Five things to do if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run

Call the police. Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal. The police may be able to help track down the culprit. You will also need a police report for your insurance company.

Record any information you can gather. Write down anything you remember about the vehicle that hit you - license plate (even a partial), color, make, and model. Make notes about the appearance of the driver. Take pictures of your vehicle and the scene of the accident. Get names and contact information of any witnesses.

Do not chase. As tempting as it may be to chase down the car that hit you, it is not a good idea. You’re more likely to cause another accident than catch them.

Call your insurance company. Your particular coverage will determine if the insurance company will pay for any damages or medical expenses. A lot depends on if you have Uninsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. In fact, when you’re done reading this newsletter it would be a good idea to check your policy to make sure you have UIM coverage. We recommend carrying at least $100,000 in coverage.

Call an attorney. An attorney can help you deal with the insurance company and may be able to help track down the driverwho hit you.

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Joining an elite group, Benjamin Barrett Sr. and David Miraldi were once again named 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers in the area of personal injury law. The Ohio Super Lawyer designation is limited to the top five percent of attorneys practicing in Ohio.

The Super Lawyers selection is a multi-step process. First, attorneys are nominated by other attorneys who have witnessed these attorneys practicing in their field. After receiving the nominations, the Super Lawyer staff evaluates the nominee based of various criteria. These criteria include verdicts, settlements, community service, special certifications, and other categories. The attorneys with the highest totals from each category are selected after a review by a panel of their peers.

“David and I are honored to be selected again by this process,” said Ben Barrett. “With so many outstanding lawyers practicing in our field, we appreciate the recognition.”

At the close of 2014, Ben Barrett showed again why his peers have designated him an Ohio Super Lawyer. Ben obtained a $1,200,000 medical malpractice jury award that was 16 times greater than the defendant’s final settlement offer of $75,000. Following suit, David Miraldi began 2015 with a $120,000 jury verdict in an auto crash case that was 24 times greater than the defendant’s final offer of $5,000.

The risk of an accident is something every driver must accept when they get behind the wheel. If we are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, we deal with the situation as best we can. We call the police, exchange insurance information, get treated for any injuries, and call an attorney. But what do we do when the situation is complicated by the fact that the other driver left the scene of the accident? What should we do if we are the victim of a hit-and-run?

Volume 19

Address:6061 South BroadwayLorain, OH 44053

Phone:1-800-589-3023[440] 233-1100

Community Safety Review l A newsletter for the people

Ben Barret Sr. and David Miraldi Selected OhioSuper Lawyers Again

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Sudo

kuThe long and interesting history of the Sudoku is quite a puzzle in itself. The name Sudoku comes from Japan and consists of the Japanese characters Su (meaning ‘number’) and Doku (meaning ‘single’) but the puzzle was not invented in Japan. Sudoku originated in Switzerland and then traveled to Japan by way of America. Sudoku was first published in the late 1970’s in North America in New York by the publisher “Dell Magazines”. Dell was known as a specialist when it came to puzzles of logic and ability. Dell published Sudoku as “Number Place” in its Math Puzzles and Logic Problems magazine. Sudoku has its deep roots in ancient number puzzles. For many centuries people have been interested in creating and solving puzzles. Puzzles of all kinds continue to be the basis of developing important new mathematics.

* For the answers to this puzzle, visit our website at www.mirbar.com.

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Community Safety Review

Ohio gets tough on hazing

Lump sum settlement may be best option for your workers’ compensation claim

Hazing has long been associated with fraternities and other school organizations when initiating new members. Recently, laws have been enacted in Ohio to outlaw hazing. Ohio law provides for criminal prosecution of those who haze, while giving hazing victims the right to receive compensation through a civil lawsuit.

Hazing laws apply to initiations into a student or other organization. In that setting, hazing means doing any act, or forcing someone to do an act, that causes mental or physical harm to any person. Hazing also includes activities that do not cause actual harm, but create a substantial risk of causing mental or physical injury.

A person who recklessly participates in the hazing of another person is guilty of hazing, a fourth degree misdemeanor. Besides the actual participants, the law applies to administrators, employees, and faculty members of any school (whether private or public) that recklessly permit hazing. This means that administrators and teachers cannot shut their eyes to hazing activities, but must take action if a reasonable person would suspect that hazing is occurring or is likely to occur.

If students have been victims of hazing during an initiation, they have civil remedies for their harms and losses. The civil claim can be brought against any of the participants – the parent chapter of the participant’s organization, and the administrators, faculty, or employees of an educational institution. Administrators, faculty, and employees can be liable if they knew or reasonably should have known that hazing was about to occur and did not take reasonable steps to prevent it.

Ohio law does not allow perpetrators of hazing to blame the victim. Those who did the hazing cannot argue that the victims voluntarily exposed themselves to the behavior by agreeing to join the organization. The hazers cannot say that the victim assumed the risk of the injuries by knowing that potentially harmful behavior was going to be part of the initiation.

All of this adds up to Ohio laws that are tough on those who haze or recklessly allow hazing to occur.

Did you know that an Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claim can be settled, in some instances for large sums of money? If you have any open and/or active claims, a lump sum settlement may be in your best interest. Even if you are currently receiving medical treatment or have a permanently disabling injury requiring ongoing medication and treatment, your case can still be settled for the compensation portion of the claim and your medical coverage can remain intact and ongoing.

The best and most reliable way to determine whether a lump sum settlement is right for you is to contact the attorneys at Miraldi and Barrett. An attorney will evaluate the status of your claim and discuss your options with you. No claim is too large or too small for settlement. In many instances the employer or the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will consider a settlement demand in order to get the claim off of their financial records. The attorneys at Miraldi and Barrett will make sure that the settlement is fair and reasonable. Most importantly, there is no fee for the initial consultation that, in most instances, can be accomplished over the telephone. A fee is charged only if the claim is settled.

The annual list of most common passwords was released by SplashData in January. These are also considered the worst passwords of the year because they are common, simple, and easily guessable. This year’s list came with a bit of good news; the 25 passwords on the 2014 list represented the smallest share of overall passwords in recent years. While this shows some improvement in the awareness that a good password is the most important part of protecting oneself online, there is still a long way to go. If you see one of your passwords on this list, please change it as soon as possible.

If you want to keep your information secure online, a good password is a must. So, what makes a good password?

A good password will consist of at least eight characters, combining upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. At least five of the characters should be unique. A good password won’t include any identifiable information, like names, important dates, or addresses. It also won’t contain any real words, even if they are spelled backwards.

A good password can’t stay secure by itself. Users should change their passwords every six months, never use the same password for different accounts, and refrain from sharing their passwords. Remember, no legitimate organization will ask for a password over the phone or via e-mail.

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25 WORST passwords of 2014

What makes a good password?

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More Puzzles:www.sudoku-puzzles.netCommunity Safety Review A newsletter for the people

Most of us have heard of rabies and know that it can be transmitted to humans from animal bites, but what exactly is rabies?

Rabies is a virus that infects mammals. The most common way for a human to contract rabies is through an animal bite. Wild animal bites carry a risk of infection, as do bites from pets. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system, causing serious problems that will ultimately lead to death. Symptoms begin much like other illnesses: fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the infection progresses, the symptoms get more severe. They may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually comes within days of the onset of these severe symptoms.

If you or a loved one is bitten by an animal, immediately wash the wound with soap and water. This is the most effective thing you can do to prevent infection. After washing, seek medical attention. Your doctor will decide if you need a rabies vaccination. Unlike what you may have seen on TV, current rabies vaccinations are given in the arm and are no more painful than a flu shot. Treatment involves a series of shots over the course of fourteen days.

Once the victim of an animal bite has received medical treatment, it is a good idea to call an attorney. An attorney can help to determine if anyone is liable for the attack and how the victim may be able to pursue damages.

Miraldi & Barrett offers a free book to dog bite victims advising them of their rights. To receive one, please call us at 1-800-589-3023.

What is rabies?

6061 South BroadwayLorain, OH 44053

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The jury is still out on the safety of e-cigarettes and their ability to help smokers kick the habit. One thing that is not up for debate, however, is that the liquid nicotine the e-cigarette “vapes”is a poison that must be kept out of the hands and mouths of children.

Vaping, or vaporizing, is thought to be a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. The e-cigarette delivers nicotine by vaporizing the liquid. Nicotine is one of the world’s most popular drugs, but is also highly toxic.

The most dangerous form of nicotine that is commonly available is the liquid used in vaping. It is highly concentrated and if ingested can be fatal. The most likely victims are children under 5, who make up more than half of all calls related to e-cigarettes made to poison control centers. The refill liquid is often flavored with candy and fruit flavors, which makes it attractive to little ones.

The best thing for parents to do if they choose to use e-cigarettes is to store all equipment and refills where the kids can’t get them. That means locked away or high up and out-of-reach. If you think someone has ingested liquid nicotine, call poison control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.

E-Cigarette poisoning risk

Keurig coffee machines recalledOne of the hottest things in coffee in recent years has been the K-Cup, pods used in a

special machine to brew single cups of coffee, tea, and other hot beverages. Keurig, maker of the machines, has issued a recall for an estimated 7 million brewers.

The recall is for Keurig Mini Plus Brewing Systems that were made between 2009 and 2014. The company received complaints about hot water spraying, causing

burns to users. The recalled models have product numbers starting with K10, followed by a series of numbers. The product ID number can be found on the

bottom of the machine.

Keurig says the machines can still be used, with care. The company released a statement which said in part, “You can continue to use your brewer. We recommend

you avoid brewing more than two cups in rapid succession and maintain an arm’s length distance from the brewer during the brewing process.”

Customers with a recalled machine should contact Keurig for a free repair kit by calling(844) 255-7886.

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© Copyright 2015. Premier Print Marketing. Printed in the U.S.A. www.PremierPrintMarketing.comThe information included in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional legal advice. For your specific situation, please call the appropriate legal professional.

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