Elkhorn Wisconsin Legal Blog

What constitutes a dangerous product?

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in personal injury on Thursday, October 18, 2018.

Individuals in Wisconsin and elsewhere rely on a wide range of consumer goods to get through their day. Whether they realize it or not, one can use a multitude of products without even considering the possibility that a product could be defective. The reality is that even a minor manufacturing error could cause a consumer to suffer serious or fatal harms.

What constitutes a dangerous product? A dangerous product is one that is considered to be defective based on errors that occurred during the design or manufacturing of the product or when the warnings for the product were attached to a specific product. When a consumer is harmed by a dangerous or defective product, the real question at hand is who is responsible for the injuries and damages suffered?

Two high school students injured in pedestrian crash

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, October 5, 2018.

The morning and afternoon commutes to and from work or school can be stressful at times. Many motorists feel rushed to get there on time and are hastily trying to get home at the end of the day. No matter the situation, safety and attention should not take the back seat. Motorists are required to always follow the rules of the road and drive safely. Unfortunately, this does not always occur, resulting in crashes involving other vehicles, cyclists and even pedestrians.

With school being in session for over a month, one would think that students have gotten into the grove of things. Unfortunately, students driving to and from school are still fairly new drivers and are more prone to accidents. The state of Wisconsin saw two students seriously injured in a car accident right outside of their school, and this is followed by yet another accident injuring two students walking outside of their high school.

Helping you prove liability in a car accident

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Motor vehicles are very resourceful. In fact, most residents in Wisconsin utilize a personal vehicle to get around and travel to and from work. And depending on the time or day and type of road traveled on, motorists can expect to share the road with a wide variety of vehicles large and small. All motorists are tasked to drive safe and remain attentive. Unfortunately, this does not always occur.

Distracted driving is an ongoing and growing concern. Drivers are often pressured to do too many things. Whether it is using navigation systems, talking on the phone conversing with passengers, texting a message, checking an e-mail or changing the radio, a driver often finds themselves taking their eyes off the road, hands off of the wheel and their mind off the task of driving.

The top 3 ways to simplify the estate planning process

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. on Friday, September 14, 2018.

The topic of estate planning doesn’t always evoke feelings of fun and excitement. However, it is something that if addressed, can offer families tremendous peace of mind. What holds most people back from embarking on the estate planning process is the complicated nature of it all.

It is true that planning for the future and securing your assets before death may feel overwhelming. But there is a way you can simplify this reality. All it takes is absorbing quality information and taking the recommended action-steps.

What are common types of medical malpractice claims?

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in personal injury on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

When we go to the doctor, the idea is that we will be properly diagnosed and treated. Unfortunately doctors can make mistakes. While these errors should be kept to a minimum, the reality is that medical mistakes can happen. In some cases, these errors can be extremely minor, not impacting the patient's health significantly or not at all. Thus, when medical errors do occur, it is important to explore the matter, understanding what happened and whether or not legal recourses are available.

What are common types of medical malpractice claims? One of the most common types of medical negligence action is misdiagnosis. Such a situation is likely to result in the mistreatment of a patient, making it a serious negligence matter. Failing to diagnose a patient means that they are not receiving the medicine they need, are getting worse and could be developing new medical ailments.

Wisconsin considers bill to film surgical operations

By Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Privacy is a major part of the healthcare system, which is why hospitals keep everything that happens during surgery confidential. However, one Wisconsin man is making the case for putting a camera in every operating room in the state.

The man lost his wife to a seemingly low-risk procedure when the surgeon cut a critical vein by mistake. When he attempted to sue the hospital for medical malpractice and wrongful death, he was not able to collect enough evidence to support a claim.

Guiding you through real estate law matters

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in real estate law on Thursday, August 23, 2018.

Whether you seek to buy or sell a home, purchase real estate for investment or desire to build a home or office, it is important to understand what goes into this process. Real estate transactions can be complex and the timeline from start to finish can be daunting. Thus, it is important to understand what is required in these matters, and what one can do to better protect themselves through the duration of the process.

At Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C., our skilled attorneys are equipped with the knowledge and skills to help individuals in the Elkhorn area deal with legal issues pertaining to residential and commercial real estate matters. Whether an individual seeks help from beginning to end or needs assistance with an issue that has occurred at some point in the process, our law firm is here to guide our clients towards a resolution.

Medical errors due to errors in processing information

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in personal injury on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Although we cannot always expect positive outcomes, patients in Wisconsin and elsewhere have the expectation that medical professionals will provide adequate care and treatment. This means that even if it is a diagnosis of a serious illness, a patient can rely on the expertise of the doctor and trust that they conducted the correct tests, read them adequately and came to a valid diagnosis. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. Mistakes could be made, causing an improper diagnosis, wrong treatment plan and even surgical errors.

Based on current estimates, medical errors account for roughly 250,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Previous research suggests that these errors are often due to the way doctors process the data they have obtained on his or her patient, meaning they have the right information but fail to act on it the best way possible. A recent study focused on the emergency department, wondering whether the medical errors experienced by patients in the emergency room were due to the frequent interruptions and often incomplete or unreliable information that doctors experience.

What constitutes distracted driving?

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, July 27, 2018.

When motorists in Wisconsin and elsewhere get behind the wheel of a vehicle, this activity is much more than starting the vehicle, putting it in gear and maneuvering it with the wheel. The task of driving is constantly filled with distractions from the outside world. Whether it is a motorist's cellphone, the radio, a passenger in the vehicle, food, beverages and even applying makeup, driving simply do not just focus on driving when they are behind the wheel.

Distracted driving is a growing concern, specifically using a cellphone while driving. In the U.S. during daylight hours, it is estimated that 481,000 drivers use their cellphone while driving. This risky behavior expands the potential for deaths and injuries on the roadways. Data from just 2016 alone indicates that distracted driving killed 3,400. Additionally, it was reported that 391,000 were injured in 2015 in a motor vehicle crash involving a distracted driver.

Think you're too young for an estate plan? Think again

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

There are many things that millennials and young adults put off until they are older, from buying a house to marriage. People are also having children at older ages and delaying retirement.

With all this in mind, it might seem like waiting until you're older to have an estate plan in place also makes sense. However, there are at least a few reasons why you should rethink this, especially if you are in your 20s or 30s.