Posted in Accident & Injury, Workplace Injuries and Claims on July 16, 2013

As the mercury rises, my heart goes out to workers laboring in the hot sun. They repair our roads, cut our lawns, harvest our food, and in some cases, literally provide the roof over our heads. Many of these jobs have obvious dangers, but in the summer months, workers exposed to hot and humid...

Posted in Accident & Injury on July 11, 2013

The Cleveland Police Department has agreed to a $600,000 settlement in civil lawsuit brought by a Cleveland Heights man who claimed he was attacked by officers after a traffic incident. In 2011, plaintiff Edward Henderson crashed his van near downtown on New Year’s Day after a police chase. According to the complaint, after he...

Posted in Accident & Injury on July 10, 2013

A federal rule mandating all new vehicles sold in the U.S. must have a backup camera is being pushed back until the end of 2015. In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated that additional cost analysis is needed. Rockefeller responded, "I am deeply disappointed...

Posted in Accident & Injury on July 9, 2013

The horrific train derailment in Canada over the weekend has left an indelible mark on the small Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic. Its 6,000 residents are still reeling from the massive explosion that eviscerated the town’s center. At the time of this writing, 13 deaths have been reported and 40 people are still missing. UPDATE:...

Posted in Accident & Injury on July 5, 2013

Ohio made national news this weekend when a massive sinkhole in central Toledo opened up, consuming a moving car and its driver. Local elementary principal Amanda Knox was driving along when the road gave way beneath her Chevy Malibu. Luckily, the vehicle landed upright in the crevasse but a pipe had burst, causing water...

Posted in Accident & Injury on July 3, 2013

Fireworks have become synonymous with Independence Day celebrations. Sold everywhere from wholesale distributors to the local grocery store, fireworks come in a wide variety of styles, each carrying its own risks. "Every legally available backyard firework has been associated with serious injury and death," Gary Smith, president of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance, said...

Posted in Accident & Injury on July 2, 2013

Simply, a waiver is a contract. It is a legally binding agreement between you and a business or organization offering a service. By signing the waiver, you agree not to hold the business liable (legally responsible). It may also be called a release, waiver of negligence, or an exculpatory agreement or contract. You may...

Posted in Accident & Injury, Workplace Injuries and Claims on June 27, 2013

In what appears to be an effort to intimidate oil-spill victims, BP is sending out hundreds of letters, warning settlement recipients they may have to return part of the money. BP is currently appealing the settlement process, alleging administration errors that resulted in overpayments and “fictitious awards.” According the Houston Chronicle, “One of the...

Posted in Accident & Injury, Health & Wellness on June 26, 2013

New research reveals that patients who suffer from a traumatic medical event may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Typically associated with events such as battlefield combat or sexual assaults, PTSD can have debilitating effects. Studies conducted by Dr. Donald Edmondson and his colleagues found that nearly 25 percent of stroke patients and 12 percent...

Posted in Accident & Injury, Workplace Injuries and Claims on June 24, 2013

The Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled that an injured truck driver suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may only receive workers’ compensation benefits for his physical injuries since the cause of his psychiatric condition was the horrific nature of the accident, not the injuries themselves. The case stemmed from a 2009 motor vehicle accident....