Ohio Personal Injury Law Blog

Drunk driving realities in Ohio

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, October 10, 2019.

As the month of October gets underway, many people in Ohio turn their attention to the upcoming Halloween holiday and get excited for a variety of celebratory events. At these events, it is common for adults to consume alcohol. That in and of itself is not a problem, but it can become a problem when those people then reach for their keys at the end of the night to drive home. Sadly, this is a situation that happens all too often even in the face of well-documented facts showing how dangerous driving after drinking is.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of drunk driving deaths in Ohio has increased every year from 2013 to 2017. In 2013, 266 people died at the hands of intoxicated drivers. That number jumped to 302 the next year and up to 309 in 2015. The following year saw another jump to 330 alcohol-related fatalities in 2016 and, finally, in 2017, the state recorded 333 fatalities in drunk driving accidents.

Know the facts about tort of outrage

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in employer tort on Saturday, September 28, 2019.

When Ohio residents start a new job, they usually do not expect their new work environment to be hostile. However, sometimes someone may experience emotional trauma because of another employee's intentional actions. FindLaw says this intentional behavior is a tort of outrage.

Sometimes people may think that any rude or unpleasant behavior at work is a tort of outrage. However, this is not the case. The tort of outrage typically occurs when someone at a workplace intentionally acts in a way that makes another person experience mental distress. This mental distress might be embarrassment or fright that a person could not deal with. Another important component of this tort is an employer's failure to act. When people experience this kind of treatment at work, they may speak to their supervisor. If a supervisor refuses to acknowledge the situation, the company may also be liable for the employee's behavior.

How does workers’ comp work if I am injured off the job?

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in workers' comp on Monday, September 16, 2019.

Workers’ compensation is meant to cover your expenses and lost wages if you are injured at work. What if you are in an accident doing a job-related duty while off the clock or away from your workplace? Contrary to what you and other Ohio residents may assume, you are not necessarily out of luck if this happens.

Workers’ compensation can cover you when you are clocked out or away from your workplace in numerous situations, as FindLaw explains. The following examples can clarify:

Your boss asked you to stop by his post office box on your way home from work, and you tripped on the curb and sprained your ankle walking into the post office.
You were in a car accident driving back to work from buying office supplies.
The overhead compartment above you opened during a business flight, and a suitcase fell out and struck you on the head.
You got food poisoning from contaminated potato salad at the company barbeque.

Distracted doctors are as dangerous as distracted drivers

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

Smartphones are everywhere. If you go to the doctor's office, there's a very good chance your doctor has one in his or her pocket while you're at the appointment. If not, maybe it's in the office somewhere. Regardless, that phone is powered on and close at hand.

Experts note that there are some potential upsides here. Phones make communication between medical professionals faster and easier than ever. Internet access means doctors can look up treatment options, check medical records and do important research in seconds. They may also use their phones to stay up to date on all of the latest breaking news in the field.

Common types of medical malpractice claims

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in medical malpractice on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

When people in Ohio go in for a medical procedure, they trust that the healthcare team is competent and will do their jobs the right way. While medical providers strive to do their best in every situation, unfortunately mistakes do occur. When this happens and it causes harm to the patient, the patient may choose to file a medical malpractice claim.

The Collegian discusses some of the most common reasons patients or their family members file malpractice claims. Errors relating to medication are typical. Some of the errors include administering the improper dose, giving medication to the wrong patient or prescribing two medications that interact harmfully.

What are the most common motorcycle injuries?

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in motorcycle accidents on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

With the Ohio summer getting ready to give way to fall, you likely are availing yourself of every possible opportunity to ride your bike before bad weather once again limits your riding opportunities. While you enjoy the call of the open road, however, never forget that unlike a car or truck, your motorcycle offers you no protection whatsoever in the event you wreck.

OurEverydayLife.com cautions that the top three injuries you likely will suffer in a motorcycle crash are the following:

Head injury
Broken bones
Road rash

What must you prove in a medical malpractice case?

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in medical malpractice on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

Should you become ill or injured as the result of an Ohio health care professional’s negligence or wrongdoing, you can sue that person and the facility for which (s)he works for medical malpractice. Unfortunately, medical errors occur far too frequently nowadays and in fact account for the third leading cause of American deaths.

Also unfortunately, however, a medical malpractice lawsuit represents one of the most complicated types of case in which you can involve yourself. Even though the standard of proof is clear and convincing evidence, producing this evidence can be challenging.

Can a car crash permanently paralyze you?

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in motor vehicle accidents on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.

Unfortunately, the answer to the above question is yes. If you become the victim of an Ohio car crash in which you receive a spinal cord injury, the result could be permanent partial or total paralysis.

The Mayfield Clinic explains that in order to understand paralysis, you must first understand your spinal cord and the vertebrae that surround it. As you likely know, your spinal cord represents the way in which messages from and to your brain pass to and from the rest of your body, resulting in your ability to move and feel sensation. When you injure your spinal cord in a car crash or otherwise, this breaks the connection between your brain and the parts of your body below your point of injury, resulting in your losing your ability to move those body parts or feel much, if any, sensation in them.

Questions to ask when using a ladder on the job

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Your boss asks you to do some work at a significant height, and you're going to need to use a ladder. It's not something that you normally do as a standard part of your job description.

As such, you feel a bit nervous. You know that ladder falls are one of the greatest dangers that workers face in many industries. Even those with a lot of experience can fall and suffer serious or fatal injuries. And here you are, with almost no experience, putting yourself in the same position. What can you do to stay safe?

Construction zone safety tips

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in motor vehicle accidents on Monday, July 8, 2019.

Summer in Ohio means picnics, ball games and afternoons at the lake. It is also when the orange signs come out and road construction begins. If you sustained injuries due to a crash at in a work zone, you may have grounds for a suit. At Johnson & Associates Attorneys at Law, we have experience assisting clients with their personal injury claims.

According to Driving Tests, thousands of auto accidents occur around road construction every year. Here are some tips to help you safely navigate work zones.

Keep an eye out for the orange diamonds. These signs are along the road ahead of the work area giving you notice that road conditions change. Be on the lookout for a reduced speed limit, machinery, road crew and obstacles.
Orange barrels and cones direct traffic flow. These may move from one day to the next based on the status of the project.
Reduce your travel speed. In zones where workers are not present, most highways have a 55 mph speed limit. It may be lower when work is in progress. Failure to follow the traffic regulations can result in a fine that is double the usual amount.
Follow the flagger’s directions. They are there to help you move through the construction zone safely while work continues.
Steer your car as far away from workers and their equipment as possible.