Washington Injury Attorney Blog

Kaylin Burgett, age 23, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in the vehicular homicide death of Jeremy Cole, age 26. Burgett entered an "Alford plea" which allows her to acknowledge that there is enough evidence for a conviction in her case but she did not admit guilt.

Burgett was driving a Honda two years ago with Cole as a passenger when she crashed through a guardrail off of Interstate 5 in Olympia and landed upside down. Cole was killed at the scene.

Vehicular homicide can be charged when a person is killed in an automobile accident and the driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs.

In this case, it will be interesting to see whether Cole's family will file a wrongful death suit against the bar in Lacey, Pints and Quarts, that served Burgett. When representing victims of drunken drivers and their families, a DRAM shop claim may be made if a tavern, liquor store, restaurant or bar servers alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person which subsequently results in the death of a third person. Dram shop liability can vary from one state to the next so it is important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to help you with your case.

Contact The Farber Law Group with more than 30 years experience in representing victims of drunken drivers and their families.

Information for this article is from The Olympian.

The Washington State Department of Licensing along with the Traffic Safety Commission and State Patrol announced in a press release that the state's new alcohol ignition interlock law is slated to go into effect on January 1st. The law allows drivers who have been convicted of a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or those charged with the offense to continue driving under some circumstances if they pay to have an interlock device installed on their vehicle.

Chapter 204-50 of the Washington State code provides for ignition interlock breath alcohol devices.

A breath alcohol ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer which is installed on an automobile. Before a driver can begin driving, they must breathe into the device which analyzes their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If the device detects alcohol, the vehicle will not start.

Drivers who have been found guilty or have been charged with Vehicular Assault or Vehicular Homicide will not be eligible to install the device.

The Legislature and State Patrol believes that the technology will save lives. It deters drivers from drinking and driving while allowing people to resume some activities such as driving to school and work. The Patrol believe it is a useful tool to and will reduce the number of people injured and killed in alcohol related traffic accidents.

Drivers who have been found using another drug besides alcohol will not be allowed to use this device as it does not detect drugs.

Drivers whom the court imposes the device as a condition on their being allowed to drive must provide proof of insurance and pay for the device and its installation.

Every year in Washington State there are nearly 700 traffic fatalities and nearly 45% of those are alcohol-related. Drunk driving accidents leave victims seriously injured including paralysis and brain damage. Mothers Against Drunken Driving (MADD) endorse the interlock method in reducing the number of alcohol related crashes.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one killed due to the actions of a drunken driver, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We are a law firm that specializes in personal injuries, especially those caused by drunken drivers. With offices in Bellevue and Seattle, Washington, we will work to help you recover compensation for your injuries and damages.

Ronald Taylor, 57, of Las Vegas, NV was seriously injured in a head-on collision on Highway 2 thirty-three miles west of Leavenworth reports The Wenatchee World. According to the report, Taylor was a passenger in a 1999 Nissan Pathfinder proceeding West on Highway 2 when a Lexus driven by Terry Vehrs, 47, of Woodway, crossed over the center line and hit the Pathfinder head on. Taylor was taken to Valley General Hospital in Monroe for treatment of his injuries.

According to the report, Vehrs lost control of his vehicle. The condition of the road was snowy at the time. All parties involved in the accident were wearing seat belts.

U.S. Highway 2 is a vital transportation corridor across the Cascade mountains. One section of the road, between Snohomish and Stevens pass has had at least 50 fatal motor vehicle accidents since 1999 with more than 18 of them being "crossover" crashes.

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 and truck accidents due to the negligence of another driver.

Contact The Farber Law Group if you have questions about your accident or that of a loved one.

As Bellevue, Seattle and Western Washington cleans up after a big snowstorm, many sidewalks and driveways are still covered with snow and are very icy. Walking around town, it is interesting to see that some businesses and homeowners have been very proactive and shoveled their sidewalks while their next door neighbor may have let the ice and snow accumulate. So, the questions must be asked, "If someone slips and falls on the ice on an unshoveled sidewalk, who is at fault?"

In Washington State, homeowners and business can be held liable if someone slips and falls on a sidewalk that has not been shoveled or de-iced. Property owners are responsible for the condition of their property and for notifying -- by posting a sign -- if there is a hazard.

Premises liability includes accidents when someone is injured because a property owner was negligent in keeping their property free and clear of conditions which can cause an accident. This includes restaurants, grocery stores, apartment building and retail establishment. A person is entitled to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and for pain and suffering.

Slip-and-fall injuries can be serious including a broken hip, broken wrist or even a head injury.

f you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney who works on a contingency basis with a free first consultation. A qualified and experienced personal injury attorney will take into factors such as:

• Was the sidewalk initially shoveled and de-iced?
• Was snow falling?
• What was the time period between the end of snow fall and the fall?

These and other factors are important in proving negligence on the part of the property owner.

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 in premise liability and slip, trip and fall cases. We have obtained compensation for our clients for the injuries they have suffered.

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

Seattle's KOMONews.com reports that Chirstopher Friesen, 21, suffered life threatening injuries -- puncture wounds, crushing injuries and abrasions -- when he was attacked by two pit bull dogs on Christmas morning. According to the report, one dog had Friesen by his head and arm and the other by his legs and feet. Doctors said he would have been killed if he was a smaller person.

According to the Molalla, Oregon police, Friesen was walking home from a friend's house when he was attacked. A neighbor, hearing his cries for help, beat the dogs off with a shovel. The dogs eventually left the area and police are now looking for them.

We hope the authorities find these dogs before they attack and injure another person. We also hope Mr. Friesen recovers fully from his injuries.

Around 800,00 people a year are bit by a dog and of these, almost 20% require medical treatment. In 2007, there were 33 fatal dog attacks in the United States. The number of dog fatalities has risen every year for the past decade.

In this case, the dogs' owner is obviously negligent in allowing his/her dogs to roam free. The victim in this case should be able to collect a substantial settlement towards medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of wages and rehabilitation costs.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious injuries, including dog bites, caused by the negligence of another person.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

Now that the snow in Western Washington and Seattle is abating, motorists are digging their cars out of snow banks, ditches and even their own driveways. It's important that people take care in doing so. The following tips can help keep you safe and avoid an auto accident.

• Dig your tail pipe out -- you don't want to be overcome with carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to extricate your car while its exhaust system is clogged.
  
• Clear the snow from atop your car, windshield and rear view mirrors. Obviously snow on your mirrors and wind shield will prevent visibility, but snow slipping from your car top while your are driving may also prevent visibility and cause an accident.
  
• Wear bright clothing, put up a road flair and use flashlights while digging your car out on a roadside in the evening or after dark. You don't want to become a pedestrian accident statistic.
  
• Take breaks while doing the digging so you don't get a back injury.

This information was brought to you as a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car and pedestrian accidents.

Contact us if you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another driver.

Eighteen members of a Burbank, California bound Alaska Airlines flight were sickened when fumes from the de-icer fluid permeated a Boeing 737 at SeaTac. The fumes caused eye irritation and nausea among the crew and passengers, some who required eye washes at the airport. The pilots and five flight attendants were taken to Highlight Medical Center in Burien as a precaution.

An Alaska Airlines spokesperson, Caroline Boren, said that the airlines is trying to figure out how a concentration of the de-icer fluid was so strong in the plane. Boren said, "A mild smell during de-icing isn't unusual, eye irritation is."

De-icer fluid is used to keep ice from accumulating on an airplane before it takes off.

According to the article in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the passengers and crew were able to take later flights about four hours later.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have received serious injuries due to the negligence of another person. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Bellevue Reporter reports that a little girl was injured and taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue when a tent over the Group Health Ice Arena in Bellevue's downtown park collapsed. According to fire department personnel, the tent collapsed under the weight of snow and ice and fell on the 10 people or so who were skating at the time.

After the accident the Bellevue police department cautioned that people with flat roofs, sheet metal roofs and the like remove the snow to reduce the load. In 1996, car ports, boat sheds and flat roofs collapsed after a heavy snow storm.

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

Contact The Farber Law Group today; With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, we will provide you a free and confidential case evaluation.

The Washington State Patrol reports that 25-year-old Aron Damaranville was killed and five other people were injured when a car slid into the path of an oncoming pickup truck on an icy road near Westport, Washington. The driver of the pickup and the driver of the car were injured as well as two passengers in the car. Damaranville was a passenger in the car.

Washington roads and highways have been inundated with snow and the driving conditions are treacherous this week leading up to Christmas. The Washington State Patrol urges people to stay home if at all possible.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, our experienced personal injury attorneys represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed in car accidents.

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

Information for this blog is from KomoNews.com.

A Federal Law mandating that all public swimming pools and hot tubs must have a new and safe drain cover installed -- an "anti-drowning cover" went into effect yesterday. The new cover is to prevent young people from being held under water by suction caused by the drain. Congress enacted the Pool and Spa Safety Act on December 19, 2007.

The law was created after a Minnesota child -- a six-year-old girl -- was severely injured when she sat on a drain in a wading pool and her intestines were sucked out of her body. The little girl was injured because the drain cover had been removed. Drain covers should be screwed into place. According to the Consumer Product Safety commission, the pressure on a pool drain can be up to 300 pounds per square inch.

The granddaughter of former Secretary of State James A. Baker died when she the suction of a pool drain kept her under water and she drowned. The law was created because at least one person was killed each year because of a pool drain.

By law, all public pools and hot tubs must have the drain covers installed or shut down.

Dangerous and defective products can cause many injuries and even deaths. In a product liability case, a product manufacturer, the wholesaler and ind the installer, retail store or contractor might be held liable.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have a loved a loved one due to the negligence of another or due to a unsafe product or hazard that could have prevented. Wrongful death cases are often brought on behalf of a deceased child or spouse by the surviving spouse or parent.

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

A Kent teenager was seriously hurt in a sledding accident as the sled he was riding was being towed by a car. According to a report on Seattle's KomoNews.com, the car turned a corner and the sled did not negotiate the turn and the sled went under neath a parked vehicle at 226th Street and 127th Avenue in Kent.

The teen, who was not named, was said to have suffered serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The age of the driver of the car was unknown.

This information was provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured because of the negligence of another person.

Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

A former massage therapist and her friend have been charged with three felonies after they attempted to draw the funds from and close the bank account of a 78-year-old dementia patient after one of the women married him. The women, 56-year-old Sujinda Yahatta and her accomplice, 29-year-old Kulany Roeksbutr, both with Thai connection, are being charged with kidnapping, attempted theft and obtaining a signature by deception or duress.

According to the story in The Seattle Times, Yahatta, who had given the elderly man several massages in her capacity as a masseuse, at the Greenwood Point Adult Family home in Issaquah took the man from the home one day in November claiming that she and Roeksbutr were taking him out to lunch. Instead, they took him to the Bellevue Courthouse and had a judge marry the two. After the marriage ceremony, they proceeded to a Bank of America branch in Bellevue where they attempted to close his bank account and withdrawal $23,000. Alert bank employees called the man's guardian, Eldon Kenney, 73, of Bellevue and alerted him.

Apparently, the elderly man has dementia so severe that he does not remember the marriage and he does not remember ever having met Yahatta in the past.

If convicted, the two women could be sentenced to up to 7 years in prison. Their arraignment is December 30th. Papers have already been filed to annul the sham marriage.

Cases of undue influence occur far too frequently. Undue influence refers to when a person takes advantage and wields power over another person who is in a diminished psychological or physical state. People often use undue influence in order to take financial or sexual control over the weaker person. One case of undue influence of late was a former Whitworth college trustee that slowly bilked a Bellevue widow of $150,000.

We see many elder abuse cases and, as in this case, many times an elderly person is pressured to "give a gift", sign a loan document or transfer property to the person in power over them. The legal question is, "Was this vulnerable adult able to understand the details of the transaction that he/she was involved in?" The court will look to see if the elderly person was discouraged in seeking counsel from a trustworthy source like a family member, guardian or physician and whether the person made the decision in an appropriate setting with a time frame that was reasonable.

If your loved one has been a victim of elder abuse, you should contact The Farber Law Group with more than 30 years experience of successfully representing case of elder abuse and neglect. We have a track record of obtaining compensation for victims for abuse and neglect that took place in a nursing home setting.

Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Nationwide and in Washington State, traffic accident fatalities are down. Not so in Pierce County. During the first twelve days in the month of December, there were ten traffic fatalities and four of those were in Pierce County. In fact, traffic fatalities in Pierce County make up 40% of the total traffic fatalities for the entire State.

Throughout Washington State, the number of traffic fatalities for December is lower than in the previous five years; In Pierce County, the number of traffic fatalities is higher than in any of the previous five years.

According to The Tacoma New Tribune, fatalities include:

• A 70-year-old-man killed by a hit-and-run accident
• A 21-year-old man killed when his vehicle was broadsided by a SUV filled with teenagers who ran a stop sign.
• 2 people hit by a suspected DUI.

In addition to the fatal accidents, nine people were injured in car accidents, one a pregnant woman, in a 12 day period.

Pierce County encompasses all or part of the following cities: Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Carbonado, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Enumclaw, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, Pacific, Puyallup, Roy, Ruston, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma, University Place and Wilkeson.

Police say that motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and the darkness of the winter months are two large factors in traffic accidents. Police recommend people not driving over 35 or 40 miles per hour on most roads due to lighting conditions and the conditions of highways and roads.

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 victims of drunken drivers. With more than 30 years experience in personal injury law, we will work to help you receive compensation for your injuries.

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

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has cited FM Earth (also known as Facemyer's Backhoe and Dozer Services) in the death of Roger A. Ferenbaugh, age 54, who died in a construction accident. Ferenbaugh was killed in September when he was using a saw to cut through concrete pipe. The blade apparently kicked back and hit Ferenbaugh in the neck.

OSHA fined FM Earth $1,500 for each of two citations:

• Failing to maintain an accident prevention program in not instructing employees to support material during the cutting process.
  
• Failing to train employees adequately on the use of the STIHL TS400 Cutquik Saw in safe methods for cutting concrete pipe.

This is the first time FM Earth, a small company, has been cited; they have had no other accidents reported.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a construction accident, you should hire an experienced personal injury attorney with proven results in obtaining compensation for victims of construction accidents. At The Farber Law Group, our lawyers are familiar with worker's compensation laws and laws regarding 3rd parties. While money cannot fully compensate for a serious and debilitating injury or the loss of a loved one, compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings can help insure a stable future for the victim and their family. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

See our Construction Accident Resources.

A 29-year-old Seattle construction worker was rescued after being buried up to his waist in dry concrete in a construction accident reports The Seattle Times. The man, who worked for Ash Grove Cement Company on East Marginal Way South, became trapped when a wall of the concrete powder collapsed, tipping over the backhoe he was operating and piling on top of him. It took firefighters about 1-1/2 hours to extricate the man, who at times helped the firefighters by wielding a shovel himself.

The man was alert and conscious when he was freed and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of minor injuries.

Some construction accidents can cause permanent injuries or death. If you or a loved one has been severely injured in a construction accident, or if a loved one has been killed, you need the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience and we will work to help you receive fair and just compensation for your damages including lost wages, medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

The Washington State Patrol is teaming up with local cities like Bellevue to catch drunk drivers during the holidays. According to the BellevueReporter.com there were 31 alcohol-related traffic deaths in 2007. The aim of the DUI emphasis patrols is to lower the number of alcohol related accidents and deaths.

The Washington State Patrol plan on working overtime shifts as part of this program with emphasis on Friday and Saturday nights as that is when most holiday parties are held.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Located in Bellevue, Washington our injury attorneys work to insure that car accident victims are compensated for their injuries.

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

A 21-year-old Puyallup man was killed in a car accident around 10:30 Saturday night after a car full of teenagers drove through a stop sign without headlights on and plowed into the driver's side of the car the man was driving. Shawn Ausbun, 21, was driving his car home from work and was traveling west on 118th Street East when he was broadsided. The force of the impact knocked the two cars off of the road.

According to Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer, as reported by the Tacoma New Tribune, a Ford Expedition with seven teenagers inside pulled a prank at a friend's house and then sped off without head lights on. The driver of the Expedition may have been speeding when he ran the stop sign at 118th Street East and 98th Avenue East in Puyallup.

After the accident, all but one of the teens fled the accident scene. The one that stayed at the accident scene was injured. The report said that the 17 year old driver went to the South Hill Mall area and phoned 9-1-1 and reported his car stolen. Police said that five of the teens that fled returned to the accident scene, identified the Expedition's driver and the story of what really happened unfolded.

The death of Ausbun is certainly tragic. The repercussions will also be life-altering for the driver of the Expedition. Besides Ausbun's senseless death, fleeing the accident scene and filing a false police report speaks volumes about the character of the driver of the Expedition.

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. We also represent the families of those killed in filing a wrongful death suit. In Washington State, a wrongful death suit can be filed after an auto accident if the accident was caused by a negligent or wrongful act by another person. The Washington State wrongful death statute can be brought on behalf of a of the deceased by surviving parents, spouse or children.

Contact The Farber Law Group for more information. We have more than 30 years experience in successfully navigating Washington's wrongful death statute.

A driver who was "running" a red light caused a car accident and crashed into a vehicle driven by Kristen Kennedy of Rock Island who was on her way to Wenatchee Valley College to take her final exams. Kennedy complained of soreness after the accident.

The accident occurred at the corner of Ninth and Miller in Wenatchee when a Chevrolet Blazer headed south bound on Miller passed through the red light crashing into Kennedy.

According to The Wenatchee World, a five-month old infant was taken to Central Washington Hospital to check for injuries.

Stopping for a red light is a basic "rule of the road." Even emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police officers make full stops at right before proceeding through a red light. Statute RCW 46.61.055 sets forth the rules of the road for traffic control signals. Penalties for running a red light can be stiff and police said the driver of the Blazer in this accident will be cited.

In a an accident like this where the victim complains of soreness, sometimes a claims adjuster will call immediately and offer a settlement. As personal injury attorneys, we recommend that you not speak to an adjuster and wait a few weeks to find out the extent of your injuries. What might appear as "soreness" right after the accident may turn out to be severe whiplash or even a fracture. Sometimes the shock of the accident masks the injury. Take your time before signing your rights away and seek medical treatment if the soreness is worse the next day. With our experience we find that people who seek medical treatment soon after an accident can avert developing a permanent medical condition.

If you have any questions about your accident, consult with the experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at The Farber Law Group and read "When Should I Hire a Lawyer?". We will work to insure your rights are protected and help you receive compensation for any serious injuries.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

Highway 7 at Highway 702 in Pierce County was closed for approximately two hours on Monday afternoon after a logging truck and pickup truck were involved in an accident reports The Tacoma News Tribune. The State Department of Transportation had to set up a detour for about two hours before the wreck was cleared.

Logging truck drivers generally have a lot of experience and are very skilled at their jobs. The number of logging truck accidents have been decreasing over the past few years. There was no report on the cause of this accident or whether there were any injuries.

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 trucking accidents and the families of those who have been killed.

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

Firearm deer hunting season has opened in many parts of the country. One article that caught my eye, and posted under "Weird News" in bnd.com was that during the opening of the season in Illinois, four hunters were injured and one of those died. Fire arms accidents? No, tree stand related accidents. However, as we have written in the past, tree-stand accidents are far from uncommon and maybe they don't belong under "weird news."

When you think of it, hunters are hauling a lot of gear up a tree onto a platform that is 10-30 feet off of the ground. It's not uncommon for hunters to fall, often suffering serious internal injuries, brain injury, spinal cord damage and even death. Sometimes, a loaded gun will be dropped or bumped and the hunter accidentally shoots him/herself or someone else.

"Hunters need to be vigilant about firearm safety at all times, especially when transporting their firearms, moving them into and out of tree stands, and whenever they are in the field," said Jeff Hopkins, administrator of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Safety Education Section.- "While we had only a few tree stand accidents during the first weekend of the firearm season, most tree stand mishaps are preventable if hunters make sure their stand is structurally sound and they always wear a fall-arrest system full body harness."

If you're going to be hunting using a tree stand, do yourself a favor and wear your harness and take an online tree stand safety course created by the Treestand Manufacturers Association.

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 due to the negligence of another person, or because of a faulty or defective product.

Contact The Farber Law Group if you'd like to talk about your serious injury accident and you think you might need a lawyer.

Police have charged Anna Hanibal with Driving Under the Influence (DUI), reckless driving and assault in the third degree in the pedestrian accident at SE 16th in SE Portland reports NWCN.com.

According to the report, an unidentified 40-year-old man was in the crosswalk at SE 16th around 1:15 am when he was struck and seriously injured including two broken legs.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunken driver, you should contact a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney will work to help you receive compensation for your injuries including medical bills, rehabilitation costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group, a law firm located in the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years.

Two young women, ages 18 and 19, along with six others were charged by Minnesota authorities for abusing patients in the nursing home where they worked as aides. Brianna Broitzman, 19, and Ashton Larson, 18, are charged with misdemeanor assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver and disorderly conduct. Six other young women are also charged but they are juveniles so their names have not been released.

The allegations stem from the young women's part-time work at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The teenagers allegedly spat in patients' mouth, taunted them, and groped their breasts and genitals. One is even accused of sticking her bare butt in the face of one resident and other allegedly stuck her finger in a patient's rectum.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, there was a pattern of abuse of the patients -- most of whom suffered from Alzheimer's disease or dementia -- between January 1 and May 1 of this year.

This egregious conduct makes anyone with a loved one in a nursing home very concerned. Many people are writing blogs questioning how something like this could occur. "Where were the supervisors?" "Were these young aides properly trained?"

Nursing home abuse is becoming more and more prevalent with an aging population. Most nursing home are staffed with professionals and have adequate training. However, in some cases, nursing home operators take short cuts with training and supervisory staff and the patients/residents clearly suffer.

Nursing homes are expect to insure that each and every resident receives care which will allow them to maintain the highest physical, mental and psychological well-being. If the case of these Minnesota teenagers is proven, then the system has really failed these elderly and vulnerable adults.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or died as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing nursing home residents and their families. With our help, you may be able to recover compensation for damages suffered including pain and suffering.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has fined Cardinal Coated Glass of Tumwater $3,500 for "safety violations" in the construction accident that took the life of Christopher Benson, 23, of Lacey.

The construction accident occurred in August when Benson was found dead on the plant floor. The investigation of Benson's death found that he had tripped and fallen on the edge of a pane of glass, severing an artery.

In specifying the fine, the Department of L & I said that the steps in the plant were "too narrow and far apart." According to King 5.com, Cardinal Glass may appeal the fine.

Benson was employed by Cardinal Glass for two years and was the father of a 3-year-old son.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Our construction accident attorneys represent people who have been seriously injured in workplace accidents. We also represent the families of those killed in wrongful death suits. While money cannot fully compensate for the loss or a loved one or for serious and debilitating injuries, it can provide money for rehabilitation and to secure a stable future for a worker's family.

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

The Washington State Department of Health has suspended the license of Dr. Ceferino Fernandez, 62, a Seattle physician and surgeon who has practiced medicine in Washington State since 1984. According to the filing papers, Fernandez allegedly had non-consensual sex with a female patient who came to him for treatment of stomach pains. Fernandez has not been charged with a crime at this point and has 20 days to respond to his license suspension. Fernandez cannot practice or work as a physician in Washington pending a hearing.

Dr. Fernandez admits he had sex with the patient but he claims it was consensual. According to the report, the alleged victim came to the clinic on October 25th with stomach pains. She says the doctor fondled her breasts, engaged in oral sex and had sexual intercourse with her. She said that a similar incident happened several years ago but she was too embarrassed and blamed herself so she did not report it. This time, however, she went to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and reported the physician. To view the charges, see the Department of Health web-site.

The alleged incident occurred at the Family Medical Clinic near Rainier Beach.

There are many forms of medical malpractice. In Washington State medical malpractice can be charged if a doctor's conduct falls below the "standard of care." This patient may or may not have suffered physical injuries, she may have been traumatized and may need counseling for psychological damage.

At The Farber Law Group, we represent people who have been taken advantage of by their physician or other people with power over them. We pursue a claim to recover compensation for any physical and emotional damage. Compensation may include money for medical treatment, counseling and for pain and suffering. Victims deserve to recover compensation to help them receive the psychological care they need to recover from the trauma of sexual abuse.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. For a free, compassionate and confidential case evaluation, contact us.

Ann L. Closser, 51, of Omak and her passenger, Joshua K. Closser, 30, were both taken to Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak with neck, shoulder and back injuries after the pick up truck they were traveling in skidded on ice, lost control and rolled three times.

The one-vehicle accident occurred on Highway 155, Southeast of Omak, around 7:10 am as the vehicle was traveling Southbound.

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 car accidents. We have more than 30 years experience in the Pacific Northwest including Spokane, Tri-Cities, Auburn, Kent, Everett, Bellingham, Seattle and Bellevue. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries.

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

The Stevens County coroner has ruled that the death of Alex Niskanen, age 12, on Thanksgiving an accident. Niskanen was shot in the left shoulder by an arrow when he and his family was visiting friends south of Chewelah.

According to the coroner, Niskanen's axillary artery was severed by the arrow and he bled to death.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Niskansen was shot by a younger friend but the friend's name was not released. Niskansen attended Deer Park school where there is a National Archery in the Schools Program but it is not know whether Niskansen was a participant in the program.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Located in Bellevue, Washington, we have more than 30 years experience representing people who have been seriously injured due the negligence of another person. We also bring wrongful death suits against negligent persons on behalf of a victim's family.

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