• Auto Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Serious Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Motorcycle Accidents

News

Auto Accidents

• Cleveland School Bus Driver Arrested After Drunk Driving Crash
  Sep 09, 2010

  A Cleveland Municipal School District bus driver has been arrested after causing a crash that injured both the driver and her unrestrained granddaughter.
   
  The Cleveland drunk driving accident occurred at 3:50 a.m. on Sunday, September 3 on the 2100 block of West 95th Street.
   
  The driver, 47-year-old, Sandra Daniel as driving a white Mitsubishi Eclipse north struck two parked vehicles.  The impact flipped the Mitsubishi on its side. Witnesses to the accident ran to the car to offer help.  Daniel passed her one-year-old granddaughter through a window.
   
  The baby was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center for treatment of  non-life threatening yet serious injuries.  Her mother was notified.
   
  Daniel was also injured and taken to Lakewood Hospital; she was treated and released.
   
  The driver appeared to be intoxicated and refused to take a breath test.  She was arrested for driving under the influence and for endangering a child. On September 8, Daniel pleaded not guilty to both charges in a Cleveland court.
   
  Children and Family Services were notified. Daniel is suspended without pay from her school bus driving job.
   
  Daniel had been cited twice in the past year for refusal to use child restraints.

• Ohio drivers are among the safest in the United States
  Sep 03, 2010

  Five Ohio cities rank among the 100 safest driving cities in the nation.  In three of these cities, drivers are much less likely to be involved in accidents than the average American.
   
  The Allstate Insurance Company just released its sixth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report™." The report looks at America's 200 largest cities in terms of car accident frequency and uses these statistics to determine which cities have the safest drivers. 
   
  According to their statistics, the average American driver is involved in an accident once every ten years.
   
  Six Ohio cities were ranked in the report.  Dayton received the highest ranking at number 12.  A driver in Dayton can expect to average one car accident every 12 years.
   
  Columbus had the lowest score.  It was ranked 118th.  Drivers can expect to be involved in an accident about once every 9 years.  This means drivers are 11.8% more likely to be involved in an Ohio car crash than the average American driver.
   
  City, 2010 Best Driver Rank, Average Years between Accidents
  Dayton, rank 12, 11.7 years between accidents
  Akron, rank 32, 10.9 years between accidents
  Cleveland, rank 37, 10.8 years between accidents
  Cincinnati, rank 79, 9.8 years between accidents
  Toledo, rank 88, 9.6 years between accidents
  Columbus, rank 118, 8.9 years between accidents
   
  "America's Safest Driving City" this year is Fort Collins, Colorado. The average driver in Fort Collins will experience a car accident every 14.5 years.  This makes them about 31 percent less likely to be involved in a car crash than the national average.
   
  The Ohio car crash attorneys at Chester Law Group represent injured victims of car crashes in Dayton, Akron, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus.  Learn more about the rights of Ohio car crash victims.  Request our free DVD, What You should Know About Motor Vehicle Injury Claims.
  
  

• Man killed in Lorain County motorcycle crash
  Jul 18, 2010
  A Medina motorcyclist was killed in a two vehicle accident in Lorain County.His 12-year-old daughter was left seriously injured.
   
  The accident occurred on state Route 82 in Columbia Station on the afternoon of Sunday, July 18.  
   
  The motorcyclist, 41-year-old Ronald Phillips, was driving a 2010 Harley Davidson westbound behind a Honda CR-V. His daughter, Abigail Phillips was riding as a rear-seat passenger on the motorcycle. The CR-V was driven by31-year-old Michelle Schneider-McGuire, of North Ridgeville, Ohio.
   
  Allegedly, when McGuire stopped behind another vehicle that was waiting to turn left, the motorcycle was unable to stop and hit the rear of the CR-V. Both Phillips and his daughter were ejected from the motorcycle.
   
  Phillips was pronounced dead on the scene by a physician from MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. He was not wearing a helmet. 
   
  Abigail was taken Southwest General Hospital and later transported to MetroHealth. She is listed as being in serious condition. Abigail was wearing a helmet at the accident, and the helmet may have saved her life.
   
  The driver of the CR-V was not seriously injured.
   
  Eighty percent of motorcycle accidents result in serious injury or death.

• Lorain man killed in DUI scooter crash
  Jul 07, 2010
  A Lorain man was fatally injured in an Independence Day accident when an SUV driver allegedly hit his motor scooter. The driver had a blood alcohol level of .171, well above the legal limit.
   
  The motor vehicle crash occurred at about 4:50 p.m. at the intersection of Elyria Avenue and 17th Street in Lorain. Forty-six-year-old Thomas Gault was driving his scooter south on Elyria Avenue when a northbound Ford SUV turned left onto 17th street and hit him. The SUV continued driving west on 17th Street.  
   
  The victim sustained a massive head injury. He was transported to Community Regional Medical Center and was then taken to Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center by helicopter. Gault died from his injuries at about 1:06 p.m. on July 5th. 
    
  A bystander followed the hit-and-run driver and gave police turn-by-turn directions. Thanks to the bystander, police were able to apprehend the driver, 23-year-old Michael Meeks. Meeks tested positive for driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level of .171. This is more than twice the legal limit of .08.
   
  Meeks is charged with leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing a police officer, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
   
  The wrongful death attorneys at Chester Law Group offer our condolences to the family of Mr. Gault.

• Chrysler recalls nearly 600,000 vehicles for possible crash risk
  Jun 08, 2010
  A new automobile recall may effect Cleveland drivers.
  
  The story sounds familiar.  A major car manufacturer announces a recall and then they announce more. However, this time the automaker is not Toyota.
   
  Last week, Chrysler informed the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the potential safety issues in approximately 600,000 vehicles of five different models.
   
  About 284,831 Chrysler Town and Country minivans and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans manufactured in model years 2008 and 2009 were recalled because a sliding door hinge can wear through the insulation in the electrical wiring. This problem could cause a short circuit in the latch for the sliding door, leading to a fire
   
  As many as 288,968 Chrysler Jeep Wranglers manufactured in model years 2007 to 2010 may experience leaking brake fluid which could potentially cause brake failure.
  
  Last Friday a recall was announced for  25,336 2007 model year Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass involving possible sticky accelerator pedals.
   
  Chrysler says there have been no car accidents or serious injuries related to the recalls. The car company will notify the owners of the vehicle models involved in each of the recalls and will fix the vehicles at no charge. If you believe your car is part of the recall, contact your Ohio Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep dealer. 

• Cleveland Heights SUV tears through 10 yards then crashes into garage
  Jun 07, 2010
  A medical emergency may have been responsible for an unusual Cleveland Heights traffic accident.
   
  The one car crash occurred at about 2a.m. on the morning of Monday, June 7. The driver of an SUV allegedly turned from Cedar Road to Rossmoor Road in Cleveland Heights when the driver had a medical emergency of some sort. The driver swerved off the road and went through at least 10 front yards. He wove between trees and brick entry ways and eventually hit a garage and the side of a house.
   
  Two people were in the home, but no one was injured.
    
  The driver disappeared after the collision. Police looked for him for about half an hour before he emerged from the bushes. He seemed confused and disoriented and was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.
   
  Police believe that an undisclosed medical emergency was responsible for the wreck. However, the man may still be cited. His insurance company should be responsible for the damage to the homeowners’ property.

• Surgical burns leave Cleveland patients seriously injured
  May 24, 2010
  A young woman from Shaker Heights, OH is telling her story and hoping it will prevent others from serious injury in surgical fires.
   
  Twenty-three-year-old Lauren Wargo became a victim of a surgical fire when she was having routine surgery to have a mole removed at an outpatient clinic. What should have been a minor procedure turned into a months-long, painful ordeal which left Lauren with scarring and an eye that won’t fully close.
   
  Wargo decided to tell her story after a news report about six surgical fires that occurred within 12 months at a Cleveland clinic. She is hoping that telling lawmakers about her ordeal will make reporting of surgical fires mandatory and will encourage clinics and hospitals to take stronger safety measures to protect patients from potentially life-threatening burns.
   
  Although many fires go unreported, it is estimated that about 650 surgical fires occur each year. Between 20 and 30 of the fires result in serious injury and about two of the victims die.  Nearly all surgical fires are preventable with proper skin cleaning and safe oxygen delivery.
  
  Lauren Wargo’s injuries were caused when the doctor turned on an electrical device. The anesthesiologist administering oxygen did not here the doctor announce that he was turning on the device and she did not turn off the oxygen. The combination of oxygen and electricity caused the fire.
   
  Wargo was awarded $1.3 million in damages.

• Three injured when car crashes into Cleveland’s Polish Day parade
  May 05, 2010
  Charges have been filed against a man who drove into a marching band during Cleveland’s Polish Constitution Day parade.
   
  Cleveland Metroparks Rangers have charged 67-year-old Kazimierz Chruscik of Cleveland with failure to control his vehicle and attempted vehicular manslaughter following an incident at the Cleveland Metroparks Reservation Washington Park area on Sunday, May 2nd.
   
  Chruscik’s 2002 Mitsubishi Galant crashed into a group of James Ford Rhodes High School band members that were preparing to march in the Polish Constitution Day Parade. He struck three students and a parent. One students sustained serious injuries that required surgery. The parent and the other students were treated and released from MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
   
  The driver had pulled into a handicapped parking spot and stopped. Band members expected that he was parking, but instead of parking his vehicle, Chruscik accelerated over the parking curb and hit 17-year-old Justin Otis and 49-year-old Maria Matso.
   
  Matso was knocked to the side as the car veered right and hit two more students. The car dragged Otis about ten feet before stopping. Otis was pinned under the car.
   
  The traffic accident is still under investigation.  Drugs and alcohol were not a factor and there were no mechanical defects that could have contributed to the car crash.

• Motorcyclist critically injured in Streetsboro, OH crash
  May 03, 2010
  A Chagrin Falls motorcyclist was hospitalized with critical injuries after a crash in Streetsboro.
   
  The accident occurred at 7:28 p.m. on Friday, April 30. Seventy-one-year-old Thomas Blazek was thrown off his 1983 Honda Goldwing after a collision with a car. The car was driven by 18-year-old Brittany Pittman of Ravenna.
   
  Allegedly, at the time of the accident, Ms. Pittman pulled out from a stop sign at Diagonal Road and made a left turn onto S.R. 303 in front of Mr. Blazek’s motorcycle. Mr. Blazek was thrown by the impact and sustained critical injuries.  He was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland for treatment.
   
  According to national accident statistics, the most common motorcycle accident configuration occurs when a motorcycle is proceeding straight through an intersection and an automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle causing a collision. These accidents often result in serious and possibly permanent injury to the motorcyclist.
   
  The crash is under investigation and charges are pending.
   
  The attorneys at the Chester Law Group wish Mr. Blazek a speedy and full recovery.

• Baby seriously injured in Akron car crash
  Apr 18, 2010
  A one-year-old child, who was not restrained in a car seat, was seriously injured in a car crash. 
          
  The accident took place at 3:40 a.m. Saturday, April 17. Allegedly, the driver, twenty-year-old Alexandra Tobias lost control of her vehicle on Interstate Route 76 at the central interchange. The car struck a concrete barrier which caused the vehicle to flip and land on its roof the median. As the vehicle rolled over, the child, Aaliyah Rondo, was ejected from the car.
   
  Rondo was taken to Akron's Children's Hospital with serious injuries.Tobias was taken to Akron City Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released.
   
  In Ohio, all children under age 8 must be restrained in an approved safety seat. A rear-facing car seat in the back seat is the safest place for children under age one and under 20 pounds.  
   
  Chester Law Group cares about the safety of your children. Click here to read more about keeping your children safe in the car.

Contact us today for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation about your personal injury legal needs.