-INJURY & ACCIDENTS-

Was your loved one killed in an accident or as a result of another’s negligence? In the State of Ohio, a wrongful death refers to a civil action brought against a party whose negligence or intentional actions led to someone’s death. Wrongful death claims brought in Ohio are filed by the surviving family members, such as spouses, children or parents seeking to be compensated for damages. Wrongful death typically occurs in car accidents, medical malpractice and through intentional torts like homicide. In a wrongful death action, you must establish that the defendant’s negligence directly caused the death and that the surviving heirs of the deceased suffered damages as a result of the death.

Damages in a wrongful death action can include both economic and noneconomic losses. Economic damages include medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of the deceased’s income, loss of benefits and loss of inheritance. Non-economic damages can include the pain and suffering endured by the deceased before death, loss of companionship, loss of consortium and the emotional distress suffered by the surviving family members of the deceased. These damages can depend on the specific circumstances of the death, the extent of the relationship between the family members and the deceased and the impact of the loss on the family members.

Attorney Meeker is experienced in handling wrongful death cases and he understands the incredible impact the death of a loved one can have on a family. Attorney Meeker will work side by side with you to understand the laws and the process of making a wrongful death claim including pre-suit negotiations with insurance companies and the court process should that be necessary. Attorney Meeker understands that no amount of money can bring your loved one back and that you don’t need to deal with the added stress and legal issues during this time. Attorney Meeker and his team of investigators are fully prepared to investigate and determine the facts leading to the death, collect evidence to build the case, and find those at fault to hold them accountable. If you have experienced the death of a loved one, contact Attorney Meeker today to schedule your free consultation.

Have you been injured in a car accident? Last year there were over 250,000 auto accidents in the State of Ohio, with over 1,200 resulting in fatalities. Unfortunately, car accidents are common occurrences and they can result from many factors such as speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, impaired drivers, weather conditions and equipment failures. In Ohio, should you have been involved in a car accident, you will need to be aware of the two-year statute of limitations to either resolve the claim through pre-suit negotiations or to file a lawsuit. Complying with the statute of limitations is a must in preserving your right to seek compensation. The damages for a car accident can vary depending on factors such as the severity of injuries, property damage, loss of income, and first and foremost pain and suffering. Damages can include your medical expenses, your lost wages, property damage for repair or replacement of your vehicle, pain and suffering for physical pain, emotional distress and mental anguish as a result of the accident, loss of consortium for the loss of companionship, support or services of a spouse and potentially punitive damages designed to punish the party at fault and to deter future similar behavior.

If you have been involved in a car accident, it is imperative that you follow these 7 steps: (1) Move to safety, check for injuries and call 911 to report the accident; (2) Use your smart phone to take photographs of the damage to the vehicles, the location of the vehicles, the debris on the roadway, the location of traffic signals, and any injuries that you have sustained; (3) Don’t trust your memory and collect important information related to the scene, the vehicles, the people and the damage; (4) Limit discussion to only the police, your insurance agent and your lawyer; (5) Seek medical care by way of an ambulance or the emergency room at a local hospital to document your injuries and receive the necessary treatment; (6) Contact Attorney Meeker to advise you of your rights and to file the appropriate insurance claim or lawsuit; and (7) Stay in contact with Attorney Meeker as communication is vital regarding your ongoing medical care, appointments, treatment and the status of your case.

If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated fairly and fully. Attorney Meeker has been helping his clients in Northeast Ohio receive what they deserve in these difficult situations for his entire career. Attorney Meeker represents clients under a contingency fee agreement, meaning that he only gets paid if you get paid. He will make sure that the insurance company understands that his client is serious about pursuing their maximum compensation, even if that means filing a lawsuit and proceeding to litigation. If you have been hurt in a vehicle, contact Meeker Legal, and schedule your free consultation today.

Were you injured in a truck accident? Of the 250,000 accidents in the State of Ohio in 2023, over 50,000 involved commercial related crashes. Similar to car accidents, truck accidents can be physically, emotionally and financially draining. Due to the great disparity between commercial trucks and other motor vehicles, a truck accident accident can result in significant property damage, severe injuries and even fatalities. Truck accidents can be caused by many factors including driver fatigue, speeding, distracted drivers, improper loading and securing of cargo, equipment failure and weather. It is imperative to determine the parties responsible for the accident including the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck maintenance provider and the cargo loaders. As Ohio permits comparative negligence, an injured party can allocate the fault of the truck accident among the parties that caused the accident.

Unlike regular automobiles, commercial trucking is a heavily regulated industry that has to comply with state and federal laws. They must adhere to driver qualifications, hours of operation on the road, truck maintenance, and regulations regarding the cargo. It is important to examine these regulations to determine if they were a contributing factor to the accident. Trucking companies are also required by law to have substantial insurance coverage to compensate for damages in the event of an accident. Dealing with these insurance companies can be complicated and should require extensive investigation and negotiations to ensure a max compensation. If you have been involved in a truck accident, follow the seven steps listed in the car accident section to ensure that your rights are protected.

Attorney Meeker has experience in handling truck accident cases for clients in Northeast Ohio. He and his team of investigators will examine and investigate the accident, collect all of the necessary evidence, determine liability and damages, and aggressively negotiate with insurance companies to pursue max compensation for his clients. If you have been involved in a truck accident, contact Attorney Meeker today to schedule your free consultation.

Were you or a loved one involved in a motorcycle accident? In Ohio, over 12,000 motorcycle accidents occurred in 2023. These accidents can result in severe injuries and death due to the vulnerability of a motorcycle rider. These accidents typically occur because of rider negligence including speeding, distracted driving and road conditions/weather. Although there are laws regarding the wearing of helmets in Ohio, a helmet can be a lifesaving safety device when getting on a motorcycle that can greatly reduce the risk of severe injury. If you have been involved in a motor cycle accident due to another’s negligence, you can recover compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages and, first and foremost, your pain and suffering.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is imperative that you follow these 7 steps: (1) Move to safety, check for injuries and call 911 to report the accident; (2) Use your smart phone to take photographs of the damage to your motorcycle and the other vehicle, the location of your motorcycle and the other vehicles, the debris on the roadway, the location of traffic signals, and any injuries that you have sustained; (3) Don’t trust your memory and collect important information related to the scene, your motorcycle and the other vehicle, the people and the damage; (4) Limit discussion to only the police, your insurance agent and your lawyer; (5) Seek medical care by way of an ambulance or the emergency room at a local hospital to document your injuries and receive the necessary treatment; (6) Contact Attorney Meeker to advise you of your rights and to file the appropriate insurance claim or lawsuit; and (7) Stay in contact with Attorney Meeker as communication is vital regarding your ongoing medical care, appointments, treatment and the status of your case.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, having an experienced attorney by your side is vitally important to investigate the facts of the accident, gather the necessary evidence, negotiate with insurance companies and to pursue your max compensation. Attorney Meeker has the necessary experience to protect your rights and to go head to head with big insurance. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Attorney Meeker today to schedule your free consultation.

Have you or a loved one been the victim of a dog bite? In the State of Ohio, dog bite incidents have specific laws and regulations that can impact your case. First, Ohio is a strict liability dog bite state, meaning that dog owners/harborers are generally held liable for the injuries caused by the dog, regardless of the dogs past or the owner or harborers knowledge of the dogs aggression. This will be applicable whether the victim was on public property or lawfully on private property. Even if a dog has never bitten before, a dog owner can be strictly liable for injuries caused. However, insurance companies will sometimes attempt to defend these incidents by alleging that a victim was trespassing or provoking the dog.

If you have been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and most importantly your pain and suffering. It is very important to document the dog bite incident and all of the injuries and medical expenses experienced as a result. Contact your local health department and make an immediate report to further your documentation. It is also imperative to receive immediate medical treatment as either minor or severe injuries can be heightened with the potential for infections that a dog could carry.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, it is imperative to immediately discuss the incident and your injuries with an experienced dog bite attorney. Attorney Meeker has represented many clients that were victims of a dog attack and he has the knowledge and skill to advise you of your rights, perform his own investigation with his team, collect all necessary evidence and reports, and to fight for your max compensation. If you are the victim of a dog bite, contact Attorney Meeker today to schedule your free consultation.

Were you injured as a result of a product design, manufacturing defect, or marketing defect? In the State of Ohio, product liability laws govern the legal responsibility of product manufacturers, distributors and sellers for injuries that are caused by defective or unsafe products. A design defect typically occurs when an issue in the product’s design makes it unsafe. A manufacturing defect occurs when the product is being made and often results in the product diverging from its original intended design. Marketing defects involve failures in providing the consumer with adequate warnings about the product’s use.

Products liability in Ohio follows strict liability, meaning that manufacturers, distributors and sellers can be held strictly liable for the injuries caused by defective products if they can prove that a product was defective, the defect caused the injury and that the product was being used as intended or in a foreseeable manner. If you are a victim of a defective product you may be entitled to damages that include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant.

Attorney Meeker has fought for clients in product liability cases, in local and federal courts, to hold manufacturers, distributors and sellers accountable for their conduct. He and his team will investigate the incident, collect necessary evidence, find experts in the necessary fields, and file a lawsuit if necessary. If you have been the victim of product liability, contact Attorney Meeker today to schedule your free consultation.

Were you injured while riding in a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft? In Ohio, certain rideshare companies provide insurance coverage for accidents that occur during a ride scheduled through their application. Coverage can include liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and collision coverage. The coverage will also depend on the status of the driver at the time and depend on whether they were logged into the system at the time of the accident. The liability of the rideshare driver and the other vehicle, motorist or pedestrian, will depend on the circumstances of the accident to determine the true party at fault and how to appropriately pursue a claim for damages ranging from medical expenses and lost wages to your pain and suffering experienced as a result of the accident.

If you have been involved in an accident during a rideshare with Uber or Lyft, having an experienced attorney to assist you is essential. Attorney Meeker has experience in determining the party at fault and aggressively pursuing max compensation for his client’s damages. If you wish to discuss these types of accidents with Attorney Meeker, schedule your free consultation today.

Have you been injured as a pedestrian or while on a bicycle ride? In 2023, in the State of Ohio, nearly 8,000 accidents occurred involving pedestrians and over 3,500 accidents occurred involving bicycles. As a pedestrian or bicycle enthusiast, it is very important to understand your rights. Ohio law requires that drivers exercise reasonable care to avoid accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists and to yield the right of way when necessary. If you have been involved in this type of accident it will be imperative to seek medical attention to document and treat your injuries, report the incident to law enforcement, exchange information with involved parties, document the scene and take photographs and to notify your own insurance provider.

If you have been injured as a pedestrian or while on a bicycle, having the knowledge and skill of an experienced attorney can assist in making the process easier for you during this difficult time. The most important thing is your health and dealing with legal issues can be stressful. Attorney Meeker is ready to fight for your rights to receive max compensation for your injuries due to another’s negligence. Should you wish to discuss a pedestrian or bicycle accident with Attorney Meeker, schedule your free consultation today.

Did a healthcare professional or provider’s care fall below the accepted standard of care? Were you harmed as a result of this failure? In the State of Ohio, health care professionals and providers are held to a standard of care, requiring them to provide treatment that is consistent with what a reasonably competent healthcare provider would provide in similar circumstances. If they fail to meet this standard, they be liable for medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice can occur in many healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and doctor’s offices. Medical malpractice can present through misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, birth injuries and anesthesia errors. The time to bring a medical malpractice case, also called the statute of limitations, in the State of Ohio is one year from the date of the injury or discovery of the injury. As the medical field requires specialized knowledge, medical expert witnesses will be integral to establish the standard of care, that the professional or provider fell below the standard of care and that failure was the cause of an injury. Damages for medical malpractice include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses due to the malpractice. There are also caps on these damages that have been established by the State of Ohio.

If you believe that you are a victim of medical malpractice, you will need an attorney with knowledge of the laws and requirements of healthcare professionals to advocate for your rights and your max compensation. Attorney Meeker has experience handling medical malpractice claims, negotiating with professionals and providers, and filing litigation if necessary. If you would like to discuss medical malpractice with Attorney Meeker, contact him today to schedule your free consultation.

Has your elderly loved one been abused or neglected in a nursing home? The abuse and neglect can present in many forms including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse and neglect to provide appropriate care. A victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home may be entitled to compensation including medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress.

Sometimes the person abused or neglected is unable to pursue the appropriate actions to protect their rights, so family members and legal guardians may pursue legal action on their behalf. It is imperative in these matters to document the abuse and neglect and to make the appropriate reports to the authorities, including the adult protective services and the county health department.

If your loved one has been abused or neglected while receiving care in a nursing home, you will need an attorney to fight for the safety and well-being of the victim. Attorney Meeker will perform an investigation with his team and advise you on how to best proceed to ensure that abuse and neglect does not continue and to fight for max compensation for the damage caused. If you or a loved one has been abused or neglected while receiving care in a nursing home, contact Attorney Meeker today to schedule a free consultation.