Washington Injury Attorney Blog

The Seattle Times reports that a 13-year-old boy from Washington State was killed in a boating accident at Lake Coeur d'Alene. The accident occurred when the teen's grandfather, Marvin Markham, 70, of Spokane Valley, Washington backed up his boat so that his grandson could switch life vests. He believed the boat's propeller was up.

The teenager was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane where he was pronounced dead.

Police are investigating the accident.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are boating accident attorneys located in Bellevue, Washington.

If you believe your boating injuries or those of a loved one were caused by the negligence of another person, contact us for a free boating accident case evaluation.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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Ray De Lorenzi writing for the American Associate for Justice reports that "Allstate ranks as the worst insurer for consumers" with their tactics of "Deny, Delay, Defend." The Association for Justice did an extensive review of legal documents and financial filings and ranked the 10 companies that "refuse to pay just claims, employ hardball tactics against policyholders, reward executives with extravagant salaries and raise premiums while hoarding excessive profits."

The Association says that Allstate has an aggressive strategy of denying claims at any cost. According to the Association, agents were rewarded with items like refrigerators for falsifying documents like claiming that a fire was arson.

To view the Association's report "The Ten Worst Insurance Companies in America -- How they Raise Premiums, Deny Claims and Refuse Insurance to Those Who Need It" -- click here. The reports lists the following companies as the 10 worst:

1. Allstate - for having an aggressive strategy to deny claims
   
2. Unum - for claiming a multiple sclerosis patients symptoms were "self-reported"
   
3. AIG - for engaging in fraud
   
4. State Farm - for its deny and delay tactics
   
5. Conesco - for making claims processing so difficult that elderly patients either died or gave up
   
6. WellPoint - for canceling the policies of pregnant women
   
7. Farmers - for offering the staff incentives for having low claims
   
8. UnitedHealth - for delaying claims and reimbursing low.
   
9. Torchmark - for preying on low-income and minority policy holders.
   
10. Liberty Mutual - for adopting aggressive tactics and refusing to renew policies.

After you read this full report, you'll realize that having a skilled personal injury attorney is vital when you have been involved in serious accident, been a victim of malpractice or lost a family member because of the negligence of another person.

When looking for a skilled personal injury attorney, we hope you'll talk to us. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in representing people with serious injuries and families with wrongful death claim. We will work for you on a contingent fee basis, that means that you do not pay any attorney's fees unless we collect a settlement The major insurance companies use computerized claims adjusting and it helps them offer low and unreasonable settlements. With the help of the professional injury attorneys at our firm, we will be proactive on your behalf.

Read some of our tips on how to deal with insurance companies:

• When should I hire a lawyer?
  
• Should I talk to a claims adjuster?
  
• How much treatment should I get?
  
• How do I negotiate workers' compensation along with my negligence claim?
  
• What is computerized Claims Adjusting?

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Boating & Watercraft Accidents , Brain Injury , Car Accidents , Construction Accident , General Negligence , Medical Malpractice , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Nursing Home Neglect , Serious Personal Injuries , Wrongful Death

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The Seattle Times reports that a 14-year-old surfer, Cole Ortega of Bend, Oregon, lost his arm in a boating accident with a dory boat off Cape Kiwanda. Ortega was airlifted to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland and is listed in "serious condition." The family said they would not release information about the possible re-attachment of the arm. The arm was retrieved by Frank Lippy, an ER doctor affiliated with Kaiser Permanente who was at the beach at the time. Bend television station, KTVZ-TV, however, reports that the arm was reattached.

The dory boat was driven by Darrell Martin, 55, of Beaver, Oregon. The Times quoted The Oregonian newspaper that Martin was "in shock and expressed extreme remorse." The accident occurred at Cape Kiwanda, a popular spot for boaters, surfers, windsurfers, kayakers, swimmers and hang gliders.

The Tillamook sheriff's department is investigating the accident to determine whether anyone should be cited. Oregon Marine Board regulations state that boats within 200 feet of "a swimmer, surfer, diving flag, bank or wading angler" cruise at no more than 5-mph speed. It is common practice in this area for the dory boat drivers to sound a continuous horn as they approach.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are boating accident attorneys who represent people with serious personal injuries due to the negligence of others.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents , Serious Personal Injuries

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A Seattle woman who was boating with her husband near Dyes Inletin Kitsap County lost her leg beneath the knee in a tragic boating accident according to The Seattle Times. The incident, which occurred Saturday afternoon, happened when the woman was climbing onto the couple's boat that was in 2'-3' of water. She slipped off the boat's step and make contact with the spinning propeller. Her leg beneath the knee was severed.

The 45-year-old woman, who was not identified, was taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton initially and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her condition as of Sunday morning is listed as "serious."

This information was bought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in the Pacific Northwest representing boating accident victims. If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed in a boating accident, contact us for a free case evaluation.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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The U.S. Coast Guard says that boating accident fatalities are up in the Pacific Northwest and in Washington State over previous years. According to Seattle's King5.com, there have been 28 boating accident fatalities in the Northwest States including Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho this year. As of June 20, there are already 12 boating accident fatalities in Washington State alone and 28 in the Pacific Northwest. Last year, there were only 23 fatalities by June 20th.

One significant cause of boating accidents is the use of alcohol. People who drink while boating are ten times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Washington State Patrol says that half of all boating accidents involve alcohol. The legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is the same for boating as in driving any other motor vehicle, 0.08%. While it is illegal to drive a boat while intoxicated, tickets are seldom issued to drunk boaters.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in boating accidents and the families of people killed. We have more than 30 years experience in representing boaters and their families in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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According to The Seattle Times, Michael J. Nethercutt, a Kennewick resident, ran into an anchored boat owned by 74 year old Edward Gilbert on the Columbia River near Finely. Both boats fell apart on impact and Edward Gilbert is missing and presumed dead. His wife, Patricia Gilbert, was rescued from the river, treated for her injuries and has since been released from the hospital. Gilbert founded a Tri-Cities pizza parlor, Hubby's Pizza Kitchen. He was also a member of the Clover Island Yacht Club He had been fishing along the riverbank when his boat was hit.

In a posting a few days ago, we reported that it appeared as if the anchored boat contained no passengers. Now the facts are starting to come out and they reveal that alcohol played in a role in the tragic boating accident that resulted in the death of a boater.

Nethercutt is accused of operating his boat while intoxicated. He blood-alcohol level was 0.324 after the crash. In Washington State, 0.08 is legally intoxicated. Nethercutt is currently in Kennewick General Hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. He is under guard by a Benton County sheriff's deputy and he faces charge of homicide by boat and assault by watercraft. His bail is set at $15,000.

According to the Washington State Parks and Recreation department, approximately 50% of all boating accidents in Washington state involve alcohol. It is early in the boating season and we hope that boaters heed the law and not operate boats in a negligent manner or under the influence of alcohol. If they do, they are 10 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. As Bellevue-based boating accident attorney, we represent people injured or killed in boating accidents in Western Washington, the Puget Sound, Lake Washington and on the Columbia River and Lake Chelan.

Contact us today for a free case consultation.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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The Seattle Times reports that a person is missing on the Columbia river near Finley, Washington after a boating accident. It appears that a power boat carrying five people collided with a boat that was anchored causing the moving boat to break apart, and spilling passengers into the river. Reports say that there was no one on the anchored boat at the time of the collision.

Four injured people were taken to the hospital but there is currently no information on the extent of their injuries.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. Our attorneys represent people who have serious personal injuries due to boating and watercraft accidents.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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According to The Seattle Times, five-year-old Sean MCartney is dead and his 9-year-old brother, Cameron, and 32-year-old Bryan Pierce are missing and presumed drowned in a boating accident after the boat they were riding on flipped on the Nisqually River. The boat driver, Vincent Eric Farler of Olympia, is in jail and he may be charged with three counts of homicide by watercraft and one count of boating under the influence. Farler's blood alcohol level was 0.193 percent after the accident. The legal limit in Washington State is 0.08 percent. None of the five people aboard the boat at the time of the accident were wearing life vests. State law requires that there be one life vest per person.

The accident occurred on the Nisqually River where Farler offered to give Erin McCartney, her two sons and a friend a ride on his flat-bottomed boat. Erin McCartney lives in Yelm and her husband is currently serving in Iraq. It appears that all of the adults were drinking beer and brandy. Farler was said to be turning "tight circles" with the boat when all five were thrown aboard into the fast running river. Erin McCartney and Farler were able to make it to the shore.

The Nisqually river is between 50 and 55 degrees this time of year and those exposed in the water can develop hypothermia very quickly.

Every year in Washington State, there are between 20-30 fatalities due to boating accidents. Many boating accidents are caused by the use of alcohol and it is a criminal offense to drive a boat while under the influence.

This news was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are experienced in maritime law and other Washington State laws as they relate to injuries you may have suffered as a result of a boating or watercraft accident. In the case of a fatal boating accident, the family is entitled to compensation.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free consultation. With over 30 years experience in representing clients in the Pacific Northwest who have been injured on the many lakes and rivers the region has to offer, we are here to help you.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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King5 TV reports that Lake Washington has hidden hazards which can cause boating accidents: submerged logs. Deputy Steve Marshall of King County's marine unit says due to the high snow pack and snow melt, The Cedar and Sammamish Rivers, which flow directly into Lake Washington, are running fast and high, and have deposited tons of wooden debris including huge trees with root balls attached into Lake Washington. These submerged logs pose a serious hazard to boaters and can cause boating accidents.

The term for a sunken or partially submerged log is a "deadhead." If boaters run into a deadhead at a high speed, the hull of the boat can be badly damaged and it can even sink.

According to the King5 report, The Army Corps of Engineers has been collecting tons of debris in the Sound in the last few days. The Corps urges homeowners and boaters alike to alert authorities if they see a submerged log or tow it away.

This information was brought to you by the Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are experienced with maritime law and other Washington State laws as they relate to injuries you may have suffered as a result of a boating accident. In the case of a fatal boating accident, the family is entitled to compensation for the loss of a loved one. Contact us for a free case consultation.

Boating Resources:

• When should I report a boating accident
• Boating Safety Tips
• Boating Resources

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a Spokane man has been charged with felony assault by watercraft after a boating accident on Newman Lake severed his wife's arm below the elbow. Robert Kienel, age 27, was operating a 20-foot Quantum Bow-Rider ski boat and his wife, Alana Kienel was riding in the bow. When Robert Kienel made a sharp turn at approximately 35 mph, Alana Kienel was thrown off the boat and the boat's propeller severed her arm. Her arm was not recovered.

The charges against Robert Kienel stem from the fact that he may have been intoxicated at the time of the accident. The Spokane County Sheriff's department said that they found beer and wine containers on the boat's floor and Kienel's blood was tested for alcohol at the Spokane Valley Medical Center. Assault by watercraft is a Class C felony in the State of Washington. A Class C felony carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Sentencing is based on the seriousness and the offender's "score" based on any prior convictions.

In Washington State, it is also illegal to ride in the bow of a boat, a practice called "bow riding."

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a boating accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney. We have more than 30 years of experience in the Pacific Northwest representing people who have been seriously injured or killed in boating accidents. Contact us for a free case consultation.

See also:

* When should I report a boating accident?
* Boating Safety Tips
* Boating Resources

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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Our recent posting highlighted the kick-off of the National Safe Boating Week campaign that educates boaters to wear life jackets (PFDs). The Seattle Times reports that four Oregon men should have paid heed to the campaign because Clackamas County, Oregon authorities have cited them $242 each after they were in a boating accident on the Sandy River. The four men's rafts capsized and they managed to get to safety but they were cited for not wearing life jackets.

The National Safe Boating week campaign is partnering with several events in Western Washington:

• Vessel Safety Check in Bellingham on May 3
• 3rd Annual Boater's Fair at the BI Commons & City Dock on May 10
• US Power Squadron Boating Course in Lacey on May 17
• Boating Safety Course in Bellingham on May 17
• Safe Boating Week - Lake Chelan Boat Club, Manson on May 17
• Boating Safety Course at the Squalicum Yacht Club, Bellingham on June 14
• Boating Safety Course at the Squalicum Yacht Club in Bellingham on September 13

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to a boating accident, contact the boating accident attorneys at The Farber Law Group. We are experienced in maritime law and Washington State laws as they relate to injuries you have suffered. In the case of a fatal boating accident the family is entitled to compensation for the loss of a loved one. Contact us today for a free case consultation.

Additional Resources:

• When should I report a boating accident?
  
• Boating Safety Tips
  
• Boating resources

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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With warmer weather this weekend in Western Washington, boaters will likely be out on Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Lake Chelan and the waters of the Puget Sound. The warm weather coincides with the National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) which is designated from May 17-23, 2008. The message of the campaign is boating safety and encourage people to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs), or life jackets.

In Washington state there are approximately 20-30 boating accident fatalities and 4,000 injuries from watercraft mishaps a year. Accidents can happen when operating a jetski, a motor boat or a sailboat.

The National Safe Boating Week posts many local events sponsored by various organizations including the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. These events include:

• May 3 - Vessel Safety Check - Bellingham
  
• May 10 - 3rd Annual Boater's Fair - BI Commons & City Dock
  
• May 17 - US Power Squadron Boating Course - Lacey
  
• May 17 - Boating Safety Course - Bellingham
  
• May 17 - Safe Boating Week - Lake Chelan Boat Club, Manson
  
• June 14 - Boating Safety Course - Squalicum Yacht Club, Bellingham
  
• September 13 - Boating Safety Course - Squalicum Yacht Club, Bellingham

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to a boating accident, contact The Farber Law Group. We are experienced in maritime law and Washington State laws as they relate to injuries you have suffered. In the case of a fatal boating accident the family is entitled to compensation for the loss of a loved one. Contact us today for a free case consultation.

Additional Resources:

• When should I report a boating accident?
  
• Boating Safety Tips
  
• Boating resources

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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Seattle's boating season opens today with the "Parade of Boats" beginning at 12:00 pm on Lake Washington. The three hour parade includes more than 300 boats of all kinds including "rowboats, steamships and classic wooden craft," according to Brad Wong's article in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Wong's article also includes a "plea for common sense" while boating to avoid boating accidents and drowning deaths. That plea includes safety tips including keeping your vessel seaworthy, wearing personal flotation devices (life jackets), avoiding alcohol while boating and adhering to the speed limit. Since 2003, 16 people have died in King County in boating accidents.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the following are the causes for boating accidents:

• Grounding, capsizing, sinking, flooding or swamping
  
• Falls within or overboard a vessel
  
• Persons ejected from a vessel
  
• Fire or explosion
  
• Water-skiing or other mishap involving a towable device (tube or wakeboard)
  
• Collision with another vessel or object
  
• Striking a submerged object
  
• A person struck by a vessel, propeller, propulsion unit, or steering machinery
  
• Carbon monoxide exposure
  
• Electrocution due to stray current related to a vessel
  
• Casualties while swimming from a vessel because a vessel is not anchored, moored or
  docked – and – the vessel drifts away from the swimmer and the swimmer is unable
  to get back to the vessel.
  
• Casualties while swimming from a vessel in an attempt to retrieve a lost item, another
  person, or another vessel.

This information was brought to you by The Farber Law Group, a law firm based in the Pacific Northwest. We have more than 30 years experience in maritime law and other Washington State laws as they relate to injuries or death suffered in boating accidents. Contact us today for a free case consultation.

Click here for Boating Resources.
Click here for Boating Safety Tips.

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Posted In: Boating & Watercraft Accidents

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