Injury Lawyer - Wrongful Death

$36 million awarded to family of man killed at Wal-Mart | Toledo, Ohio wrongful death lawyers

Chuck Boyk — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:37:00 GMT

A paranoid schizophrenic who was supposed to be under the State's care drove to an Arizona Wal-Mart in 2005 and fatally shot two men, then drove away. A witness gathered his license plate number and called police.

The mental patient was off of his medication at the time of the shooting, since his appointment was canceled by his care provider at ValueOptions and his medication ran out. ValueOptions held the contract for providing care to the state's mental health patients.

Since the mental patient was a patient of the State of Arizona's mental-health system for over 20 years, a jury found the State of Arizona and ValueOptions liable in one of the man's deaths. The jury awarded $36 million to the family of one of the deceased. A separate lawsuit is pending in the other wrongful death.

Our Toledo, Ohio fatal shooting lawyers handle devastating wrongful death cases like this one all of the time. If you or someone you know needs help dealing with a tragic situation like this one, contact our office to speak with an Ohio tragic accident lawyer immediately. We have also written The Ohio Wrongful Death Book, which can be ordered for FREE by contacting our office.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Parents sue after daughter is killed at hotel | Ohio wrongful death attorneys

Chuck Boyk — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:45:00 GMT

The parents of the 21-year-old a former homecoming queen filed a $100 million lawsuit against the hotel, Days Inn Corp., for the wrongful death of their daughter, citing that a hotel failed to preform employment background checks after hiring illegal immigrants.

The woman suffered wrongful death after she was killed in a Tennessee hotel this past September.

A Days Inn employee used a master key to let himself into the room where the woman was staying during her business trip, then sexually assaulted and killed her. Her body was found a week later in a nearby lake.

Tragic deaths like this one are so sad, but they are also common, and our Ohio wrongful death attorneys see the devastation these types of horrible crimes can cause.

If you need help dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one, contact our office today to order your free copy of The Ohio Wrongful Death Book to learn your rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Ohio wrongful death lawyers recommend books for grieving families

Chuck Boyk — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:28:00 GMT

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one due to a fatal accident, The Ohio Wrongful Death Book, written by the attorneys in our office, could help.

The Ohio fatal accident lawyers in our office see the devastation that Ohio wrongful deaths can cause, and they understand how much grief a death can bring to a family.

In response to our previous blog on book recommendations for those suffering from the death of a loved one, we are providing a more titles that can help you while you grieve.

The titles include The Bereaved Parent, by Harriet Sarnoff Schiff; Who Dies? by Stephen and Ondrea Levine; On Death and Dying, by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross; and Awakening from Grief: Finding the Road Back to Joy, by John E. Wlshons.

They encourage anyone who is grieving from the tragic loss of a loved one to seek help in this time of need, whether it be from other family members, or professionals.

Contact our office for your complimentary copy of The Ohio Wrongful Death Book.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Man dies in fatal apartment fire, Ohio wrongful death lawyers file suit in Wood County

Chuck Boyk — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:23:57 GMT

Ronald Perez, 45, died in an Ohio apartment fire in Weston last July, as did his friend and neighbor, Jimmy White, 69. Onlookers believe that it was Mr. Perez who could be seen in the second story window, hair and body on fire, screaming for help, before going back into the burning building to save his friend.

Our Ohio wrongful death lawyers filed suit in Wood County Court of Common Pleas this week in a case involving the Ohio accidental death of Mr. Perez.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Ronald Perez's father, Abel Perez, Sr., claims that the apartment where Ronald lived was not equipped with working smoke detectors. The suit states that apartment owner Daniel Van Vorhis "owed a duty of care" to supply the building with working smoke detectors, and comply with all applicable building, housing, health, and safety codes.

According to a Toledo Blade article from July, many of the neighbors did not awaken until they heard firefighters trying to fight the blaze, which was producing flames 80 feet high.

Our Ohio fire fatality lawyers know how important the role smoke detectors play in saving lives during a fire, and urge everyone, renters and homeowners alike, to regularly test their smoke detectors. Notify your landlord if you feel that you are not properly protected from potential fires - you have a right to be safe where you live.

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one due to tragic circumstances, contact our office to order your free copy of The Ohio Wrongful Death Book.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Ohio fatal accident lawyers | Books recommendations for dealing with tragic loss of loved one

Chuck Boyk — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:12:00 GMT

Our Ohio wrongful death lawyers see the devastation that Ohio fatal accidents can have on a family. Our attorneys encourage the surviving family and friends to talk about their feelings, and avoid bottling up any emotions.

Losing a loved one to tragic circumstances is devastating. Dealing with the emotions of loss, confusion, and grief can be hard even when the death is natural.

We realize that sometimes it can be hard to talk to someone, especially if there are few surviving family members. Our Toledo, Ohio fatal accident lawyers recommend these books to help survivors cope with a loss, and learn how to talk to others about the pain they are suffering. Titles that can help you deal with the loss of a loved one include: This Thing Called Grief: New Understandings of Loss by Thomas Ellis, When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kusner, Spousal Bereavement in Late Life by Camille Wortman, and Lessons of Loss: A Guide to Coping by Robert A. Neimeyer.

The attorneys in our office have also written a book called The Ohio Wrongful Death Book that helps surviving family members navigate the complicated world of an Ohio wrongful death claim. If you or someone you know if suffering a loss due to a fatal Ohio accident, contact our office today for your free copy.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

College student passes away during tragic accident at Christmas play

Chuck Boyk — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:04:00 GMT

Our Ohio fatal accident lawyers see the devastation that tragic accidents can cause to a family and a community.

Keri Shryock of Sylvania, Ohio tragically died shortly after a fatal accident during a Christmas pageant on December 18, 2008, according to the Toledo Blade.

Keri was playing the part of a wiseman in the play, and was suspended by a cable over 20 feet in the air when the cable snapped, causing her to fall to the ground. She passed away the next morning.

“Ms. Shryock should have never been up that high without proper safety devices and training,” Attorney Chuck Boyk said. “She should have been protected better in order to prevent this tragic fatal accident.”

If you or someone you know needs help dealing with a wrongful death caused by tragic circumstances, order your free copy of The Ohio Wrongful Death Book. Our fatal accident attorneys can help you navigate the complicated world of an Ohio wrongful death claim.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Living wills, healthcare power of attorneys discussed by Toledo, Ohio car accident attorney Dale Emch

Chuck Boyk — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:54:00 GMT

Although death can be a difficult subject to discuss, it is important that your family knows what to do in the event that you cannot make decisions for yourself.

Living wills and healthcare power of attorneys allow your family to know your wishes, should anything happen to you. Toledo, Ohio dog bite attorney Dale Emch discusses the importance of a living will and healthcare power of attorney in his Toledo Blade column, “Legal Briefs.” If you have a general legal question you would like to see answered in Attorney Emch’s column, such as an inquiry regarding dog bites, car accidents, or workers’ compensation, contact our office.

Dear Dale: I have been in poor health for the last few years and recently I took a turn for the worse, which required me to move in with my daughter. Can I give her the right to make decisions for me about my health and medical care if need be?

ANSWER: Most of us don't like to think about these issues, but whether you're elderly and in bad health or young and vibrant, it's a good idea to have a living will and health care power of attorney. It makes sense to have your attorney put them together at the same time you have a will drafted, but you actually can create a living will and health care power of attorney on your own.

Living wills provide peace of mind that your wishes at the end of your life will be followed. They're powerful documents that address your desires about what type of care you want to receive if you're not in a position to make the decision yourself.

A living will kicks in when you are terminally ill and unable to express your wishes or when you're permanently unconscious. In applicable situations, a living will addresses things such as a desire not to receive life-sustaining treatment, whether you want to be hooked up to machines to sustain your life, whether medical providers should attempt CPR, and when feeding and fluid tubes should be removed. At the same time you can still be given medicine to ease any pain.

Physicians will recognize living wills, but two doctors have to agree that the conditions mentioned above apply and that you will not recover.

A health care power of attorney makes a good companion to a living will. This document allows you to designate a person who can make health care decisions for you if you aren't able to make them for yourself. It's different than giving someone power of attorney over your finances or over other matters limited to a specific area.

The person given health care power of attorney can make the decision to withdraw or deny life-sustaining treatment provided that a physician determines that you won't recover and be able to make such decisions for yourself.

But unlike a living will, a health care power of attorney can apply to situations that aren't life and death. For instance, if you were temporarily knocked unconscious after being hit by a car while riding your bike, the person to whom you gave health care power of attorney can make certain medical decisions on your behalf, such as signing off on an operation or moving you to a different hospital.

Because you're living with your daughter, you should consider whether you're comfortable giving her health care power of attorney. If you are, have a detailed talk about your end-of-life wishes. The best way to ensure that your desires are followed is to have a living will, which would trump the health care power of attorney even if your designee wants to take another course.

I would encourage you and anyone else interested in exploring these issues to visit Lucas County Probate Judge Jack Puffenberger's Web site at www.lucas-co-probate-ct.org. Not only does it have a tremendous amount of information about these matters, but it has a link that allows you to download forms for a living will and health care power of attorney.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Family of five suffers wrongful death in drunk driving car accident

Anneke Kurt — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:51:20 GMT

Our Toledo, Ohio, personal injury attorneys see the devastating effects drunk driving and DUIs have on families and urge drivers not to drink and drive. New Year's Eve is a popular night for parties and family gatherings, many of which serve alcohol. If you plan on consuming alcohol this New Year's Eve, please designate a driver. Our attorneys encourage drivers to set aside extra money for a cab and stick the number to a local cab company in their purse or wallet before leaving for the night. If there is any doubt at all that you have had too much to drink, call a ride. Give your car keys to a responsible person when you arrive at the party, or make arrangements to stay overnight at the family gathering. It is better to wake up in a bed at your family's house than to cause another driver to wake up in the hospital or not at all. Don't be the cause of wrongful death and personal injuries after drunk driving car accidents.

A tragic car accident last night resulting in the wrongful death of five family members is the only evidence needed to prove how devastating drinking and driving can be. An alleged drunk driver traveling the wrong way on I-280 in North Toledo hit the family of eight almost head on, killing a mother and four children, one of whom was only an infant. Police said the driver's blood alcohol level at the time of the car accident was 0.254 percent, over 3 times the legal limit in Ohio, according to the Toledo Blade. The family was believed to be traveling home to Maryland after visiting relatives in Michigan for Christmas when the car accident occurred.

For more information on this subject, please see our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Anneke Kurt

Yamaha Rhino ATVs under scrutiny for causing personal injury, death

Anneke Kurt — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:29:58 GMT

All terrain vehicles, although seemingly fun, can cause personal injury or even wrongful death to drivers and passengers due to rollover accidents. One model in particular, the Yamaha Rhino ATV, has been under scrutiny for easily tipping and rolling over when turns at even a low speed are made. In the year 2000, 547 people died in ATV-related accidents, according to Consumer Reports. A 9-year-old Texan boy was killed as a earlier this summer after a Yamaha Rhino his 12-year-old sister was driving rolled over, pinning the boy and causing severe trauma to his head. Even though as a passenger he was wearing a seatbelt, the lack of doors on the ATV contributed to his ejection from the vehicle. These ATVs are especially dangerous to children under the age of 16, as many kids are not used to driving a motor vehicle, or don't take the ATV's seriously. Our Toledo, Ohio personal injury attorneys have seen the devastating affects of these rollover accidents, and the personal injury resulting from a Rhino ATV accident.

YamahaRhinoAccidents.com had this to say about the dangerous ATV:

Since the Yamaha Rhino was introduced to the market in the United States in September 2003, some drivers and passengers have been seriously injured, and in some cases permanently maimed as a result of rollover accidents. The Rhino, because of its unique design - including a narrow wheelbase, high center of gravity, fast acceleration and extremely quick turning radius - can be very unstable and roll over on either the driver or passenger side when sharply turned at low speeds. Although the vehicle is equipped with a roll bar and seat belt, it has no lower leg or foot protection. When the Rhino tips or rolls over, the driver's or passenger's leg can come out of the vehicle and be crushed by various portions of the roll bar. These crush injuries have proven to be very difficult to treat, and in some cases have led to the amputation of the injured person's leg. In many cases where the leg has been saved, the nature of the crush injury has required multiple surgeries, bone grafts, and muscle flap procedures. This leaves the victim with a severely and permanently impaired leg for the rest of his or her life. These types of injuries resulting from low speed operation of the vehicle are completely unforeseeable to the owner, driver or passenger. Although many lawsuits have been filed against Yamaha claiming defects and negligent design, Yamaha has not made any changes in the vehicle that would make them more stable or add protection to the drivers' and passengers' legs.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Anneke Kurt

New school year increases risk for vehicular "back-overs"

Chuck Boyk — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:07:24 GMT

The start of a new school year brings excitement and new beginnings for students all over the nation. This time of year also brings an increased number of children outside as they wait for buses, in parking lots, or walk to and from school. The most tragic cases we handle at our Toledo, Ohio personal injury office are those that involve the death of a child. That's why we join Kids and Cars, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, in its call for heightened safety measures that would help protect children from getting hit by vehicles backing out of driveways.

A recent national study by Kids and Cars showed that the number of child fatalities caused by vehicular "back-ups" has more than tripled in the last 10 years. According to the parent-run organization, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, 474 children have died since 2002 after being backed over by a vehicle, with an average of more than one child losing their life per week. In almost every occurrence, the parent was the person behind the wheel.

Since many of these types of accidents occur on private property, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not have many statistics on non-traffic accidents involving children. Kids and Cars, along with other consumer-advocacy groups, are trying to bring this issue to the federal government in order to provide for more research on the subject. Kids and Cars states that the "data vastly underestimate the true magnitude of this public health and safety issue."

According to Kids and Cars, sport utility vehicles have been under scrutiny as the cause of many of these tragic accidents. Many SUVs have high bumpers and rear windows, making it nearly impossible for a driver to see a small child behind the car. The design in smaller, sedan-type cars includes higher trunks and smaller rear windows, creating a huge blind spot as well.

Electronic detection devices are offered in newer vehicle models to alert the driver if there is an obstacle at the rear of the car, but many times this feature is only available with the purchase of an expensive navigation system, so that the navigation screen can work with a rear-view camera. Many families decline the back-up sensor option when purchasing a new car because of the price.

Expensive sensors aren't the only way to keep kids safe. One idea to keep little ones away from the back of a car when the driver is leaving is to encourage the kids to stand in a safe, visible spot and have them wave goodbye. Always alert other adults to your departure and ask for their help in keeping children away from the car. Know where your kids are at all times, especially during these warm summer months, as more and more children play outside.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk