Washington Injury Attorney Blog

So far 16 people have died in Europe because of E-coli infection linked to tainted vegetables. The death toll may rise as upwards of 1,150 have become sickened.

Hundreds of people have become sickened in several European countries including Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden but the only deaths so far have been in Germany.

373 people in Germany are said to have been sickened with the most deadly form of E-coli,
Escherichia coli O157:H7. This form of the bacteria can have life-threatening complication, a kidney condition called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

Another 796 people have become ill with the enterohaemorrhagic E.coli, also known as EHEC, bacteria.

At this point it is unclear the exact source of the E-coli contamination but there appears to be a strong link to cucumbers from Spanish Almeria and Malaga as the source of infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the E-coli outbreak is "very large and very severe."

Symptoms of E-coli infection includes severe and acute bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. A diagnosis is made by culturing a stool sample.

When an E-coli infection can be traced to a particular manufacturer or packaging process, victims may pursue a legal claim for damages against the producer, manufacturer or distributor of infected food sources.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness caused by negligence.

Continue reading " 16 killed, hundreds sickened in European E-coli outbreak " »

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada in conjunction with Dorel Asia SRL, of Barbados, has issued a voluntary recall call of 445,000 bunk beds in the United States and 21,700 bunk beds in Canada.

The CPSC has issued the recall after 23 reports of the bunk beds side rails cracking or breaking and reports of minor bruises and abrasions. Defective products have a potential to cause severe injury.

The bunk beds were sold at Walmart, Kmart and Target stores and include the following models:

TG2070 (242/07/1472)
TG2070W
WM1848
WM1848R
WM1848R2
WM1848R2DC
DA1026W
DA1026RW
DA1026P
DA1026RP

Consumers should contact Doreal Asia for a free repair kit at (800) 295-1980 or see the firm's web-site, www.dorelasia.com.

Bunk bed-related injuries are suffered by approximately 37,000 children every year. Fall injuries can result in fractures, cuts, abrasions, traumatic brain injuries including concussions and spinal cord injuries.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle product liability law firm and we represent people who have been injured due to dangerous and defective products.

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Continue reading " Nearly half million bunk beds recalled due to fall and collapse hazard " »

Just a day after a tour bus accident killed 2 on Interstate 90 near Cle Elum, another motor vehicle accident has claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl.

The Seattle Times reports that Britteny Davis, 15, of Yakima, was killed at the scene of an accident on Interstate 90 approximately 6 miles west of Cle Elum, Washington. Cle Elum is approximately 75 miles east of Seattle.

According to the report, the girl was riding in a car driven by her mother, Marita S. Davis, 42 along with Jayden Davis, 6, and Kaycee Davis, 8 when the car went off the highway and hit a tree.

Brittney was killed at the accident scene. Injured in the accident was Jayden who was treated at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital for abrasions and contusions. Kaycee was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of abdominal injuries. Marita Davis was taken to Kittitas. A report by KNDO/KNDU news said all the injured have since been released.

Marita Davis's sister-in-law, Rosetta Whitman, said a medical emergency caused the accident. She said, "She started feeling dizzy and everything went blank, and she woke up to the feeling of going off the road, and then she blacked out again, and then she woke up and tried to take care of her kids."

This is a tragic accident for this family.

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 o f those killed.

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Continue reading " Interstate 90 car accident near Cle Elum claims life of 15-year-old girl " »

The Washington State Patrol reports that there have been 7 fatal pedestrian accidents in Southwest Washington in the past 10 months.

The WSP provides the following safety tips for pedestrians to avoid a pedestrian accident:

1. Do not walk on freeways.
2. If your vehicle becomes disabled on the freeway, pull to the right as far as possible. Stay in your vehicle if possible. If you exit your car, exit from the passenger side. Avoid standing between two vehicles.
3. If you have a flat tire on the traffic side of your vehicle, call roadside assistant or 911. The WSP will respond to help you.
4. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, move your vehicle as far right as possible and call 911.
5. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident and your car or truck is not drivable, leave your vehicle and move to a safe place and call 911.
6. If you stop to help at a motor vehicle accident, be sure you park your vehicle in a safe location, call 911 and watch traffic.

Source:
Washington State Patrol Media Release
Car Pedestrian Fatalities

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 and the family of those killed.

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Continue reading " Safety tips to avoid car-pedestrian accidents " »

Three employees at a Tennessee chemical plant are in critical condition after they suffered burn injuries after an explosion or fire near a furnace

This is the third injury accident at the Hoeganaes Corporation plant this year. The incident will be investigated by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB).

In January of this year, a flash fire killed a worker and injured another worker who died just a few days ago. A second accident occurred on March 29. Both of these fires involved combustible iron dust.

The plant has been criticized for not addressing safety hazards including letting dust accumulate 2-3 inches deep on surfaces throughout the factory.

This construction accident is very tragic for those who are clinging to life and their families. It is a stark reminder that workplace safety must be paramount for any corporation.

In on-the-job accidents such as this, the injured and the families of deceased workers are advised to contact a personal injury lawyer to find out information about their worker's compensation benefits and whether they are eligible to file a negligence or third-party claim.

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 workplace accidents. We have more than 30 years representing victims and their families.

Source:
4 Workers Hurt in Tennessee Plant
Fox News
Published: May 27, 2011

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Continue reading " 5 injured in fire at Tennessee metal powders plant " »

The Spokesman-Review reports that the Washington Supreme court has upheld the $6.5 million wrongful death and negligence judgment against CH2M Hill, an engineering company, that the court ruled was responsible for the death of one Spokane sewer plant workers and the injuries to two others in a 2004 construction accident.

The Spokane sewer plant accident killed Mike Cmos when a tank imploded and Cmos was buried in sludge. Two other city workers, Dan Evans and Larry Michaels were injured in the accident.

In 2008, the Superior Court Judge Robert Austin ruled that CH2M Hill was negligent in its design changes to the digester. He ordered a wrongful death settlement of $2.6 million to be paid to Cmos estate; $2 million to Cmos' widow; $650,000 to Cmos' daughter. He also ordered payment to Evans for the broken bones he suffered and to Michaels for his serious knee injury.

CH2M Hill appealed the decision all the way to the Washington Supreme Court which upheld the Superior Court decision with six justices signing the majority opinion and three justices signing a concurrence opinion.

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 construction accidents and the family of those killed. We have more than 30 years experience successfully representing clients with their wrongful death claims.

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Continue reading " Washington Supreme Court upholds $6.5 wrongful death judgment in Spokane sewer plant accident " »

The Tri City Herald.com reports that a 17-year-old boy suffered serious injuries when he was involved in a Benton City school bus accident on Tuesday around 2:30 pm. The motor vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Horne Road and Irene Avenue.

The teen may have internal injuries and he was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland for treatment. The teen was not wearing a seat belt.

High school students from Kiona-Benton City High School were on the school bus at the time of the accident and one apparently suffered a laceration to his face. The bus driver was not injured in the accident.

According to The Seattle Times, the teen was distracted and hit the bus when turned onto Horne Road from Irene Avenue.

Distracted driving is a very serious problem on our highways. 93% of drivers admit to distracted driving at one time or another including talking on a cell phone, eating or texting. Distracted driving can also include distractions outside of the vehicle or inside the vehicle. According to the NHTSA, 20% of injury car accidents involve distracted driving.

Distracted driving includes:

• taking your eyes off the road
  
• taking your hands off the steering wheel
  
• taking your mind off of driving.

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 Seattle car accidents and the family of those killed.

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Continue reading " Teen seriously injured in Benton City school bus accident " »

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering toughening the standards for table saws in the wake of 40,000 injury accidents per year which includes approximately 4,000 amputations.

Table saw injuries often involve the fingers or the hands but they can also involve the forearm and elbow. Table saw accidents often involve damage to muscles, tendons, nerves and ligaments.

Consumer advocates are calling for safety standards for table and bench saws while table saw manufacturers object to increased rules because it will increase the cost of the product.

According to the CPSC, 80% of table saw accidents occur at home while the remaining 20% occur in woodworking classes and in construction accidents.

Consumer groups want manufacturers to use a technology called SawStop which is a detection system that will stop the blade whenever it comes into contact with human skin. Demonstrations of the SawStop technology is impressive as the saw stops in 5 milliseconds after accidental contact. Videos on YouTube showing saws with the SawStop technology stopping a saw blade when it comes into contact with a hot dog. See a video here.

In 1965, Ralph Nader published a book, Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile, which pioneered the inclusion of safety features in automobiles despite the resistance by car manufacturers because they didn't want to spend the money. We see a parallel with here with the table saw manufacturers. Hopefully, the table saw manufacturers will improve their products because 40,000 injury accidents are too many

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 construction accidents and the family of those killed. We also represent people with their product liability claims.

Source:
Consumer group calls for action to make table saws safer
Seattle PI.com
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Spec

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Continue reading " CPSC looks at table saw rules in wake of 40,000 injury accidents a year " »

A day after a Kirkland man shot a pit bull dog in the Juanita Beach Wildlife Park in Kirkland, a pit bull attacked two men in Kent and killed a Pomeranian dog. The KIRO report said that two children were walking the Pomeranian when it a pit bull attacked and killed the Pomeranian.

Wile the reports on KIRO TV and KOMO TV vary a bit, what does seem clear is that a 46-year-old man received multiple dog bites in the leg and one in the abdomen and a 19-year-old man suffered a leg injury when they were attacked by two dogs believed to be pit bulls around 1:00pm near south 222nd and 94th Ave. S. in Kent.

King County animal control officers captured the pit bulls after the attack.

According to KIRO, the pit bull was tracked back t a house but the people who were there at the time denied owning the dog.

This Kent dog attack is similar to the Kirkland dog attack in that the dogs were off-leash and not in control of their owner .

When the dog owners are found, they may face criminal prosecution. The victims can also file a civil suit asking for compensation for damages. Washington has a "dog bite law" which is certainly sympathetic to victims and find that dog owners are liable for dog bite injuries. Click here for more information.

This information is provided by the dog bite lawyers at The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in a dog attack and the family of those killed. Since many dog bite victims suffer permanent nerve damage and often require several surgeries, obtaining compensation for medical costs and for pain and suffering is necessary to support the victim.

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Continue reading " Kent pit bull attack injures 2, kills small dog " »

NPR's popular Morning Edition show did a feature on metal-on-metal artificial hips and their effect on patients this morning. The story, reported by Patti Neighmond, discussed the metal-on-metal hip manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics which was the subject of a recall August 2010.

You can Listen to the Story here.

While artificial hips have been restored mobility and provided quality of life for people with severe arthritis and other conditions, the DePuy ASR hip implants have had a higher revision rate requiring a second surgery where a new device must be implanted.

The DePuy ASR system was of a new design and it promised increased mobility for the younger patient and for those with an active lifestyle. It was constructed with a metal-on-metal instead of more traditional designs that had metal on plastic or metal on ceramics. The result is that when the metal ball and socket rub against each other in normal wear, there can be metal shedding which releases tiny metal particles in the tissue surrounding the implant and sometimes even in the blood stream.

Some patients with the DePuy ASR hip have tested positive for high levels of Cobalt and Chromium in their bloodstream. This is a condition called metallosis and it can have potentially very serious consequences including pseudo tumors, tissue damage, allergic reaction, infection and tissue necrosis.

The Farber Law Group, a personal injury and product liability law firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, has invested a great deal of time and study in the recalled DePuy hip implants. We are uniquely qualified to help DePuy hip implant recipients to insure their rights are protected whether or not they are symptomatic. Contact us for more information.

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Continue reading " NPR article on Metal Artificial Hips on Morning Edition show " »

The Kirkland Reporter says that a Kirkland man shot a pit bull dog with a handgun after his dog was attacked and the pit bull then threatened him at Juanita Beach Park in Kirkland, Wa.

The dog attack occurred on Saturday as the man let his dog, a German shepherd, off-leash in park. According to the report, one of three pit bulls who were off-leash attacked the shepherd and then was joined by the other two.

The owner of the pit bulls, a Seattle man, attempted to pull his dogs off of the shepherd when one pit bull turned and threatened the Kirkland man.

The Kirkland man had a permit to carry a gun and shot the pit bull. The pit bull is expected to survive after surgery at a local veterinarian clinic.

It is obvious that the Kirkland man felt very threatened and police are investigating the shooting. One question that comes to mind is, "Are pit bulls more prone to attacking and injuring people than other dog breeds?" According to a study done by the Center for Disease Control which looked at 20 years of dog attacks and looked at 25 different breeds of dog, the pit bull and Rottweiler dogs were responsible for 67% of dog bite fatalities and attacks by pit bulls were responsible for more deaths.

In the past six months, there are a number of reports of pit bull attacks in the news. The following are a few representative news stories:

• January 2011 -- A 5th grader in Vallejo, Ca, suffered a serious dog bite to his arm
  
• January 2011 -- Union County, NC, 5-year-old girl was killed and her grandmother seriously injured when they were attacked by a neighbor's 2 pit bulls
  
• February 2011 - El Dorado, Ca, a 15-year-old girl and her small schnauzer were attacked by a pit bull and the girl suffered injuries to her arm
  
• November 2010 - Orland Park, Ill, woman suffered numerous bites to her arms and thighs in a pit bull attack
  
• November 2010 - Robbinsville, NC 2-year old boy critically injured in a pit bull attack

Washington state law, RCW 16.08.040, finds that the owner of a dog which bites another person, regardless of the dog's previous viciousness, is liable for damages to the victim.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland dog bite victims and their families.

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Continue reading " Kirkland man shoots pit bull in dog attack at Juanita Beach park " »

Rob Summers, 25, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a hit-and-run car accident in 2006 has stood and walked on his own on a treadmill with help after he received an electrical implant which stimulates the lower spinal cord. This procedure is known as functional electronic stimulation (FES). Summers was able to achieve "full weight-bearing standing with assistance only for balance for 4:25 minutes" reports The Lancet.

This is an exciting medical breakthrough and offers hope to some of the approximate 10,500 people who suffer a spinal cord injury every year. Spinal cord injuries can have devastating effects on those who have had a serious accident including a car accident, a fall, a gunshot or a sporting accident. The majority of those who suffer spinal cord injuries are young men between the ages of 16-40 .

For more information, see The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 20 May 2011, "Effect of epidural stimulation of the lumbosacral spinal cord on voluntary movement, standing, and assisted stepping after motor complete paraplegia: a case study"

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious spinal cord injuries from car accidents, construction accidents, falls and sporting accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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Continue reading " Man paralyzed in car accident walks after spinal implant " »

The DePuy ASR hip replacement recall does not just affect patients here in the United States. The recall affects patients in Australia, Sweden and in the United Kingdom. In all, it is estimated that 90,000 hip implant patients have had their defective implants recalled.

At The Farber Law Group, we are keeping abreast of the world-wide news concerning the recall and how the legal suits in other countries are progressing. But it's the descriptions of the patients and what they are enduring that is especially moving.

In the U.K., where healthcare is managed, many patients have to wait a long time to have their implant replaced despite "crippling pain" while their health may be further jeopardized.

In an article in the Liverpool Daily Post, one lawyer described the pain her client suffered, "One person said it was like constant leg cramps times 100, and some have thought about ending their own lives." The article went on to say that hundreds of patients at one hospital suffer from "crippling pain."

Very sad to thing that a surgery that was supposed to help has ended up with such painful results that implant victims think of suicide.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has a DePuy hip implant that has been recalled, contact us whether you are symptom free or not and we will work to ensure your rights are protected.

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Continue reading " Hundreds of UK DePuy hip replacement patients complain of "crippling pain" " »

22 construction workers were injured when the freight elevator they were riding in fell four floors in the Bed, Bath & Beyond building in Chelsea, New York.

According to a report on ABC News, the elevator malfunctioned and fell from the fourth floor to the basement. A spokesman for the Department of Buildings said the cause of the malfunction was a defective brake. The building owner was issued a citation for failing to maintain the elevator.

In what must have been a terrifying accident, none of the injured suffered life-threatening injuries. However, 22 of the workers suffered "whiplash-like" injuries in the fall according to The New York Times.

States regulate the safety of elevators, escalators, moving walks and dumbwaiters and prescribe an inspection schedule. WAC 296-96-00650 prescribes the elevators rules in Washington.

Whiplash injuries are a common injury suffered in car accidents. It refers to the hyperflexion/hyperextension injury or "cervical strain/sprain." It is caused when the head snaps backwards and the movement of the neck is greater than the normal range of motions of the neck muscles.

A whiplash injury can be very serious and require treatment over a period of time. In some cases, this healing process can take six months or more.

The injured construction workers in this accident might very well have a legitimate negligence claim against the building owner since the building owner was cited. They would be well-advised to obtain the counsel of a personal injury attorney.

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 construction accidents and slip/trip/fall accidents and the family of those killed.

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Continue reading " Elevator accident injures 22 when elevator falls 3 floors " »

The Montana press is reporting that a female boater from Washington State is missing after a Montana boating accident. The press says that the woman and her husband were in a boat on the Smith River in Meagher County, Montana when it capsized around 2pm on Monday.

The woman's husband was able to make it to shore and people nearby went for help. The Meagher County Search and Rescue, the Meagher County Sheriff's Office and a helicopter form Malmstrom Air Force Base all coordinated in a search for the woman.

The Pacific Northwest has many waterways, lakes and rivers and the Puget Sound and unfortunate boating and watercraft accidents occur very year. In Washington State alone, there are approximately 20-30 boating accident fatalities every year.

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.

Source:

Authorities search for woman missing after Smith River boating accident
Billings Gazette

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Continue reading " Washington woman missing after Montana boating accident " »

The Chemical & Engineering News just posted an investigation into the fire retardant chemicals used in baby products and found that they expose infants to higher levels or toxins than acceptable.

The study done by Heather Stapleton of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment tested baby products including car seats, changing table pads, mattresses, sleep positioners and nursing pillows and found that tris (1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCPP)  was found in 36% of the products. The study found that babies risk more than the acceptable daily intake levels of TDCPP as recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

1 in 10 nursing pillows tested positive for , tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), which is a compound that may cause cancer.

Flame retardants are chemical compounds used to inhibit the spread of fire. Almost all Americans test positive for traces of flame retardants as they are in appliances, computers and microwaves. Babies, however, test positive at a higher rate than adults and may be more susceptible to the bad effects of flame retardants.

In the past few years, some products such as strollers and nursing pillows are exempt from fire safety standards and some manufacturers are making products without chemical flame retardants.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle product liability law firm and we represent people who have been seriously injured due to dangerous and defective products.

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Continue reading " Fire retardant chemicals in baby products may be toxic to infants " »

6-year-old Logan Simpson was killed in a Kentucky school bus accident on Monday afternoon. At least 16 other children suffered some type of injury. A chaperon and the school bus driver were seriously injured in the bus accident and were airlifted to a trauma hospital. There were approximately 30 people on the bus at the time of the accident.

The school bus was returning from a field trip when the bus swerved off the highway and rolled several times.

Police are investigating the cause of the school bus accident but there was one report that there had been a deer on the highway.

Whenever a school bus accident occurs, people ask, "Why weren't there seat belts?" In rollover bus accidents, lap belts and well-padded and anchored seats can save lives and injuries. Many feel the NHTSA has failed to address the problem of school bus safety which has lead to serious injury and disability among the nation's children and death.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 1996-2006, there approximately 40 people killed every year in school bus accidents. In about 57% of these accidents, another vehicle was involved.

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

Source:
Source: Foxnews.com
6-Year Old Killed in Kentucky School Bus Crash

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The World Health Organization estimates that motor vehicle accidents will kill 1.9 million peope a year between now and 2010. Starting May 11, 2011, the WHO -- with the participation of dozens of countries -- have kicked off a global road safety campaign called "Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2010" and their goal is to save millions of lives.

Motor vehicle accidents affect all nations and is the leading killer of the world's young, ages 15-29. With 1.3 million people killed annually in motor vehicle accidents, car accidents are the ninth leading cause of fatalities globally.

In addition to those killed in motor vehicle accidents, 20-50 million people are injured every year, many seriously.

The Global Plan to reduce motor vehicle fatalities includes:

• Improving road safety
• Improving vehicle safety
• Improving emergency services
• Building up road safety management.

The plan also seeks legislation and enforcement of safety precautions including helmets for bicyclists and motorcyclists; mandatory seat belt use; mandatory child safety restraints; reduction in drinking and driving; reduction of speeding.

The Global Plan seeks to save 5 million lives every year and prevent 50 millision serious injuries in the ensuing decade.

Source:
World unites to halt death and injury on roads
Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 set to save millions of lives

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, truck, bicycle and pedestrian accidents and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages which includes medical care, loss of wages and for pain and suffering.

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Every year, approximately 7,500 call are made to poison centers because of dosing errors with children's acetaminophen products including Children's Tylenol. One of the problems is that bottles of infant's Tylenol, Triaminic, Little Fevers and other brands of children's pain medication do not provide instructions for parents on how much to give children under the age of 2.

Acetaminophen is taken to reduce fever and help relieve pain in conjunction with colds, flu, allergies and sleeplessness. While acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medication, when taken in excess, it can cause liver damage which could lead to death.

On May 17-18, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration is conducting a Joint Meeting of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee to consider requiring dosage instruction for products containing acetaminophen, most notably Children's Tylenol. The new labeling would provide information to caregivers and healthcare providers approximate dosing levels for children between 6-23 months.

Currently, the dosage schedule for children under the age of 2 says, "Consult a doctor." This is problematic because many people do not have physicians or have trouble reaching a physician to ask dosage questions. By expanding the OTC label for children 6 to 23 months, caregivers can find the correct dosage to give their child and it reduces their need to contact a physician, friend or relative for a dosage.

For more information, see "Briefing Materials for Joint Meeting of The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and The Pediatric Advisory Committee."

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury law firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue representing clients who have been seriously injured due to medical malpractice or the negligence or another.

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Continue reading " FDA may adding dosage instructions for children's pain relievers including Tylenol " »

The Seattle Times reports that two nurses working for Seattle Children's Hospital have been cited by state nursing-licenses authorities for "unprofessional conduct and violations of the standards of nursing practice."

A News Release on the Washington State Department of Health web-site reports the following charges:

• In May 2011 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Beth V. Yost (RN00156078) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly administered medication without authorization from a physician to a baby that was being transported to a hospital. In this case, Yost allegedly falsified records and reported that a physician had given her a verbal order to administer the medication. The baby later died of natural causes.
• In May 2011 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Linda Kimman (RN00143729) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to notify the physician of discrepancies between authorized administration of epinephrine and the instructions on the label, and failed to accurately document administration of the medication. In this case, the nurse administered the epinephrine intravenously per the physician's orders even though she read that the drug's label said it should be administered into a muscle.

A federal survey of Seattle Children's was prompted after both of these events. Seattle Children's Hospital has since made changes to their ground transport program because there was confusion about when nurses could administer medications without doctor's orders. The hospital addressed 15 other "lower-level" deficiencies after the survey.

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. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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Continue reading " Two nurses at Seattle Children's hospital charged after medical errors " »

The United States Postal Service (USPS) released statistics today which showed the cities where the most dog attacks against postal workers occurs; Seattle, Washington is #10 on the list with 28 dog attacks against postal carriers in 2010.

Nationally, there were 5,669 postal employees bitten by a dog. Throughout the U.S., there are 4.7 million Americans bitten annually.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog attacks account for more than 1/3 of all homeowner insurance liability claims paid in 2010.

Dog attacks can leave victims with serious injuries. Many victims suffer disfigurement or scarring. Other victims can suffer permanent nerve damage. According to one Seattle-area plastic surgeon, victims of dog mauling require multiple surgical procedures to repair the damage.

Washington States dog bite law, RCW 16.08.040 enables victims to recover damages for their injuries.

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

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An investigation into the DePuy metal hip will air on Monday, May 16, in Australia. The report called "Joint Reaction -- How a revolutionary medical device that offered patients a new lease on life left many of them poisoned and crippled" will air on the ABC program Four Corners.

In the show, McDermott introduces viewers to several patients who were implanted with DePuy's Articular Surface Replacement hip (ASR). One patient, a 76-year-old man who was very active, suffered metal poisoning after his implant. He had to have five surgeries after the ASR hip implant was installed and today can barely walk.

Another patient, a 43-year-old woman, was found to have toxic levels of Cobalt in her system caused by her hip implant, a serious medical condition called metallosis which can cause pseudo-tumors, heart problems and cancers.

In the news piece, McDermott seeks to answer these questions:

• How was the DePuy metal-on-metal technology approved?
  
• Who designed the DePuy ASR hip implant?
  
• Was the DePuy fully tested on humans before it was marketed?

The program quotes one patient saying:

"...the patients are the guinea pigs yes, and then they use the result when they put them in a patient."

We hope we will be able to view this program some time in the future in the U.S. where thousands of people implanted with the hip and where the DePuy recall of the hip device did not occur for 2 years after the FDA had received nearly 400 complaints about the high failure rate of the device.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and sickened due to the defective DePuy ASR hip implant. Our firm's founder, Herb Farber, himself a hip implant patient, will work hard to fight for your rights and for the compensation you deserve for your injury.

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Continue reading " Australian journalist investigates DePuy metal hip " »

The Bellevue Police Department in partnership with The Market Place @ Factoria, City of Bellevue, and Savvy Parents Safe Kids is hosting a free Child Safety Event which will also include a bicycle helmet giveaway and additional bicycle helmets sold at a low cost.

The event is being held on Saturday Mary 14 between 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Market Place @ Factoria which is located at 4055 Factoria Mall SE in Bellevue.

In Washington state, there were 453 fatal bicycle accidents in 2009 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 91% of the fatal accidents, the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet. Brain injuries are the leading reason for bicycle accident fatalities.

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. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began a two-day forum today to discuss the prevention of truck and bus accidents across the United States and review the progress that the NTSB had made in bus and truck safety in the past decade.

The forum held on May 10-11, 2011 will discuss ways to improve bus and semi truck safety. The NTSB has made approximately 400 recommendations to reduce the number of truck and bus accident related accidents but there are still thousands of people killed every year in traffic accident involving buses and large trucks.

The forum will address:

• Carrier oversight
  
• Carrier oversight which would electronically monitor the number of hours a driver is at the wheel and other factors including a vehicle's size and weight
  
• Training and licensing of commercial truck drivers
  
• Driver safety
  
• Driver health and wellness
  
• Technologies which would increase safety including crash avoidance systems and electronic stability control

In truck vs. car accidents, 98% of the fatalities are the occupants of the passenger vehicle. In 2009, there were 1,781 passenger vehicle occupants killed and 44 large truck occupants killed in these types of collisions.

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

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A federal court jury awarded Douglas Ray, 67, $212 million in damages against Allergan Inc. after Ray suffered permanent brain damage after he was injected with Botox to treat hand tremors in 2007. This case sets a record for an award in a Botox injury case.

The jury awarded Ray $12M in compensatory damages and $200M in punitive damages. Compensatory damages are damages which compensates a person for their actual losses including pain and suffering, expenses and economic losses. Punitive damages combine both punishment and the setting of public example. These damages are awarded when a defendant's action was malicious, violent, oppressive, fraudulent or grossly reckless.

Ray's lawsuit claimed that Allergan failed to warn his doctor about risks involved of using Botox for "off-label" use. Off-label use is when a physician prescribes an otherwise approved medication for other than their approved indications.

The jury in this case felt that Allergan had heavily marketed Botox to physicians for other than reducing wrinkles.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle personal injury law firm and we represent clients with their product liability cases.

Source:
Jury orders Allergan to pay $212 mln in Botox case
Reuters News Service

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Timothy White, 29, of Philadelphia, was killed in a New York pedestrian accident when he was hit by a New York tour bus and dragged nearly 30 feet reports the New York Daily News. White was visiting New York with a cousin when the pedestrian accident occurred. He died of massive injuries.

According to the report, the tour bus driver, Steve Drappel, 57, of West Palm Beach, Fla, was driving under the influence of alcohol prior to the fatal pedestrian accident. Police measured Drappel's BAC at 0.08% which is twice the legal limit for commercial drivers. Reports said that Drappel was drinking vodka before the fatal accident.

Drappel faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Drappel was driving a bus belonging to TraveLynx.

Drappel faces serious personal criminal charges and faces revocation of his driver's license. In addition the family of the deceased may file a wrongful death against both Drappel and the bus company that he worked for. Wrongful death is the death of a person caused by the negligent or wrongful act of another.

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 bus accidents and the family of those killed. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience helping families with their wrongful death lawsuits.

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Continue reading " NY tour bus driver was drunk driving prior to fatal pedestrian accident " »

Warren Yeakey, the operator of a crane that collapsed in 2006 in downtown Bellevue, has received a $1.45 million negligence award by a King County Superior Court jury.

In providing the negligence award to Yeakey, the jury found the general contractor, Lease Crutcher Lewis, and the engineering firm, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, for Yeakey's injuries.

The parents of Matt Ammon, the Microsoft attorney who was killed when the crane crashed into his Bellevue apartment, received a wrongful death award in April of 2009.

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 the negligence of another and we help families with their wrongful death claims when they have lost a loved one.

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The Washington state Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission suspended the license of Registered Nurse, Gordon E. McSherry, after a review by an Assistant Nurse manager showed that McSherry stole controlled substances including fentanyl, hydromorphone, meperidine and midazoalm between September 16, 2010 and October 6, 2010 at area hospitals. Read the Statement of Charges here.

The allegations against McSherry alleged that he withdrew powerful pain medication intended for patient(s) and did not administer it to the patient(s) on 97 separate occasions in hospitals in the Seattle area including Virginia Mason and Providence Holy Family Hospital.

Pursuant to Washington Civil Code RCW 18.130.040, McSherry's credential to practice as a nurse has been suspended.

Records show that McSherry had previous allegations against him in the state of Texas.

Many people wonder why there are not background checks for many medical jobs. One huge question is here is, "Did the hospitals in Washington state that employed McSherry perform due-diligence in screening him for employment?"

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 medical malpractice and the family of those killed.

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With hospital-acquired infection affecting up to 10% of all patients admitted to the hospital, legislators in New York are proposing a law that would prohibit physicians from wearing a necktie while working.

A study of 42 surgeons at a New York hospital found that almost half of the surgeon's neckties were carrying pathogens on their ties. While the doctors wore white coats, they didn't necessarily button the coat to restrict the necktie. The study used as a control group 10 hospital security guards and found only 1 in the group had a tie that hosted a pathogen.

Hospital infections can be deadly. One study found that approximately 90,000 people die of hospital infections every year. Although there is no conclusive proof that neckties are the cause -- doctors carry around other things including clipboard, pens and stethoscopes -- it seems like hospitals should be taking every possible measure to prevent infection and that begins with hand washing, isolating patients that carry MRSA, removing central lines in a timely manner and limiting the over use of antibiotics.

A hospital acquired infections is defined as an infection acquired in a hospital by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than an infection. Infection can cause a disability, result in stress to the patient and in some cases result in in a disabling condition 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 injured by medical malpractice and the family of those who have died.

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Continue reading " New York lawmakers seek to ban neckties on doctors in hospital to prevent infection " »

In August 2010, DePuy Orthopaedic, Inc., recalled the ASR XL Acetabular and Hip Resurfacing Systems due to a high revision rate. This recall affects approximately 90,000 patients. Unlike recent recalls of floor mats from Toyota Motor Corporation or aquarium heaters, the recall of a hip implant is very personal and affects the quality of life of thousands of people.

The question raised by many since this is a recall by a major corporation affecting a large number of people, "Is there a class action lawsuit pending by the DePuy hip implant recall victims?"

The injuries suffered by victims of the faulty hip implant are very personal and vary widely from patient-to-patient. Damage claims are based on whether the patient suffered from metallosis, had an active lifestyle or had an especially bad outcome requiring a leg amputation. Therefore, civil litigation regarding the DePuy hip implants is not suitable for a class action.

Instead, the United States uses a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) procedure in federal court cases where victims have common claims. MDLs are ordered by a panel of federal court judges when a collection of personal injury cases have common theories of liability and the same defendants, in this case DePuy Orthopaedics.

MDL 2197 in the Northern District of Ohio presided by Judge Katz operates for the discovery portion of the cases. The MDL allows for all the discovery to run efficiently since the discovery is based upon the same basic set of facts. The description of the MDL follows:

The actions share factual issues as to whether DePuy’s ASR XL Acetabular Hip System, a device used in hip replacement surgery, was defectively designed and/or manufactured, and whether DePuy failed to provide adequate warnings concerning the device, which DePuy recalled along with another ASR device, the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, in August 2010.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have a recalled DePuy hip implant and we will work hard to ensure your rights are protected. Our firm founder, Herb Farber, is passionate about representing clients with the recalled DePuy hip implant because he is hip implant patient himself. Read his story here.

Continue reading " DePuy hip implant recall: "Class Action or MDL?" " »

Matthew Marker, 31, of Rapids City, Michigan, was killed in a single-car accident during a Washington state auto rally reports The Seattle Times. Marker's navigator, Christopher Gordon, of Brooklyn Park, MN was not seriously injured in the accident.

Marker was participating in the Olympus Rally based in Ocean Shores, Washington when the accident occurred 10 miles northeast of Raymond. The Times said that Marker lost control of his vehicle at a curve during the 6th competitive stage of the event and went down an embankment and hit a tree.

Off Road.com reports that the sport of rally has not had a fatal accident since 2003.

The remaining competition stages of the day's race were canceled after 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. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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