Washington Injury Attorney Blog

A recent poll by Pemco Insurance reports that Washington drivers are reading and sending text messages more than ever even though a ban has been in effect for more than a year. According to the article on the Pemco web-site, the rate of texting has doubled even though most drivers believe it is an unsafe practice.

Pemco's June 2009 poll results show that 18 percent of Washington drivers who use electronic devices admit to sending, receiving and reading text messages while driving. In February 2006, only 6 percent of those polled reported to texting while driving.

Increasingly, studies show that attentive behavior like texting greatly increases the risk of a Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.">car accident.

According to Pemco, 70% of all drivers believe that cell phone laws should be strengthened and that the text messaging law, RCW 46.61.668 SENDING, READING, OR WRITING A TEXT MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING, should be changed from a secondary to a primary offense. A primary offense is one in which the police officer can stop a driver for.

See the complete PEMCO report here.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you believe your car accident was caused because of another driver's use of a cell phone, you may have a case for negligence. See What if my accident was caused by someone using a cell phone?

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Vancouver, Washington man, Albert Gosiak, age 78, killed a pit bull dog after he was threatened by two dogs outside of his East Vancouver house.

According to a report on Seattle's KOMO News.com, Gosiak, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was trapped by two pit bulls and he felt threatened. He acted in self-defense and shot the one dog. The other dog ran off.

A Clark County Animal Control officer was able to capture the other pit bull dog.

Gosiak said he had never seen the dogs before. Animal control officers believe they have found the dogs' owners.

Washington state statute, WA ST 16.08.090, states that it is unlawful for an owner of a dangerous dog to permit the dog to be outside the proper enclosure unless the dog is muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a law firm that represents people who have been seriously injured or bitten by a dog. Attacks by dogs can often leave the victim seriously injured requiring multiple surgeries. With our help, you may be compensated for your injuries including pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Paris Campen was awarded a $7.3 million medical malpractice judgment against Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for medical negligence. The medical malpractice lawsuit was brought on behalf of Campen, now 5 years old, after Paris suffered permanent and irreversible brain damage after the hospital failed to diagnose meningitis.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2005 by Campen's parents, alleged that Campen's injuries were as a result of negligence on the part of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.

The $7.3 million award covers Campen's past and future medical expenses and will be placed in a trust.

Failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis of an illness or delay of a diagnosis is one of the most common and preventable medical errors and some statistics show that it accounts for 40% of medical malpractice claims.

If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered due to a medical professional's failure to diagnose, you should contact a personal injury attorney to learn about your legal rights. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience representing medical malpractice victims and their families including children who have suffered birth trauma or injuries.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg was seriously injured in a boating accident near Bigfork, Montana on Thursday night. Rehberg reportedly underwent a three hour surgery to repair a broken ankle and fractures in left eye orbit. He also suffered a "mild, closed head injury."

Dustin Frost, age 27, Rehberg's state director, suffered a life-threatening brain injury in the boating accident. Doctors reportedly have him highly sedated and are monitoring his condition closely.

Kristin Smith, Rehberg's deputy chief of staff, suffered injuries to her face including cuts and bruises. She also fractured her nose, wrist, foot and ribs according to the report in the Flathead Beacon. Smith is expected to leave the hospital in a few days.

Also injured in the boating accident were Kalispell Republican state Sen Greg Barkus, the driver of the boat, and his wife Kathleen. Though details of their conditions have not been released, both were said to be in stable condition.

The boating accident occurred when the power boat the group was riding in hit some rocks and ran aground near Wayfarer's State Park. The group was leaving a social dinner at a Lakeside dock and were headed toMarina Kay resort in Bigfork after dark when the accident occurred.

Rehberg's blood alcohol content level was already released it it was 0.05, below the legal limit.Although it was stated that Rehberg had not been operating the boat at any time. Barkus' BAC has not yet been released.

The cause of the accident is currently being investigated by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks along with reconstruction specialists from the Montana Highway Patrol. The FWP is looking into whether drugs, alcohol, speed or mechanical malfunction speed played a role in the accident.

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 boating accidents and the family of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg was seriously injured in a boating accident near Bigfork, Montana on Thursday night. Rehberg reportedly underwent a three hour surgery to repair a broken ankle and fractures in left eye socket. He also suffered a "mild, closed head injury."

Dustin Frost, age 27, Rehberg's state director, suffered a life-threatening brain injury in the boating accident. Doctors reportedly have him highly sedated and are monitoring his condition closely.

Kristin Smith, Rehberg's deputy chief of staff, suffered injuries to her face including cuts and bruises. She also fractured her nose, wrist, foot and ribs according to the report in the Flathead Beacon. Smith is expected to leave the hospital in a few days.

Also injured in the boating accident were Kalispell Republican state Sen Greg Barkus, the driver of the boat, and his wife Kathleen. Though details of their conditions have not been released, both were said to be in stable condition.

The boating accident occurred when the power boat the group was riding in hit some rocks and ran aground near Wayfarer's State Park. The group was leaving a social dinner at a Lakeside dock and were headed to Marina Kay resort in Bigfork after dark when the accident occurred.

Rehberg's blood alcohol content level was 0.05%, below the legal limit. It was stated that Rehberg had not been operating the boat at any time. Barkus' BAC has not yet been released.

The cause of the accident is currently being investigated by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks along with reconstruction specialists from the Montana Highway Patrol. The FWP is looking into whether drugs, alcohol, speed or mechanical malfunction speed played a role in the accident.

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 boating accidents and the family of those killed.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Jessie L. Hagerty, age 27, of Cloverdale, Oregon was killed and her two children Keegan, age 6, and Baird, age 2, were injured when the car they were riding in crossed the center line and hit a pickup truck driven by a Vancouver, Washington man reports The Columbian.

According to the report, Hagerty was driving southbound in a Ford Explorer on Highway 101 when she inexplicably crossed the centerline and hit a Chevrolet four-door pickup truck driven by Valentin Moskalenko, age 34.

Hagerty was pronounced dead at the car accident scene. Both children were taken to Tillamook General Hospital where Keegan was transported by air to Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) with serious injuries. His brother, Baird, was then then taken to OHSU by ground transport with minor injuries. Hargerty and the children were all wearing safety harnesses and the children were in safety seats.

Valentin and his three male passengers did not suffer any injuries; all four men were wearing safety belts.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing car accident victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The family of Christopher Harris, age 29, who suffered a serious brain injury when he we knocked down and hit his head after being chased by two Metro Transit police officers, have filed a $25 million tort claim against the King County Sheriff's Office. The claim asks for compensation for Harris' medical expenses which include round-the-clock nursing and for emotional distress suffered by his wife, Sarah Jorgenson.

Harris was in Belltown when he was mistakenly identified to the police officers as being someone who was involved in a convenience store robbery. Harris ran from the police officers and they chased him. The family's claim alleges that the officer Deputy Matt Paul used excessive force when he tackled Harris, causing him to fall headfirst and hit his head on a concrete wall.

Harris sustained a permanent and devastating brain injury and is in a coma-like state requiring 24 hour care for the rest of his life.

The King County Prosecutor's office investigated the incident and did not press any criminal charges after their determination that the deputy did not use excessive force. Police say they ordered Harris to stop several times. A video of the tackle shows that Harris appeared to have slowed down when he was tackled.

A tort claim is one in which a person who suffers damages asks for compensation of those injuries. King County has up to 60 days to answer the claim. If they deny it, Harris' family could then file a lawsuit.

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 with serious personal injuries due to the negligent or wrongful act of another, including people with traumatic brain injury.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to

A Bellevue beauty salon owner, Faith He of Issaquah, was indicted on charges that she illegally injected counterfeit Botox into customers over a period of years reports The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Federal prosecutors believe that Faith He, a licensed esthetician and manicurist injected customers between 2004-2008 with fake products. He's conduct came to light after a Snohomish woman's face became inflamed after she was injected. She noticed that the substance that He used came from a bottle marked with Chinese characters.

A Bothell woman also sought medical treatment after her injection sites became hard and swollen.

Investigators found vials of liquid marked with Chinese characters in He's salon, Natural Beauty, located at 1104 NE 11th Street, Suite 109. This story is especially scary since Chinese products have been in the news a lot lately because products ranging from pet food to baby formula have been found to be adulterated.

He could serve up to three years in prison fined up to $10,000 if she is convicted.

In cases like this, customers may also have recourse in civil course, especially if their injuries were serious or permanent. He certainly breached contracts if she assured her customers were being treated with genuine Botox. They may be able to recover compensation for any medical costs or emotional damages.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been injured because of another's negligence.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A three year old Florida girl was injured when her arm was stuck in a pool drain. Rescue workers had to use jackhammers and respirator equipment to save the little girl after her mother had kept her head above water waiting for rescue workers to arrive. The girl is reported to be in stable condition according to ABC News.

In 2007, the Federal Law mandating that all public swimming pools and hot tubs must have a drain cover installed. The Pool and Spa Safety Act required a cover to protect young people from being sucked into drains.

Before the law was enacted, at least one person was killed per year because of a pool drain. The Consumer Product Safety commission found that the pressure on a pool drain can be more than 300 pounds per square inch.

Even though the law has been in effect for over a year and a half, compliance has been low. The law states that any pool not fit with the cover must be closed. In Florida, one study found that 70% of the pool drains were non-compliant even six months after the Safety Act was signed.

In a case like this Florida girl, the property owner may be found negligent in a civil suit for failing to install the drain cover. In a negligence lawsuit, a person is eligible to receive compensation for injuries including medical and rehabilitation costs if a person had negligent behavior which resulted in the injury.

This information is 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. Negligent cases can include drowning cases, dog bites, incorrectly installed playground equipment or slip, trip and falls. Car accidents, medical malpractice and construction accidents also may fall under the General Negligence category.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Science Daily study that reviewed more than 82 research studies concluded that non-profit nursing homes provide superior levels of care over the for-profit variety.

“The results are unequivocal and completely consistent with other studies comparing for-profit versus non-profit care,” said Dr. Gordon Guyatt, the study’s senior author and professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada,

The Science Daily, an online British medical journal, compared quality of care measurements collected over a period of 35 years from tens of thousands of nursing homes, most of which were in the United States.

The non-profit homes provided a higher quality care in nursing home staffing which is measured by the number of staff and the quality of staff based on their education and training. Patients in non-profit nursing homes also had fewer incidence of pressure or bedsores. Measurement of staffing and the incidence of bedsores is always indicative of the quality of a facility.

The study noted that nonprofit homes did not use physical restraints as frequently and had fewer quality violations when they were assessed.

Guyatt says that the reason nonprofit institutions are better is that they are not having to satisfy shareholders and they do not have to pay taxes. Often, it is the for-profit nature of many nursing homes which leads them to cut corners and inadequately staff the facility. When a nursing home is inadequately staffed or the staff is not trained properly, falls, pressure sores, mistakes in medication, etc., often arise.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent nursing home residents and their families. The Farber law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing the vulnerable elderly.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

You might want to read the article today in USA Today entitled "States target bad drivers with new laws, fines." Some states are targeting "super speeders" and aggressive drivers and providing additional penalties and fines and imposing driving school for those who have been at fault in multiple accidents or have had multiple moving violations.

Justin McNaull, the director of state relations for AAA says, "Car crashes aren't evenly distributed among all drivers. While this might not be a classic 80%-of-the-problem-is-20%-of- the-people situation, it's probably pretty close."

Here's how some states are dealing with particularly bad drivers:

• Georgia adds an additional $200 fine to super speeders -- people who are traveling more than 75 mph on two lane roads or 85 mph on any road.
  
• Kansas makes it illegal to drive in the far left lane of multi-lane highways except when passing or turning left
  
• Florida makes people with three car accidents in three years to take a driver education course and a driving test.

In Washington State, the Washington State Patrol has made a concerted effort to focus on road rage and aggressive driving in an effort to reduce car accidents and safe lives.

Aggressive driving is defined as "the commission of two or more moving violations that is likely to endanger other persons or property, or any single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction of another drive."

Road rage is when a driver uses their motor vehicle as a weapon to assault another operator or passenger on the roadway.

The WSP frequently has emphasis patrols which targets aggressive drivers.

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.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to apply a federal standard to bumpers of light trucks and vans, including SUVs. In a letter dated August 14, the IIHS provided more data at the request of the NHTSA in support of regulations for bumpers on SUVs, pickups and vans. The IIHS originally petitioned the NHTSA back in 2008 asking for amendments to bumper standards.

In the initial request, the IIHS noted that it is legal to sell new SUVs, pickups and vans without bumpers and, without a bumper, the cost of repairing these vehicles even after low speed accidents is higher than vehicles with adequate bumpers. The IIHS also noted that light trucks and vans can install bumpers that are not compatible in height with car bumpers so that cars sustain excessive damage in low speed accidents.

In its latest letter, the IIHS provided data which debunked arguments that light trucks and vans cannot have compatible bumpers. The Institute asked the NHTSA to apply federal bumper standards to light trucks and vans to reduce the costs associated when repairing passenger vehicles involved in underride/override crashes.

The IIHS also noted that lower compatible bumpers on light trucks and vans should also help in pedestrian accidents.

We join with the IIHS in asking the NHTSA to apply bumper standards "without delay."

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 and truck accidents and the families of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A 16-year-old girl, Charlotte Hartley of the UK, dies from complications arising from tonsillitis after she was misdiagnosed with swine flu and prescribed the anti-viral drug Tamiflu reports the MailOnline.

According to the report, Charlotte was told she had swine flu after talking with someone at a call center. She took the prescribed Tamiflu but, when her condition deteriorated, she was taken to the hospital where her family had found her lungs had collapsed because of a overwhelming bacterial infection. She died shortly thereafter.

People in England are in an uproar after Charlotte's death because the Government has told doctors that they should not see swine flu victims. Charlottes father, Karl Hartley, said, 'This is a breach of our human rights. The Government is restricting us from going to the doctor." He has started a campaign to end telephone diagnoses of swine flu.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a medical malpractice firm with offices in Bellevue and Seattle Washington. We have more than 30 years experience representing medical malpractice victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Drowning prevention groups and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says research has shown that around 100 cases of drowning or near drowning has occurred because small children were able to escape their home via a pet door.

While this cause of pool access and drowning are rare, people need to be aware that children can escape even through an 8-by-11 inch pet door reports Pet Access Dangers.org, a web-site which was created by the mother of a two-year-old who managed to squeeze through a doggy door and make his way to a the family's backyard swimming pool where he drowned. Carol Ranfone of Spring Hill, Fla, is advocating for design changes in pet doors.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends pool fences that are at least 4 feet high so that children can not get near the pool.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury attorney firm that represents people who have been seriously injured due to the negligence of another or because of dangerous or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Georgia police believe that a couple that they found dead on a rural Georgia road were mauled to death by a pack of dogs.

USA Today reports that an autopsy on Sherry Schweder, 65, a bibliographer at the University of Georgia's library, showed that she probably died of dog attack injuries. While the autopsy on her husband, Lothar Karl Schweder, 77 and a former college professor, are not yet available, it is believed that he also died as a result of injuries inflicted by dogs.

The couple's bodies were found near the couple's home in Lexington. Police are not sure whether the dogs were wild or pets but they plan to find them and capture.

Approximately 800,000 Americans require medical treatment every year because of dog bites according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, approximately 16 people die due to dog-related injuries. In Seattle, there are approximately 300 dog bites reported to Animal Control each year.

Consequences from dog bites can be serious including permanent nerve damage, disfigurement, and psychological trauma. Many severe dog bites require multiple surgeries.

Many dog bites and dog attacks are due to the negligence of the dog's owners. In cases of negligence, a victim may have a valid claim against the dog owner's property insurance.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been bitten by dogs and those who have been seriously injured by dog attacks. The Farber Law Group, with more than 30 years experience representing personal injury claims, will work for you to help you obtain compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

President Obama's health care plan is in the news front page and center this summer. Everyone is talking about it and weighing in. The issues regarding the cost of health care have become very contentious and polarizing.

We just read an article in "The Clare County Review" by an attorney entitled The Lawyers Made me Do It!" This article is written by Richard S. Allen who is an attorney who does not represent clients with malpractice claims. In his article, Allen refutes claims that it is medical malpractice attorneys who drive up the cost of health care. Allen's article has some excellent points and we hope you'll read it too.

Allen writes that one of the slogans that keeps being tossed around is "frivolous lawsuits." The argument goes, "If only lawyers didn't file frivolous lawsuits, the cost of health care would go down." Allen provides an example of a patient who loses his penis in a botched circumcision and the doctor that is being sued calling it a "frivolous lawsuit." Maybe the doctor and his insurance company consider a lawsuit for a lost penis frivolous, but to the man who lost his penis, or a patient who had a wrong-site surgery or the patient who was administered a cleaning fluid instead of anesthesia, well, none of these patients or their attorneys feel that the lawsuit is frivolous.

Allen points out that the attorneys who defend doctors often have very deep pockets. Most times, the defendants lawyer is hired by an insurance company and the insurance company has "unlimited funds to hire expert witnesses." He says, "Best of all, their client has ego tied up in the case and is smart enough to help in his defense, as are his co-workers. "

On the other hand, the plaintiff's attorney -- the victim's attorney -- funds the case out of his or her own pocket by taking the case on a contingent fee basis. "You pay nothing unless we win the case for you" is common practice for medical malpractice attorneys. Often the plaintiff's client is deceased and the attorney is representing a grief stricken family member. At The Farber Law Group, we represent clients who have suffered greatly and we find it a privilege and an honor to work for them and help them obtain compensation for the injury done to them or to a family member.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured by medical malpractice and the families of those killed. We will work for you to insure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

DogBite.org is an organization that is committed to keeping track of serious injuries caused by dogs. DogBite.org is a victims group which seeks to reduce the number of serious dog attacks and to lobby for common sense laws involving dogs.

DogBite.org is evaluating reports of pit bull attacks in 2009 and has just published the statistics that they have gathered for the first six months of 2009. This report is very well researched and documented. It is well worth your time to take a look at their web-site.

Pit bull victim data

Their report shows:

• 318 pit bull attacks reported by the media
  
• 388 people were bit in these attacks
  
• 64% of the dog bite victims suffered severe injuries
  
• 36% of the dog bite victims suffered minor injuries
  
• 4% of the victims had one or more body parts severed -- 16 severed parts in all
  
• 2% of the victims died as a result of the pit bull mauling

Profile of Victims

• 42% of the dog bites were to the 21-54 age group
  
• 24% of the pit bull attacks were to the 5-11 age group
  
• 13% of the pit bull attacks were to the 12-20 age group.
  
• The age group 0-4 suffered 84% of the most severe injuries

The report notes that while the 0-11 age group incurred fewer attacks, that age group suffered the worst injuries.

Serious dog bite injuries include severe lacerations requiring multiple stitches; multiple or deep puncture wounds; wounds that cause scaring; broken bones; injuries which require reconstructive, cosmetic or plastic surgery or skin grafts; and injuries so severe that the victim had to be either airlifted to a hospital or had to be hospitalized for more than the initial treatment of the injury.

The data also shows that 68% of the pit bulls that attacked were not on their owners property while non-breed specific dog bite data shows that 70% of dog bites occur on the owner's property. Data compiled by DogBite.org has shown that pit bulls escape their owner's property and bite people at a higher rate than other dog breeds.

In Washington State, King County councilman Julia Patterson introduced a "dangerous and potentially dangerous dog" bill which would increase fees and fines for dogs in this category and require owners to spay or neuter their dog, keep them in proper enclosures and keep them on a leash or muzzled. Given these put bull bite statistics, it seems like these measures are very sane and appropriate.

This information has been brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle-Bellevue based personal injury attorney firm dedicated to representing dog bite victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Seattle's King.5 reports that residents of the Riverbend community near North Bend, Washington have been advised to boil their tap water before using it to brush teeth, cook, wash dishes or make ice. The Washington State Department of Health made the advisement after it was found that the tap water may be contaminated with E-coli.

E-coli is a food or water-borne bacteria which can cause severe illness in people. Symptoms of a foodborne illness may include dehydration, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea and severe abdominal cramping.

Most people recover quickly from an infection of E-coli, however, in some cases it is known to cause severe illness and life-threatening complications. In the young, the very old and people with weakened immune systems, E-coli can require the victim to be hospitalized. Severe complications can include HUS kidney failure which causes a victim's kidneys to shut down.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent victims of E-coli whose illness has caused severe health issues including lengthy hospitalizations. In cases where E-coli infection can be linked back to negligence in the manufacturing, distribution or food service, victims may have recourse and be able to obtain compensation for their damages. We provide a free and confidential case evaluation.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A 49-year-old Skagit County woman, DeEtta Dearn, as been charged with third-degree assault for criminal negligence after her dog attacked and mauled her 9-month granddaughter causing serious injuries which left her granddaughter hospitalized in an ICU unit.

Seattle's King5.com reports that Dezearn's dog attacked Olivia Dezearn on both August 1st and August 2nd. The second attack was more serious and Olivia was hospitalized at Seattle Children's Hospital for nine days with facial wounds and a skull fracture.

The dog was a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Lab mix and bit the child as she was playing.

Dog bite injuries can be very serious and often cause disfigurement to the face. Sometimes they even cause permanent nerve damages. Most dog bite victims require two to five surgeries to repair the damage and remove scarring.

Every year, approximately 2% of the U.S. population sustains a dog bite injury. Dog bites surpass playground accidents in causing injury to small children.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious dog bite injury, you may have a negligence claim against the dog owner. Often times, the dog bite victim can obtain compensation for medical costs, rehabilitation costs, psychological trauma and for pain and suffering. Many people have home owner's insurance which will cover the cost of civil claims.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free and confidential case evaluation for your dog bite claim. We can help you negotiate with insurance companies regarding your dog bite injury claim.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The U.S. Coast Guard just released their boating accident statistics report for 2008. The bad news is that boating accident fatalities increased in 2008. During 2008, the Coast Guard registered 709 boating accident deaths and 3,331 injuries. The boating accident fatality rate increased from 5.3 to 5.6 deaths per every 100,000 registered recreational boat. Boating under the influence contributed to 17% of the fatalities.

The leading causes of boating accidents are:

• operator inattention
  
• careless or reckless operation
  
• no proper lookout
  
• operator inexperience
  
• passenger or skier behavior.

The Coast Guard says that boating education programs are shown to lower accident deaths. In 90% of boating accident deaths, the boat operator had not received boating education. In 2005, In 2005, Washington State passedRCW 79A.60.640 to require boat operators of motorboats of 15 horsepower or greater to take a boater education course. The course can be taken in a classroom or online. See our Boating Resources.

Washington state has a higher boating accident fatalities then many states, in part because of our cooler water temperatures. In two thirds of all boating accident deaths, the victim drowned and 90% of those were not wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard recommends that all boaters to wear a personal flotation device. See our Boating Safety Tips.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent boating accident victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Missouri nursing home assistant, Dennis A. Rowe, age 39, has been sentenced to five years in prison after he was convicted of second degree elder abuse reports the Joplin Globe. Second degree elder abuse is a Class B felony in Missouri.

Rowe was convicted on the testimony of a former nursing assistant, Michael L. Wells Jr., who witnessed the abuse of brain-injured resident. Wells testified that he saw Rowe hit Benny Crowley, a vulnerable and helpless adult who is confined to a wheelchair and is on oxygen, in the testicles. He also witnessed Rowe torturing Crowley by forcing water down his nose and into his lungs through oxygen tubing.

Rowe was not charged until one year after the abuse. Wells testified that he waited a day before reporting what he witnessed to the nursing home administrator after first consulting with his mother and his wife. An investigation then was launched by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms. Falls, broken bones, unexplained bruises, malnutrition and bedsores are all forms of nursing home abuse. If you have witnessed the neglect or abuse of a person who, because of dementia, age or physical impairment, can not advocate for themselves, you should seek help for them by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we will meet with you and provide a free and confidential case evaluation.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) press release announced the revocation of a license for the Shangra-La Adult Family Home in Lacey. The revocation of the license means that the facility cannot accept any new residents and the safety of any residents who remain will be monitored by the DSHS.

According to the press release, "The provider failed to promote a respectful care environment that enhanced residents' dignity, residents' right to make choices about their activities and respected residents' personal property. "

Adult Family Homes are facilities in neighborhoods which are licensed to care for between two and six residents. Care includes room and board, supervision, laundry and assistance with personal care and the administration of medication. Shangra-La is licensed in Thurston County to provide special care for adults with mental health issues and dementia.

While the DSHS did not provide specifics about the reasons for the revocation of the license, the Blevins has 28 days to respond by requesting and administrative hearing.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured because of nursing home abuse and neglect. Abuse and neglect can take many forms including bedsores, dehydration, physical and sexual assault, broken bones and aspiration pneumonia. Often the elderly and people with physical and mental challenges need an advocate and that's when families and loved ones contact us for help.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

See our Nursing Home & Elder Abuse Resources which might be helpful to you.

A 72-year-old nursing home employee, Pierre Obas, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of "abuse, neglect and mistreatment of a person" reports LoHud.com, New York's Lower Hudson Valley news source. According to the report, Obas surrendered his nurse aide's certificate and is banned from working in a nursing home for one year after an incident of neglect of a patient in May of 2008.

Obas' guilty plea came about after the Waterview Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing Home camera recorded Obas tying a 83-year-old patient to her wheelchair with a bed sheet and then turning off the lights and taking a nap. The helpless woman languished while Obas slept.The only time when a nursing home is permitted to restrain a patient is upon doctor's orders and only to prevent a frail or disabled person from slipping from the chair. Bed sheets, in particular, are not proper restraining devices because they could suffocate a patient.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms including improperly restraining a patient. Some nursing homes are inadequately staffed or they do not have employee screening and training and so the residents and elderly person are neglected or suffer. Other forms of nursing home abuse can include bedsores, broken bones, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, exposure after a resident has wandered off or even physical or sexual abuse.

If your loved one has been neglected or abused in a nursing home, you should contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in nursing home law. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience representing nursing home residents and their families. With our help, your loved one can be assured of getting the care they deserve.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

See our Nursing Home and Elder Abuse Resources.

A seven-year-old girl, whose feet were nearly severed in a freak Lake Washington boating accident , has a rosy prognosis after the trauma surgeons at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle reattached the girls two feet.

This good news story was told on Seattle's King5.com and reported by Tricia Manning-Smith.

The boating accident occurred when the little girl, whose first name is Lily, was in her family's boat after inter tubing on Lake Washington several weeks ago. Lily's feet got entangled with coiled nylon rope and she was knocked unconscious and thrown overboard. Her father, a former Navy lifeguard, rescued her but realized that her feet were nearly amputated.

Thanks to Harborview Medical Center and their trauma surgeons led by Dr. Nicholas Vedder, a reconstructive plastic surgeon, Lily's feet were re-attached in a very delicate surgery which reconnected blood vessels less than 2mm in size.

Two weeks later, Dr. Vedder expects Lily to gain full mobility and lead a normal life.

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 boating accidents and their families. With your help, you may recover compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of another.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A medical malpractice lawsuit has been filed against Orthopedics Northeast by an Indiana woman, Jeanette Presley, claiming that a misdiagnosis of her condition caused her to lose her leg. In her suit, Presley claims that Orthopedics Northeast failed to perform tests which would have confirmed the loss of blood flow to her foot, failed to recognize the lack of pulse in her foot and failed to provide a timely referral to a vascular surgeon or cardiologist.

The Journal Gazette reports that Jeanette Presley presented to Orthopedics Northeast three times in March 2006 with a problem in her leg. According to court documents, the staff did not diagnose Jeanette with a vascular problem but instead injected her knee.

In April of 2006, Jeanette Presley was admitted to the hospital because of loss of blood flower to her right foot and because of a large blood clot in an artery. Doctors had to amputate Jeanette Presley's leg above the knee on April 14, 2006.

According to The Journal Gazette, Indiana's Medical Review Panel found that Orthopedics Northeast "failed to comply with appropriate standards of care."

Medical malpractice occurs when a professional fails to meet the standards of care in his/her profession causing an injury or loss to a patient. Failure to diagnose or missing a diagnosis is a common form of medical malpractice.

Diagnosis of blood clots in the legs in extremely important, especially in the case of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Patients who present with swelling, calf pain or redness in one leg should be checked out for DVT.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a negligent health care provider, you should contact a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury law firm. At The Farber Law Firm, we have more than 30 years experience representing victims of medical malpractice and their family.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Cleveland, Ohio bus driver, who was using a cell phone when she hit a pedestrian and killed him, has been indicted on aggravated Vehicular Homicide charges reports The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Angela, Williams, age 49, was making a left turn while using her cell phone when she hit and killed Patrick Merrrill, age 59 who was in a crosswalk at the time of the pedestrian accident.

If Williams is convicted of Vehicular Homicide, she could serve up to five years in prison.

This bus accident was not the first pedestrian accident that Williams was involved in. In 2006, Williams hit a pedestrian with her bus, causing minor injures. After the 2006 accident, Williams was fired but she was re-hired after her union appealed.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority changed their protocols after each accident. After the first accident, they required bus drivers to pause before making a left turn. After the second accident, they required drivers to honk before making left turns.

In Washington State, Vehicular Homicide can be charged if a person was killed when a driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or driving with reckless disregard for the safety of others.

If your loved one has been killed because of the recklessness of another driver, you should contact a personal injury attorney. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be able to obtain compensation on behalf of your deceased loved one under Washington's wrongful death statutes.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A woman was paid $1.8 by an insurance company after a Newport News jury awarded her $4 million for her medical malpractice case. The judgment was originally $4 million against Dr. David Glick but it was reduced because of Virginia's medical malpractice caps reports the Daily Press.

Leslie Thorne sued her doctors after a series of misdiagnosis of her heart condition caused her to have a heart transplant. In her suit, Thorne claimed that had her condition been diagnosed properly at the onset, she could have been successfully treated with medication.

Thorne, who was 25 at the time, originally went to the Sentara Port Warwick Emergency Room four months after she gave birth to a baby. Her presenting symptoms were shortness of breath, chest pains and coughing. X-Rays showed that she had an enlarged heart. She was misdiagnosed with bronchitis. On another visit to a physician, she was diagnosed with having a virus. Later, she was diagnosed with hepatitis.

Thorne actually suffered from a rare heart condition brought on by child birth. By the time she got a proper diagnosis, her condition had deteriorated so much that she required a heart transplant. She now has to take daily anti-rejection drugs and will probably require another heart transplant in the future.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent clients with medical malpractice claims including surgical malpractice, hospital malpractice and misdiagnosis.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

An Edmonds man is missing and presumed drowned in a boating accident on the Columbia River near Chelan on Saturday afternoon reports The Seattle Times.

The man, Steve Fausto, age 24, was boating with a group of about 10 friends from the Stevens Pass Ski team when he went missing from the boat. He apparently fell overboard without anyone noticing. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the boating accident. He had been drinking some time before the accident.

Fausto was a graduate of Kamiak High School in Mukilteo.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are boating accident lawyers with offices in Seattle and Bellevue. Contact us if you are a loved one has been seriously injured in a boating accident due to the negligence of another.

A Texas nursing home employee was caught abusing a nursing home patient on a hidden camera installed by the patient's husband according to a report in The Lufkin Daily News.

The nursing home employee, Johnetta Darshaw Phillips, is being held in Angelina County Jail with a bail set of $100,00. She is being charged with "injury to elderly."

The nursing home abuse came to light after Bonita Bolin, a 77-year-old patient, complained to her husband, Melvin Bolin, that a nursing home employee had been abusing her. Mrs. Bolin was not able to identify her abuser because of diminished mental capacity so her husband installed a hidden camera.

Melvin Bolin presented a video of Phillips striking his wife and treating her rough on numerous occasion to the Lufkin Police Department . The video shows that the Phillips behavior was clearly abusive and that it was unprovoked.

Mrs. Bolin was very fortunate to have a loved one who was so proactive in protecting her. Often, nursing home patients have no one to look out for their best interests.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms including bedsores, sexual abuse, physical abuse, insufficient nutrition, medication errors, dehydration, infection and exposure.

If you are concerned about a loved one or someone you know who is being neglected or abused in a nursing home, you should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. Sometimes The Farber Law Group will be contacted by an employee of a nursing home who fears jeopardizing their job, or a friend or family member. The Farber Law Group can provide a free and confidential case evaluation and can make sure the proper authorities are contacted. If the abuse or neglect resulted in serious injuries, we can work to obtain compensation for the victim. See our Nursing Home Resources.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Burce Rossmeyer, the owner of the "World's Largest" Harley Davidson motorcycle empire was killed in a motorcycle accident in Wyoming. Rossmeyer was killed in a collision with a truck as he was riding through Wyoming on a trip to South Dakota and a bike rally in Sturgis.

According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, the accident occurred when Rossmeyer attempted to pass a slow moving Ford truck pulling a trailer. The driver of the Ford had slowed down and was making a left turn when Rossmeyer hit the driver's-side door. Rossmeyer was not wearing a helmet. The report said that the truck driver's signals and brake lights were operational at the time of the accident.

Rossmeyer owned 15 Harley Davidson dealerships and stores throughout the United States. His largest enterprise was Destination Daytona in Florida.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing motorcycle accident victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Las Cruses, New Mexico man was award $1 million in a surgical medical malpractice settlement against his surgeon, Dr. David Friedman, for Friedman's negligence in repairing a colon perforation after a colonoscopy reports the Sun-News.

The jury deliberated 12 hours after a six day trial and made the award to Michael Salopek for his medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Salopek had a colonoscopy back in 2005. He went to see a Dr. Friedman, a general surgeon, to repair a tiny perforation caused during the colonoscopy. Friedman failed to find the perforation during surgery and assumed that it had closed. Malopek suffered a severe infection in his abdomen due to the continued leakage of fecal matter and had to have 13 subsequent surgeries including the removal of part of part of his colon.

The jury found that Friedman was negligent and failed the standard of care because he could have used procedures, including using a blue dye, to find the perforation.

A colonoscopy is an exam of the large colon and part of the small bowel with a camera on a flexible tube that is inserted through the anus. It is often a routine screening procedure for colo-rectal cancer and can be used to remove small pre-cancerous polyps.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured because of a botched surgery or surgical medical malpractice. At The Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing the victims of negligent doctors and other health care providers and in helping victims recover compensation for your injuries, or those of a loved one.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.