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 defendants in the suit.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have received serious personal injuries in slip, trip and fall accidents, boating accidents and automobile accidents. With more than 30 years experience representing accident victims in the Seattle area, we have the experience that you need to help you with your case.

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

A Florida jury has awarded a Pensacola man a $7 million settlement after he became gravely ill with inflammatory bowel disease after taking the medication Accutane. Accutane, manufactured by Roche, is used to treat cases of severe acne.

Adam Mason, 31, developed Crohn's disease after he took Accutane for nine years. Mason claimed that Roche failed to adequately warn of Accutane's risks.

Roche is facing more than 400 lawsuits claiming that Accutane caused inflammatory bowel disease and that drug labels and warnings were not adequate.

Common side affects:

• Acne flare up
• Dryness of skin, lips and mucous membranes
• Cuticle infection
• Itch
• Skin peeling
• Dry eyes
• Raised liver enzymes

Infrequent side affects:

• Severe acne flare up
• Raised blood glucose
• Fatigue

Rare side affects:

• Impaired night vision
• Menstrual disturbances
• Optic neuritis
• Pancreatitis
• Corneal opacities
• Hypertension
• Psychosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant while taking the medication

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing people with severe personal injuries due to medical malpractice, unsafe products and accidental injury.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

A year ago, the Interstate 35W bridge which crosses the Mississippi River in Minnesota collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring more than 130. Federal investigators are finding fault with the bridge design saying that poor engineering led steel plates to buckle, not the lack of maintenance or corrosion. Apparently the steel plates were half the thickness that was required.

The bridge was an eight lane steel truss arch bridge and was built in 1967. It carried approximately 140,000 vehicles a day. The collapse occurred during rush hour on August 1, 2007. It was a horrifying scene with cars and trucks falling into the rushing river below the bridge.

"The collapse was the result of a serious design error," said Mark Bagnard, the NTSB's lead investigator in the case.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting hearings on the accident which made many people concerned about bridge safety throughout the States.

One of the factors in the bridge collapse, according to testimony, was that "nearly 300 tons of construction equipment and materials being used to repair sections of the roadway were piled on top of the steel plates at the time."

As reported by By Jon Hilkevitch of the Chicago Tribune in The Seattle Times.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent clients who have lost a loved one due to wrongful death. Wrongful death is the death of a person caused by the negligence of another. In this case, the families of the victims have a compelling argument for wrongful death because of the design flaw. With the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, victims and their family may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or wrongful act of another, contact The Farber Law Group. We will work to help you recover damages for your loss.

A King Country jury convicted former Whitworth College trustee of bilking 82-year-old Nancy Huegli of Bellevue, Washington of $150,000. Tom Delanty of Tulalip was convicted of 26 counts of first and second-degree theft and abusing the trust of a vulnerable person. Delanty will be sentenced on December 12 and may spend as many as 4 years in prison reports The Seattle Times.

According to the report, Delanty gained Huegli's trust and performed household tasks, errands and bill-paying, charging Huegli $120 an hour. Several other people have come forward and have filed civil lawsuits against Delanty for bilking them of money.

Delanty, a former trustee of Whitworth University, led Huegli to believe that he was a CPA, a chief executive and chief financial officer of Sawyer Development and Investment. He claimed he was well qualified to help Huegli and gained her trust

This case highlights a growing problem of elder abuse in this country. Police are seeing more of these cases of "undue influence." Undue influence is when an person who is stronger or more powerful gets an elderly or vulnerable person to do something that they would not normally do. In the case of Huegli, she gave Delanty signing control of her checking account. Often the person in the power position will pressure the older person to act quickly and discourages them from asking their family and loved ones for advice.

For more information about this undue influence from a psychological point of view, you might want to read "An interview with Margaret Singer on Undue Influence" on the National Committee for the Prevention of Eder Abuse web-site.

Elder abuse can take many forms. Often, we represent cases in which patients living in nursing homes or assisted living situations have been physically or psychologically abused. We have also seen many cases of theft.

If your elderly loved one has suffered a serious injury due to elder abuse or neglect, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing nursing home abuse victims and their families. With our help you may be able to recover compensation for your damages.

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

The Kitsap Sun reports that a 30-year-old Port Orchard man suffered "severe injuries" in a motorcycle accident after he lost control of his Kawasaki motorcycle and landed into a ditch and was thrown from his motorcycle on Thursday evening.

The motorcycle accident occurred around 6pm on Sedgwick road in Port Orchard. According to the report, the motorcyclist attempted to pass two vehicles in a "no passing zone" near the intersection of Southworth Drive.

The man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the accident and he is listed in "critical condition" in the intensive care unit.

Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable in accidents because they can be thrown from the motorcycle, often suffering from severe head and spinal cord injuries. The death and injury rate for motorcycle riders is on the rise as more people are riding motorcycles. In Washington State, a motorcyclist is required to obtain a motorcycle endorsement by the Department of Licensing.

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 motorcycle accidents due to the negligence of another driver.

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

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released data for 2007 about the number of children who died in toy-related accidents. While nearly 232,900 children suffered from toy-related injuries, only 18 fatalities were toy-related.

Most toy-related deaths are caused by blocked airways, drowning or accidents involving motor vehicles. Most of the deaths were not caused by the toys per se, but happened when the child was playing with the toy.

Nearly 80% of the deaths of children were boys; 14 of the 18 who died were male.

According to the report, the incidents of toy-related death included:

• Tricycle-related accidents: falls, being hit by a car or drowning after falling into a swimming pool while riding.
  
• Chocking accidents -- either on rubber balls or balloons
  
• Suffocation deaths included an infant who fell onto a stuffed animal and one who inhaled a rubber dart.
  
• Two children were killed in auto accidents after being hit by a car while riding scooters.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. A personal injury attorney firm based in Bellevue, Washington, we have more than 30 years experience in representing families with wrongful death claims. If you have lost a loved one due to an unsafe product or because of the negligence of another person or company, you should contact The Farber Law Group to insure your rights are protected. You may be entitled for compensation for your loss.

With flooding in the Puget Sound region predicted, motorists should be especially careful and avoid flood warning areas. The large majority of deaths during flash flooding is due to people driving through flooded areas; only two feet of water can sweep most vehicles away. Driving in even one foot of water can float most passenger cars.

Flood Terms

Flood Watch

Flooding is possible. Check the NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.

Flash Flood Watch

Flash flooding is possible. Avoid driving in flood areas.

Flood Warning

An area is flooding. Evacuate immediately and do not drive in a flood warning area.

Flash Flood Warning

A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot. Do not drive as your car may be swept away.

-Information from FEMA

On-Line Flood Resources for Drivers

National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle Washington:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service Watches and Advisories for Washington State:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts/wa.html

Washington State Department of Transportation:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/

FEMA Flood Information:

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm

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 more information.

The families of two men who received organs from a woman who had metastasized skin cancer are suing an organ donor group for medical malpractice. Anthony Taylor, 45, of South Bend, Indiana died in 2007 after a kidney and liver transplant and another man died after receiving a kidney from the same donor.

The families' suit claims that their loved ones died because organ procurement procedures were flawed and the donor was not properly screen to determine that her skin cancer had spread to both her kidneys and liver.

The Indiana organ procurement group says that their screening procedures meet both state and federal requirements.

One can only imagine how traumatic this has been to the families of the men who died; They must have been joyous at having received a life saving organ donation only to have it be the thing that kills them.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims can sometimes be extremely complicated so one should hire an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing victims of medical malpractice and helping families recover compensation under wrongful death statutes.

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

With gas prices soaring and a weak economy, more people than ever are choosing to ride motorcycles as an economical way to get to work. However, motorcycle riders are the most vulnerable in motor vehicle accidents because there are no seat belts and riders can be thrown in a crash. The death and injury rate for motorcycle riders continues to rise.

In Washington State, motorcycle riders need to obtain a motorcycle endorsement by the Department of Licensing. The endorsement is one way to encourage motorcyclists to have extra knowledge and training before taking their motorcycle on the highway.

Safety Tips:

Wear a helmet

always wear a helmet and make sure it meets the Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. A helmet is of utmost importance and may mean the difference between surviving a crash and dying.

Watch the "No-Zone"

a "No-Zone" is a truck's blind spot. Trucks have blind spots on both side where the driver cannot see you. If you ride in the blind spot, your chances of a crash increase.

Drive as if you were invisible

motorcycles are the smallest vehicle on the road and have no protection. Many times motorists do not see you. Pay attention to brake lights and signals. Be extra careful at intersections.

Drive smart

keep to the speed limit, don't over drive your ability to handle your motorcycle. An increasing number of motorcyclists are getting into accidents because they are driving motorcycles more powerful than they can handle. They also travel at speeds at which they can not handle the motorcycle. An increasing number of motorcyclists are crashing around curves, bends and turns.

Watch speed

motorcycles accelerate faster than other vehicles. Especially watch your speed around trucks at night and in bad weather. Motorcycles sometimes crash into the rear of trucks.

Safety check your motorcycle

safety check your motorcycle every single time you ride it to insure it is in good working condition. Proper maintenance is essential.

Wear proper gear

protective clothing such as leathers, jackets and gloves can really protect you if you are in a crash.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Accident Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents. Accident victims often receive a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury and sometimes even loss of a limb. If you were seriously injured because of the negligence of another driver, you should contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in motorcycle accidents. At The Farber Law Group, we we will work to help you recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

The Seattle Times reports that felony charges of possessing a dangerous dog have been filed against Travis Cunningham, 36, the owner of two pit bulls that seriously injured a 72-year-old SeaTac woman, Huong Le, in September.

Cunningham is also charged with "first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a stolen firearm." All three charges could result in a 13 year prison sentence.

Le was attacked in her own driveway after she walked her grandchildren to the school bus. She suffered serious injuries including a broken arm, broken jaw, severed ears and bites up and down her leg. She said she was relieved by the charges. She had feared for her life in the savage attack.

The chief of staff for the King Country Prosecutor's Office said, "He [Cunningham] is being charged with knowing this dog is dangerous and failing to take appropriate actions to keep this dog from harming someone."

In her report for The Times, reporter Christine Clarridge wrote that, "While pit bulls make up only 4 percent of licensed dogs, they make up 22 percent of reported bites. "

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 seriously injured because of a dog bite, you should contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience throughout Western Washington in representing dog bite victims and their families. With our help, you may be able to recover damages including for pain and suffering.

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

King 5.com reports that a re-year-old Shelton, Washington resident is in the hospital with dog bite injuries after being attacked by a pit bull.

The dog bite incident occurred at the intersection of East Cota Street and South Front Street in Shelton. When police arrived, a pit bull had attacked one person and was attempting to attack others. After using a taser without effect, a police officer shot and killed the dog.

Police are currently investigating the incident and the dog owner may be charged.

Dog bite injuries can be very serious including disfigurement, permanent nerve damage, severe pain and psychological damage. Most dog bite victims must undergo multiple surgeries.

In 2006, there were 26 fatal dog bites in the United States and nearly 2% of the population is bitten by a dog annually.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite injury, you should contact a personal injury attorney who has experience representing dog bite victims. At The Farber Law Group, a Bellevue, Washington based personal injury firm, we have more than 30 years experience in representing dog bite victims. With our help, you may recover compensation for your medical costs, rehabilitation costs and for pain and suffering.

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

The driver of a semi tractor-trailer truck was killed in an accident this morning on the I-5 in Olympia reports The Seattle Times.

The trucker, a 49-year-old Renton man apparently lost control of the truck and crashed into the Eastside Street overpass. The driver had only been on the job for 3-1/2 weeks; his instructor suffered minor injuries and may have been in the sleeper compartment of the truck at the time.

It is not known whether speed was a factor in the accident. The accident is under investigation.

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 and the families of those killed in trucking and auto accidents. With our help, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages including pain and suffering.

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

Washington State voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 1029 with a margin of about 3:1. This initiative requires that long-term care workers complete training, pass a certification exam and undergo a federal background check for a prior criminal record reports The Seattle Times. Unfortunately, the initiative doesn't apply to people who work in nursing homes, hospitals, adult day care centers, hospice, or volunteers.

I-1029 goes into effect in 2 years. It provides that long-term care giver training almost double from the current requirement to 75 hours.

The overwhelming support for this Initiative shows that people are concerned about the welfare of senior citizens and other dependent adults.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms including:

• sexual abuse
  
• physical abuse
  
• medication errors
  
• aspiration pneumonia
  
• over use of sedating medications
  
• bedsores
  
• broken bones
  
• dehydration & malnutrition

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have helped people for the past 30 years who have been seriously injured due to nursing home abuse or neglect. We are glad to see the caregiver profession gain this extra level of professionalism.

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 Wenatchee World reports that six semi trucks slid off Highway 97 at Blewett Pass this morning due to winter driving conditions. Northbound traffic lanes were blocked near the summit for some time.

The semi truck accidents did not involve collisions and it is unknown whether there were any injuries.

Highway 97 is part of the National Highway System and it is a rural principal arterial. It carries a T-2 freight designation. Highway 97 provides alternates across Washington's east-west mountain passes during closures of US-2.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been involved in trucking accidents, car accidents and motorcycle accidents. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or a loved one killed due to the negligence of another driver, contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

An off-duty Portland, Oregon firefighter has been seriously injured in a fall at Seattle Seahawk's Qwest field. The accident occurred when the unidentified man and his friends were leaving the stadium after a Seahawks game. According to a report from KOMOTV.com, the man fell 35 feet down a stairwell to the concrete below. Some witnesses said the man did not appear to be breathing on his own after the accident. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he is listed in stable condition.

Lt. Allen Oswalt, a spokesman for the fire department, said that the man was with a group of firefighters from Oregon. He has been with the Portland department for at least five years.

Some comments on the KOMONews.com site speculated that the stairwells at the stadium are very steep and do not appear to be very safe in some places. Let's hope there is an investigation into the cause of the accident so that a tragedy like this one never occurs again.

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 slip, trip and fall accidents. In slip, trip and fall cases, a victim is entitled to compensation if the premises are not safe and the public was not warned.

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

As cold weather descends upon us, parents tend to bundle up their children in thick winter coats before taking their child out. However, thick coats, buntings and snow suits may make your child's car seat fit unsafe. The straps on your child's car seat must remain fitted to keep your child safe in a car accident.

According to Jen Ellis, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

"It is unsafe to put a thick coat, snowsuit, or blanket on under the harness of a car seat," Ellis says. "In a crash the coat would compress, making the straps too loose and possibly allowing the child to be ejected from the seat."

To check to see if a coat or a bunting is too thick, put the child in the seat wearing the coat or snowsuit. Adjust the harnesses to fit. Remove the child from the car seat and then remove the coat. Put the child back into the car seat and if the harness is loose -- more than two fingers can fit under it -- then the coat or snowsuit is too thick to be worn in the car seat.

Ellis recommends:

• Tuck a blanket around your hcild after they are in the car seat.
  
• Use a seat cover that fits over the infant and seat after the child is buckled in.
  
• Buckle a child in, then put the child's coat on backwards over their arms.

See the full article about keeping your child safe in their car seat during winter at About.Com.

Inspection stations are available to verify that an infant seat or booster seat is properly installed. In Bellevue, AAA Washington performs the checks. In Seattle, Children's Hospital, Carter Motors, Odessa Brown Children's Clinic , The Car Seat Lady, and Swedish Medical Center perform the inspections. You can also check with The National Highway and Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a list of other inspection stations near you.

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 families of those killed in automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents, bus accidents, bicycle accidents and motorcycle accidents. We travel to the following cities to represent our clients: Bellingham, Everett, Lynnwood, Seattle, Redmond, Kent, Tacoma, Olympia, and Renton.

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

Milton W. Cheung, 55, of Lynnwood has entered a guilty to plea to two felonies, acquiring controlled substances by deception and misbranding drugs reports The Seattle Times.

Cheung was the pharmacy manager at Top Food and Drug pharmacy in Edmonds, Washington and we reported his arrest in September of this year. He is accused of credit card fraud, and selling expired and second hand medications.

It is not known whether anyone suffered health problems due to taking the expired medications. The main concern was for antibiotics and some biologicals.

If you or a loved one has become seriously ill or a loved one has died as a result of the negligence of a healthcare professional, you may need the services of an attorney who is experienced in medical malpractice cases. At The Farber Law Group, we help victims recover compensation for their injuries.

Contact us today for a free case consultation.

The Everett Herald.net reports that an 8th grade student at Cedarcrest Middle School was injured in a pedestrian accident when he crossed the street against the light at 88th Street NE and 67th Avenue NE in Marysville, Washington.

The student, who was walking to school at the time, suffered minor injuries.

Cedarcrest's principal sent a letter home reminding students and their parents.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) provides the following safety tips:

• Walk on sidewalks
• Cross at marked crosswalks or intersections •
• Look left, right and left for traffic
• See and be seen
• Make eye contact with drivers
• Obey traffic signals

Read the WSDOT's full "Safety Tips for Pedestrians."

A legal crosswalk exists at every location where roads intersect even if it is not marked.

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 and the families of those killed in pedestrian accidents. With more than 30 years experience in the greater Seattle area, we will work to insure you are compensated for your injuries.

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