The victim, a 62-year-old man, was jogging early in the morning last week when suddenly two pit bulls attacked. The dogs ran up on either side of the jogger, he explained, biting him “everywhere.”

A resident in the neighborhood reportedly heard the victim screaming. When he saw the dogs attacking, he grabbed a baseball bat and ran to the aid of the victim, trying to bat the dogs away. Police officers eventually arrived and shot the dogs.

The jogger was rushed to a hospital for dog bite injuries resulting in the loss of his left foot. His condition was so critical initially that is was unclear whether he would survive. He remains in the hospital from which he spoke to reporters, but his condition has improved to the extent that doctors say he is out of danger. Nonetheless, he faces lengthy rehabilitation and physical therapy.

The owner of the dog was ticketed for not keeping his dogs restrained. In addition, the pit bulls were not registered, for which he also was cited.

Had it not been for the resident coming to his aid, the victim likely would not be alive today. However one feels about this or other breeds whose legal status is being questioned these days, pit bulls are involved in an inordinate number of dog bite injury attacks.

The victim in this attack likely has grounds for a legal claim for both the injuries and damages he sustained from the dog attack.

If you have suffered injuries in a dog attack, contact the Ohio dog bite lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk.

There are basically two different types of brain injuries involved in lawsuits: mild and severe.  Every brain injury lawsuit is unique and the evidence required to prove causation, liability and damages will be different in each case. What is certain is that brain injury lawsuits are very complex.

Mild Brain Injury

If you have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury  (TBI), you have probably suffered on minimal, if any, loss of consciousness, and have normal CAT scans and MRIs with normal neurodiagnostic reports. You most likely act, look and sound quite normal. Therefore, your lawyer will not only have to prove the elements of damages but also prove the injury itself.

The defense will generally argue that you do not have a brain injury at all because either you are lying or your symptoms are the byproduct of another condition or is simply post-traumatic stress or depression.

In order to prove a mild traumatic brain injury, your lawyer will first look at your medical records immediately following your injury. Your attorney will also look at other documents such psychological records, marital counseling records, employment records, etc.

Your lawyer will also need to retain the expert opinion of a highly reputable neuropsychologist. In addition, testimony of family members and friends will also be invaluable if they can describe that you have been acting differently since your accident.

Severe Brain Injury

It is generally far easier for attorneys to prove a severe traumatic brain injury case, as opposed to a mild TBI case. If you have suffered a moderate to severe brain injury, you will have many physical and mental disabilities that are readily apparent. And as such, it will be nearly impossible for the defense to prove that you are not suffering from a brain injury.

Furthermore your lawyer can use your MRI and CAT scans, which undoubtedly demonstrate the specific area of your brain that was damaged, to prove your case. Your medical records will also provide clear symptoms indicating brain damage.

In short, whether you have suffered a mild or severe brain injury, you are entitled to just compensation for your injuries and the medical bills that you have incurred in treating your condition. Only, with the expert legal help of a lawyer experienced with brain injuries, can you get the compensation that you deserve. Contact the attorneys at Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE evaluation of your traumatic brain injury case by calling 1-800-297-9191. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk.

To learn more about the Ohio law firm of Slater & Zurz LLP and traumatic brain injuries, please visit www.slaterzurz.com.

Many nursing residents can walk with the help of a mobility aid like a cane or a walker. But even those who can walk unassisted may have difficulty sitting up from a reclining position or standing after they’ve been sitting.

Nursing home transport injuries occur when an employee causes a resident to fall or handles him or her too roughly while helping the resident change positions or transfer into or out of a wheelchair. Though these injuries can seem like accidents, they could actually be the result of penny-pinching by nursing home administrators or poor training of employees.

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of such mistreatment, contact the Ohio nursing home abuse lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE evaluation of your case.

How Transport Injuries Happen

Falls are the most common type of injury for senior citizens, and bathing or showering are particularly dangerous. Consider all the steps involved in giving a person a bath if he or she has mobility problems.

First, a nursing home worker needs to move the resident into a wheelchair or help her walk to the bathroom. Then the worker needs to undress the resident and help her get into the bathtub. After bathing the resident, the worker needs to dry and dress her and take her back to their room.

This can be exhausting for the resident and the worker, and if the worker isn’t physically strong enough to lift the resident, an injury can occur. Handling senior citizens requires not just strength but a gentle touch because their bones tend to be brittle. You can’t lift an elderly person the same way you would a bag of groceries.

There are safety devices that help seniors transfer into and out of bathtubs, but some nursing home administrators try to save money by not purchasing this equipment. Workers are also frequently under trained as a cost-cutting measure, so they may not know how to use the equipment they do have.

Your loved ones deserve the best, so when you entrust them to a nursing home, you expect their safety and well-being will be protected. If this trust has been broken and your loved one was injured in a nursing home transport injury, contact the Ohio nursing home abuse lawyers of Slater & Zurz LLP by calling 1-800-297-9191 for a FREE consultation and find out what remedies are available. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk.

To learn more about nursing home abuse and neglect in Ohio, please visit www.stopohionursinghomeabuse.com.

The victim was returning to her apartment building on the morning of January 8 with her breakfast when, not knowing that a fire was in progress on a floor above, she boarded the elevator. The door opened on the twelfth floor, and immediately the woman was hit with 1500 degree heat from the blaze. She was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning and inhalation of smoke.

A cause of the fire has not been released, but the couple in whose apartment the fire originated apparently propped their door open to allow their terrified cat a chance to escape as they, themselves, fled. City fire codes have been in place since 1957 that require doors opening into common hallways to close automatically. It was this propped door that led to the victim’s death.

The victim’s mother has filed a lawsuit against the building management on several points. For one, there was no sprinkler system in the building. The building was exempted from this requirement on the understanding it would be fitted with other fire safety equipment. On another point, the building did not have a fire alarm or a system to disable the elevator in the event of a fire. Finally, the mother contends that management should have warned her daughter as she entered the building that there was a fire in one of the units.

Eventually the couple whose apartment caught fire will be named as defendants as well, according to the mother of the victim. She is seeking over $50,000 in damages.

Wrongful death suits can be challenging,  since the plaintiff is generally the victim, and therefore cannot testify. Experienced legal representation is the key to the success.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or fault of another anywhere in Ohio, contact the lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk that is convenient for you.

To learn more about wrongful death, please visit www.slaterzurz.com.

A traumatic brain injury can take place after a wide array of situations, including falls, car accidents, explosions, sports injuries, and gunshot wounds. A person’s head striking an object or blows to the head, as well as the swift acceleration and deceleration of the brain in a whiplash-type injury are usually the major causes. In cases such as those mentioned above, the brain can be injured by direct impact of the head with some other object, like the head rest, windshield or even the airbag, or the brain can be hurt when the head is violently shaken to the point that the brain moves, twists, and stretches inside of the skull.

Even though the skull shields the brain from being harmed by outside forces, the skull itself can contribute to brain injuries when another object strikes the head or the head is shaken. The brain is a very soft organ that has the consistency of butter. That said, brain damage can happen when the brain makes contact with the sharp interior of the skull at the point of the initial contact (as well as at the opposite side of the brain), as the brain sloshes back and forth like water sloshing in a pan. Once the brain is jarred against the inside of the skull, the brain’s nerves become deformed or lengthened, which can lead to organic changes that hinder the brain’s normal function.

Furthermore, the brain can be harmed by circumstances other than a blow or shaking. Despite the fact that they are not technically traumatic brain injuries, oxygen deprivation and exposure to chemical neurotoxins can cause brain injury as well. These types of injuries can be caused by anesthesia errors during surgery, obstetrical errors during labor and delivery and errors in prescribing or dispensing medications, just to name a few.

If you believe that you need the services of competent lawyers with the knowledge, experiences and resources to handle a traumatic brain injury case any where in Ohio,  please contact the Law Offices of Slater & Zurz for a FREE consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk that is convenient for you.

To learn more about the Ohio law firm of Slater & Zurz LLP and traumatic brain injuries, please visit www.slaterzurz.com.

A person who recognizes a situation wherein a dog may become aggressive can avoid either the situation or the dog.  The Humane Society of the United States has classified different types of dog aggression including:

1. Fear-motivated aggression

2. Protective aggression

3. Territorial aggression

4. Possessive aggression

5. Redirected agresssion.

A dog may become aggressive if he believes he is in danger of being harmed.  This fear-motivated aggression is a defensive reaction.  A dog may be fearfully aggressive when approached by other dogs or people he is not familiar with.  A dog may also be fearfully aggressive when he misinterprets a person’s intentions.  For example, a person may raise his arm to throw a stick, but the dog may become aggressive because he believes he’s protecting himself from being hit.

Dogs also can become aggressive when they are being territorial, protective, and possessive.  Territorial aggression usually manifests when a dog is defending property or territory, such as the dog’s yard or neighborhood.  Protective aggression refers to aggression directed toward people or animals whom a dog perceives as threats to his family or pack.  Dogs become possessively aggressive when defending their food, toys, or other valued objects.

Another type of aggression in dogs is known as redirected aggression.  This type of aggression occurs when a dog is somehow provoked by a person or animal and is unable to attack.  The dog may redirect his aggression onto someone else.  For example, two dogs within a fenced yard may attack each other when provoked by another dog passing their yard.

Understanding the reasons a dog may become aggressive is important to prevent an attack on you or a loved one.

If you or someone you know has become the victim of a dog attack anywhere in Ohio, you have rights under Ohio law to take action. To learn what you can do and how to recover compensation for your injuries and damages, please call the Ohio dog bite lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for  a FREE consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191.  You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk that is convenient for you.

To learn more about dog bites and dog attacks in Ohio, please visit http://www.dogbitesohio.com

It is never appropriate to use restraints on residents for a worker’s convenience or to punish a resident. In fact, Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes are expressly forbidden from using restraints for any purpose other than protecting a resident’s physical safety.

One of the most common reasons for using restraints is to prevent residents from falling out of their beds. Rails are sometimes used for this reason, but some nursing homes completely immobilize residents by fastening them to the bed with straps or belts. This is clearly inappropriate when bed railings will suffice, and in most cases, even those are uncalled for.

Nursing home staff should exhaust all other possible solutions before resorting to the use of physical restraints. For example, a resident’s bed could be lowered or his or her mattress could be placed on the floor to lessen the danger of a fall. Alternately, workers could check on the resident more frequently or a bed alarm can be used to alert staff to a possible fall.

Sometimes restraints are used to protect the safety of residents besides the one being restrained. People with certain mental disorders are prone to hitting or attacking others, so restraints may be justified. Still, other, less extreme measures should be exhausted first. Can the problem be solved by separating certain residents, for example?

There are many long-term health problems associated with inappropriate use of restraints, including bedsores, muscle atrophy, and dehydration. To prevent these, nursing home staff may have to check on restrained residents more often than non-restrained ones. They must also allow them opportunities to exercise every few hours.

Your loved one has a right to be free from physical and mental nursing home abuse. Inappropriate use of restraints may violate both of these rights. If you suspect this or any other form of abuse or neglect in a nursing home or long term care facility anywhere in Ohio, please contact the Ohio nursing home abuse lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE evaluation of your case by calling 1-800-297-9191. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk that is convenient for you.

To learn more about elderly and nursing home abuse in Ohio, please visit http://www.stopohionursinghomeabuse.com.

The victim’s lawyer claims the boy told his trainer before the game that he had a headache from a previous hit on the head. It is not clear whether the boy was directed to play the game anyway, or decided on his own.

However, during the game the boy hit his head on a tackle, walked off the field, and collapsed to the ground. The boy was subsequently found to have a brain injury, and has been deemed permanently and severely disabled.

The trial is now in progress after numerous delays. However, the case and others like it have already led to new legislation in the state aimed at preventing brain injuries such as suffered by this teen. The law prohibits a student who has experienced a head injury from practicing or playing again until he fully recovers and is cleared by a physician.

The teen’s lawyer explains that while football by its nature as a contact sport is likely to produce injuries, the legislation may help reduce the number of youths suffering brain and other injuries. Medical evidence suggests that when a person has experienced a concussion he is more likely to suffer a brain injury if hit on the head before fully recovering.

It is always a sad case when a young person just beginning to set out in life sustains an injury that leaves him permanently diminished. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury attributable to another’s fault, contact the Ohio brain injury lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for a free consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191 or send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk.

To learn more about brain injuries, please visit www.slaterzurz.com.

According to the National Research Council, between 1 million and 2 million people over the age of 65 have been injured or exploited by a person who is supposed to be providing them care or protection. This statistic relates to elders in general, not those in nursing homes specifically, but there is reason to believe that that number is also high.

A federal study conducted in 2001 found that 31 percent of nursing homes received citations for abusing their residents. A third of these violations caused actual harm to residents or put them in immediate danger of injury or death.

Unfortunately, these numbers are unlikely to decrease any time soon. In fact, the situation may get a whole lot worse. More than a million Americans currently live in nursing homes or assisted living communities, but this number will certainly grow as Baby Boomers reach retirement age.

The best way to combat nursing home abuse is to make sure that all offenses are appropriately punished. This is hard, however, because residents are afraid to report abuse for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are explicitly threatened by the abuser and fear that their abuse will get worse if they tell anyone. Other times, they worry that people won’t believe them or will think they’re developing dementia.

Sometimes, lines of communication with family members have already been damaged due to disagreements over whether the resident actually belongs in an elder care facility. This makes it especially hard to reach out to family members when abuse starts.

Then there are those residents who simply don’t have any family or friends to tell. If their complaints to nursing home staff are not acted upon, they don’t know where else to turn for help. In all, it is estimated that only one in 14 instances of elder abuse are reported to the appropriate authorities. The number is even lower for financial abuse specifically.

Nursing homes may not explicitly condone abuse, but they frequently fail to uphold their duty to prevent it.  If you believe a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse, please contact the Ohio nursing home abuse lawyers at  Slater & Zurz LLP for a free evaluation of your case by calling 1-800-297-9191 or send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk.

To learn more about nursing home abuse in Ohio, please visit http://www.stopohionursinghomeabuse.com.

It is crucial that the abrupt change to everyone’s life be addressed and the party or parties at fault be held responsible.  Keep in mind that if your loved one was the main source of income, you may be entitled to recover amounts for all future income, as well as compensation for prior loss and pain and suffering.

A great number of people are unaware of the fact that the law provides for two separate and distinct forms of compensation in wrongful death claims.

The first is payment to the estate of the decedent for the medical bills and conscious pain and suffering that incurred prior to death.

The second is payment for the loved ones who are left behind to deal with the devastation.

Under Ohio law, certain compensatory damages may be awarded in wrongful death cases, including amounts for loss of support based on the deceased’s earning capacity, loss of society, loss of services, loss of prospective inheritance and mental distress.

You should also be aware that, although they may seem friendly and pleasant, insurance adjusters do not have your best interests at heart when it comes to a wrongful death case.  As a matter of fact, it is part of the insurance industry’s philosophy to do as much as they can to hinder you from seeking legal help and to get you to take a minimal settlement. That said, regardless of your circumstances, it is crucial that you utilize the services of skilled Ohio wrongful death lawyer before speaking with or accepting any offer from the insurance company. This is particularly true in wrongful death claims where there are a different forms of compensation of which you might not be aware.

If you need the skills of competent Ohio wrongful death lawyers,  please contact the Law Offices of Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191 or send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk that is convenient for you.

To learn more about wrongful death and other types of personal injury cases, please visit www.slaterzurz.com