Mansfield Personal Injury Blog

Long hours, driver fatigue and car accidents

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Friday Jul 31, 2020 | Car Accidents

When you start to break down a car accident, it’s often clear what happened. For instance, a driver ran a stop sign. However, when you start to get a bit deeper into it, you can learn a lot more about how many factors contributed and how long that driver was slowly moving toward a car accident. For instance, maybe the driver has been putting in extra-long hours at the office. They may not even realize how long these are or how detrimental they can be. After all, some have called America the world’s most overworked nation. This is just the norm. Even so, those long hours start to add up. The...

Why you shouldn’t run from a dog

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Friday Jul 17, 2020 | Dog Bites

Have you ever heard the common advice that you should not run from an aggressive dog? As a teaching point, it probably makes sense. You don’t want to get the dog riled up, you know that the animal instinctively wants to chase prey, and it just fits that running from a dog can make an attack more likely. It’s one thing to say that, however, and quite another to hold your ground when a dog is coming at you. If a dog runs through an open gate and charges toward you as you go by a house, your instinct is to run. You may forget everything you’ve learned and try to sprint in the opposite...

Life after a motor vehicle accident can be challenging

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Thursday Jul 16, 2020 | Personal Injury

A serious motor vehicle accident will alter your life in many ways, both in the short and long term. While you can’t read the future, you can prepare yourself for anything that you may have to deal with. Life after a motor vehicle accident can be challenging for the following reasons: Severe physical injuries: When you suffer an extensive injury in a motor vehicle accident, such as a traumatic brain injury or fractured neck, it has the potential to cause long-term issues with your health. For example, if a brain injury affects your mental capabilities, you may not be able to return to work....

How to keep your kids busy on a road trip

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Friday Jul 3, 2020 | Car Accidents

Heading out to the park, the beach or just to visit relatives? If you’re a parent, it’s hard not to dread a road trip when it takes roughly 2.3 seconds (give or take) for the kids to get bored and restless in the back seat. If you don’t find a way to distract them from the trip, they’re apt to distract you -- and having your attention diverted from the road to break up a back-seat squabble can be dangerous. With that in mind, here are a few ways to keep your progeny occupied while you’re on the road: Bring an activity bag for each kid. Let each of your children fill a bag with their favorite...

Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Ohio?

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Friday Jun 26, 2020 | Wrongful Death

People make mistakes every day, and most of the time, someone's negligence or bad behavior will have consequences only for that one person. Sadly, some decisions, like the decision to drive drunk, could ripple out and affect other people negatively. If you find yourself in a situation where someone else directly caused the death of a person you love, you may find yourself wondering if you have the right to take action and seek justice for your loss. Wrongful death claims are a way to compensate the surviving loved ones of a person who loses their life to the misbehavior or negligence of...

Common causes of medical malpractice

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Friday Jun 12, 2020 | Medical Malpractice

When you seek medical care, it’s your hope that the care you receive will be in line with the appropriate standard of care. But, not all medical professionals have the same level of skills and training, and not every patient will receive the same care. The sad truth is that many people are harmed because of negligence and mistakes that their medical providers make. Medical malpractice lawsuits are sometimes a necessary step for patients who have been harmed as a result of medical errors or negligence. According to the 2018 CRICO Strategies National CBS Report, the majority of medical...

Why you should not settle a car crash claim too soon

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Tuesday Jun 9, 2020 | Car Accidents

If you are in a car accident, the following days can be confusing. There are claim forms to fill out and insurance companies to talk to. It is good to do these things while the accident is fresh in your mind. However, do not settle your claim too soon until you are sure that you have fully recovered from any injuries. Ohio has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injuries, meaning you have two years to claim. Some effects of a crash may not be evident for weeks, months or even years. Here are some examples: Traumatic brain injuries: The violence of a crash can mean your soft brain...

Why a meal to go could cause you to have an accident

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Monday Jun 8, 2020 | Distracted Driving

“Make mine to go, please.” How many times have you said that to the food server when you’ve been in a hurry? How many times have you crawled out of bed, filled your travel mug with coffee, jumped into your car and drove off to work? We’ve all done it. Driving with our wrists on the wheel, a coffee in one hand and some food in the other. However, it’s a terrible idea. Have you ever considered how dangerous eating and drinking while driving is? Try something: Fill your travel mug with hot coffee and go and sit in your car, with the engine switched off. Now lift your cup to your mouth. What...

How does Ohio premises liability work?

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Friday Jun 5, 2020 | Personal Injury

Not everyone is equal in the eyes of Ohio law when it comes to premises liability claims. The success of a claim depends on who you are, why you were there and what you were doing. To bring a premises liability claim, you need to prove there was negligence on the part of the landowner. You need to prove they had a duty of care toward you and failed to carry out that duty of care. Under what terms were you on the property? If you are an adult and you were trespassing on someone’s land, a court may choose to dismiss a claim. A child may get more leeway, as the law accepts that children are...

Can you claim for wrongful death due to prescription drug errors?

On behalf of The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. | Thursday Jun 4, 2020 | Wrongful Death

Your dad always warned you about the dangers of drugs. “Drugs kill,” he said. He didn’t mean those drugs, though, not the ones that were supposed to help him. Unless you went to medical school, you are probably not an expert on what each drug can and cannot do, and what dosage you need. That is why you visit a doctor or a pharmacist when you need medicine. When someone prescribes drugs these are some things they need to consider: Patient history: Just because a drug worked for your Uncle John, does not mean it was correct for your dad. Everyone is different. Dosage varies depending on weight...