Monday, December 31, 2012

Cincinnati Attorney Anthony Castelli Embraces Google Plus for Business and Pleasure

Marine Color guard by Anthony Castelli attorney in Cincinnati
As a personal injury lawyer in Cincinnati I am always looking for opportunities to educate the public as well as myself on current legal issues. As a sole practioner that relies on client referrals, attorney referrals and the internet to let people know about me and continue a steady stream of clients, embracing the internet was the way to go.

Take a look at my web site for Cincinnati accident injury lawyer Anthony Castelli . It has been through several changes. But note the age of the site. It has been around for quite awhile as I was one of the early adopters of internet marketing and public education on legal issues.

But now the new kid on the internet block is Google plus. You can have an individual profile page https://plus.google.com/102020672746013342778  as well as a business page. https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/115611918118020817406/115611918118020817406 .

There are certain ramifications that each type of page has and the usefulness of each page. Have you heard of Google Authorship? If not and you are a young attorney trying to put up your own shingle call me. I'm happy to help you . (pro bono) Or if you are an old dog wanting to learn new tricks call me .

Top 5 Posts on Google Plus for 2012


It may be easier to show you than to tell you about it. So here are my top 5 posts from google plus for 2012.






2 Bonus posts From Google+



This is just the very tip of the iceberg on google plus . I have met some amazing lawyer friends through this venue. Just to name a couple of my closest colleagues they are Michael Ehline , David Slepkow and Jonathan Rosenfeld and Mathew Dolman .

So puy your profile page and busines page together. Then engage and do not just blow your trumpet.

by Anthony Castelli Attorney practicing personal injury law in the State of Ohio located at 8170 Corporate Park Drive #220, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 513-621-2345 with an Law office in Downtown Cincinnati at 602 Main Street Suite 707 Cincinnati Ohio 45202

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Drugged Driver Kills Motorcycle Rider In Cincinnati

A drunk driver killed a motorcycle rider in Cincinnati this past Wednesday.

Cincinnati Police released new information this morning about their reasons for charging a woman with a crash that injured a motorcyclist and his passenger.  The collision happened on I-71 in Walnut Hills on Wednesday night.

Officers say 57 year old Gina Whited of Sharonville was driving north on I-71 around 11 p.m., near the Taft Road overpass, when she struck a Harley Davidson motorcycle from behind.  The motorcycle drive, 25 year old Jesse Malone, was seriously injured. He's at University Hospital in stable condition.

His passenger, 27 year old Sherry Sublett, was also hurt-she is at University Hospital in critical condition. Whited was not hurt.

Officers charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular assault. Detectives say she had been taking drugs and was not allowed to drive because of a previous OVI suspension.

Officers add that neither Malone nor Sublett were wearing helmets when the crash happened.

A 27-year-old woman was critically injured when a motorist suspected to be under the influence of drugs followed a motorcycle too closely with her SUV and struck it on northbound Interstate 71 near the Taft Road exit Wednesday night, according to Cincinnati police.Sherry Sublett, who was on the back of the motorcycle, was taken to University Hospital about 10:30 p.m.

The male driver of the bike suffered non-life-threatening injuries and also went to the hospital.
The motorist, Gina Whited, 57, of Montgomery faces two counts of aggravated vehicular assault.
She is held without bond at the Hamilton County jail and is scheduled to make her first court appearance on the case Friday morning.

Whited was under the influence of drugs when her white SUV with Indiana license plates struck the back of the bike, a police officer wrote in a complaint filed in Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Whited has a suspended driver’s license with limited driving privileges after she pleaded no contest on June 1 to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in Montgomery on May 22, police said.

According to her traffic ticket in that case, she blew a .236 when a Montgomery police officer pulled her over on U.S. 22 - nearly three times the legal limit of .08 to drive in Ohio.
She also was charged with drunk driving in 1984, her ticket shows.

Anthnoy Castelli Cincinnati, Ohio personal injury attorney

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fatal Motorcycle Crash Claims the Life of Donald Varner ll

Another Cincinnati motorcycle rider has been killed. His name is Donald Varner II . Another family will never be the same. And the early reports on the accident and death border on sketchy at best and again demonstrate bias against motorcyclists.

The inference I get from reading some of the articles is that the motorcyclist was at fault. Quite possibly nothing is be further from the truth. Look at the reporting that,  ..speed appears to be involved according to the police and the motorcyclist did not have a helmet. What does a helmet have to do with this? It did not cause the crash.

Give credit to Fox 19 that reported that the car turned into the path motorcycle.It left out the helmet garbage and the speed inference. The reporting of Local 12 was not so even handed:
Police say
Police said 40-year-old Donald Varner II was driving east, when he struck a car that was turning west onto Madison. Varner was thrown from his motorcycle. He was taken to University Hospital where he later died.

speed appears to be a factor in the crash. We are told Varner did not have on a helmet at the time of the crash. The driver of the car was not hurt.  


Wlwt reported it with the headline Bike hits car. And with the other negative details. But what I see as a motorcyclist  is the the car apparently turned in front of Donald Varner as he traveled east on Madison road. The car was intending to go west on Madison.

Although it does not say where the car was coming from, it would have crossed the east bound land . This is an apparent violation of the right of way of Donald Varner. The big defense pulled out of thre hat is that the motorcycle was speeding. I've heard it time and time again and view it with skepticism because I know how untrue it can be.

Below is a link from google maps to the 5200 block of Madison. But it could not be the correct point of the collision.

View Larger Map


Commentary

Right of way has tremendous legal significance in the State of Ohio. The person who violates another's right away is guilty of negligence. And the police reconstruction can be faulty. This is a case that cries out for immediate view and preservation of the scene and the vehicles by someone on behalf of the deceased motorcyclist. A good accident reconstruction can often determine speed.

by Anthony Castelli attorney  a Cincinnati lawyer for motorcycle accidents serious injuries and fatal motor vehicle law suits. Author of the Ohio Motorcycle Bible - The Guide To Protecting Ohio Motorcyclists and Their Families. Call Anthony today to get his legal help for your motorcycle or other traffic crash. 513-521-2345

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Minimizing Car Accident Damages by Choosing Safe Vehicles

Being in a car accident is a difficult experience even if it was only a minor fender bender. If, however, it was a more serious crash and some kind of injury or ailment was sustained, then a difficult time may lie ahead. Having a trusted auto accident lawyer by your side can be a huge help in getting through the process in addition to ensuring justice is done if the crash happened as a result of the negligent driving of someone else. Roads can be dangerous places and if your car was written off, you may be on the lookout for new vehicle, but which one should you choose when the market is so full of makes models?

 Safety is one factor which is not often enough taken into due consideration when selecting a new car. A UK claims specialist which helps people with car accident claims, My Compensation has put together a list of some of the safest cars in the US today to give readers examples of things to look out for. The information for the safest cars in the US has been taken from a combination of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTS) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

Some of the Safest New Vehicles on US Roads



Subcompact Ford Fiesta Ford?s new Fiesta ?subcompact? was the only car in its class to earn the IIHS top safety pick. Around 55% of the small auto?s body has been manufactured from an ultra-high-strength or regular high-strength Steel, including the pillars at the front impact zone. Recently, new standards were introduced for roof safety in autos and the Ford Fiesta passed with flying colors due to it's super-strong construction. Factors such as this save lives. In addition, the car also offers more airbags than any other car in the sector, a key injury-reducing bit of gear. Included are side-inflating airbags and a driver?s knee bag. Being in a car accident in this vehicle would go some way to reducing injuries.

  The Honda Civic One of the best-selling compact vehicles ever to hit the US market was the Honda Civic. The excellent Japanese engineering made for great value, solid reliability and trusted road safety. Honda?s patented Advanced Compatibility engineering system which is used manufacturing the vehicle saves injuries suffered from crashes involving pedestrians and occupants alike. The windscreen wipers and roof are manufactured in such a way so as to deform on impact, thus lessening chances of anyone sustaining personal injuries in the event of a crash. The small Japanese compact car is awash with safety features for the price.

  Four Injured in Accident

Subaru Forester In the SUV class, it's common for a vehicle to roll over due to a high center of gravity and this causes more death and personal injuries than other types of accidents. Subaru?s new Forester is one of the best in the class for safety, partially due to its lower center of gravity and the handling which is more representative of a regular car. While the Subaru may be more like a hybrid vehicle than a larger SUV, the four-wheel drive system does come standard and helps in dangerous weather conditions. Subaru also have a frame-reinforcing structure which they call a Ring-shaped Reinforcement Frame which is one of the reasons why very high safety scores were awarded from both the IIHS and NHTS.

  Hyundai Sonata Another entry from Japan is one by Sonata which is one of only two models last year to earn a five-star rating from the NHTS. The vehicle received great deal of critical acclaim for other factors in addition to the high safety score. Six injury-reducing and life-saving airbags are included as standard, amongst which are side-curtains in the front and rear of the vehicle. The brakes have ABS and a distribution mechanism which controls the brake force electronically. All of these features are standard, as is the stability control which is also electronic. The NHTS has reported that these features have resulted in some 35% less crashes and fatalities on the roads such is the level of safety they provide.

  Volvo XC60 Volvo has a long history of making extremely durable and safe vehicles and this one is no different. It's critically acclaimed for many aspects including its extensive list of safety features. It?s fitted with a laser system in order to detect traffic in front of the vehicle and the brakes are electronically-assisted in order to prevent shunts. The collision system also uses sensor data which kicks in whilst the vehicle is traveling a high speed and if any risk of collision is detected, the vehicle will automatically slow down to minimize chances of crashes. Four-wheel drive comes as standard, in addition to sensors which stop the vehicle rolling over. It also has blind-spot and lane departure warnings to finish the package.

Conclusions


We hope seeing some of the aspects of these vehicles has given you an idea of the kinds of things to look out for when choosing a new auto. These features save lives and reduce personal injuries in accidents which happen every day on our roads. Make safety more of a priority when choosing your next vehicle.

 Sources:    http://www.iihs.org/

                  http://www.nhtsa.gov/

This list by Jim Loxley, from the United Kingdom, and contributor to the Circle of Legal Trust, reminds us that safety and accident prevention is part of what bodily injury auto crash lawyers do. The Circle has invigorated me with legal and consumer contacts, not only from across the country, but from around the world. As a auto accident lawyer in  Cincinnati and member of the Circle there have been so many benefits the Circle has given me, such as a contact I can look to in the United Kingdom if one of my clients is injured there.

My thanks to Attorney Michael Ehline of the Ehline Law Firm PC for being the brainchild behind the Circle.

Anthony Castelli Attorney
8170 Corporate Park Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio
513-621-2345 to speak with Anthony about your serious injury claim.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cincinnati Car Accident One Dead Four Seriously Injured


CINCINNATI, OHIO -

 One person is dead and four others are critically hurt after a car crash early Sunday morning.

Authorities say James Walker,40, was driving his 1999 Pontiac Grand Am at a high rate of speed when he lost control on Reading Road, striking a utility pole.
This occurred in the early morning hours on Reading Road near 12th Street in Pendleton
Reading Road Cincinnati Car Wreck
Walker was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be freed by fire crews. He was taken to University Hospital where he later died. 

His passengers, Lakeisha Walker, Jeremy Johnson, Alfie Childers and Jumard Brooks were all seriously hurt in the crash. They were all taken to University Hospital. University Hospital is a class 1 trauma facility with some of the best doctors in the country.

Lakeisha Walker is listed in critical condition. The other three passengers are all in serious condition.
Police say speed and alcohol do appear to be factors in the crash. (Though the evidence on which this is bases was not stated in any of the news reports)
The Cincinnati Traffic Unit is investigating the cause of the crash and ask that anyone who may have witnessed the accident call (513) 352-2514.
Source: Scripps Media

Once again the lives of many will be changed forever. Condolences to everyone suffering these losses.


Commentary


These simple facts have so much legal significance. Are the passengers able to recover compensation for their injuries. There are several factors. How much did they know about the driver's drinking. You can be partially at fault for driving with a drunk driver. Any percentage of your fault attributable to your injuries will reduce your recovery. 

Also where is the insurance. Multiple people were hurt. The driver likely did not have enough liability insurance to pay everyone's damages. So someone has to find underinsured motorist coverage in an auto policy of their own or a family member that may cover them. 

For more information about car accidents go to:

www.cincinnaticaraccident.attorneys.us or
www.castellilaw.com

Saturday, September 22, 2012

I Was Hurt in a Cincinnati Auto Wreck How Do I Calculate the Insurance Settlement

If you were one of the car accident personal injury cases I have blogged about you might be asking yourself, What is that claim worth. Or you may have your own bodily injury claim and are thinking, How do I calculate damages? Should I just take what the adjustor offers?

These questions and many others are asked frequently of a lawyer that represents people hurt by the fault or negligence of another. These answers are not taught in school. But with the advent of the internet you can educate yourself to a certain extent. But without the guidance of an experienced bodily injury claims lawyer that looks at these types of cases on a daily basis the best you can do is an educated guess.

You risk wanting too much and getting stonewalled until you give in. Or you take the low ball offer and you just became a victim twice. Once when you were injured and now having taken less than you deserve.
Although not a complete solution, I have a short video that provides a link to a free download on how damages are generally calculated . The solution you can take is three simple steps that cost you nothing.

But could result in a better money result for you.

Three Steps to Take Now For Improving Your Chance For a Maximum Personal Injury Settlement

1. Watch this video right now. Do not delay. Delay can damage your case and lessen the amount of money you get.

2. Download the Free personal injury settlement calculator

3.  Call me for a free legal consultation case evaluation at 513-621-2345






Step 2.  PersonalInjury-Ohio.com Free Download


Step 3. Anthony Castelli Attorney Call 513-621-2345

www.castellilaw.com For More information about injury claims




























Sunday, September 9, 2012

Police Officer Motorcycle Rider Seriously Injured By Hit and Run Driver

An off duty police officer was seriously injured when he was struck by a motorist. Officer Bielak had pulled off onto the side of the road when he was struck by a fast moving motor vehicle
Bielak was taken to Metro Medical center in Cleveland. His leg was amputated below the knee. He was 46 years old in the prime of his life. Life will never be the same. His career is gone. However Officer Bielak was able to speak to the officials and Fox 8 news in Cleveland.

The police are looking for the coward that hit and ran. The offending car was thought to be a 1992 Buick LeSabre light biege. There was a witness that said the driver looked to me a 30ish year old male white. Bielak commented "that he was hit at high speed " and witnesses said he was thrown in the air. 

Please if you saw this or hear anything suspicious please call the Ohio Highway state patrol at 216-587-4305 . 


It's too bad that people compound one wrong with another. 

You can bet that drunk driving was involved. 



By Anthony Castelli Cincinnati Motor Vehicle Accident 

Attorney . Anthony has been helping injury victims recover 

financially for over 30 years. He can be reached at 513-

621-2345. An avid motorcyclist himself is praying for Bielak. 


Source: 19 News