Elkhorn Wisconsin Legal Blog

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 boy 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.

Helping you seek compensation following a car crash

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in personal injury on Friday, July 13, 2018.

We all know the saying that accidents happen; however, many accidents in Wisconsin and elsewhere are the result of the negligence of other people. They can happen suddenly and they can be severe, and this causes accident victims to be in a major shock when they are seriously harmed in an automobile crash. It is not only the pain and suffering that can turn a person's life upside down. It is also the inability to work, live his or her daily life and address the damages caused by the incident.

Whether it is a fender bender or a head-on collision, the fact of the matter is that automobile accidents cause harm and damages. Thus, car accident victims need to be aware of what they can do to overcome this matter, especially when the negligence of another driver caused the crash.

Understanding the foreclosure process

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in real estate law on Friday, June 29, 2018.

Owning a home is a big deal for individuals in Wisconsin and elsewhere. Keeping that home is an even bigger deal. A home is a major purchase and one that individuals and couples do not take lightly. Unfortunately, financial problems could present themselves, making it challenging to keep up with a mortgage. This is when a homeowner could risk losing their home to foreclosure.

The foreclosure process is essentially a mortgage holder exercising their legal right to gain ownership of the property. It is also the process in which a mortgage lender or third-party lien holder to exercise the right to sell the property, using the proceeds to pay off the mortgage if the mortgage or lien is in default.

Increased supervision of residents doesn't reduce medical errors

On behalf of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. posted in personal injury on Friday, June 15, 2018.

A person is not born a doctor. It takes time, dedication and much education to become a doctor. Even after obtaining the proper degrees, one must go through training and testing in order to practice. All in all, it takes a better part of a decade to become a doctor. Even after all this time, education and specialized training, doctors still make mistakes. Such an incident can be extremely shocking for Wisconsin resident, causing them to have many questions about what just happened and what they can do.

According to a recent study, it was found that increasing direct supervision of physician residents doe not reduce the chances of medical errors occurring. It also found that it caused residents to be less autonomous. Because medical errors are a major issue and the reason why patients are harmed or even lose their lives, researchers wanted to determine ways to reduce this rate seen among residents.