Ohio Personal Injury Law Blog

Medical errors the nation’s third-most common cause of death

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

Ohio residents place a good deal of trust in their doctors and hospitals, and for good reason – their lives are often on the line. In some cases, though, you may get that gut feeling that something your doctor says or does is hurting, rather than helping, you, and when you face these circumstances, it may serve you well to seek a second opinion. At Johnson & Associates, we know that medical mistakes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and we have helped many who suffered injury or hardship due to medical mistakes pursue recourse in the aftermath.

So, just how common are medical errors? Per CNBC, medical mistakes have become the third-most-common cause of American deaths, with only cancer and heart disease causing more deaths annually. The exact number of deaths resulting from medical mistakes each year, though, is harder to determine. Some estimates suggest that about 250,000 people succumb to injuries or illnesses caused by medical mistakes each year. Other reports, however, indicate this number of too low, and that the actual number of medical error-related fatalities occurring each year is closer to 440,000.

The link between firefighting and cancer

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in workers' comp on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

Working as a firefighter in Ohio can be highly rewarding, but the profession also brings with it undeniable risks. While some of those risks involve the actual act of fighting fires, others involve exposure to potentially hazardous contaminants, many of which are known carcinogens. At Johnson & Associates, we recognize that today’s firefighters face a heightened risk of experiencing work-related cancer, and we have helped many people who developed employment-related cancers pursue appropriate recourse.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, today’s firefighters are almost 10% more likely to receive a cancer diagnosis than the rest of the population, and there has also been a 14% increase recently in the number of firefighters dying from cancer. Just what is it about your job that makes you face a heightened risk for developing cancer, and is there anything you can do to help protect yourself?

Study: New drivers crash four times as often

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

Teenagers have to sit through classes on safe driving. They have to drive with their parents. They have to drive with instructors. They have to pass written tests. They have to pass actual driving tests.

Only after all that can they get a license. In theory, it should be safe for them to get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, studies have shown repeatedly that these young teens with their brand new driver's licenses are the most dangerous drivers in the country.

What are the time limits for filing medical malpractice claims?

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Whether it is for a routine procedure in to address a more serious injury or illness, when you seek medical treatment in Ohio, you are putting your health and care in the hands of those treating you. Unfortunately, however, sometimes medical mistakes occur, and as a result, you may suffer a serious injury or illness. If you have suffered harm due to mistakes or negligence on the part of a health care provider, you may consider acting to obtain financial compensation for your associated losses. You do not, however, have an unlimited amount of time in which to make your decision or initiate your case. Therefore, it is important for you to understand the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in Ohio.

A statute of limitations is a law specifying the maximum time in which the parties involved can initiate legal proceedings. Should you fail to act before the clock runs out, your right to file a lawsuit, and thus obtain compensatory damages, may be lost.

Prison time ordered for impaired driver

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in motor vehicle accidents on Sunday, April 21, 2019.

People who live in Ohio have good reason to be concerned about the continuing safety problem they and their loved ones face due to drivers who refuse to put away their keys when they drink or use drugs. Despite clear evidence that these behaviors are risky and even illegal after a certain point, numerous injuries and deaths are recorded every year due to the selfish choices made by impaired drivers.

Motorists involved in accidents caused by impaired drivers may wonder what consequences can be faced by these people. As reported by LimaOhio.com, there may well be cases in which criminal charges lead to incarceration and other penalties. Such is the case for a woman who caused an accident last summer during what she says was a failed suicide attempt.

Left-turn motorcycle accidents: Risks and safety

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law on Monday, April 8, 2019.

One of the most dangerous things a motorcyclist can ever encounter is another vehicle that is about to turn left.

Accidents happen for a variety of reasons, but these left-turn crashes are among the most common accidents that riders face. Drivers often do not see motorcycles. They wait for traffic to pass them by on two-lane roads, then they turn left through that oncoming lane.

What does Ohio law say about yield sign violations?

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

A driver that approaches a yield sign has an important responsibility to watch for oncoming traffic. While a yield sign, unlike a stop sign, does not require a mandatory stop, nonetheless a motorist has to be prepared to make a stop. A driver who fails to stop and hits oncoming traffic will be held responsible by Ohio law and depending on any prior record of traffic infractions, could incur a serious misdemeanor.

Ohio law explains that drivers who approach a yield sign are to slow their approach to a reasonable speed considering the surrounding conditions. The vehicle should be prepared to stop for traffic that has the right of way. If not able to stop at a conspicuously marked line or a crosswalk, the vehicle should at least halt before crossing over into the intersecting road. The motorist must wait until the intersecting road is free of traffic that would pose an imminent collision hazard before proceeding.

FedEx to pay former worker $5.3 million in retaliation case

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in workers' comp on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

When people get injured at their job in Ohio, their employer upholds the responsibility to investigate the incident, help coordinate workers' compensation payouts and be willing to accommodate and support their injured employee. Approaching these types of situations with attention to detail is critical to helping both parties reach an amicable solution that leaves neither suffering unnecessary damages.

A recent case out of California illustrates how one employer's unwillingness to provide accommodations resulted in them facing significant consequences. A Laguna Niguel man who had worked for FedEx at a couple of airport locations suffered a severe injury when a falling box landed on his head and impacted his spine. The resulting injury required the man to spend three days at a hospital and subsequently prevented him from continuing his previously assigned duties. When he notified his employer of his inability to drive work vehicles or lift boxes over 10 pounds, he was told that accommodations could not be made. Instead, a notice was given that required the man to resume his previously held duties within 90 days or lose his job altogether.

Motorcyclists: Can you avoid a dangerous crash?

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

You can't overstate the danger to motorcyclists. Accidents involving bikes are frequently deadly, when compared to other types of motor vehicle accidents. Remember, you don't have to make a mistake to get involved in a crash. Your life literally rests in the hands of other drivers.

In recent years, the amount of deaths in car accidents has generally gone down. There have been some spikes and reversals, but, if you compare the statistics today to the stats from a decade or two ago, the roads look safer.

Ways to find a safer motorcycle

On behalf of Johnson & Associates Attorneys At Law posted in motorcycle accidents on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

The small size of a motorcycle leaves the vehicle and its rider more vulnerable to auto crashes and serious injury. One of the keys to decreasing the risk of an accident on Ohio roads is to have a bike that is easy to handle and fits you well. Consumer Reports recommends that if you should sit down on a bike to test its feel and fit, there are some things to pay attention to so you can find the best possible motorcycle that you can handle.

First, when you seat yourself on the bike, your feet should rest flat on the ground. Your feet should not be on tiptoes. If they are, this indicates a motorcycle that is too high for you and will be harder to handle. Similarly, the handlebars and bike controls should be easy to grab or to reach. Handlebars that are too far away will strain your muscles and make it harder to navigate the bike.