Washington Injury Attorney Blog

The Washington State Patrol issued a press release detailing their Impaired Boating Emphasis patrols during Seafair weekend to reduce Boating Accidents. Seafair is held this year on Lake Washington on August 1-3, 2008. The Mercer Island Police & Marine Patrol, the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife will all be participating.

Police will have mobile breathalyzer machines and will be conducting DUI patrols both on land and water. They will remove any boat or watercraft from the water if they believe the operator and/or passengers cannot operate the boat in a safe manner.

Boating under the Influence has similar penalties as Driving Under the Influence and charges are filed in King County District Court. The use of alcohol is a significant factor in boating accidents. Washington State has between 20-30 boating fatalities per year. This year, there have been at least five boating fatalities attributed to alcohol.

This information has been brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have had serious injuries or been killed as a result of a boating accident. In the case of a fatal boating accident, the family is entitled to compensation for the loss of a loved one.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case consultation. We have more than 30 years experience in the Pacific Northwest and we are here to help you.

• Seafair Resources
• Boating Resources

Washington Injury Attorney found an interesting article about botched surgeries in the Boston Globe. The Globe reviewed wrong site surgeries since 2006 in Massachusetts State. They found that surgeons performed surgery in the wrong location 38 times. Of those wrong site surgeries, eleven were surgeries on the spine and four of those eleven were all performed at New England Baptist hospital.

Private insurers and Medicare have said they will "no longer pay for costs associated with preventable errors."

In a previous posting, we discussed the University of Washington's efforts to reduce hospital and surgical malpractice errors by providing surgeons a checklist. The checklist is now a standard procedure in the operating rooms at Harborview. Using a checklist, surgeons have better outcomes and better communication and avoid mistakes like wrong site surgeries.

Surgical errors results in thousands of injuries every year. We believe surgical errors such as wrong site surgeries can and should be eliminated completely.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to medical malpractice, you need the services of a skilled Washington malpractice attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing people with serious injuries due to the negligence of hospitals, surgeons, doctors and pharmacists.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Olympian reports that a jury's ruling finds that Donald Skewis must pay Scott Keith's family $4.37 million in wrongful death damages after Skewis killed Keith in a dispute over property. Keith was killed on McIntosh Lane near Rainier in 2004. Keith and Skewis disputed access and maintenance of a public easement between their properties.

No criminal charges were filed in connection with the shooting but the civil trial jury found that there was not enough evidence that Skewis was justified in his killing of Keith. Keith was armed with an aluminum baseball bat when he was shot. Skewis shot Keith with two different guns.

A wrongful death suit can be brought if a person dies because of the negligence or wrongful act of another. Wrongful death cases can involved car accidents, boat accidents, medical malpractice, work injuries or criminal attacks.

If you are suffering the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of another, you should contact a skilled personal injury attorney with experience in wrongful death cases. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience and is skilled in navigating Washington State's wrongful death statute.

Please contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

The Seattle Times reports that a large crane and pile driving rig collapsed at a project on Lake Washington in Bellevue. The crane was being used to demolish a house and for construction and it was about 80 feet tall. The crane operator was able to get to safety and there were no injuries in this construction accident. According to the report, the driver was able to manipulate the crane when it started swaying and was able to maneuver it away from houses or people.

We have reported a couple of other crane accidents recently. A Bellevue crane accident in 2006 and killed Microsoft attorney Matthew Ammon and damaged several buildings. Ammon's parents have filed a lawsuit against the building contractor both to find out what caused the accident and to seek damages for his death in a wrongful death action. After the Bellevue crane accident, there has been a stepped-up schedule of crane inspections.

Two weeks ago the United State's largest mobile crane collapsed at a Texas oil refinery killing four construction workers and injuring seven. Read our posting.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to a construction accident, we can help to insure that your rights are protected. You may be able to recover compensation for your losses.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Seattle's Kirotv.com reports that two women were knocked overboard in a boating accident during a sailboat race on Elliot Bay. According to the report, the sailboat's boom hit one woman in the head and knocked her unconscious and she fell overboard. Another woman was also knocked overboard. Both women were rescued and suffered some hypothermia.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured or killed due to the negligence of another person in boating accidents.

Contact us for a free case evaluation.

Recently, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran an article about dental malpractice and asked the question, "Is there enough scrutiny in dental deaths?" While death during a dental procedure is rare, there is about one death per year attributed to dental work in Washington State.

While we don't read about dental malpractice as often as medical malpractice, it does happen. Dentists get malpractice insurance like physicians, surgeons and hospitals do and they usually purchase it through the same insurance carriers.

If you think you have been the victim of dental malpractice, you should retain an attorney who is experienced in dental malpractice.

The following are some potential dental malpractice issues:

• Failure to Diagnose When it comes to diagnosis, a dental patient should have confidence that their dentist will provide them with a professional diagnosis and treatment plan like any physician does. If your dentist did not provide an accurate diagnosis, then you may have grounds for a dental malpractice lawsuit. Failure to diagnose an oral cancer or do a proper exam of your gum, tongue and other tissues may be dental malpractice. If your injuries are permanent or severe, then you should talk with a dental malpractice attorney.

• Bad outcomes with Anesthesia or Infection In the worst possible outcome of dental malpractice, a patient's death may be caused by improperly administered anesthesia or a severe infection that results in death because instruments were not properly sterilized or the infection was not properly treated.

• Bad outcome in dental surgery - Another outcome of dental malpractice might be botched oral surgery which led to permanent damage to facial or tongue nerves or muscles and damage to the tongue. Damage to the nerves or tongue could result in difficulty in speech, loss of taste, and difficulty swallowing or eating.

• Extraction gone bad - A simple dental extraction (removing a tooth) can be malpractice if the dentist removes the wrong tooth, say a healthy tooth instead of the decayed one. Or, the removal of a tooth without your prior consent.

• Orthodontic procedures -- Sometimes orthodontic procedure that are performed on children or adults can be malpractice. If the orthodontist failed to provide alternatives to patients, if they extract teeth when it isn't needed or when orthodontics are done improperly leading to TMJ or headaches, then you may have a malpractice case.

If you think you've been a victim of dental malpractice, then you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can review your case and you records. With our 30 years of experience in representing people with personal injury cases, we can review your records and help determine whether you have a valid case,

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

Seattle's KOMO News reports that Ronda Petty, of Skokomish Nation, Washington was attacked by a neighbor's Rottweiler dog as she carried groceries to her RV parked outside of her home. The dog left her with "deep bite wounds on her shoulder, waist and hip," according to KOMO news. The dog is owned by her neighbor Henrietta Smith.

In describing the attack, Petty said, "And then grabbed my arm first and just started ripping it like an old rag doll, and I think it just ripped my arm right out, and he went for the stomach, the hips."

The dog is being checked for rabies at Shelton Veterinary Hospital and Smith has agreed to euthanize it.

If you have been a victim of an attack by a dog, you may be entitled to money for your damages including your medical and hospital bills, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and loss of wages. If the dog owner has homeowners insurance, we may be able to help you recover your damages. We have represented dog bite victims in the Seattle area including children playing at a neighbor's house and people who have been attacked by dogs at a park.

The Bellevue dog bite lawyers at The Farber Law Group represents people who have suffered serious injuries due to dog bites including rabies, puncture wounds, emotional trauma, scars and wrongful death.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that another University of Washington student has been seriously injured in a fall at a fraternity house. The fall occurred at the Theta Chi house located at 4535 17th Ave NE when the student was climbing a ladder. He fell about 25 feet and landed on his back. He suffered a serious injuries including a skull fracture, a broken back and broken ribs.

In a previous posting, we discussed the history of falls resulting in severe injuries. The University has had a hands-off policy regarding many of the falls because they happened at fraternities which are off-campus. Police reports indicate that there have been 11 tragic accidents in the past 25 years due to falls with six deaths and five resulting in severe injuries such as broken backs. All of the injured or killed students have been males between 18 and 21 years of age.

Click here to see a chronology of accidents at the University of Washington.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to the negligence of others. A family in entitled to bring a wrongful death action if someones negligence caused the death of a family member. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in negotiating these complex cases through the court system.

Please contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

The Seattle Times reports that the largest mobile crane in the United States collapsed at a Houston oil refinery killing four construction workers and injuring seven others. The crane was 300' high and had a 400' boom and was able to lift one million pounds. It was located at the LyondellBasell refinery in southeast Houston.

Crane accidents have made the news numerous times this year with two fatal crane accidents in New York City which killed nine people and crane-related deaths in Miami and Las Vegas. Here in Bellevue, within a block of the offices of The Farber Law Group, a crane collapse in December of 2006 damaged three buildings and killed an attorney for Microsoft as he sat in his condominium. If it had not been for after-hours, the death toll could have been a lot higher. With more than 16 construction cranes currently rising into the Bellevue skyline, crane safety both for the construction workers and the inhabitants of the city is a concern for everyone.

Crane accidents may be in part due to the fact that crane technology has evolved over the past ten years and regulations and federal guidelines have not kept up with the technology advances according to The Seattle Times. After the Bellevue crane accident, there has been a stepped-up schedule of crane inspections. The family of the man who was killed in Bellevue has filed a lawsuit against the building contractor both to find out what caused the accident and to seek damages for his death in a wrongful death action.

This information is brought to you Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We specialize in wrongful death claims when a person's death is caused by the negligence of another person. Many wrongful death claims are as a result of construction accidents and work-related injuries.

If you or a loved one has serious injuries due to an accident caused by the negligence of another or if a family member has been killed, contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A woman and her daughter have been awarded $18.2 million in a medical malpractice case due to a birth injury the daughter received 10 years ago reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The U.S. District Judge, Lynn S. Adelman, awarded the woman and her child $21 million in 2006 and the federal government has now agreed to pay $18.2 to avoid an appeal of the original suit.

The woman sued the government because of the lack of care she was given at a federally funded medical clinic for the poor. The woman, who had a history of high-risk pregnancies, was not seen by an obstetrician or a specialist during her pregnancy. When she delivered, she was not attended to by a physician for more than 12 hours during delivery at the former Sinai-Samaritan Hospital. The baby was deprived of oxygen during birth and has severe brain damage. Her medical expenses are expected to be more than $12 million.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent families who have undergone the trauma of a child born with a birth injury. Birth injuries often seen in negligence cases include hypoxia which is a caused by a deprivation of oxygen. Other injuries include cortical blindness, mental retardation and learning disabilities. While no amount of financial compensation can ameliorate the pain and suffering of having a child that has a birth injury due to negligence during the birth process, it can provide support for families who have enormous medical and educational expenses because of their child’s disability.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Dr. Fred Quarnstrom, a Seattle Dentist and a dental instructor at the University of Washington has withdrawn his request for reappointment to the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC). In a letter he sent to Governor Christine Gregoire, Dr. Quarnstrom questions the review process involved in the cases of patients who have died as a result of dental procedures.

“We have seen cases closed where there were deaths and where non-licensed individuals were giving general anesthesia drugs,” Quarnstrom wrote. “I simply cannot continue serving when I have such profound reservations about how the DQAC process is conducted.”

Dr. Quarnstrom's letter to Gov. Gregoire highlights his concerns:

• His belief that the DQAC and Board of Health ignored and covered up cases where unlicensed and uncertified individuals administer anesthetic drugs and monitor patient recovery
  
• One dentist received a general anesthesia permit when he had only completed 8 months of a required one year general anesthesia residency
  
• Cases where deaths have been involved should not be closed or resolved in secrecy.

Read the complete text of Dr. Quarnstrom's letter here.

Dental deaths are rare. Between 2005 and 2007 there were seven deaths in the state attributed to a dental procedure. Prior to that there were eleven deaths between 2003-2005 according to the State Department of Health. Despite the rarity, however, consumers do not want the quality of their dental care to be less than any other medical procedure.

The Seattle P-I's investigation listed the following deaths that were dental-procedure related:

• Jimmy Marks, a prominent Spokane Gypsy leader, went into cardiac arrest after undergoing general anesthesia. His oral surgeon, Dr. Mark C. Paxton, had been sanctioned in 2005 for using unlicensed assistants. The investigation into Mark's death was closed within two weeks. Marks' widow has filed a dental malpractice suit claiming an improper dosage of anesthesia was used.
• Henry Dillow, 25, died from an "aggressive bacterial infection" after having his wisdom teeth removed. His oral surgeon, Dr. Leonard, would like for the details of his case to be released so that other dentists can be aware of the rare complication he experienced.
• An 89-year-old Spokane woman died after being sedated for an extraction procedure.
• The Spokesman Review also found a case of a death that that was not reported. Jon Gellner, 71, of Spokane aspirated blood into his lungs after Dr. Patrick Collins performed surgery on his palate. Though this case was dental-related, it has not been investigated.

After the Post-Intelligencer investigated dental deaths and talked to the dental board members and Dr. Fred Quarnstrom told Governor Christine Gregoire that he was quitting the commission, it seems like the State is taking notice. Now, according to the P-I, the top health officials for the state are urging state dental board to "investigate all patient deaths that occur in connection with dental care."

In addition, the State Health Department is doing a cross reference of providers and their licenses. Most oral surgeons have both a dental license and a medical license, and prior to the Health Department's actions, a sanction by one medical board would not show up on both license checks.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent patients who have been the victims of dental malpractice. Dental malpractice can include the failure to diagnose, improperly administered anesthesia, bad outcomes of oral surgery, infection due to a dental procedure, extractions gone awry and orthodontics.

If you or a loved one has been a injured because of dental malpractice, please contact the dental malpractice specialists at The Farber Law Group. We will be happy to conduct a free case review.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a 2-1/2 year old Columbia City boy died after a fall from a seventh story apartment house window. The child fell from an open window to a third story courtyard. The boy was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle but he did not survive the fall. The apartment was located at 3642 33rd Avenue South.

Our recent posting reported that Harborview treats approximately 50-60 children a year in the Seattle-area for falls. Within the past two weeks, more than 13 children have been brought to Harborview because of falls from open windows.

Falls from windows often result in severe head injury, brain injury, broken bones and death. Safety precautions should include:

• Keeping furniture away from windows
• Installing window guards
• Installing window stops
• Installing window screens

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries due to slip, trip and fall accidents due to the negligence of another person or company.

Contact us today for a free case consultation.

The Seattle Times reports that a 13-year-old boy from Washington State was killed in a boating accident at Lake Coeur d'Alene. The boy apparently was hit by the boat's propeller. According to information provided to us, the accident was caused by mechanical failure. "The boat was placed in neutral and there was a mechanical failure which kept the prop in motion without knowledge to the passengers of the boat. "

The teenager was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane where he was pronounced dead.

Police are investigating the accident.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are boating accident attorneys located in Bellevue, Washington.

If you believe your boating injuries or those of a loved one were caused by the negligence of another person, contact us for a free boating accident case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that Tyler Bright, 23 of Allyn who was seriously injured last week in a construction accident on a job site in Skagit county has died of his injuries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The accident occurred when Bright was pinned by steel pipes that fell off of a truck. Bright worked for Nicholson Drilling.

According to the Kitsap Sun, bright had been on life support since last Tuesday. He is remembered by his friends and family as having a "kind heart" and a "radiant smile."

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is still investigating Bright's death.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing victims of construction accidents and their families. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a construction accident, you need the support and experience of a personal injury attorney who has helped many people through a very difficult time in their lives.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Everett HeraldNet reports that a motorcyclist was taken to Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle with serious injuries and apparent broken bones after he crashed his motorcycle at 172nd Place SW and 52nd Avenue W. The motorcyclist was a man who appeared to be in his mid-40s.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents and car accidents in the greater Seattle area including Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Renton, Lynnwood, Everett, Bellingham and Redmond. We represent clients on a contingent fee basis. That means you do not pay attorneys fees unless we recover a settlement for you.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

After 17 infants in a neonatal unit at a Texas hospital were overdosed with Heparin, a blood thinner, many hospitals and physicians have to looking at their own procedures to ensure that they do not commit medical malpractice by making a similar error in their own facility. Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Maine decided to take a big step to ensure that no accident with heparin will happen in their hospital: they voted unanimously to ban the use of the blood thinner in their newborn nursery. Their vote was after many high profile cases, including that of the actor Dennis Quaid's twins, and before the Texas case appeared on the front of the newspapers. Their press release read, "The change has been prompted by several high profile cases in other hospitals where 'adult strength' heparin was inadvertently given to infants leading to their deaths."

Heparin is a blood thinner that is used to prevent blood in IV lines from clotting. "We have used this medication safely and without incident for many years at PBMC," said Dr. Bill Stephenson, chairman of the Pediatric Department. "However, recent studies have shown that substituting saline as a harmless alternative can be just as effective, making our decision to change an easy one."

This decision by Penobscot Bay Medical Center seems prudent especially in the light of studies showing there are harmless alternatives.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by medical or hospital malpractice caused by negligence. With more than 30 years experience in the Pacific Northwest, we will work to ensure you are fairly compensated for your injuries.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

See our Medical Malpractice Resources.

The Seattle Times reports that the State Department of Health has suspended the license of Dr. George Mathew, 46 (read their news release here). According to the suspension order, Mathew's treatment of four patients in the Pend Oreille County hospital emergency room is being investigated for "negligence, incompetence and malpractice." The order says, "In order to immediately suspend a practitioner’s license, the commission and the health department must have evidence that demonstrates the practitioner’s conduct puts patients in immediate danger. A summary suspension is the strongest, most immediate action possible." He was working in an ER room as a temporary doctor.

Matthew, through his Seattle attorney Jeff Coopersmith, denies the allegations.

The charges include:

• Failing to treat a man suffering from a heart attack
  
• Failing to stitch up a laceration in a woman's leg
  
• Failing to stitch up the lip of another woman after she had a fall
  
• Failing to treat a patient who present a complaint of blood and vomit in his stool

Mathew has currently been working out of an office in Seattle's Belltown. He has been under probation since 2005 for other incidents. In 2005, he agreed to certain conditions imposed by the Department of Health so that he could keep his license. One of those conditions was that he would only work in an emergency room.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing people who have been seriously injured due to physician or hospital malpractice. In Washington State, a health care provider must maintain a "standard of care" and he or she is negligent if they "failed to exercise that degree of care, skill and learning expected of a reasonably prudent health care provider at that time in the profession or class to which he belongs."

Please contact us for a free case consultation.

See our Medical Malpractice Resources.

The Seattle Times reports that Harborview Medical Center treats approximately 50-60 children a year in and around Seattle for falls from windows. In the past two weeks, they have already treated about 12 children. Harborview employees nicknamed these patients, "Window jumpers."

Chief of pediatrics at Harborview, Brian Johnston, says it is not always neglect when a child falls. Often, parents have a false sense of security when a window screen is in place. However, a window screen is not strong enough to contain a child that leans against it.

Falls from windows often result in severe head injuries, brain injuries and often death.

To prevent your child from falling from a window:

• Ensure furniture is away from windows
• Install window guards
• Install window stops to prevent windows from fully opening

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious injuries, including slip trip and fall, due to the negligence of another person or company.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Seattle's KIROTV.COM reports that two women were seriously injured in a pedestrian accident when they were hit by a car in a crosswalk at South 72nd Street and Pacific Avenue in south Tacoma. Both women sustained head injuries and appeared to be seriously injured. The windshield of the car was shattered when one of the women made impact. One of the omen is described as being in "very serious" condition. Both women appear to be in their mid-20s.

The Tacoma police are investigating the accident. At this writing they have conflicting reports but appears as if the 78-year-old Spanaway woman who hit the women had the green light.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who are seriously injured in pedestrian accident and auto accidents. We will work to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

The Kitsap Sun reports that Tyler Bright, 23, of Allyn was seriously injured at a construction site in Skagit County. The accident occurred when Bright was pinned by steel pipes that fell off a truck according to Bright's employer, Joe Wiley the owner of Nicholson Drilling. The construction accident occurred at Camp Brotherhood about 10 miles southeast of Mount Vernon.

Medics resuscitated Bright and he was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he is intensive care.

According to the Kitsap Sun the accident is being investigated by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries and Nicholson Drilling.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are construction accident attorneys based in Bellevue Washington and service all of Western Washington. At The Farber Law Group, with more than 30 years experience, we are familiar with worker's compensation laws and laws regarding 3rd parties. While money cannot fully compensate for a serious and debilitating injury, we will work to ensure you are compensated for medical expenses, loss of earnings and for pain and suffering.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

See our Construction Accident Resources.

Nick Perry, The Seattle Times higher education reporter, wrote today in The Times about the history of falls resulting in severe injury and death at University of Washington's dorms and fraternities. Perry sites Seattle Police reports that record at least 11 tragic accidents in the past 25 years and of these falls, 6 resulted in death and 5 resulted in severe injuries including broken backs and necks.

We cited on this blog two falls at UW fraternities. In June, Kevin MacDonald was killed after he fell from his third story fraternity bedroom window. Erik Anderson filed a lawsuit after his fall in 2005 resulted in serious injuries.

There have been several common denominators in these tragic falls. All of the students have been male and between the ages of 18 and 21. Many of them had used alcohol before their fall, but not all of them were intoxicated. Others have fallen but were not seriously hurt.

A lot of people want to place the bulk of the blame on the young men that were injured or killed due to the fact that many of them had been drinking prior to their accidents. UW vice provost for student life, Eric Godfrey and the UW police chief, Ray Wittmier, are looking past the blame game and hope to bring in safety experts and alumni to look at the safety of the fraternity buildings. Many of the fraternity houses date back to the 20s and 30s. While fraternities are private institutions, perhaps the UW can exert some influence and help enact some safety policies. Some changes that should be made immediately are:

• Requiring screens on windows
• Not allowing the positioning of bunk beds in front of windows
• Installing windows that do not open out
• Making sure that the number of students occupying each bedroom is appropriate
• The University also needs continue dialogue with the Greek houses about safety and drinking.

Chronology of Accidents

• June 2008 - Kevin MacDonald, 21, died at Alpha Sigma Phi
• May 2008 - 20 year old, serious injuries after fall from the roof of Phi Kappa Psi
• April 2005 - Erik Anderson, 19, fell 45 feet at Delta Upsilon
• May 2002 - Brett Jensen, 19, died at Pi Kappa Phi
• March 2001 - Greg Gilbert, 18, died at McMahon Hall
• October 1996 - Billy Price, 19, broke his neck in fall at Alpha Delta Phi
• December 198 - Bryan Foisy, 19, died at McMahon Hall
• September 1987 - Brian Lopez, 18, died at Beta Theta Pi
• May 1986 - Thomas White Jr., 19, died at Alpha Delta Phi
• January 1986 - Erik Heimbigner, 20, seriously hurt at Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• December 1985 - Chad Houck, 18, serious injuries after fall at Haggett Hall dorm

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to the negligence of others. We also represent families who are entitled to bring a wrongful death action when someones negligence caused the death of a family member. While these cases are difficult to negotiate through the court system, The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in handling wrongful death cases.

Please contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

A Texas hospital apparently gave up to 17 babies in their neonatal intensive care unit overdoses of Heparin, a blood thinner reports CNN. One of the babies died and an autopsy will be performed to determine whether the overdose caused the death and a potential medical malpractice suit for Christus Spohn. The overdosing error apparently occurred as a result of a procecdural problem in the pharmacy when the medication was being mixed with other agents including saline solution.

Twelve of the babies are "stable," three babies have been discharged and one baby is in critical condition said Dr. Richard Davis, chief medical officer for the Christus Spohn Health System. None of the ill babies conditions are related to the heparin overdose according to a Christus Spohn Health System press release.

Heparin is a blood thinner which is used in patients with IV lines to keep clots from forming in the lines. During the past year and a half, there have been up to 250 medical errors involving Heparin and babies up to 1 year of age according to U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official public standards-setting authority for all prescription, over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements manufactured and sold in the U.S.

The dosage error was discovered by nurses on Sunday night said Sherri Carr-Deer, a spokesperson for Christus Spohn Health System. The medication had been dispensed for about two days before the error was discovered.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent patients who have suffered severe injury or death due to hospital malpractice caused by negligence. Often hospital malpractice has serious outcomes. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing the victims of negligent doctors and other health care providers and helping victims recover compensation for their injuries, or those of a loved cone.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that a 14-year-old surfer, Cole Ortega of Bend, Oregon, lost his arm in a boating accident with a dory boat off Cape Kiwanda. Ortega was airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland and is listed in "serious condition." The family said they would not release information about the possible re-attachment of the arm. The arm was retrieved by Frank Lippy, an ER doctor affiliated with Kaiser Permanente who was at the beach at the time. Bend television station, KTVZ-TV, however, reports that the arm was reattached.

The dory boat was driven by Darrell Martin, 55, of Beaver, Oregon. The Times quoted The Oregonian newspaper that Martin was "in shock and expressed extreme remorse." The accident occurred at Cape Kiwanda, a popular spot for boaters, surfers, windsurfers, kayakers, swimmers and hang gliders.

The Tillamook sheriff's department is investigating the accident to determine whether anyone should be cited. Oregon Marine Board regulations state that boats within 200 feet of "a swimmer, surfer, diving flag, bank or wading angler" cruise at no more than 5-mph speed. It is common practice in this area for the dory boat drivers to sound a continuous horn as they approach.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are boating accident attorneys who represent people with serious personal injuries due to the negligence of others.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports than an Amtrak passenger train hit and killed a man in Auburn Washington today. This makes nearly a dozen pedestrian/train fatalities in Washington State this year. The unidentified man was killed around 3:26 pm near 37th Northwest and B Street. A passing motorist witnessed the incident and phoned 911. Fire Department officials believe the death was a suicide.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are railroad accident lawyers located in the Seattle area. With more than 30 years experience, we work for people with serious injuries caused by the negligence of others.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A 4th of July celebration ended in tragedy in Rochester, in Thurston County, Washington, when three people were injured by shrapnel from a cannon that was fired at a party. Emily Johnson is in critical condition at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with serious abdomen and leg injuries reports The Olympian. She is in a drug-induced cannon and has undergone several surgeries with at least one more planned.

An 11-year-old-boy and a 34-year-old man both suffered lacerations to their legs and abdomens and are being treated for their injuries. The boy was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and the man is being treated at Providence Centralia Hospital. Their names and conditions have not been released.

Sgt. Cheryl Stines of the Thurston County Sheriff's department said the incident is under investigation. The cannon was fired in the 9200 block of Applegate Loop SW. in Rochester. The explosion was so strong that it sent projectiles through the wall of a neighbor's house.

This accident is very similar to one that occurred last year near Littlerock. Devin Vybony, an 8-year-old boy from Olympia was killed after his Grandfather exploded a small cannon at a family gathering and he was hit in the chest with shrapnel.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious personal injuries due to the negligence of others. A case like this may fall under the category of "general negligence." In civil law, an injured person is eligible to receive compensation for injuries if a reasonable person had negligent behavior which resulted in the injury. A victim of an injury may be awarded compensation for medical costs, the cost of rehabilitation and for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured due the negligence of another, you need a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing people with personal injury claims.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A jury has provided for a $19.6 million medical malpractice settlement to parents of a baby who was brain-damaged at birth and the mother who suffered severe injuries during delivery, reports St. Vincent's Medical Center in Manhattan.

According to the trial transcripts, Daniel Maing suffers from cerebral palsy after Dr. Po Ching Fong, a hospital resident at the time, used forceps improperly onduring the birth process. Daniel Maing was severely oxygen deprived and had to be resuscitated upon birth. The anesthesiologist also erred by inserting a breathing tube into Daniel's esophagus rather than his windpipe.

In addition to the injuries to Daniel, Mrs. Maing suffered extensive tearing to her vaginal area, all the way to the rectum. The mother suffered severe scarring and has a lot of pain to this day.

The jury, which deliberated one day after a three-week trial, found St. Vincent's Medical Center and their doctors responsible, awarding $12 million to Mrs. Maing and $7.6 to Daniel

Medical malpractice during the birth process can have disastrous consequence. Fetal distress involving the lack of oxygen to the child's brain often results in irreversible brain injury. This is known as hypoxia which is diagnosed as cerebral palsy. Babies can also suffer from cortical blindness, mental retardation and learning disabilities. Caring for a severely injured child can be a huge burden on a family and they deserve to be compensated for their enormous medical and educational expenses.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent victims of medical malpractice including birth injury. If your child has cerebral palsy due to a birth injury that resulted from medical malpractice call today for a free case consultation.

Se our Birth Injury Resources.

The Wenatchee World reports that three people were injured in a two-car accident on Highway 2, west of Leavenworth, Washington. 11-year-old Lauren E. Galloway of Bothell, sustained injuries to her head and neck and was treated at Central Washington Hospital and was then transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where she underwent surgery. Her mother, 56-year-old Linda Binckley, sustained head and chest injuries and was treated at Central Washington Hospital and then released.

The accident occurred as a Honda driven by Linda Binckley was traveling east on Highway 2. A east-bound Mazda driven by 25-year-old Steven B. Schooler of East Wenatchee pulled in front of the Honda as Schooler attempted to make a left turn. Schooler was taken to Central Washington Hospital where he was treated and released.

The Washington State Patrol said Schooler will be cited for failing to yield the right of way which is statute WPI 70.02.01 of the vehicle code. It states that a driver intending to turn left shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.

This information was provided by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people have sustained serious injuries, including whiplash, in car accidents due to the negligence of other drivers. We will work to insure you are fully compensated for your injuries including property damages, medical costs and damages for pain and suffering. We have more than 30 years of experience in representing auto accident victims.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a recent University of Washington graduate is suing his fraternity, Delta Upsilon International Fraternity, for medical bills for injuries he sustained after he fell 45 feet from his bed window onto a parking lot in April of 2005. In the lawsuit, Erik Anderson and his parents, claim that the Fraternity was at fault for failing to provide "a safe living and sleeping space." Anderson's top bunk had no guard rails and it was placed next to a window that swung out. The suit also claims that the Fraternity condoned underage drinking. Reports said that Anderson had been drinking the night of his fall at a chapter-coordinated party.

Luckily, Anderson survived the fall but he sustained serious and permanent damage to his arms, pelvis, lower spine and nervous system. He has had to undergo three years of physical therapy and his medical expenses are nearing $300,000 to-date.

The lawsuit names Delta Upsilon International and Caledonia Bay Builders both as defendants in the suit. Caledonia builders had installed the windows in the house shortly before Anderson's fall.

We reported, just a few weeks ago, that a current UW student, Kevin McDonald, was killed on June 15 when he fell from his fraternity-house bedroom window to concrete below.

In cases we call slip, trip and fall, serious injuries are debilitating and sometimes fatal. The law states that property or business owners must keep a property free from any hazard and in a "reasonable and safe condition." Negligence arises when the home or business owners does not exercise proper caution. In the case of these two tragic falls, one wonders if screening on the windows was present and whether the fraternity is trying to place too many beds in one room when a bed is positioned in front of window.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seen seriously injured in slip, trip and fall accidents. We will investigate your case to determine whether the property owner's negligence caused your accident.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.