Washington Injury Attorney Blog

A Seattle TV Station, KIROTV.com, reports that 3,260 patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Miami, Florida have received notices after they had a colonoscopy recommending that they should be tested for HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. The letters were sent out after it was discovered that endoscopic equipment was not properly sterilized when the hospital performed a review of their procedures.

The letter said that there is only a small chance that patients weere infected because it was only rubber tubing that did not touch patients that had not been sterilized. However, there is a small chance that there could have been a back flow from a previous patient said Dr. John Vara, the VA chief of staff.

Letters went out to all patients who had endoscopic procedures between May 2004 and March 12, 2009. Patients should cal 1-877-575-7256 for more information.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury law firm that represents people for medical malpractice, hospital malpractice and pharmacy malpractice. If you have severe injury or illness due to the negligence of a health care practitioner, contact The Farber Law Group. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Seattle Times reports that Union International Food Co., of Union City, California, issued a recall on March 30 of some of their spice products which are sold in Washington State and other Western States because of potential Salmonella infection. The spices are mainly sold to wholesalers, distributors, restaurant suppliers and restaurants. However, their white and black pepper are packaged 5 oz retail containers .

According to the report, 42 people have become ill including four in the Portland, Oregon area. Health officials initiated an investigation after a multi-state Salmonella outbreak and discovered the Salmonella in an open container of Lian How White pepper at a restaurant where several victims of the illness ate.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the young, the frail and elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal cramping. In the young and elderly, the Salmonella infection can get into the bloodstream and cause severe illness including arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Lian How brand spices and Uncle Chen brand white pepper and black pepper are effected by the recall. Check the www.ufunionfood.com web-site for more information or call the company information line at 510-471-6799.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious Salmonella infection which required hospitalization, you should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in representing people with food borne illness. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be able to recover your medical costs and compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

A construction worker was hit by a locomotive in a tunnel project in Kenmore and was injured reports The Seattle Times. According to the Times, the man was injured on Monday morning and taken to the hospital. There were no details on his condition.

The locomotive was part of a train that ferries equipment and employees through a tunnel which will provide an outfall from the Brightwater sewage-treatment plant to the Puget Sound.

Brightwater will serve King and Snohomish counties and treats and disinfects waste water.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue that represents construction workers and other who have been seriously injured in work-related accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com for a free case evaluation.

A lost load caused damage to several vehicles on Interstate 5 on the Ship Canal Bridge on Friday morning. Apparently, a steel ramp fell off of a semi truck and landing on the highway. According to a Washington State Patrol media release, approximately 24 vehicles ran over the ramp.

Fortunately, there were no personal injuries but several vehicles were damaged including flat tires, bent wheels and a fuel tank puncture to a pickup truck which caused a gas leak and fire.

Washington Vehicle Code RCW 46.61.655 -- Dropping Load, other Materials -- Covering, is a statute which covers unsecured or lost loads. It is also known as "Maria's Law." The statute provides that failure to secure a load is a second degree misdemeanor. The fine can vary from between $216-$5,000 and possible jail time.

If you have been involved in a car accident due to another motorists' negligence, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious injuries due to car accidents including accidents caused by lost loads.

The Seattle Times reports that a young woman was struck and killed while attempting to cross Interstate 5 near the Everett mall on Sunday Night. The report said that the woman was perhaps between 19 and 25 years of age. She was killed around 8:30 at I-5 near State Route 526. She was hit by one vehicle and then run over by another.

This is the second pedestrian accident death on the I-5 within the month. Last week, a Fort Lewis soldier was killed as he attempted to cross the I-5 near Fort Lewis.

We all know that no pedestrians are permitted on Interstate Highways and the death of these two young people is a tragedy, not only for the victim but for the motorists who accidentally hit them.

This information is provided by the 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 pedestrian accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Car accidents, sporting accidents, a fall, or a bumping the head at the local hardware store are all accidents which can cause a brain injury and change how the brain works. A minor car accident, a nursing home patient falling out of bed, or a young soccer player heading a ball can may seem not to be serious accidents but they can result in life-altering brain injuries or even death.

What to look for after an accident:

• Monitor the accident victim -- If a person has been in an accident where they have hit their head or their head has been bumped, even if they have never become unconscious, you should monitor them.
• Dizziness, headache, confused thinking and vomiting are warning signs -- if the accident victim displays any of these symptoms, take them to the emergency room immediately.
• Monitor changes in condition -- if the accident victim's symptoms change -- a head ache worsens, they become sleepy or any other change in their behavior within 12 hours of their head injury, they may have a brain bleed and they should be taken to the emergency room immediately.
• Medication -- Be more aware if the person is on blood thinner medication.
• Senior Citizens -- Be more vigilant if the accident victim is elderly or frail.
• Monitor young athletes.
• Take the patient to a trauma center -- In the greater Seattle area and Washington State, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle is the place where victims of serious accidents are taken. Harborview has a neurosurgeon on call which is really important when a person has a head injury and time can be of the essence.

For more information:

• Centers for Disease Control -- Concussion in Youth Sports
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Seniors

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damages due to car accidents, construction accidents, slip, trip and fall accidents and nursing home neglect.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another person, you need a personal injury attorney who understands your injuries and will work to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing accident victims and their families. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A 10-year-old boy was attacked and bitten by a pit-bull dog while riding his scooter on the sidewalk in front of his school reports a media release by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

In the release, the public information officer said that the dog came across the street in front of the Beaverton International School at 17770 SW Blanton Street in unincorporated Aloha, Oregon and attacked the boy. The dog started biting the boy in the legs. The boy kicked at the dog and the boy's father and a neighbor came over to assist the boy. The boy's injuries were not life-threatening, though he had several bites to both of his legs.

The owner of the dog is Brian Rider, age 35, lives at 17735 SW Blanton street. This is the 3rd documented account of this dog biting someone. Rader was cited for violating the Washington County Dangerous Dog ordinance.

Pit bull dog breeds are in the news in Oregon a lot this month as Senate Bill 667 was introduced to ban the breed. The bill is highly contentious as some people have contacted their legislators with stories of how their pit bulls are beloved pets and members of the family. They say that pit bull owners should not be punished for the irresponsible acts of a few owners. Similar bill are pending in several states including Washington D.C., Texas, Florida, and Hawaii. Earlier in 2009, Montana defeated a bill that would ban pit bulls.

Oregon's dangerous dog law, O.R.S. Sec 609.098 makes dog owners strictly liable for economic damages if a person is injured by a dog.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dog bites and dog attacks. With our help, you may be able to recover compensation for your dog bite injuries including loss of wages, medical bills, rehabilitation costs and for pain and suffering (non-economic damages).

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free and confidential case evaluation. Our offices are in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released a new study which rates roof strength in small SUVs. The results from this new study inform car buyers on how well an SUV will fare in a rollover car accident.

The IIHS developed the new rating system because studies show that passengers in rollover crashes do better in a rollover crash when a vehicle's roof is stronger roof. To earn a IIHS rating of "GOOD", the SUV must have a roof that is twice as strong as the minimum federal safety standard.

SUVs with Good Ratings

• Volkswagen Tiguan
• Subaru Forester
• Honda Element
• Jeep Patriot

SUVs with Acceptable Ratings

• Suzuki Grand Vitara
• Chevrolet Equinox/Pontiac Torrent
• Toyota RAV4
• Nissan Rogue
• Mitsubishi Outlander

SUVs with Marginal Ratings

• Honda CR-V
• Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner

SUVs with Poor Ratings

• Kia Sportage/Hundai Tucson

According to IIHS statistics, 10,000 people are killed every year in rollover car accidents. Roofs that are built stronger crush less, decreasing the risk that passengers will hit the roof in a crash. Stronger roofs also keeps a vehicle intact better in a rollover accident and passengers are less likely to be ejected with the doors stay closed and the roof remains intact.

We anticipate that our roof strength test will drive improved rollover crash protection the same way our frontal offset and side impact consumer test programs have led to better protection in these kinds of crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

See the IIHS web-site for a full report and a video on roof strength rating system.

This information is provided 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.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident, contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Seattle construction worker was injured in a fall and was rescued by Seattle firefighters this morning. The construction accident occurred around 10:37am at a construction site at 635 Elliot Ave. W.

The Seattle Times reports that the worker, a man in his 30's, was taken in Harborview Medical Center and was in stable condition.

The worker was working on a five-story building at the time of accident.

Every year in Washington State, around 100 construction workers are killed on the job according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. Falls are the leading cause of accidents. Falls can be serious resulting in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones and even death.

A worker who is injured on the job deserves fair compensation to cover loss of wages, rehabilitation and for pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, contact The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle-based law firm with more than 30 years experience in representing construction accident victims.

Call The Farber Law Group today at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com

In a tragic parking lot accident in Federal Way, a driver in her 80's accidentally hit the accelerator of her car instead of reverse and hit and killed her friend who was also in her 80's.

A report on KOMONews.com reports that the pedestrian accident occurred in the Top Food and Drug Store parking lot at 31515 20th Avenue South in Federal Way on Sunday around 12:00pm. The two women had been shopping together and the driver accidentally accelerated as her friend was getting into the car.

Police said that no charges will be filed in the accident.

Elderly drivers face many challenges. Car accident statistics show that after 70 years of age, the rate of car accidents increases. Elderly people may experience decline in their health including slower reaction time, poor vision, and cognitive skills. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publication reports that in 1997 while seniors were 9% of the population they accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities and 17% of pedestrian fatalities.A Taskforce made up of team members of the Department of Licensing, Washington State Patrol and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission defined At Risk Drivers as:

Drivers whose behavior, physical or cognitive capabilities, or other traits present substantial risk to either themselves or others.

This information is provided 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 pedestrian accidents, car accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a news release regarding a voluntary recall of girl's shoes manufactured in China due to the surface paint on the sole containing excessive levels of lead which violates federal lead paint standards. Nordstrom department store began as a shoe retailer in Seattle and its corporate headquarters and flagship store are located in downtown Seattle.

The shoe which are sold exclusively at Nordstrom stores across the United states carry the Nordstrom brand. All recalled shoes have "Nordstrom" printed on the insole and include the following six shoe styles:

1. “Clarice-Fab” flats are bone colored with a bow.
2. “Eva-Fab” are bone colored T-strap sandals.
3. “Fern-Fab” are ankle strap sandals sold in bone, pink, white, blue polka-dot or pink polka-dot.
4. “Lilly-Fab” are fuchsia gingham ballerina flats with a bow.
5. “Rita-Fab” are ankle strap dress shoes sold in ivory linen, pink linen, white linen, cafe satin, silver satin or white satin.
6. “Vivi-Fab” are open-toe dress shoes in bone, white, green polka-dot, lavender polka-dot or yellow polka-dot. 

Contact Nordstrom for a full refund or exchange.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-455-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Washington State Patrol media release says that troopers in Jefferson and Clallam counties will be performing emphasis patrols between March 18 and 20 during daytime hours focusing on children who are not properly restrained in car seats, boosters seats and seat belts.

In conducting the emphasis patrol, the Patrol cites statistics which rate car accidents as the leading cause of fatalities of children between the ages of 2 and 14. Lieutenant Clint Casebolt says that the death rate is "in part to the nonuse or improper use of child seats and seat belts.” In fact, a study published in the journal Pediatrics says that a properly positioned car seat can reduce car accident injury by 43%.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Agency has a web-site which provides locations where you can have your child's seat checked to make sure it fits and is installed correctly. The WSP reports that you can call 1-800-BUCK-L-UP or visit www.800bucklup.org to find a location where you can have a car seat check up.

Guidelines for children in cars:

• Children must be in a booster seat until their eighth birthday unless they are 4'9" tall or taller.
  
• Children under the age of 13 must ride in the backseat when practical.
  
• Infants must be in a rear facing seat until one year of age and at least 20 pounds in weight.
• No infant should ever be placed in front of an active air bag.
  
• Choose the proper seat for the style of car and for the size of child.

This information is provided by The 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. With our help, you may recover compensation for your losses. We have more than 30 years experience representing auto accident victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-455-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free case consultation.

An autistic teen age boy who got stuck in a yard container while he was crushing debris, was accidentally picked up in the container and dumped into a trash truck. The truck driver ran the compactor and the boy suffered injuries including a broken pelvis, cuts and lacerations to the face, elbows and knees and bruises on his torso. The truck driver discovered the boy when he stopped to pick up another container and the boy, who was trying to climb out, fell out of his truck.

The accident occurred in front of the boy's home in Portland, Oregon reports Seattle's KOMO News.com. His parents had called 911 about the time the boy was discovered by the driver.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of another. Contact us for a free and confidential case evaluation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued, in conjunction with Seattle Cotton Works of Bellevue, Washington, a voluntary recall of the firm's hooded sweatshirt. The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which could pose a strangulation hazard.

The CPSC issued guidelines in 1996 that recommended alternate closures at the neck and short drawstrings at the waist of children's jackets and sweatshirts for clothing in sizes 2T to 12. The CPSC issued their recommendation saying that drawstrings are a hidden hazard which led to the deaths of 22 children and 48 non-fatal incidents prior to 1996 when drawstrings got caught on playground equipment, bus doors, cribs, etc. The majority of death were on playground slides when the knot on the drawstring got caught on the top of the slide. Victims ranged from 2-8 years or age. The CPSC's guidelines are voluntary.

While no injuries have been attributed to the Seattle Cotton Works garments, Seattle Cotton Works is recalling approximately 40,000 hooded sweatshirts sold through Kohl's Department stores. Call Seattle Cotton works at (800)533-8922 click here for more information: http://www.seattlecottonrecall.com/

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous or defective products. Washington State has a Uniform Commercial Code which allows people injured by a defective or dangerous product to hold the manufacturer or responsible parties liable.

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

A school bus was involved in a collision with a log truck and at least two other vehicles 10 miles south of Forks, Washington on an icy Highway 101. There were no students on board the school bus at the time of the accident reports The Seattle Times.

The accident occurred around 7am on Monday morning.

Forks is the setting for the popular teenage book series, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and the movie of the same name. The series has sold 42 million copies worldwide.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury law firm that represents people with serious injuries and whiplash due to car accidents. With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, we are here to assist you with your accident claim.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

A West Seattle High School athlete, Mackenzie "mac" Clay, has settled with the Seattle School district for $15 million after he suffered a spinal cord injury in his neck two years ago at wrestling practice reports The Seattle Times.

Clay, who is paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair, maintained in his lawsuit that the School District was negligent because the coaches did not follow standard wrestling-safety procedures. The coaches only used one mat on the concrete floor of the West Seattle High School cafeteria even though there were more mats available at the time. The student athletes were confined to a small area because of the lack of mats and Clay was injured when two other students fell on him. The suit also cited the fact that the coaches did not have Washington Interscholastic Activities Association certification.

Clay was an athletic senior when he was injured. He had lettered in three sports. He was also a cellist in the Seattle Youth Symphony and had played the cello since he was six years old.

The $15 million settlement is to be used to pay for Clay's medical bills and an attendant. His future medical needs are projected at $29 million. The Seattle School district paid $1 million of the settlement and their insurer, Washington Schools Risk Management Pool covered the rest.

This information is provided 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 due to another's negligence. General negligence can cover any accident that is caused by negligence or carelessness including failing to secure a swimming pool, failing to install playground equipment properly (i.e., a soccer goal or a baseball diamond backstop), etc.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury because of negligence, you need a personal injury attorney to represent you. The Farber Law Group, with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, has more than 30 years experience representing clients in personal injury cases.

Contact The Farber Law Group because you deserve fair and equitable compensation for your injuries.

The Seattle Times reports that King County Metro Transit has settled a wrongful death suit with a family whose son was killed in a car accident with a metro bus. The wrongful death settlement amount of $1.5 million was disclosed by the parents of Michael Dahlquist, age 21, of Auburn who was killed in April of 2007 on Highway 164 in Enumclaw when the truck he was driving in was hit by a Transit bus driven by Sandie Olosky, age 37, of Issaquah.

The wrongful death lawsuit revealed that Olosky had a history of negligent driving. According to Dhalquist's father, Jeff Dahlquist, "This woman was a documented danger and Metro failed to protect the public. This incompetence cost my son his life." Olosky was fined $250 and cited for negligent driving and lost her commercial license in the accident that killed Dahlquist. She had prior offenses dating back 10 years including a hit-and-run accident and a reckless driving accident. Despite her driving history, Metro Transit kept her employed.

A wrongful death lawsuit allows the family whose loved one has been killed due to another's negligence to sue for damages including the child's lost wages and future earnings. In this case, which the family's attorney said was "landmark" it also recognized the value of the family relationship with their lost son.

Wrongful death lawsuits can include construction accidents, auto accidents, criminal attacks and school and sports activities. When a loved one dies unexpectedly, it is difficult enough to cope with a loved one's death. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to hire a personal injury attorney who has experience with Washington's wrongful death statutes and can help you during a difficult time. With the help of The Farber law Group you may receive compensation on behalf of your deceased spouse, child or parent.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or email attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in
Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Seattle's KOMO News.com reports that a Springfield, Oregon Sanipac truck driver was killed when the compactor mechanism of his truck released and crushed him to death. Sanipac is the commercial recycling service for the city.

The 19-year veteran of Sanipac, Larry Cantrell, age 61, was found by a homeowner who noticed the truck parked in front of his home and found Cantrell dead.

The Oregon Safety & Health Division officials are investigating the cause of the accident to determine if it was an operator error or equipment malfunction.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in on-the-job accidents and the families of those killed. With our help, a worker may recover compensation for their injuries including loss-of-wages. For families who have lost a loved one, we can help insure a stable future for a worker's family.

Contact The Farber Law Group today, a construction accident attorney firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue.

Safe Kids Snohomish County, sponsored by Providence Everett Medical Center, works towards keeping all children safe in the county. They have a monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 9am-10:30am.

In a recent press release in The Snohomish Times, the organization highlighted the fact that many child car seats are not fitted correctly. They report that 9 of 10 car seats are installed improperly.

In Snohomish County, there are many Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. They can help insure your car seat is properly installed and whether you need any other equipment like a latch, to have it function properly. They can also answer questions about the type of car seat required depending on a child's age. They will even counsel parents and children about the importance of the child staying seated in the rear seat until at least 13 years of age.

For more information about regularly scheduled child safety seat checks in Snohomish county, contact the Safe Kids Snohomish County web-site or the Marysville Fire district.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in a car accident and the families of those killed. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

The families of a murdered Washington couple have sent a letter to the Massachusetts State Attorney General, Martha Coakley, informing her that they intend to sue multiple public officials in Massachusetts for wrongful death in the murder or Brian and Beverly Mauck by a Massachusetts prison parolee who had jumped bail.

Brian Mauck, age 30, and Beverly Mauck, age 28, died of multiple gunshot wounds in their rural Graham home on November 17, 2007 after they were shot by a convicted killer, Daniel T. Tavares Jr., 42, who had jumped bail in Mass. Graham is a small town in Western Washington about 20 miles southeast of Tacoma.

In preparing to file the wrongful death suit, the attorney for the Mauck's estate wrote that the Worcester, Mass, District Attorneys office was "negligent in handling the release of Tavares." A judge had released Tavares from jail four months before the couple's murder even though he had served a sentence for the murder of his mother and while he was in prison he spent most of his sentence in disciplinary isolation. He was facing assault charges and the prosecutor feared he might flee when the judge released him on bail.

In a report in the Boston Globe, the Mauck estate lawyer wrote:

"Tavares was a ticking time bomb, and it was only a matter of time before he killed again. Massachusetts had a duty to protect the citizens of Washington from this incredibly severe danger."

Tavares' own father purchased a gun when he heard his son was headed to Washington State.

Wrongful death is the death of a person caused by either negligence or the wrongful act of another. The family of a person who died can sue for damages the person whose negligence resulted in the death of their loved one.

The Farber Law Group, a Seattle-based personal injury attorney law firm, is knowledgeable and experienced in handling wrongful death cases. If you have lost a family member in an untimely manner, contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

A nursing assistant, Heidi Leon, age 23, has been charged with criminal neglect and negligence in the death of a 89-year-old nursing home resident whose care she was in charge of her.

Charges against Leon were filed after Sarah Wentworth died on February 5th at the Arbor of Itasca nursing home in Chicago. The State's attorney says that Wentworth's death was not an accident, that her death was premature and caused by neglect.

On the morning of her death, Wentworth wandered out of the nursing home where she was a resident into subfreezing weather. Dressed only in bed clothes, she collapsed and froze to death in the courtyard of the nursing home.

Criminal charges of neglect are appropriate in this case. You see, Wentworth was wearing a device on her ankle which caused an alarm to sound if she left the building. On the morning she died, the alarm sounded but Leon apparently she did not investigate the cause of the alarm and she turned it off so that she wouldn't be bothered and could continue watching TV.

It appears that there may have been some collusion between Leon and other employees at the home to cover of Wentworth's death. They went so far as to change her clothes and put her into her bed to cover up what may prove to be a crime.

The article in the Chicago newspaper did not mention that Wentworth's three daughters have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, however, we wouldn't be surprised if a civil suit were to be filed in this case. In Washington State, if a person's death was caused by another's negligence or a wrongful act, then the family is entitled to bring a wrongful death suit to recover damages.

The Farber Law Group is an experienced personal injury and wrongful death law firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue. We have represented families of victims in their wrongful death suits for more than 30 years.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation.

Food borne pathogens such as Salmonella are in the news a lot lately with the massive peanut products recall. How would you know if your illness was caused by Salmonella or another food borne pathogen?

There are two categories of food poisoning:

1. A toxin in the food that has spoiled. A classic example of this is a church picnic where everyone got ill after eating the potato salad that had not been refrigerated properly.
   
2. A bacteria or virus that has contaminated the food. Salmonella and e-coli are examples of these.

Salmonella is mostly commonly found in under cooked eggs and poultry but the Georgia peanut case has show us that it can also be in other food items.

Symptoms of salmonella:

• Symptoms usually occur 12 to 72 hours after eating the food.
  
• Symptoms will include nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea, and sometimes bloody diarrhea.
  
• A fever may or may not be present.

If you have these horrible flu-like symptoms, make sure you do not become dehydrated and drink plenty of fluids. It is often very difficult to tell the difference between the flu and a food-borne illness unless you go see your doctor or go to the emergency room and they take a specimen test of the patient's stool.

Approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the U.S. every year but the number of infections probably 30 times higher than that. One interesting thing to note is there are more cases in the summer than winter.

A person should recover from salmonella in 1-2 weeks. However, in some cases -- the elderly, small children and people with compromised immune symptoms, the illness can become very severe and even life threatening. Children five years old or younger have the highest rate of diagnosed infections. Around 400 persons die each year due to acute salmonellosis.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to food borne illness. If you or a loved one has had a serious illness requiring hospitalization, or a loved one has died, due to a food borne illness, you should contact a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury attorney specializing in cases such as these can help you recover compensation for your medical costs, damages and for pain and suffering. At The Farber Law Group, a personal injury firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, we have more than 30 years experience representing victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

A Kent, Washington company, Lucy's Enterprises , has issued a recall on their chicken burger product. The recall includes 13,776 pounds of frozen ground chicken products because they may contain plastic and bone fragments. Specifically, the company is recalling chicken burgers distributed nationally by Trader Joe's markets. The chicken burgers are sold in 16-ounce packages as "Trader Joe's, Chile Lime Chicken Burgers" with the date code "3158" on the side of the box.These may be dangerous products and pose a choking hazard.

Trader Joe's and Lucy's have received some customer complaints about finding the foreign materials in the chicken patties. There have been no reports of injuries at this time. Lucy Enterprises Customer Relations Department number is (253(872-0783 and Trader's Joes number is (626)599-3817.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a Class I Recall and considers the product a High health risk. Check their web-site to find out more: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_008_2009_Release/index.asp

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries due to defective products. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, contact The Farber law Group today. With our help, you may recover your medical bills and compensation for damages.

Call us at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Bellevue doctor, Dr. Ken Jones, is being investigated by the Washington State Department of Health for prescribing human growth hormone to patients who do not have evidence of pituitary or hypothalmic diseases reports Seattle's King5.com.

Jones maintains that his prescription regimen helps his patients feel and look young, along with diet and exercise. He claims he has done nothing wrong and that the growth hormone is not dangerous. Jones' attorney says he will fight the charges against him.

The Health Department maintains that Jones' prescribing practices are illegal. They are looking at his records to find out who he is prescribing to and what he is prescribing.

A hearing on the charges against Dr. Jones will be held in the fall.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury law firm that represents people who have serious injuries due to medical malpractice, hospital errors and pharmacy errors.

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

A teenage boy was seriously injured in a hit-and-run boating accident while he was kayaking on American Lake in Pierce County. The boy, David Kenny "DK" Ross, age 14, was found face down in the lake after his kayak was apparently hit by a power boat which left the accident scene. According to The Seattle Post Intelligencer, it is unknown how long Ross was in the lake before he was pulled out. He was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis with "life-threatening" injuries.

The boating accident occurred on Sunday afternoon. American Lake is bounded by Fort Lewis and is located about 13 miles south of Tacoma near Interstate 5. The area where young Ross was found was between Silcox Island and Veterans Affairs Property.

Witnesses said they had seen a 19-20 white Cutty Cabin with full mooring canvas speeding across the lake during the day. Police would like to talk to the owner of this boat. The Lakewood Police department is asking anyone with information about the boat owner or the accident to call them at 253-830-5000.

When the boat operator is found who was involved in this accident, they could be charged with RCW 79A.60.060, Assault by Watercraft. Assault by Watercraft is a Class B felony. It can be charged of anyone who caused serious bodily injury, involving a substantial risk of death, if the person was operating the watercraft in a reckless manner or if the person was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

This information is 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 boating accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages, including pain and suffering. We handle our accident cases on a contingent fee basis, that means you pay nothing unless we recover a settlement for you.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue and we are here to assist you.