De La Torre, Ana L.

Bill joined the law firm of Elk & Elk in 2006 as the General Tort, Product and Professional Liability Civil Attorney. He takes great pride in representing people who have been seriously injured or killed while on motorcycles, riding in cars or walking across the street; people injured on the job, by a defective product, or in a recreational or commercial vehicle accident. He has tried more than 40 cases in multiple civil areas of negligence, including motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents and product liability.

Having spent time as a defense lawyer, Bill understands the tactics and techniques used by big-money corporations and greedy insurance companies. He also spent time in "the trenches," working in the office of the Summit County, Ohio prosecutor and advising various county officials.

In addition to his impressive track record and well-appointed resume, Bill has a number of professional accolades to his credit, including being named as a "Rising Star" among Ohio Lawyers in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 editions of Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, and membership in the Multi million-Dollar Advocates Forum.

Bill earned his undergraduate degrees in finance and international business from Bowling Green State University in 1995 and his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University in 1999. He completed an externship with the Cleveland, Ohio division of the U.S. Attorney's Office while finishing his law degree. Bill was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1999, is also licensed to practice in federal district and appellate court (Northern District of Ohio), and enjoys membership in numerous professional organizations, including the Million Dollar and multi-million Dollar advocates' forums, the National Board of Trial Advocates and the Ohio State Bar Association, among others. He is married and has two children.

Settlements and Verdicts:

$1.1 Million – Motor vehicle accident resulting in the wrongful death of a police officer (August 2010)
The Plaintiff worked as a police officer and was picking up debris in the road when the Defendant, who was driving a truck, hit the Plaintiff and dragged him along the roadway. This resulted in the death of the Plaintiff.

$510,000 – Motor vehicle accident results in wrongful death (February 2010)
Our Client’s wife was driving along 270 when her car stalled. As she proceeded to get out of her car to assess the problem, she was hit by a semi-truck and died instantly.

$250,000 – Motorcycle collision results in multiple injuries (August 2009)
The Defendant failed to yield at a left turn and hit the Plaintiff, who was riding a motorcycle, head on. Our Client suffered lacerations to the forehead, road rash, arm and back injuries, and a fractured right leg, which required surgery.

$185,000 – Defective product results in laceration, serious injury (December 2009)
The Plaintiff was hammering a tent stake into the ground using a hammer/mallet, which had a knife attached on the inside of the handle. The magnet, which held the knife to the handle, came loose, slicing the Plaintiff’s wrist and causing him to suffer a lacerated right forearm. Plaintiff required surgery for the damage.

$100,000 – Motorcycle collision results in head trauma, coma (September 2009)
The Defendant failed to yield while turning left, causing him to strike the Plaintiff who was riding a motorcycle.

$55,000 – Auto accident results in permanent injury (August 2012)
Plaintiff stopped prior to a turn and was rear-ended by the Defendant. Collision resulted in lumbar disc herniation and bilateral trochanteric bursitis of the hips and headaches.