Washington Injury Attorney Blog

In an article almost too painful to read regarding nursing home abuse and neglect, the AARP Bulletin Today ran a reprint of a McClatchy-Tribune Regional News story by Valarie Honeycutt Spears which detailed the abuse to an 84-year-old-resident of a Richmond nursing home. According to the report, the family of Armeda Thomas hid a video camera in her room at Madison Manor nursing home after they saw dozens of bruises on her body and the nursing staff did not provide an adequate explanation for the injuries.

Kentucky Attorney General's office is now conducting a criminal investigation and have cited the nursing home for "failure to protect." The failure to protect the residents created an "immediate threat that harm, injury or death would occur " said a citation from the Attorney General's office.

What Thomas' family saw when they later viewed the video tape is a pattern of abuse and victimization of this poor woman who was suffering from Alzheimer's. In making the decision to video tape, Thomas' granddaughter, who is a child protective worker said:

"We were just so desperate to know the truth and for other people to know the truth. Almost everyone has a relative who gets care in a facility. You want to be able to go to sleep at night knowing that your loved one is well cared for and not scared."

When the video tape was reviewed it showed both actual incidents of physical abuse and also of neglect including:

• Rough handling of Thomas including pulling her out of bed by her wrists & neck.
• Roughly moving Thomas from side to side.
• Nursing home staff taunting and dancing in front of Thomas.
• Nursing home staff eating Thomas' food yet the records showed she that Thomas ate her entire meal herself.
• Failure to feed or clean Thomas.
• An incident of Thomas lying unattended on a floor for more than one hour.

Thomas' records show that at one point she lost 19 pounds in just two weeks. X Rays also showed that she had fractures to her lumbar vertebrae.

Kathy Gannoe, the district ombudsman for the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, said:

"No nursing home sets out to want these things to happen but it's fallout when you don't have good training, adequate supervision and when you don't have a culture that encourages the staff to speak up."

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms. The most common forms include bedsores or decubitus ulcers, broken bones, dehydration, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, frequent urinary tract infections, medication errors, infections, over use of sedating medication, physical abuse and sexual abuse.

While most nursing homes are staffed with professionals who are caring and good, sometimes, the for-profit nature of the business means that the needs of the patient are not always held paramount. In most cases of nursing home abuse, it is inadequate staffing that is the cause. If there is insufficient staff coverage, insufficient staff training and education, and lack of proper staff supervision, the patients/residents suffer.

This information was provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Located in Bellevue, Washington, we represent the victims of elder abuse and nursing home neglect and their families. We have more than 30 years experience and a proven track record of successfully recovering compensation for damages to elderly and frail victims.

If one of your loved ones has been seriously injured or died as a result of nursing home staff negligence or abuse, contact The Farber Law Group, a law firm that specializes in nursing home abuse and neglect.

See our Nursing Home & Elder Abuse Resources.

The Seattle Times reports that Alan Bautista, 17, of Auburn, Washington was killed on Thanksgiving night in a pedestrian accident as he tried to run across Interstate-5 near Salem, Oregon.

State police said that Bautista's family was located at a nearby gas station and they told police officers that he had left the family's vehicle for "unknown reasons" and ran towards the freeway. He was hit and killed by a vehicle with two passengers. The driver of the vehicle that hit Bautista and his two passengers were taken to Salem Hospital but the driver was not cited.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been injured and the families of those killed in pedestrian accidents, car accidents, bicycle accidents and motorcycle accidents.

We represent accident victim on a contingent fee basis; you pay nothing until we recover a settlement for you.

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

The varsity Bellevue High School football team is recovering from injuries they suffered in a roll-over bus accident on the Interstate-5 as they headed to the Tacoma Dome to play a semifinal game against Capital of Olympia on Saturday mid-morning reports The Seattle Times.

The bus accident occurred as the result of the bus driver swerving to avoid a lost load -- a ladder -- dropped by a pick-up truck. The chartered bus carried 38 varsity players, trainers and coaches of the Bellevue Wolverine football team.

Two of the coaches were thrown from the bus in the accident. Players and trainers fell on each other and had to climb out the bus emergency hatch at the top of the bus. Eight people were injured and were taken to area hospitals suffering from cuts, bruises, possible whiplash and possible concussions. It is not known at this time which of the players will be recovered enough to play in the re-scheduled game on Monday.

The Washington State Patrol are looking for an older red pickup truck which witnesses say dropped the ladder. In Washington State, drivers who lose a load may be fined up to $500 and spend up to a year in jail according to vehicle code RCW 46.61.655. Every year in Washington State, more than 400 accidents are caused by lost loads.

Located in Bellevue, Washington, The Farber Law Group concurs with the Bellevue High School principal, Dave Wellington, who sent a letter to school families saying, "We have 38 more reasons to be thankful," referring to the number of persons aboard the bus at the time of the accident. A bus accident of this nature could have been a lot worse and the entire community is relieved that there were no life-threatening injuries and that no one was killed.

We hope that, of those that are injured, the injuries do not turn into a more serious condition like whiplash or a herniated disc. Some times these types of injuries can cause pain weeks after the accident and require physical therapy and treatment.

This information was provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents and bus accidents.

If you or loved one has been seriously injured, or a loved one has been killed due to the negligence of another person, contact The Farber Law Group for a free and confidential case evaluation. We will work to help you recover compensation for your losses, including pain and suffering.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that there were more than 70 automobile accidents in Eastern Washington over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend as winter weather and snow moved in. Of the 70 accidents, unfortunately, 2 involved fatalities.

A head-on collision claimed the lives of two young people, ages 18 and 20 near Deer Park. According to the Washington State Patrol, the two were killed in a head-on collision when a truck ran into them around 3:50pm on Friday. The State Patrol have arrested the 39-year-old driver of the truck for suspicion of driving under the influence.

A one-car rollover accident killed Clyde Lippencott, 65, and injured his companion when the car they were driving on along Highway 2 and Highway 211 in Pend Oreille County near Diamond Lake went off the road and rolled into a ditch.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Representing victims of car accidents for more than 30 years, we work to help victims recover compensation for the harm done to them because of the negligence of another driver.

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

Phillip Musgrove of Tuscon, Arizona, was sentenced to 35 years for the car accident that killed Thomas Flynn, 21, of Trabuco Canyon, California and Craig Gmur, 24, of Seattle, Washington. The three young men were all friends from Washington State University in Pullman.

Komonews.com reports that Musgrove was found guilty of manslaughter, endangerment and aggravated assault in the motor vehicle accident which killed his two friends and injured 22 other people. According to the report, Musgrove was driving at about 85 mph when he went through two lanes of stopped cars and ran a red light in the Tucson accident.

Police said there was no evidence that Musgrove was using drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.

At sentencing, Musgrove apologized and the prosecutor described his actions as "recklessness that ... can't be fathomed."

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

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

In a story that has been far too common in Western Washington in the past few months, an 11 year-old Vancouver, Washington girl, Elena Allison, suffered dog bite injuries to her mouth and face when she was bit by a neighbor's pit bull dog on Saturday. The little girl had to have 26-stitches in her upper lip and chin to close up all of her wounds.

The dog bite incident occurred when Elena Allison was playing with friends when her neighbor, Mark Robinson, walked by with his pit bull dog named Presley. Elena asked Robinson if she could pet the dog that was on a leash. The dog went from being happy and friendly to attacking her.

Clark County officials said that Robinson voluntarily surrendered the dog to Animal Control services and agreed to have the dog euthanized.

We wrote about a Happy Valley girl who was attacked by a pit bull just a few days ago. And, in September, a 72-year-old Sea-Tacwoman, Huong Le, was viciously attacked by two pit bulls who "tagged teamed" her leaving her with serious injuries.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Dog bite victims may require extensive medical care, plastic surgery and may suffer from permanent injuries including nerve damage and scarring. In this case, they may be entitled to compensation for medical costs and for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite incident, then you should contact an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney. Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

A 15-year-old dirt bike rider was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with head injuries and two broken arms after a motorcycle accident. According to the Skagit Valley Herald, the teenager, followed by his parents, was riding down a logging-style road about 3-1/2 miles from Lake Cavanaugh Road when he collided head-on with Andrew Nakao, 23, of Everett. The teen apparently hit his head on impact. His condition is unknown at this time.

State patrol Trooper Keith Leary said that the teen was riding down the road around 25 mph as Nakao rode his bike uphill at around 60mph. Nakao apparently cut across a blind corner and the two bikes collided. The speed limit for the state managed off-road area is 25mph.

Nakao was also taken to Harborview and was in satisfactory condition with a broken right femur and wrist. He was cited for negligent driving. Negligent driving can be charged if a person fails to exercise ordinary care and endangers any person or property. First degree negligent driving involves the use of alcohol or drugs while second degree does not.

This information was brought to you by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents and the families of those killed due to the negligence of another person.

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

Sixty police agencies in Washington State -- including the Seattle Police Department -- are looking for drivers who aren't wearing their seat belts while driving at nighttime according to King5.com. The seat belt emphasis patrols hope to catch drivers who aren't wearing seat belts and may be alcohol or drug impaired or engaged in other illegal activities.

Studies show that four times more fatal car accidents occur at night in a good part because night time drivers have a higher incidence of seat belt non-compliance. It is estimated that 4% of all drivers at nighttime do not wear seat belts.

State Troopers and police departments will issue a citation which will costs drivers $125.00 if they find someone driving without a seat belt fastened.

Vehicle Code RCW 46.61.688 requires drivers to use a Safety Belt while operating a motor vehicle.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and the families of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation.

The Clackamas County Sheriff shot and killed a pit bull that attacked and severely injured a 7-year-old girl, Jayda Kempas in Happy Valley, Oregon. Kempas was to undergo surgery for her dog bites reports KOMOTV.COM in Seattle.

In a horrific attack, the pit bull attacked the little girl and bit her severely on the leg in several places. Kempas' father, National Guard Staff Sgt. Steven Hehr, wrestled the dog and pulled it off only to be bitten himself. He also suffered a dislocated shoulder while wrestling the dog.

While Hehr held the dog, a bystander repeatedly clubbed the dog with an aluminum baseball bat. When the bystander became too exhausted and the dog was still vicious, the dog's owner took the bat and started beating the dog but it could not be subdued.

Deputy Greg Martin arrived to the scene of the struggle and shot the dog dead. He was quoted as saying that the little girl would have died had her father not intervened.

Dog bite injuries can be very serious, even fatal. Nearly 2% of the U.S. population suffers a dog bite injury every year. In 2006, there were 26 dog bite fatalities. Injuries can leave a victim with serious and often permanent injuries including nerve damage and scarring.

If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing the victims of dog bites and their families.

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

A female electrical worker was electrocuted by power lines at a South Seattle container site this afternoon. The construction accident occurred around 2:00 pm in the 5800 block of East Marginal Way in an industrial area of Seattle.

The Seattle Fire Department arrived to find the worker dead but they could not immediately remove her body because the electrical lines were still charged.

Details regarding the woman's age and name and the cause of the accident have not yet been released.

The State Department of Labor and Industries will investigate the accident but few details are known at this time.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Construction accident lawyer, located in Bellevue, Washington, we represent people who have been seriously injured and those who have been killed in construction accidents. Because of OSHA regulations and worker's compensation laws, if you have been involved in a construction accident, you should contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to insure your rights are protected.

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

Now that the Holiday shopping season is soon upon us, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSSC) has a list of toys that gift buyers should take note of because of safety concerns.

In 2007, the CPSC had reports of 18 toy-related deaths and they estimate that there were 170,000 hospital emergency room visits due to toy related injuries suffered by children under the age of 15.

Top 5 toy hazards:

• scooters and riding toys -- if you purchase a scooter or a riding toy including skateboards and in-line skates, be sure they are age appropriate and that protective gear such as helmets and padding are also provided.
  
• small balls and toys with small parts -- these types of toys can be a hazard to children, especially under the age of 3 because they may choke on them. Avoid purchasing small balls and toys with small parts for children under the age of 5.
  
• balloons -- balloons can be especially dangerous to children under the age of 8. Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
  
• magnets -- children under the age of 6 should not play with magnets. When swallowed, they can cause severe injury and even death.
  
• battery chargers and adapters -- may cause burn hazards to small children

--Adapted from www.cpsc.gov

Parents can sign-up to have toy re-call notices e-mailed to them. Visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been severely injured and the families of those killed due to dangerous products or the negligence of others.

If your child has suffered a severe toy-related injury, contact The Farber Law Group to insure your rights are protected.

Travis D. Cunningham, the owner of two pit bulls that viciously mauled and injured Hung Le, 71, of Sea-Tac in September entered a "not guilty" plea in King County Court.

King Country Prosecutors say that Cunningham 36, was negligent in not securing the two dogs who had repeatedly escaped and were a danger to people. He is also being charged with two counts of illegal gun possession.

Le suffered disfiguring injuries, her ears were ripped off and she had bite wounds up and down her legs after the attack which occurred after she walked her grandchild to the school bus. Doctors spent more than 13 hours repairing her wounds according to a report by Seattle's Kiro TV.com. See our regarding the attack. She still suffers pain and emotional trauma three months after the attack.

It is ironic that the same day that Cunningham entered his "not guilty" plea and Le's son appeared in Monroe to speak to the City Council about adding restrictions to certain breeds of dogs, dog owners jammed Monroe City Hall in defense of the pit bull breed. Le's son Makus, wanted to speak about what happened to his mother yet the protesters against breed-specific laws did not allow him to speak.

Makus said, "It's human dismemberment is what these dogs tried to do. It's not a little puncture wound. They rip and tear. They tear ears off."

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a serious dog bite or mauling, you should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in dog bite cases. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

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

Charlie Manning, 61, who lost his penis and testicle to a flesh eating bacteria while he was in prison has received a $300,000 medical malpractice settlement from the State of Washington. According to The Seattle Times, Manning, who was in prison in 2004 for threatening a neighbor and stealing the man's pistol in a "drunken argument", developed an infected hemorrhoid and when he went to the prison doctor, he was misdiagnosed with an allergic reaction to cold medicine so his treatment was delayed.

When Manning was finally taken to Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, he was found to have necrotizing fascitis, also called "flesh-eating bacteria". By the time he was air-lifted to Harborview Medical center in Seattle, the bacteria had infiltrated his entire pelvic region. He had to undergo extensive mutilating surgery which necessitated the removal of his penis and testicle. He later had his penis re-constructed with tissue from another area of his body.

In the suit, Manning claimed that that Dr. Muhammad A. Khursid, head physician at Stafford Creek, misdiagnosed his infection, allowing the infection to spread.

Manning's lawyer said he was disappointed at the settlement amount his client received in the settlement but he said he understands Manning's desire to move on with his life and avoid a lengthy legal battle.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent patients who have been the victims of medical malpractice . Misdiagnosis is a medical error in which a physician or laboratory provide an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis and/or treatment of a disease, injury, infection or other illness. It is estimated that between 50 and 100 thousand unnecessary deaths are attributed to medical errors every year.

In a case of a patient like Manning, who was incarcerated at the time of his illness, he did not have the means of obtaining a second opinion from another independent practitioner.

If something similar has happened to you -- if you or a loved one has suffered severe injury because of a misdiagnosis or malpractice, you should contact a personal injury attorney who will fight to help you recover fair and just compensation for your injuries including pain and suffering.

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

Dean Sorensen, 41, was killed in a single car vehicle crash in Yelm, Washington around 6:00 pm on Tuesday night according to The Olympian.

The Washington State Patrol said that Sorenson swerved off the road on North Clear Lake Boulevard and hit a utility pole. He was killed at the scene of the accident. The WSP said he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. They are investigating the cause of the accident.

This information was bought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in car accidents.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Jon Moreno has filed a personal injury lawsuit against captain Sig Hansen, the skipper of the fishing crew in Discovery Channel's popular show "Deadliest Catch." Moreno claims that he was injured during Seattle's Seafair festival when he boarded Hansen's boat with others and was hoisted above the water by a crane and dropped into the water.

Moreno fell from the crane and broke his pelvis and suffered other injuries.

Moreno's lawsuit asks for damages to cover medical and legal expenses and loss of work. Hansen Enterprises Inc., and Hansen himself are