The Accident

A Toyota Camry carrying seven people was involved in the accident, three of those people being young children, one of which was sitting on her father’s lap unrestrained. The bus that rear-ended the Camry was transporting 30 workers from Hearthside Food Solutions in Macomb to Toledo.

It has been reported that a white van had been driving erratically on the highway and allegedly cut off the Toyota Camry which caused it to drive into the front of the bus. The driver of the white van was questioned by officers and claimed to be from out of state and was lost.

One of the passengers on the bus, Marquan Williams, was life-flighted to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.  Williams reportedly has serious injuries, but thankfully they are not life-threatening. Twenty-four other people were taken to Wood County Hospital, and others were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, Ohio.

Cause of the Accident

There have been no citations reported, but the woman driving the white van will most likely be cited. Her reported “erratic” driving will most likely be deemed the cause of the accident that resulted in multiple injuries.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those recovering from the crash, both emotionally and physically.

Involved in a Highway Accident

If you have been involved in an accident of this nature, it is best to call an experienced car accident lawyer to help with your case. There are many legal issues involved with cases of this nature, especially if injured as a passenger on a bus, and it is best to have the guidance of an experienced lawyer from the beginning.

The car accident lawyers at our office have extensive experience with accidents of this nature. Call 800.637.8170 to review your case over the phone with an Ohio accident lawyer and ensure that you are taking the right steps toward the proper compensation.

 LH

According to the report, there was a vehicle traveling erratically along the road that cut off the Camry, causing it to veer in front of the bus. The erratic driver may be cited.

After the crash one victim, 18-year-old Marquan Williams, had to be transported by Life Flight to St. Vincent Medical Center with serious injuries. 24 people were taken to Wood County Hospital. Several other were taken to Blanchard Valley.

If you have been injured because of the negligence of another party and have questions about your legal rights, call our Ohio accident attorneys at 800.637.8170 to schedule a free consultation and to speak with a lawyer today.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has released which sections of the highways will have increased speed limits of 70 mph instead of the now 65 mph speed limit. The increase will affect over 570 miles of the Ohio interstate highway, including the below sections of the Interstate:

• I-70
• I-71
• I-75
• I-76
• I-77
• I-90

The increase of the above highways does not include the metropolitan sections of the roadways. There will be over 300 signs made to help alert drivers of the increased speed limits. The speed limit will go into effect July 1, 2013.

To view a map of the new 70 mph highway zones, visit the Ohio Department of Transportation’s website.

What do you think about the increased speed limits? Do you think they are a good thing for Ohio interstate highways?

Both women were transported from the scene by ambulance to a local hospital where they were treated and released. After the accident both women were put on work restrictions and had to undergo therapy for their injuries. Although much of the injuries could be repaired through therapy, both women are still fearful of semi trucks and driving makes them anxious. Our office is currently seeking a fair settlement for them.

If you or a loved one have been injured by a negligent semi driver, call our Toledo truck accident lawyers at 800.637.8170 to schedule a free consultation and speak with one of our lawyers today.

Officials are asking that anyone who sees this man calls 911 and reports the sighting. He may be traveling through Crawford or Wyandot County.

Our office’s thoughts and prayers are with the deputy that was seriously injured when Baldridge hit him. We urge anyone with information to contact the police.

LH

There have been numerous children affected by the Clyde Cancer Cluster, along with adults that have developed various forms of cancer. Fox Toledo reported one Clyde Cancer Cluster father’s feelings toward the environmental testing on Sunday. Warren Brown stated, “[The testing] would at least give everybody a sense to know the extent of what was dumped and what needs to be cleaned up. Now whether any of that can be linked to what’s going on with the childhood cancer cluster I don’t know.”

Attorneys Alan Mortensen and Charles Boyk are representing the families of the childhood cancer cluster and are working hard to bring justice to the area.

One thing that has those Clyde Cancer Cluster families and representing attorneys question is that Whirlpool has banned everyone’s involvement in the lawsuit from the park grounds during the testing.

We will keep you up to date with all of the information found surrounding the Clyde Cancer Cluster and how the lawsuit progresses. You can visit our Clyde Cancer Cluster resource page to find recent blog posts, links to news articles, and videos with the families and attorneys involved in the lawsuit.

LH

Trichloroethylene Leaks in Fort Smith

The chemical spill involves the leaking of Trichloroethylene, or TCE, into the groundwater at the Whirlpool plant between the late 1960s and early 1980s. TCE, a known carcinogen, was found in the groundwater at the plant’s site, as well as under about two dozen homes near the site.

Trichloroethylene was used as a degreasing solvent at the plant. Whirlpool Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Jeff Noel, said that once the company became aware of the concerns surrounding the carcinogen, they stopped using it.

Property Values Ruined

The chemical spill has been considered a disaster by Sebastian County Assessor, Becky Yandell. She explained how the home’s values will be adjusted and it is unlikely that those residents will ever be able to sell their homes. Yandell explained that the stigma of the chemical spill results in the homes never being able to sell.

One resident of the Fort Smith area, Debbie Keith, believes that the TCE leak has not only caused her home’s value to decrease, but is also to blame for her health problems.  She is 47-years-old and disabled with no doctor able to tell her why.

Erin Brockovich Conducts Testing at Whirlpool

At Debbie Keith’s request, environmental activist Erin Brockovich held a meeting with Fort Smith residents in March 2013. Brockovich’s associate, environmental investigator Bob Bowcock, expressed his thoughts on Whirlpool’s maps providing the extent of TCE contamination. He stated, “I can tell you the area of impact is going to be greater than this. We’re quite confident of that just looking at the data sheet.”

Bowcock also explained that the closed plant is in clear violation of the Clean Water Act. He explained that actions need to be taken as he guarantees pollution came into the community during the last rainstorm. Bowcock believes that there is leaking taking place today.

Brockovich and Bowcock explained in late March that they would be conducting tests and would also push Whirlpool to start testing as well.

This serious environmental issue joins the news waves just as things in Clyde, Ohio are heating up. A class action lawsuit was filed against Whirlpool Inc. on behalf of area families affected by the cancer cluster in the area.

We will continue to update readers on the progression of the issues in Fort Smith, Arkansas as well as the case in Clyde, Ohio. Whirlpool is now immersed in environmental issues due to past practices and we look forward to seeing how they react to both. 

The families of the Clyde Cancer Cluster have already tested and found PCBs in the area as well as benzaldehyde in their attics. Even with the test results, Whirlpool still claims that there is no scientific evidence proving that Whirlpool has played a role in the cancer cluster.

Noel told WTOL that he does not know why there would be PCBs at the old park site and that there have been many projects and companies that may have dumped on the property.

Attorneys Alan Mortensen and Charles Boyk represent the families of the Clyde Cancer Cluster. These families had to watch their children battle cancer while losing value on their homes due to the cancer cluster. Their stories are heartbreaking and tragic. Those involved in the lawsuit against Whirlpool hope that the company steps up and does the right thing.

Warren Brown’s daughter, Alexa, passed away in 2009 from cancer. Before her death, Warren told her that he “would not relent until every door and window was nailed so tightly shut that it could not be open.” It seems as though this is only the beginning of the battle, but our office assures you that we will fight alongside the families to ensure that the truth will come out.

LH

Troopers in the area have been asked to be alert for motorcycle violations in a hope to save more lives as excessive speed is often a factor in these crashes. On top of this, authorities are asking that motorcycle drivers  take safety training courses and to drive defensively, regardless of who may end up responsible for the crash.

Since May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has released a statement asking all drivers be aware of, and acknowledge the rights of motorcyclists by looking out for them, not folowing them too closely and not infringing on their travel lane.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle crash, call our Toledo motorcycle attorneys at 800.637.8170 to schedule a free consultation and to speak with a lawyer today.

Watch the video introducing the victims here.

We heard from the parents of Alexa Brown, who would be in the 9^th grade today if she was still alive. Her father, Warren Brown, told Alexa that she would not die in vain and that they would find what caused her cancer and the cancer of other children in the Clyde area.

Steve Keller, Kole Keller’s Grandpa, made the remark to the media that they’re “turning up the heat.” He no longer wants to wait around for answers; instead he is part of the group that is going to find the answers for themselves.

Attorneys Alan Mortensen and Charles Boyk are going to help the victims of the Clyde Cancer Cluster turn to stones over in regards to finding the cause of the prevalent cancer in the area. After testing was conducted in the victim’s homes, elevated levels of Benzaldehyde was found. This hazardous substance is suspected to have been an emission from Whirlpool’s smokestacks, or released into the environment when the company was dumping.

To stay up-to-date with the latest findings surrounding the Clyde Cancer Cluster, and the progression of the class action lawsuit filed against Whirlpool, Inc., visit our law office’s Clyde Cancer Cluster resource page. 

LH

During the press conference, Warren Brown, a father of one of the children who passed away from cancer, spoke to the media. “The filing of the suit against the likely producer of this compound is to give Whirlpool the chance to test our attics and then step up, clean them up, and in addition, make right the wrong that has been committed against our community.” Warren told his daughter before she died that he would find out why and how she got sick, and that he “would not relent until every door and window was nailed so tightly shut that it could not be open.”

WTOL stated that benzaldehyde is defined as a hazardous substance by the EPA, and this substance was found in every home that was tested in eastern Sandusky County.

The families of the Clyde Cancer Cluster have filed a lawsuit against Whirlpool Corporation. The lawsuit claims that the unusual levels of benzaldehyde is the cause of the children in the area developing cancer and other sicknesses.

For future updates on the Clyde Cancer Cluster lawsuit, and the new developments in the environmental testing results, stay tuned to the resource page on the Charles E. Boyk Law Office website.

LH

Gus is our oldest dog and lives in the house with three cats. His hobbies include playing with his squeaky toys and chasing cats. He is the law office's symbol and has his own beanie baby. 

Want to win your own FREE Gus (not the real one)? Just comment on our Facebook page! 

There was an accident on Wednesday afternoon involving a school bus and a car at the intersection of Douglas and Monroe in Toledo.

A Lucas County Bus #13 collided with a car at the intersection around 4:30 pm.  There were no children seriously injured in the accident. 

There were two people in the car that collided with the bus and both were taken to a nearby hospital.

The accident did slow down traffic on Wednesday afternoon but no serious backups were reported. The accident is still under investigation with the cause unknown to us at this time.

Involved in a School Bus Accident

If your child has been involved in a school bus accident and was injured as a result, it is critical to have an experienced lawyer representing your child. School bus accidents can be confusing with several different entities involved. Our office advises all school bus accident victims contact an Ohio school bus accident lawyer immediately to ensure all of the proper steps are taken. 

LH

1. California
2. Illinois
3. Texas
4. Ohio
5. Pennsylvania
6. Michigan
7. Indiana
8. Florida
9. Georgia
10. New York

With Dog Bite Prevention Week taking place in just a few days (May 19-25) there seems to be no better time than now to raise awareness. Our office believes that both dog owners and the general public must be aware of the safety tips necessary to help prevent dog bite attacks. We shared the below dog bite prevention tips to help patrons avoid a dog bite attack:

• Don’t run past a dog
• Don’t scream when threatened by a dog and avoid eye contact
• Don’t approach a strange dog
• Don’t pet unknown dogs
• Try to place an object between you and the dog in the event of an attack

Join us next week and help spread awareness during Dog Bite Prevention Week. This is the season in which dog bites are the most prevalent so it is critical to educate both owners and the community.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious dog bite attack, call our Ohio dog bite lawyers at 800.637.8170.

LH

Randy Rudolph Jr. was operating his motorcycle when he hit a van. After the accident, Rudoloph was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time as we can only imagine the pain they are going through.

The accident is still under investigation, but what we do know at this time is that Rudolph was not wearing a helmet.

Importance of Motorcycle Safety

As you know, May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and our office would like to do our best to promote that to both motorcyclists and others on the roadways. We think it is tragic to see accidents of this nature as they are all too common.

Our office has shared safety tips  that explain how to reduce the risk of being involved in a dangerous motorcycle accident. We included safety measures to take for both cyclists and drivers, and we also released five safety precautions to be aware of during motorcycle season.

Importance of Wearing a Helmet

We know that Rudolph was not wearing a helmet during the time of his accident. While helmets can help significantly reduce the damage and injuries during a motorcycle accident, they are not required by Ohio law to be worn. Only drivers with novice licenses, or those under the age of 18, must wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle.

We hope that the recent accidents in the area help to raise awareness in the community and stress the importance of motorcycle safety. Our office has seen one too many motorcycle accident victims and we’d like to put this tragic accident trend to bed.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, call our motorcycle accident attorneys at 800.637.8170. Our team will review your case over the phone and take the appropriate steps to ensure that you receive compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

LH

Those in attendance will include some of the family members who have lost loved ones due to the Clyde Cancer Cluster. The results from the testing done by environmental experts hired by the families will be released at the press conference. Up to now, this information’s release had been delayed in order to provide the United States Environmental Protection Agency the opportunity to respond, which they have failed to do so. This information will be provided to the citizens of Clyde so they may respond appropriately to the findings.

The press conference will also include the recent discovery at a property adjoining the Whirlpool Park. A copy of the complaint will be provided to all in attendance, as well as other documents associated with the Clyde Cancer Cluster testing results.

The press conference will be held at the PNC Bank Building in downtown Toledo at 405 Madison Avenue. Visit the security desk upon arrival and you will be directed to the appropriate location.

Our office is happy to be playing a role in this case as we want to provide the citizens of Clyde the answers that they have been looking for. For more information on the Clyde Cancer Cluster, visit the Clyde Cancer Cluster page on our website which contains links to news articles, press releases, and interviews with the families affected by the cancer cluster.

LH

The Clyde Cancer Cluster Victims

As the media was introduced to each of the victims and/or parents present, those in attendance couldn't help but to tear up. Each person’s story pulls at your heart strings and makes you wonder how such a tragic trend exists in the small town of Clyde. There were stories of young children developing cancer as well as women who suffered from breast and ovarian cancer. The one thing that everyone had in common was their home’s close proximity to Whirlpool Park and the surrounding area, and elevated levels of a hazardous substance in their attic's dust particulates.

Environmental Testing Results

Extensive testing was conducted to find the cause of the Clyde Cancer Cluster. The results released stated that there were unusually high levels of Benzaldehyde in the attics of the victim’s homes. Benzaldehyde is a hazardous substance and was found in all of the homes of the victims at approximately the same level. Attorney Alan Mortensen stated that this is the first common denominator that’s been found between the families of the children sickened with cancer.

One interesting thing about the levels found is that a home that is ten years old has the same level of Benzaldehyde as a home that is 110 years old. There is a concern with home owner’s property values as the value of area homes has become nonexistent due to the tragedy tied to the location.

Lawsuit Filed Against Whirlpool

The families have filed a lawsuit against Whirlpool, Inc. as it is suspected that the corporation is responsible for the cause of the Clyde Cancer Cluster. Attorney Alan Mortensen stated that Whirlpool is responsible for the hazardous chemicals release into the air, which is thought to have been done either through the corporations smoke stacks, or through the dumping and vaporizing of the chemicals.

This lawsuit could take years and the families have stated that they are in it for the long haul. A Whirlpool spokeswoman, Kristine Vernier, stated on Tuesday that “We will vigorously defend Whirlpool, its employees, and the community against these allegations.”

To stay up to date with the latest information surrounding the Clyde Cancer Cluster, visit the Clyde Cancer Cluster page on the Charles E. Boyk Law Offices website.

 LH

Whatever the situation is with your injury case, you may or may not realize that you need an expert. If it’s a medical malpractice case involving a complex surgery, you need a neutral doctor to decipher what happened. In my son's case, I knew we needed an aquatics and diving expert.

When my law office is looking for experts for our client’s cases, we search long and hard to find the perfect match. We utilize professional expert referral services to make posts on lawyer’s email listservs which connect thousands of lawyers from across the country. We used these methods with my sons case and eventually were connected to an individual who is perhaps the most prominent expert in the field of aquatics, Dr. Thomas J. Griffiths.

As President of the Aquatic Safety Research Group, LLC and international teacher of Aquatic Risk Management programs, Dr. Griffiths was the just the expert we needed. In his past, Griffiths was the Director of Aquatic and Safety Officer for Intercollegiate Athletics at Penn State University between 1986 and 2009 and oversaw eight diving boards during this time. He even published textbooks and numerous articles on the subject, as well as acted as an expert on other diving board injury cases.

The first step was to have Dr. Griffiths inspect the pool area and diving board, so we flew him to Ohio. He found several faults with the diving board and wrote a report indicating the below points of negligence that contributed the injury of my son:

• Failure to remove three meter diving board and accompanying stand with ladder and railings completely prevent catastrophic falls as most other recreational swimming pools have done throughout the country.
• Failure to renovate the three meter diving board effectively to prevent the possibility of falls to the deck below.
• Failure to extend the handrails to 12 to 24 inches beyond the swimming pool wall located 10 feet below.
• Failure to install soft and safe landing material completely throughout the drop area under the three meter board including the coping edge.
• Failure to restrict the use of the three meter diving board to adolescents rather than young children.
• Failure to post and enforce strict rules and regulations for the use of the three meter diving board.
• Failure to limit the hours during which the three meter board could be used and provide direct supervision directly under the board during those times.

Dr. Griffiths testimony was critical to the case and explained the ways that my son’s injury could have been prevented.

As discussed earlier in the book, the defense of the pool owners was that the danger of the diving board was “open and obvious.” Dr. Griffiths played a key role in shutting down that argument and specifically indicated the hazard would not be obvious to pool patrons such as those family members enjoying an afternoon at the pool.

Dr. Griffith’s deposition stated:

• Only those parents that have worked in the industry would recognize the danger of the diving board.
• Parents who have not seen catastrophic falls take place do not realize the danger. They are given a false sense of security.
• The pool owners should have recognized the danger as it is spelled out in the Code.

Dr. Griffiths also helped us to state that the pool owners were in violation of “pool industry standards” and when these standards are not followed, the result could be death or paralysis. If the standards were followed, the guardrails would have extended and my son would not have fallen to the deck of the pool. Since the owners failed to follow code, they could be held liable for Josh’s injuries.

This testimony was critical. The first step for anyone in a personal injury case is to ask if an expert is needed, then to find the perfect match. Our office always searches for the perfect expert for each case to ensure our clients have the best possible outcome in their case.

Lesson to be learned: Finding the right expert for your case can mean the difference between a successful resolution and getting nothing.

You need to find a personal injury lawyer that knows the importance of an expert in your case, and someone that can successfully find the perfect expert to help you achieve the best possible settlement.

Accidental Death Statistics:

• Lightning Deaths – 26
• West Nile Virus – 43
• Aircraft Deaths – 401
• Tornado Deaths – 553
• Handgun Murders – 6,220

The numbers are sobering and continue to soar. It is imperative that drivers think twice before getting behind the wheel after they’ve had a few drinks. The lives lost to drunk driving are unnecessary and we can only hope that they begin to decrease in the future.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, call our car accident attorneys at 800.637.8170 to review your case.