Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a life-altering psychological disorder that results from experiencing one or more intense, traumatic life events. Much like a major physical injury, PTSD can cause long-term and severe disruption to one’s life, including mental and emotional strife, heightened anxiety and fear, loss of ability to concentrate, sleep disruptions, depression, moodiness and much more. Often, long after the physical injuries of a motor vehicle accident (or any serious trauma) heal, the mental and emotional side effects from PTSD remain.

Dog may be man’s best friend, but unfortunately sometimes dogs attack people and when they do, they have the ability to cause severe injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 4.7 million dog bites in the United States every year.

You may have heard the term “wrongful death” before. In many ways, it seems self-explanatory. However, in legal terms, a wrongful death lawsuit can be brought in Civil Court (different from criminal court) against a company or individual when that company or individual (the defendant) has negligently or intentionally caused someone’s death. In Ohio, wrongful death litigation is provided for in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2125.

Nursing home negligence is one of the most common forms of abuse and neglect perpetrated against adults 65 years of age and older. It’s important to spot it before it becomes a life-threatening problem and to take the necessary steps to ensure your loved one is removed from a dangerous situation if you believe negligence or abuse has already occurred.

You're driving along the road and suddenly — BOOM — another vehicle slams into the side of your car after they ran a stop sign.

Your car is smashed, you feel pains throughout your body, and your heart is racing. Now what?

After a car accident, there are some key steps to take to make sure your rights are protected. It's important to know what to do and what questions may need answers by the other driver to make your insurance claim.

A work injury can cause a significant disruption to your life, from the pain of your injuries, to your financial stability, to your long-term well-being. In Ohio, the workers compensation system is designed to help compensate injured workers who are disabled because of a work-related injury or occupational disease.

But there are limits to the amount that you might receive from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, and before you file a claim, it's important to understand how much you should expect to receive while you are recovering.

The best-available research indicates that one in 10 persons aged 60 or older is the victim of elder abuse, but just 7 percent of all instances of elder abuse are ever reported to state or local authorities. The National Association of Nursing Home Attorneys, a group of legal professionals compiled and shared some eye-opening nursing home abuse statistics and elder abuse statistics from across the United States.

In the world of personal injury, terms such as soft tissue injury, skeletal injury, loss of use, and catastrophic injury (just to name a few) are used to broadly describe the extent of the injury a victim suffered because of an accident. With some injuries, a victim can recover in weeks or months of medical treatment. But with more serious injuries, like catastrophic injuries, the impact is permanent and can alter a person's quality of life.

When the weather is favorable, a jog outside can be one of the most invigorating things for your physical and mental health. But any outdoor runner faces a variety of risks depending on the area where they are running, and accidents to a pedestrian in these situations are rarely minor and are frequently severe or deadly. The pedestrian accident lawyers of Cleveland, Ohio, law firm Lowe Eklund Wakefield Co., LPA, know this from firsthand experience.

About how much is your case worth? Personal injury attorneys will tell you that case value is one of the most asked questions from prospective clients, and it's also one of the most difficult to answer. The lawyers at Ohio law firm Lowe Eklund Wakefield Co., LPA, have decades of experience in personal injury claims and litigation, but there isn't a crystal ball to know in advance how much you should expect to recover.

The attention of the baseball world will shift to Cleveland this week for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. But not all the focus will be on what takes place on the field. There's been an ongoing debate about fan safety — and, furthermore, who is liable for that safety.

So you've set up your first meeting with a personal injury attorney to discuss a potential claim. This initial consultation is a great opportunity for you and a lawyer to get to know each other briefly and to determine if you want to hire that lawyer through a formal attorney-client relationship.

The term "never event" was introduced into the medical vernacular nearly 20 years ago. In the time since its introduction and the first list of "never events" was introduced, the meaning has been modified and expanded, and overall public awareness has increased while fatal errors to patients have decreased.

When you're injured because of another person's mistake or recklessness and you're considering legal action, one of the many questions that often comes to mind is how a personal injury lawsuit works.

Should I hire a lawyer? How much time do I have to file a lawsuit? Is this case even worth the effort? Those are just some of the questions that come to mind if you're considering a personal injury claim.

There are many rumors and stigmas within personal injury law — and many of them are false. Few people understand the process of making a personal injury claim after an accident, or negotiating a settlement for their injuries and medical costs, so contacting an experienced attorney for an initial consultation is one of the first steps to get answers to the questions you have.

When personal injuries happen in the workplace, understanding your rights can be difficult.  Issues of employment law, tort law, and product liability law frequently overlap.  Determining who is responsible for your injuries—and recovering compensation from all liable parties and available resources—takes experience and legal resources.

Lowe Eklund Wakefield Co., LPA’s all-encompassing approach to workplace injuries helps clients identify and pursue all available avenues of financial recovery.  Whether taking action against a negligent actor or establishing your right to benefits or other financial assistance, Lowe Eklund’s attorneys know that when you suffer an injury every little bit matters for you and your family.

Every Ohio injury lawyer at Lowe Eklund Wakefield Co., LPA is dedicated to helping individuals obtain fair compensation for their injuries.  But just what does that entail?

Financial concerns are common after you or a loved one suffer a personal injury.  Things like car accidents and medical errors can cause thousands of dollars in healthcare costs, periods of unemployment, and expensive property damage.  In these difficult times, the last thing an injured person and their family should have to worry about it the cost of hiring an Ohio personal injury attorney.

At the law firm of Lowe Eklund Wakefield Co., LPA, our team of trial lawyers believe that you should not have to pay if you cannot settle or win your dispute.

You have heard the word liability. You probably have liability insurance. You know that someone may be found liable in court. But what exactly is liability? 

What Is Liability in Ohio?

In a legal context, liability is any type of debt or obligation that an individual, business, or even government is bound by law to pay or perform. If a defendant is found liable for someone’s personal injuries in Ohio’s legal system, that defendant must compensate the injured individual (subject to any limitations found in Ohio law).

Is Liability the Same as Guilt?

There are a couple ways that the legal concept of liability is different than the legal concept of guilt. Firstly, medical malpractice, car accident, and other personal injury lawsuits are civil matters. Guilt is pleaded or determined not in civil court, but criminal court.

Within the civil system, though, there is another distinction between liability and guilt in the everyday sense of the word.

Construction accidents are among the most frequent, and most dangerous, injuries to employees and contractors in Ohio.  Falls, electrocutions, falling objects, collapsing structures, and unstable equipment can cause serious on-the-job injuries to even the most careful worker.  Because of the complexity of law and circumstances, an experienced Cleveland construction accident attorney will need to search for answers to ensure that construction site injuries are fully compensated.

It is no surprise that when you or a loved one are injured you want the best Cleveland personal injury attorneys representing you and your family in court.  Having the right lawyer in your time of need can help to maximize your recovery, minimize your stress, and improve your life in the aftermath of personal injuries both large and small.

What Do the Best Cleveland Personal Injury Attorneys Have in Common?

Earlier this month, we discussed how personal injury victims should approach hiring a lawyer.  Today we want to dig a little deeper and discuss what you should be looking for when evaluating personal injury attorneys.  While every lawyer will have their own strengths and style, there are a few traits that exceptional lawyers have in common.

If you have been injured in an accident, finding the right attorney is essential.  A skilled Cleveland accident attorney can guide you through the complex and trying times that follow a life-altering personal injury.

Frequently, this means more than merely negotiating an insurance settlement or representing you in court.  It may also mean providing guidance on matters of treatment for your injuries, loss of employment, disability benefits, and the many other difficult personal consequences of sustaining a personal injury.

With so much on the line, you may want to remember a few easy tips to help ensure that your accident attorney is the right attorney for you.

Most of the time in Cleveland, it's easy to rush out of the house, hop in the car, snag a great parking space and get where you're going. Don't count on it being so easy during the Republican National Convention (RNC)!

City officials have recommended that people who work within a certain zone should stay home to avoid the crowds. The city also increased its insurance coverage to cover injury lawsuits that might result from hosting the July convention. They've also increased resources for security and law enforcement, such as riot gear and crowd control tools.  Even the Ohio legislature has added to the fray: This week, legislators approved extended hours for bars. Clearly, officials are hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. You should, too.

Personal Injury Plaintiffs Have a Right to Make Their Own Decisions

It's warming up out there, and if you're like us, you're bringing the motorcycles out of storage and getting ready for the rubber to meet the road. What do motorcycle accident statistics for motorcycles in Ohio tell us about staying safe? Read our free PDF infographic, "Ohio Motorcycle Injuries & Statistics," to find out what you and your motorcycle-loving friends need to know.

Plaintiffs Like You Are Often Concerned About Where They Will File a Lawsuit

Personal Injuries Can Cause Serious Financial Hardship

As a personal injury law firm in Cleveland, Lowe Eklund Wakefield Co., LPA helps many Ohioans fight for just compensation for their injuries. While every personal injury case is different, there are several questions that will always be asked regarding a negligence claim. For those unfamiliar with the process of pursuing legal action for a personal injury, here are four questions that you can expect your personal injury lawyer to ask about your claim.

Are you one of those people who jokes after a near-accident that you always wanted a better car, to go to Disneyland, or some other pie-in-the-sky-dream? Sure, you might think, winning a lawsuit for an accident could win you a lot of money! A lot of people might joke about settlements as a path to riches, because of high profile cases like the famous McDonald's coffee case. Take it from some of the best attorneys in Cleveland: You do not want to be that person.

Recently, a driver involved in a local motor vehicle accident that left two bicyclists dead was found not guilty of criminal charges stemming from the incident. When a defendant is found not guilty in a criminal trial, though, that does not necessarily mean that defendant is free from civil liability for his or her actions.

Ohio has been linked to yet another outbreak of a foodborne illness, this time as the suspected state of origin for a deadly strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Though no infections have yet been reported in Ohio, the product brands linked to the outbreak are distributed throughout the state.

Vigilant consumers may remember that December 2014 saw coffeemaker manufacturer Keurig recall several million of its home coffee brewers following complaints that the appliances had caused numerous burn injuries. Now, almost a year to the day, kitchen appliance manufacturer Breville has issued a recall for its Fast Slow Cooker, a home pressure cooker that has reportedly caused burn injuries to multiple users.

Individuals Who Suffer Hearing Loss Due to the Negligence of Another Have the Right to Seek Compensation

When an individual suffers hearing loss as the result of the negligence of another, the physical and psychological strain can be extremely traumatic.

With winter coming in less than a month, outdoor enthusiasts throughout Ohio are preparing to switch out their ATVs for their snowmobiles and enjoy some high-speed fun in the snow. While snowmobiling can be a good time for riders both young and old, it is a very dangerous activity. In fact, in 2014 snowmobile and ATV crashes resulted in a higher fatality per crash rate in Ohio than any other type of vehicle, including motorcycles.

Last month, the popular fast-casual chain Chipotle made headlines when it temporarily closed 43 restaurants in Washington and Oregon after dozens of diners fell ill with E. coli food poisoning. Now it appears that this potentially deadly E. coli outbreak has also reached Northeast Ohio.

Years ago, if a defendant or insurance company had doubts as to whether an Ohio personal injury plaintiff was injured as badly as he claimed, they would hire a private investigator to tail the plaintiff in his everyday life.  Since the advent of social media, however, this practice is far less prevalent.  Now, defendants frequently do not need to hire an investigator to photograph or record plaintiffs because the plaintiffs are now doing it themselves and posting the record of their life online.

Under Ohio negligence law, a plaintiff must establish that he suffered injury as the result of the negligent acts of another.  Assuming the plaintiff can successfully prove each element of his claim, the measure of compensation awarded will be based on the extent and severity of the injuries that the plaintiff actually suffered. 

Each year, slips, trips, and falls cause thousands of cases of injury and death.  While fall injuries can affect people of any age, perhaps no population is more at risk of serious fall injuries than our senior citizens.  One particular source of injuries—nursing home falls—leads to countless deaths, bone fractures, and other serious injuries among the elderly every single day.

In 2014, the months of October and November saw the highest totals of Ohio traffic accident-related injuries and deaths, with totals of 9,706 and 9,142 respectively.  While snowy months typically see higher total crashes, those accidents frequently occur at lower speeds because drivers may be operating their vehicles with extra caution due to road conditions.  Thus, fewer physical injuries occur as the result of crashes.  Why, then, do so many injuries occur in October and November?

On this blog, we frequently discuss what will happen after an individual has retained a personal injury lawyer.  These topics are important, but it is also helpful for individuals to understand—at least on a very basic level—the types of things that a personal injury lawyer may consider when determining whether any action should be taken to seek compensation for a personal injury victim.  Below, we discuss the three broad areas that an Ohio personal injury lawyer will likely consider when evaluating your case.