Washington Injury Attorney Blog

Divers have apparently recovered the body of Clay Weden, 28 of Bellingham, from Lake Padden in Bellingham on Saturday afternoon. Weden had been canoeing with a companion, Cole B. Smith, 28, when their canoe overturned on Friday reports The Seattle Times.

Smith was rescued by a police officer and an off-duty Bellingham firefighter but they were not able to find Weden until rescue divers found his body the following day.

The lake temperatures was about 40 degrees at the time of the boating accident. It appears that neither boater was wearing life jackets though there were two jackets in the canoe.

Approximately 20-30 people die in boating accidents every year in Washington State.

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.

There have been a lot of studies and reports lately regarding distracted driving which compare texting and driving to drunk driving. Now, studies show that texting and walking can also be hazardous.

Recently, the New York Times cited an Ohio State University study that showed that twice the number of pedestrians are being treated in emergency rooms for trip and fall accidents while using a cell phone to make calls or text message.

In another study, a psychology professor at Western Washington University in Bellingham conducted a study to test the theory of "inattentional blindness." The study which was posted in Applied Cognitive Psychology showed that people who were distracted while walking because of a cell phone or iPod usage or walking in groups were less likely to notice even bizarre occurrences like a clown riding a unicycle. Inattention blindness means that a person can look at something but fail to recognize or register the object because of their inattention.

While many distracted walkers may suffer minor injuries like tripping on a sidewalk and spraining an ankle but other more serious injuries can include walking into fixed objects or in the path of oncoming cars which can be extremely dangerous. While many pedestrian accidents are caused by motorists, pedestrians need to be aware of their surroundings, make eye contact and a wave to drivers before they cross intersections.

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 pedestrian accidents due to the negligence of another. With our help, you may receive compensation for your damages 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.

Liebherr-Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH, of Germany has recalled approximately 2,700 refrigerator units after 13 reports of doors falling off and two injury reports including bruises and sprains.

The units recalled were sold between January 2005 and November 2009 and include models
 SBS240, SBS24 I0, SBS245, SBS24I5.

If you own a Liebherr refrigerator, you should call Liebherr  toll-free at (877) 337-2653 or visit their web-site, www.liebherr-appliances.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 by dangerous and defective products 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.

Starbucks Coffee Company of Seattle, Washington, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada has issued a voluntary recall of approximately 11,000 glass water bottles sold in the United States and 1,200 in Canada.

The recall was issued after there were 10 reports of the glass stoppers or water bottles shattering and eight reports of hand lacerations. Starbucks has recalled the water bottles because they pose a hazard to consumers.

The water bottles in question was sold at Starbucks stores and in Safeway and Target stores.

If you have a Starbucks Glass Water Bottle printed on a blue label, return the bottle to the Starbucks location where you purchased it for a refund and a complimentary beverage.

See the USPC web-site for more information.

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 defective and dangerous 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.

We just came across a really cool web-site by Tableau Software which uses technology which provides 'data visualization.' What this means in plain English is that people understand data better when it is presented in a visual form instead of having to wade through graphs, charts and a lot of verbiage.

A really great example of this is their webpage which helps parents choose the safest car seat for their children.

Choosing a car seat can be a bit nerve wracking and this visual guide along with ratings and Department of Transportation/National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration notes can really help parents and caregivers choose the best mode.

The visualization on the web-site uses stars and pictures to help parents. Check it out today.

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.

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 2-year-old boy was killed after a television that was sitting on top of a chest-of-drawers fell on him reports James Queally for The Star-Ledger. The toddler was apparently watching TV with his brother when he opened one of the dresser drawers causing the dresser and the TV to become unbalanced and fall on him.

Unfortunately, this not an uncommon home accident. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns parents and daycare providers about the danger of appliances -- and especially TV sets -- tipping and falling on small children and seriously injuring and killing them. The CPSC published a report in 2008 entitled Instability and Tipover of Appliances, Furniture and Televisions: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities. According to the report, in one year alone -- 2006 -- 16,3000 children ages five and younger were injured due to TVs or other pieces of furniture or appliances falling on them.

Tipover injuries typically when children climb onto furniture or appliances or when a heavy appliance like a TV is perched on a piece of furniture that was not designed for it. The CPSC recommends using straps to secure TVs and furniture to the wall so they can not tipover. Children injured in these types of accidents often suffocate or suffer severe brain injuries.

Education and prevention are certainly the keys to avoiding this type of 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 due to dangerous or defective products 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.

James V. Okada was killed in a snowmobiling accident near Interstate 90 next exit 70 outside of Easton reports The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

According to the report, Okada was traveling at a high rate of speed on East Sparks Road near Easton when he must have hit a guardrail. He was not wearing a helmet. The report said that the road was slick and snow was falling.

Apparently Okada had been drinking at the Parkside Lounge shortly before the motor vehicle 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 motor vehicle accidents, including snowmobile 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.

At least one patient has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit and a federal investigation has been launched into a physician and hospital due to findings that a doctor performed hundreds of unnecessary medical procedures.

According to a report on WBAL TV.com from Baltimore, Maryland, the medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Mark Midei claims that Midei placed stents in two arteries of the patient's heart when only one was medically necessary or indicated.

A cardiac stent is a wire metal mesh tube which props open an artery of the heart allowing normal blood flow through. Some stents are metal with a polymer coating which releases drugs into the opened artery for a period of time.

The investigation into hundreds of patient records showed that Dr. Midei placed stents into hundreds of patients at St. Joseph's hospital in Towson when they were not medically indicated. The investigation is trying to determine whether St. Joseph's hospital was complicit in a scheme to financially benefit the hospital.

The unnamed patient alleges "medical malpractice, fraud, negligent hiring and retention and negligent supervision by the hospital."

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 family of those killed. Medical malpractice can include surgical malpractice, hospital-acquired infections, hospital falls, medical errors, failure to diagnose and anesthesia errors.

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 Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to avoid purchasing fake Alli sold to consumers over the internet, especially on online auction sites. Allis is a over-the-counter weight-loss drug containing orlistat as an active ingredient.

The counterfeit drug does not contain orlistat but instead sibutramine which is a stimulant medication. While sibutramine is an FDA-approved weight loss drug, the amount contained in the fake Alli is three times the recommended dose and can cause anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, racing heart (tachycardia), insomnia and increases in blood pressure. In increased amounts, patients are three times at risk for heart attack or stroke.

See the FDA web-site for photos and information which will help you identify the differences between the authentic Alli and the counterfeit medication. If you believe your Alli is counterfeit, stop taking it and call the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) at 1-800-551-3989.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious injury due to dangerous products. 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.

Senator Jim Kastama of Puyallup and Representative Christopher Hurst of Enumclaw are recommending that several cities that have installed red light cameras should lower the cost of the fines associated with violations associated with the cameras. In Western Washington, the following cities have installed the cameras: Tacoma, Bellevue, Lakewood, Puyallup, Federal Way, Auburn, Fife, Lynnwood and Lacey.

Sen. Kastama has introduced Senate Bill 6410 which would make the fines the same as an average parking ticket; Sen. Hurst has introduced HB2780 which would make the red-light violation fines $25 and increase yellow lights at intersections to four seconds.

The two legislators said that the goal of the cameras was to improve public safety, not to be a "cash cow" for the cities. Several cities have made over 1 million dollars with their red light cameras and have fines of more than $100.

When the legislature was introduced to allow cities to install the cameras back in 2005, fines were supposed to be equivalent to a parking infraction.

Information for this article is from Tacoma's The News Tribune.com.

This information is provided as a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in car 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.

A man who claims he developed a "debilitating infection" after donating blood at the Stanford Hospital Blood Center has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and says that the hospital denied him treatment when he could not afford to pay his medical expenses.

According to KGO Radio Bay Area News, Christopher Bui, 43, was a blood donor for 10 years when he suffered an infection. In his suit, Bui contends that when he gave blood, there was an implicit agreement that Stanford would care for him by virtue of him making blood donations. Bui also contends that the hospital sold his blood after his donation.

No dollar amount for damages has been specified in the medical malpractice suit because Bui's attorney says that he must first determine how much Stanford earns selling blood donations.

Complications from blood donations are rare and most complications include bruising, fainting, or tingling of the lips. There should be no risk of developing a blood-borne infection when giving blood because sterile disposable equipment should be used for each donor.

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 family of those who have died as a result.

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.

Paula Goldberg, 59, was awarded $24,000 from the city of Palo Alto, CA by an outside arbitrator for compensation for a hand injury sustained when she tripped and fell on buckling concrete on a city sidewalk.

Goldberg filed her negligence lawsuit against the city of Palo Alto in 2007 and it went into nonbinding arbitration in 2009 reports Palo Alto online.

Both the city and Goldberg accepted the terms of the settlement so a trial was avoided.

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 slip, trip and fall 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.

An 18-month-old Oregon boy, Brock Aschenbrener, was injured in a pedestrian accident when his mother, Charmin Aschenbrener, hit him with an SUV as she was backing the vehicle out of a Milwaukie driveway.

According to a report written by David Krough on KGW.com, Brock Aschenbrener suffered critical injuries and was taken to Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital.

Studies show that a high proportion of toddler injuries occur in their driveways when vehicles back up.

Many of these traumatic pedestrian accidents cause severe head injury with a 10 times increase in the likelihood of death when compared to other pediatric accidents.

Public awareness and education is need to prevent these devastating pedestrian accidents.

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 pedestrian 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 Seattle Times reports that Joseph Aguilar, 20, of Yakima was has died of injuries sustained from a fall from a Portland hotel window.

According to the report, Aguilar fell from a fourth story window at the Inn at the Convention Center hotel around 3am. He died of his injuries at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Police believe alcohol may have been involved in the accident and they believe the fall was accidental.

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 slip, trip and fall 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.

Some teachers at a school in Wellesley, Massachusetts school -- Schoenfield School -- became ill after they were accidentally given a shot of insulin instead of H1N1 vaccine. The school is investigating how the staff administering the vaccinations mixed up the flu vaccine with the insulin they had on hand to give to diabetic students.

All of the teachers given the insulin were treated at a local hospital and released.

Information for this posting is from whdh.com out of Boston, Ma.

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 including pharmacy, surgical and hospital errors.

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 Tri-City Herald.com reports that Randall Johnston, 43, of Kennewick was killed after a 500 pound pallet fell on his chest at his place of work in Pasco.

According to the report, the industrial accident occurred at Con-Way freight.

The Department of Labor & Industries is investigating the cause of the industrial accident.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in work-related accidents and the family of those killed.

Nearly 100 people are killed in work-related accidents every year in Washington state. According to OSHA statistics, 50% of construction accidents occur to people under the age of 45.

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.

Three people were injured in a two-car accident when a Ford Escape driven by Matthew Weisenburger, age 45 of Maple Valley, crossed the center line on U.S. Route 2 and hit a Suburban driven by Randy Kim Roberts, age 55 of Leavenworth. The car accident occurred around 11:20 am approximately 25 miles east of Leavenworth.

Matthew Weisenburger was taken to Cascade Medical Center with arm and leg injuries. His passenger, Megan Weisenburger, 18, was also taken to Cascade with possible broken ribs. Roberts was taken to Cascade with a foot injury.

The Washington State Patrol cited Weisenburger for driving too fast for the icy road conditions reports The Wenatchee World.

The AAA recommends that motorists take the following safety precautions on icy and slippery roads:

• Drive at slower speeds and brake and steer more slowly
  
• Watch out for black ice that forms on areas of the road that do not get direct sunlight
  
• Exercise extra caution on bridges, overpasses and tunnels
  
• Place extra weight in the form of sand bags or kitty litter in the trunks or truck beds of rear wheel drive vehicles
  
• When driving a vehicle with anti-lock braking systems (ABS), apply steady pressure when stopping. When driving a vehicle that doesn't have ABS, gently apply pumping pressure to the brakes.

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 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.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) along with St. Martin's Press LLC, have issued a voluntary recall of "Big Rex and Friends cloth books manufactured in China due the due to high levels of lead contained in a red plastic dot sewn in the book. Lead poisoning in high levels can be toxic to children, causing severe illness and permanent learning and behavior disorders.

The Big Rex books have ISBN number 031249260X and were manufactured in China and distributed through St. Martin's Press to Barnes & Noble, Toys "R" Us, Amazon, Borders and other booksellers between 2004 and 2009.

Consumers can contact St. Martin's Press at (800) 347-9411 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.priddybooks.com/recall for information on returning the books and obtaining a refund.

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 dangerous products. 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.

An Issaquah woman, Xin He, the former owner of a the Natural Beauty Salon located in Bellevue was sentenced to 13 months in prison for injecting Restylane into customers instead of Botox.

He was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of " misbranding of a drug and two counts of receipt and delivery of an adulterated device," according to the Bellevue Reporter.

He's conduct came to light after a Snohomish woman's face became inflamed after being injected at the salon. The woman sought treatment by a dermatologist and she had to undergo plastic surgery after her face became hard and swollen.

Washington law prohibits anyone who is not a licensed health-care provider or doctor to inject prescription medications including Botox and Restylane.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been injured by dangerous products or because of the negligence of another. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages 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.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is categorized as any trauma to the head that causes any sort of damage to the brain. In the United States alone over 1.5 million a year endure some sort of TBI and some 50,000 people die from a TBI complication each year. It is also estimated that over 5.3 million Americans currently live with a complication or disability that is direct result of TBI. Due to this large TBI rehabilitating population care and care facilities specializing in TBI, like CareMeridian, have become increasingly popular and necessary.
At the onset or first signs of TBI a number of important tests are preformed to determine the structure and functionality of the brain.

• MRI and CAT scans produce images of the brain that detect physical damage that may have occurred during the accident.
• EEG, SPECT or PET scan are used to observe the functions and activity of the brain.

After these tests are done the extent of the damage can be determined. Rehabilitation and recovery varies from individual to individual and case-to-case, however if recovery is possible the majority of it will likely occur within the first six months of treatment. Many cases require rehabilitative treatment. Usually this treatment consists of prevention of secondary complications, devising and providing devices and tactics for patients to utilize so they can function as normally as possible, aid in the restoration of lost abilities and functions and work with family members to implement changes at home that are deemed necessary for the patient to participate in normal activities.

Rehabilitation facilities also house a team of specialists including; a Physiatrist (a physician who specializes in rehabilitation medicine), a Neuropsychologist (a psychologist who specializes in cognition and behavior), a Rehabilitation Nurse (provides care and helps the patient adapt to an altered way of life), a Physical Therapist (aids patient in orthopedic problems), and an Occupational Therapist (aids the patient in daily task skills).

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries from car accidents, construction accidents and slip, trip and fall accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including the cost of rehabilitation care.

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 man was hospitalized after he was injured in a nail gun accident in his garage.

According to a report on KMOX News.com, the unidentified man was shot in the neck when a nail ricocheted and hit him.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 100 people require medical attention every day due to nail gun accidents. Sometimes the nail gun injuries are quite severe resulting in the loss of an eye, puncture wounds, fractures, nerve damage, dental injuries or even death.

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 nail gun and construction accidents.

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.

"E-cigarettes" are advertised as a 100% healthy alternative to regular cigarettes and are they are promoted as a safe alternative to smoking and a way to help people quit smoking. The only problem, says the Food and Drug Administration, is there is no scientific evidence to back up the claims made by the e-cigarette manufacturers, distributors and marketers. The FDA fears that e-cigarettes could endanger a user's health and are analyzing the electronic cigarettes.

Electronic or "e-cigarettes" use a battery and LED light to simulate smoking. The products contains nicotine and other compounds are atomized and inhaled by the user. The FDA says that some analysis of electronic cigarettes show they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals including diethylene glycol which is an ingredient used in antifreeze. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and it is very difficult to abstain from once a user becomes addicted, regardless of the delivery method.

The FDA is also concerned that there are no age restrictions on the sale of electronic cigarettes, especially to teenagers.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a product liability law firm who represents people who have been seriously injured by dangerous products and the families of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages 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.

For more information on electronic cigarettes, see the FDA web-site.

The New York Times reports that Nestlé corporation has shut down its Danville, Virginia plant because traces of E-coli has been found in two samples of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough.

Nestlé plans to keep the plant closed until it takes measures like changing its recipe and production processes to insure that E-coli cannot survive. Nestlé will now test all ingredients for the cookie dough as they enter the plant.

After last summer's cookie dough recall, Nestlé has been testing every batch of cookie dough for E-coli O157:H7 bacteria, the most potentially deadly form of the bacteria.

E-coli can cause severe illness and the most vulnerable patients can have severe illness including kidney failure and other potentially life-threatening symptoms.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been serious illness due to foodborne illness including E-coli and salmonella food poisoning.

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 24-year-old La Center man was hit and killed by a semi-truck as he stood on Interstate 5 in Thurston County around 1:00am this morning reports The Tacoma News Tribune.

According to the report, the pedestrian accident occurred a little before 1:00am. The semi-truck driver was not injured in the accident.

It was not know what the man was doing on the highway or whether the accident was a suicide. The Washington State Patrol said they do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of the Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been injured in pedestrian accidents and trucking 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.

Two Western Washington newspaper editorial boards, The Tacoma News Tribune and The Seattle Times, wrote editorials in support of legislation which Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, introduced to make hand-held cell phone use while driving a primary offense.

As the pile of research continues to grow equating cell phone usage while driving and drunken driving, state legislators believe now is the time to change Washington's current cell phone law which allows police to ticket drivers only when they are stopping them for another infraction like speeding or running a red light.

Read The Tacoma News Tribune editorial here.
Read The Seattle Times editorial here.

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 motor vehicle accidents and the family of those killed. If you believe your accident was caused by someone's negligent use of a cell phone, read, "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 study, with results that might be counter intuitive, found that nearly twice as many pedestrians were injured in painted or marked crosswalks than painted ones.

The pedestrian accident study was written by the Transportation Research Board in Washington DC, covered a five year period and looked at 400 intersections that had one painted and one unpainted crosswalk. The study also took into consideration the amount of pedestrian and vehicle traffic at the intersections they studied.

During the period of the study, 177 pedestrians were hit in the marked crosswalks and there were 18 fatalities versus 31 pedestrian accidents and only three fatalities in the unmarked crosswalks.

The conclusion of the study was that the higher rate of pedestrian accidents in marked crosswalks is due to the pedestrian's "attitude and lack of caution" when using the marked crosswalk. Pedestrians feel safer when the intersection is marked and thus tend not to take cautious actions like looking both ways.

The authors of the study recommended that crosswalks should only be painted where warranted.

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

A Seattle Fire Department boat rescued two kayakers -- whose boats had capsized -- from Puget Sound on Friday morning. The pair were trying to paddle from Bainbridge Island to Seattle reports The Seattle Times. The two men in their 20s had been in the water for about an hour when they were rescued.

According to the report one man was able to use his cell phone to call 911. The Coast Guard and the Fire Department started a search after the call and found the men about two miles off shore.

One of the boaters was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of hypothermia, the other man was able to walk ashore. Hyopthermia is a condition where the body's temperature drops below what is required for the body to function.

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 families of those who have died.

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 Olympian reports that two people were injured in a two-car accident near Shelton around 7pm on Friday. Shelton is approximately 22 miles north-west of Olympia, the state capitol.

According to the report Daniel Sanchez-Reyes, age 25, of Shelton, failed to yield as he pulled onto State Route 3 and his car was hit by a Rod pickup truck driven by Zachary D. Hines, age 20, of Grapeview.

Sanchez-Reyes suffered abdominal and possible head injuries in the motor vehicle accident and he was taken to Mason General Hospital. A passenger in the pickup truck, Angela R. Gatica, age 2,4 of Shelton, suffered minor injuries in the accident.

Hines and another passenger, Shelby D. Austin, 17, were not injured.

Sanchez-Reyes will be cited for failure to yield the right of way.

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 motor vehicle 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.

As a law firm that routinely represents people who have serious injuries due to dog bite from vicious dog, we have some recommendations to dog bite victims and their families. Our recommendations are geared to victims because their rights needs to be protected so they can be fully and justly compensated for their damages.

Dog bite injuries can be very serious and they often cause disfigurement (often to the face), permanent nerve damage, psychological damage including post-traumatic stress, severe pain and most victims require between two to five surgeries to repair the damage.

Our recommendations

• Seek prompt medical treatment. Head straight to the emergency room or to your doctor's office. Your medical treatment notes are required to document your injuries and treatment and are used to prove how severe your injuries are.
• Call the police or animal control. The police or animal control will investigate and establish who the legal owner of the animal and document the circumstances of the dog attack including witness statements. The police record is used to establish liability.
• Photograph and document your wounds. Use your cell phone camera or other camera to photograph your wounds as record of what happened to you. Take more than one photograph and over a period of time as bruising and scarring occurs after the initial bite. Photographs along with medical records and police report are evidence for your case.
• Consult with a personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney can insure your rights are protected and will fight the insurance companies on your behalf.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent 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.

The Washington Department of Health has a Healthcare Associated Infections Program and associated web-site which tracks hospital acquired infections. Washington State has a regulation which requires the Department of Health to keep track of certain types of infections at hospitals throughout the state.

Hospital Associated Infections (HAI) are those that a patient develops after care in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office or after a home visit by a health care professional. Most HAI infections are preventable. By utilizing the DOT web-site, patients and healthcare professionals can find the rate of hospital infections learn and how to prevent them.

The types of infections that the web-site tracks are:

• Central line infections - data is provided for the infection rate by type of ICU.
• Ventilator infections - data is provided that shows the ventilator-associated pneumonia rates by Washington hospital.
• Surgical infections - data is provided for infection rates for deep sternal wounds in cardiac surgery, hip replacement operations, total knee replacements and abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies.

See the Department of Health Infections Program web-site by clicking here: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/hai/B_HospPerf.htm

Infections can and do occur in every hospital and clinic in Washington state. If your infection was caused by a improper surgical procedure, failure to follow guidelines or other type of medical negligence, you may be eligible for compensation.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious hospital-acquired infections due to medical 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.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission along with Sagittarius Sporting Goods has recalled approximately 10,000 Master Forge Five-Burner gas grills due to a defect in the design which could pose a burn risk to consumers.

According to the news release, there have been two reports of a hose melting and rupturing. No burn injuries or property damages has been reported.

If you have a Master Forge Five-Burner Gas Grills, contact the manufacture (Sagittarius) at 1-800-444-6742 to obtain a repair kit.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious burn injuries due to defective products or accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages 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.

In a comprehensive study of tree stand accidents, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Injury Sciences found that most tree stand accidents are preventable. The study entitled Epidemiology of Tree Stand-Related Injuries in the United States from 2000 to 2007 by Terry, Joshua BS; Griffin, Russell MPH; Rue, Loring W. III MD; McGwin, Gerald Jr MS, PhD looked at a total of 46,860 tree stand accidents that occurred between 2000 and 2007. Their recommendations are that hunters use safety harnesses and perform regular maintenance of tree stands.

Tree stand accidents can cause serious injuries wit the most common being severe fractures to the hips and lower extremities. Other serious injuries can include traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

The study also found that younger hunters -- those between the ages of 15 and 34 -- are more likely to be seriously injured in tree stand accidents because they spend more time in tree stands and are more apt to disregard safety precautions.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries including fractures, brain injury and spinal cord injury due to slip, trip and fall accidents.

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.

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The Seattle Times reports that Deputy John Bernard, 52, of Moses Lake, who worked for the Grant County sheriff's office, was killed in a one-car rollover car accident near Ephrata on Sunday evening.

The Washington State Patrol's major accident investigation team from Seattle is investigating the cause of the motor vehicle accident. According to the report, Bernard was wearing a seat belt and there was no snow or ice on the road at the time of 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 motor vehicle 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.

Two people were injured when the truck they were riding in rolled on Interstate 82 near Prosser. Prosser is near the tri-cities area in south-east Washington.

According to a report in the TriCityHerald.com, Eric Anderson, 64 of White Swan, was taken to Prosser Memorial Hospital where he was listed in stable condition. His passenger, Anna Anderson, age 62, was treated for her injuries and was released.

The Washington State Patrol believes driver inattention may have been a factor in the truck accident. Driver inattention or distraction can occur when a driver engages in a secondary task while driving. Driver inattention can include: checking mirrors or speedometers, looking at passengers, mind wandering, poor concentration, carelessness, using cellular phones, operating minor controls including lights and stereo, eating or drinking and mind wandering.

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 motor vehicle 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.

A 49-year-old Seattle man was seriously injured in a bicycle accident when a red minivan ran him off of Highway 202, just east of Redmond on Saturday.

The bicyclist was taken to Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue for treatment of his injuries.

According to a report in The Seattle Times, the bicyclist was riding with a group of about 10 cyclists with the Starbucks Racing Team when he rode his bicycle into a ditch to avoid being hit head-on by a the red minivan that was driving erratically.

Anyone with information regarding the bicycling accident or the red minivan is asked to call Detective Stacy Moate with the WSP at 425-401-7746.

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 bicycle 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.

An 18-year-old man, Sean F. Crissy, has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and hit-and- run fatality after a 54-year-old Bellingham man was hit and killed while he walked at Chuckanut Drive and Sea Pines.

According a report by Seattle's KOMO News.com, the Bellingham man was reported missing by his wife at 9pm after he did not return from his evening walk which began at 6pm.

Police officers found the missing man lying beside the road only three blocks from his home.

When Bellingham police searched for the missing man, they found a Dodge van, which had been reported stolen, with windshield damage. The van's owner said he reported the vehicle stolen after his son, Sean Crissy, told him that the van had been stolen.

When police officer's caught up with Sean Crissy on Saturday, he reportedly told them that he had been under the influence of mushrooms and had been drinking as well as text messaging when he hit the Bellingham man. They arrested Crissy at the home of a friend without incident.

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 pedestrian 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.

Washington State Senator Tracey Eide has introduced a bill which would make using hands-held cell phones or texting while driving a primary offense. The current Washington law, RCW 46.61.668 "Sending, Reading, or Writing a Text Message While Driving" makes texting or using a hands-held cell phone while driving a secondary offense which means that law enforcement can not ticket motorists for the infraction unless they are stopped for another offense like speeding, running a red light, etc.

Distracted driving is a serious issue but as long as it is only a secondary offense, many drivers don't take the ban seriously and ignore it altogether.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration there were 5,870 car accident deaths last year and 515,000 were injured in accidents attributed to distracted driving. In fact it is believe d that distracted driving was involved in 16% of all fatal car accidents.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously inured in car accidents caused by distracted drivers. See "What if my car 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.

Two victims of a Spokane RV fire were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of their burn injuries. The 44-year-old female victim is reported to be in critical condition. The 55-year-old male victim is listed in serious condition. Both victims suffered burns to approximately 50 percent of their bodies.

According to a report in the Spokesman Review, the motor home was parked behind a home at 5611 North Perry Street. The fire was reported around 5:10pm and the pair had already made their way out of the burning RV when fire crews arrived.

The blaze occurred to the rear of the motor home and the cause is being investigated.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered burn injuries and their families. See our Burn Victim 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.

A 17-year-old Longview teenager suffered first and second degree burns over 30 percent of his body when his clothing caught on fire while siphoning gas from a car.

According to a report on Seattle's KOMO News.com, the teenager lit a cigarette while he was siphoning the gas. He was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview with burn injuries on his hands, feet and pelvis.

First degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin and are quite superficial. Second degree burns are more serious and painful often causing blisters.

Luckily, the teen did not suffer third or fourth degree burns which can cause extensive scarring and require multiple surgeries, skin grafting and rehabilitation.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent victims of burn injuries and their family. See our Burn Victim 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.

December 2009 was a deadly month for home fires as there were 15 deaths attributed to fire across Washington state reports the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Already in the New Year, two mobile homes were destroyed by fire in Kent.

Across the nation, there are approximately 3,320 people who lose their lives in fires every year. December and the holiday season can be especially deadly. Colder weather, more indoor activities and the use of candles, holiday decorations and power outages all contribute to fires in December.

The Fire Marshall, Michael Matlick, reminds everyone to think about fire safety. Click here to see the Fire Marshall's fire prevention tips which include tips on smoking safety, home heating safety, cooking safety, electrical equipment and appliances and smoke alarms.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people victims of burn injuries 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.