Washington Injury Attorney Blog

It's cold outside and there are a few inches of the white stuff on the ground in Seattle, Bellevue and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Many people are hunkered down waiting for the storm to pass but others have to go to work, go out to pickup up groceries or medications and for others, cabin fever can drive one to get out and about.

Walking on snow and ice can be dangerous, however, and a person has the potential to slip and fall. While slipping on an icy driveway may be funny in a cartoon or in a YouTube video, fall injuries are one of the leading causes of death among the elderly.

We often get calls this time of year after someone has slipped and fallen and suffered a serious injury. Moderate injuries include bumps and bruises but more serious injuries include fractures to knees, hips and ankles. And, the most dangerous injury of all is a traumatic brain injury which is fatal in 46% of falls among the elderly.

Often people wonder if the property owners has legal obligations in the case of an injury when a person slips on an icy sidewalk, parking lot or place of business. They wonder if the property owner has a duty to remove snow and lay down deicer.

Who is at fault for slips and falls on an icy or unshoveled sidewalk?
The truth of the matter is that the statutory laws can vary from city to city and homeowners may have a different standard than business owners or municipalities. That's why it is a good idea to contact an experienced slip and fall attorney who can evaluate the merits of your case. An experienced personal injury will research the various municipal codes and will ask some important questions such as:

• Where did the accident happen?
  
• Was the property initially shoveled and de-iced?
  
• Was snow falling?
  
• What was the time period between the end of snow fall and the fall?

Answers to these questions as well as other factors can help in determining whether negligence on the part of the property owner was responsible for your slip and fall accident.

We can help
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a slip and fall accident, the slip and fall accident lawyers at The Farber Law Group are there to help. We have more than 30 years experience in representing people with their premise liability and slip, trip and fall accident claims.

Continue reading "Premise liability and slip and fall accidents" »

In mediation, the family of Susan Slattery, 47, has settled a wrongful death and negligence claim against a trucking firm for $40.8M in damages for the trucking accident that claimed Slattery's life and seriously injured her two sons.(Citation: Slattery v. Estes Express Lines, Inc., No. 1116-CV-13913 (Mo., Jackson Co. Cir. June 22, 2011).)

In two separate mediation sessions, Slattery's family was awarded $6.2 for their wrongful death claim, $1.2 million for Slattery's son Peter's injuries and $33.4 million for her son Matthew's personal injury claims.

Slattery was driving with her sons Matthew, 12, and Peter, 15, when a large truck pulling triple trailers rear ended her vehicle. The force of the crash caused Slattery's car to be pushed under the rear of another semi trailer.

Slater died at the accident scene.

Slater's son, Matthew, suffered a traumatic brain injury in the accident. He was hospitalized for a month and is disabled, requiring 24-hour care. His future care and life care costs ranges from between $22M to $30M.He has difficulty communicating as he suffers from aphasia as a result of his head injury.

Slater's son, Peter, has mostly recovered from injuries which included fractures to his pelvis and face. His medical expenses totaled around $220,000 and he is still unable to participate in sporting activities.

Trucker's Negligence
The Slattery family claimed that the semi-truck driver, Douglas Bouch, driving for Estes Express Lines, fell asleep at the wheel causing the accident. They made a claim against Estes Express under the doctrine respondeat superior. They also claimed that Estes Express failed to have an adequate plan to supervise their drivers.

Continue reading "Family awarded $40.8M wrongful death and injury settlement in accident caused by trucker who fell asleep" »

If you have some kind of accident, such as a car accident, workplace accident, or even if you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you may suddenly find yourself trying to learn all you can about personal injury law.

Personal injury law covers personal accidents and damages that can be awarded when claims are made.

While you can file a personal injury claim for any type of accident, there are some things you should understand about personal injury law and how you can win your case.

For starters, accidents do happen, but sometimes they are just that-accidents, meaning no one is to blame. In these cases you probably won’t get far in the way of a personal injury claim.

If you file a claim and expect to be compensated for damages, you need to be able to clearly demonstrate that the party you are filing the claim against could have prevented the accident. For example, if you are walking down the street and fall on the sidewalk in front of someone’s house because you simply weren’t paying attention to where you were going, you are probably going to have a hard time getting a settlement from the homeowner. If, however you fall because the homeowner failed to remove a branch, or ice, or something else from the sidewalk and you fall, that homeowner may be responsible for your accident and may have to pay your medical bills or any other costs associated with the accident.

While this may seem like simple logic, personal injury law is a complex, and sometimes controversial topic. Many politicians feel that the amount of damages one can receive in a personal injury claim should be capped to a certain amount. Different accidents require different things however. Maybe you not only have medical bills from an accident, but you also can’t return to work due to a hospital stay. You lose money by not working, should the responsible party not be held liable for these damages as well?

Personal injury law is hard to navigate, and for that reason, if you feel like you need to file a personal injury claim, you should immediately contact a lawyer for advice. The lawyer can tell you what they think your chances are of a settlement and what the next step should be. You should get compensated if you have an accident that is not your fault, and a lawyer can help make that happen.

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 construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents and slip trip and fall accidents.

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Continue reading "Understanding Personal Injury Law" »

A one-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury when a TV fell off of a motel room dresser and fell on top of him.

According to a report on Fox news, the boy was playing with his brothers in their room when they bumped a dresser that the TV was on and it toppled on him. The boy is in critical condition at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake.

TV tip-over accidents are more common than one might think. The Consuper Product Safety Commission estimates that at least 180 people were killed between 2000 and 2006 when furniture or TV toppled over them. In 2006 alone, there were 16,300 injuries to children under the age of six in tip-over accidents. In 2008, the CPSC published Instability and Tipover of Appliances, Furniture and Televisions: Estimated injuries and Reported Fatalities. The CPSC children often suffer catastrophic brain injuries or are suffocated in these accidents.

The CPSC recommends that TVs and furniture be secured to the wall to avoid tipover accidents as these accidents typically occur when children climb onto furniture or appliances or when a TV is perched on a piece of furniture that was not designed for it.

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 who have been killed.

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Continue reading "Boy suffers head injury when TV falls at motel" »

In Washington state, youth sports have received notice about traumatic brain injuries with the "Lystedt Concussion Law for Student Athletes." The law, which is named after Zackery Lystedt, a middle school football player who returned to a football game after a concussion and suffered a serious brain injury, requires concussion training for those involved in student athletics and also requires a player be removed from a game if a concussion is suspected. In addition, the student athlete with a suspected concussion can not return to play until examined by a medical professional.

Now, six former NFL football players and one active player are taking on the NFL with a potential class-action lawsuit claiming that the NFL did not treat players for concussions and for not divulging the association between football, concussions and traumatic brain injuries. In another lawsuit, 75 retired NFL players filed suit against the NFL and Riddell, the NFL's official helmet supplier, saying the NFL knew that concussions were harmful but that they hid the knowledge from the players, coaches and trainers.

The Concussions Committee of the NFL generally denies that there is a connection between brain disease and concussions however a National Health survey shows an increase in symptoms of permanent brain injury in retried football players and this is attributed to concussion injuries.

The players say that they were instructed to "lead with their heads" and were not removed from play even after they suffered four, five or six concussions.

The players are seeking funds to provide both medical care including diagnostic screening tests and funds to care for players who are so severely injured that they are unable to work. They are also seeking a change in football with safer helmets and changes to "head-down" tackling practices.

Retired football players suffer from various brain injuries which they say are related to taking big hits during their football. One player complains of walking around in a fog. Other players suffer from pre-mature dementia and Traumatic Encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease with symptoms including dementia, memory problems, Parkinson-like symptoms, speech problems, unsteady gait and behavioral problems.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered a serious traumatic brain injury from car accidents, bicycle accidents, sporting accidents or slip, trip and fall accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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Continue reading "NFL football players sue over brain injuries" »

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that a man was critically injured in a Seattle garbage truck accident on Monday afternoon around 1:20pm.

According to their report, the unidentified man was riding on the rear of the CleanScapes garbage truck when he fell off as the truck turned from 28th onto Galer in the Magnolia neighborhood.

The injured man was taken to Harborview Medical Center with a critical head injury.

It is unclear what made the man fall but speed or driver impairment were not factors in the on-the-job accident.

In accidents such as this where a person is injured while on-the-job, the injured party or his family are advised to contact an experienced workers' compensation lawyer who can carefully examine the accident and identify any negligence. Any employee who has sustained an injury in the course of his or her employment has a potential workers' compensation claim.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered work-related injuries and the family of those who have died.

Continue reading "Garbage truck worker critically injured in Seattle accident" »

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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Continue reading "Child safety event includes bicycle helmet giveaway at Factoria mall, Bellevue" »

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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Bremerton police report that a 39-year-old construction worker was seriously injured in a construction accident on the Manette Bridge project around 8:00am on Saturday morning.

The man suffered a life-threatening head injury when he was struck in the head by a wench while working beneath the bridge. The man was either on a small tug or a barge at the time of the on-the-job accident.

The man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle by life flight helicopter.

The Washington state office of Labor & Industries is investigating the accident because it occurred on-the-job. An employer must report to L&I any accident which results in in-patient hospitalization or results in death within 8 hours of the accident.

Almost half of all work-place injury accidents occur to workers under the age of 45 While worker's compensation covers some costs, in the case of serious injury, disability or death, the family of the injured should seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney who can insure the worker's rights are protected.

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.

Source:
Worker seriously injured in accident at Manette Bridge construction site
Kitsap Sun
Reported by: Rachel Pritchett
Mar 5, 2011

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The Washington Department of Health has designed Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington a Level III Trauma Center.

Level III Trauma centers can perform 24-hour emergency surgery and resuscitation. Previously, Evergreen Hospital was designated a level IV trauma center.

Evergreen was ranked #2 in Washington state and Top 10% in the nation for General Surgery by HealthGrades.

Harborview Medical Center in Seattle provides Level I trauma services in the region for patients requiring neurosurgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery or a maxillofacial surgeon.

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, construction accidents and slip, trip & fall accidents.

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Trauma Center Levels

Harborview Level I Trauma Center - Seattle

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Continue reading "Kirkland's Evergreen Hospital designated Level III trauma center" »

King County has agreed to pay the family of Christopher Sean Harris $10 million dollars after Harris suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was slammed against a concrete wall by King County deputies.

Harris' brain injury is so severe that he is paralyzed, unable to speak, is bed-ridden and requires constant care.

Harris, who is from Edmonds, was critically injured in May 2009 in Seattle. His family filed a personal injury lawsuit against King County claiming that unnecessary force was used against Harris when deputies arrested him. Harris was in Seattle and ran when police chased him thinking that he had been involved in an altercation at a bar. It turned out that a witness had misidentified Harris.

It's unclear whether Harris knew it was police officers chasing him. Deputies were in black tactical uniforms instead of traditional deputy uniforms.

A trial of the lawsuit against King County had gone to trial but attorneys in the case settled before the trial was concluded. According to The Seattle Times, some of the jurors polled believed that excessive force was used against Harris and that Harris may not have known that it was law enforcement that was chasing him.

Source:
The Seattle Times
$10M settlement for man shoved into wall by King Co. deputy; jurors react to video

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 wrongful or negligent act of another.

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Continue reading "Brain injured Edmonds man receives $10 million personal injury settlement in case against King County" »

Washington House Bill 1018 which is sponsored by Representative Jamie Pederson, D-Seattle, seeks to add new sections to the Washington State Vehicle Code RCW 46.61 and to recodify two existing sections: RCW 46.61.755 and 46.61.770.

The proposed new section is an attempt to reduce car and bicycle accidents. The section clarifies responsibilities of both bicyclists and motorists.

Section 46.61.755 would be amended to include the following:

• Bicyclists shall have same rights and duties as a motorist on a roadway.
  
• Bicyclists on sidewalks, crosswalks or multi-use trail shall yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian, however, the pedestrian should exercise due care.

Section 46.61.770 would be amended with language that tells motorists to give bicyclists more room and drive at a safe distance away from bicyclists and pedestrians and not to honk at them. Language was also added that tells bicyclists that when they are traveling at speeds slower than motorists, they should right in the designated bicycle lane or as close to the curb as is safe.

In 2009, there were 630 bicyclists killed in accidents with motor vehicles. This was the lowest number of fatal bicycle accidents since 1975. The wider use of helmets is one reason for the reduction in deaths; helmet use reduces the risk of a head injury by 85%. 36% of bicycle deaths occurred in intersections according to data collected by the Federal Accident Reporting System.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured in bicycle accidents and the family of those who were killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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Continue reading "House Bill 1018 adds responsibilities to both drivers and bicyclists" »

The widow of John Bruce, 64, who died in a fall while unloading a Boeing jet at Kuwait International Airport, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing Co. for allegedly failing to provide safety equipment that would have prevented her husband's death.

Bruce had more than 20 years experience working as a ramp serviceman for United Airlines when he fell from a mobile belt loader while removing cargo from a Boeing 747. The operator of the belt loader moved the ramp while Bruce was standing on it and Bruce fell 10 feet and hit the tarmac. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and died several days after the work-related accident.

Bruce's widow, Cleopatra, filed her negligence lawsuit claiming that Boeing and NMC-Wollard Inc., the manufacturer of the loader equipment, failed to provide protections in case of fall. In the lawsuit, the widow also claims that the loader operator was distracted when he moved the loader and that CAV International Inc., the company the operator worked for, failed to adequately train and supervise its employees.

Wrongful death is a death that occurs because of the negligence or wrongful act of another. The family of a person who is killed because of the negligence may recover damages in a civil action against the person or entities whose negligence caused the death of their family member.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a Washington personal injury law firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling wrongful death cases.

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Source:
The Chicago Tribune
Widow of Arlington Heights man files wrongful-death lawsuit against Boeing

Continue reading "Woman files wrongful death lawsuit against Boeing" »

The National Transportation Safety Board is calling upon all the states to enact mandatory motorcycle helmet laws and provide strict enforcement of these laws. Last year across the U.S. there were 4281 fatal motorcycle accidents with 67 of those in Washington state.

Washington among other western states including Oregon, Nevada and California require motorcycle riders to wear approved helmets. Helmets are 67% effective in preventing traumatic brain injury which a leading cause of motorcycle accident deaths. Only 20 states mandate helmet usage.

When comparing miles driven, motorcycle riders have 37 times the risk of being involved in a fatal accidents when compared to drivers of cars.

The NTSB says that motorcycle accident deaths have been rising over the past decade and have doubled between 1997 through 2008 due to the increase of motorcycle ridership.

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 motorcycle accidents due the negligence of another and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

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Continue reading "NTSB calls for mandatory motorcycle helmets across the nation citing increase in accident deaths" »

Two people were injured when the mast of the sailboat they were on collapsed and hit them. The Washington sailboat accident occurred near Lummi Island on Saturday afternoon around 2pm. Lummi Island is part of the San Juan Island chain and is east of Bellingham outside of Bellingham Bay.

One of the injured suffered a head injury described as a concussion and the other person suffered an arm injury. Both of the injured were taken by the Coast Guard to a hospital.

According to the report by KOMO News of Seattle, the sail boat was a 127-foot Zodiac. The sailboat was chartered.

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the boating accident to determine if dry rot or the way the mast was rung up was the cause of the mast snapping.

If it is determined that the cause of the boating accident was caused by negligence due to failing to maintain the sailboat, or failure to train the crew, the victims may be able to obtain compensation for their damages.

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 sailboat accidents and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including medical costs, loss of wages and for pain and suffering.

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CONCUSSION

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Continue reading "2 injured in sailboat accident in San Juan Islands" »

A California Appeals Court has upheld the $9million medical malpractice settlement awarded to Maria Theresa Sanchez who suffered serious brain damage after her neurosurgeon failed to diagnose an infection in the shunt in her brain leaving Sanchez with disabling and permanent brain damage.

Dr. Harley Deere, M.D. was Sanchez's physician at the time of her illness and the original jury found that CareMore Medical Group was liable since he was an agent, or employee, of the medical group.

CareMore appealed the verdict and in a decision by the Second District Court of Appeals in California, the court upheld the verdict.

Sanchez had a peritoneal shunt placed in her brain in childhood because of condition called hydrocephalus. In 2003, when Sanchez was 37-year-olds, her sister took her to CareMore because of persistent headaches. Her primary care physician, Dr. Keipp, prescribed Tylenol for Theresa and did not examine her. A few days later, when Sanchez's condition worsened, she was taken to an Emergency Room at Downey Regional Medical Center which was not affiliated with CareMore. The physician at Downey suspected an infection of the shunt which might be life-threatening but he transferred her to a hospital affiliated with CareMore because CareMore did not cover care at Downey.

From that point on, Sanchez's medical care provided by CareMore was inadequate. Her condition deteriorated but she was denied timely access to a physician and the physicians failed to adequately examine her or diagnose her problem because the physicians failed to review the case notes sent over by Downey. Sanchez was discharged from the hospital and had to obtain permission to see Dr. Deere and on the occasions she did see him, his examination of her was only cursory.

Approximately five months after her initial complaint, Sanchez was diagnosed as having a brain infection. By that time, however, Sanchez's condition was so severe that she was left partially paralyzed, suffers constant pain and must be cared for by others.

Washington state statute finds that a health care provider is negligent if his or her conduct falls below the "standard of care." The statute reads:

The “standard of care” in Washington provides that a health care provider is negligent if he or she “failed to exercise that degree of care, skill, and learning expected of a reasonably prudent health care provider at that time in the profession or class to which he belongs, in the state of Washington, acting in the same or similar circumstances” and “such failure was a proximate cause of the injury complained of.” RCW 7.70.040(1), (2).

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been the victims of negligent health care providers including physicians, surgeons, pharmacists and hospitals. At The Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing the victims of negligent doctorshttp://www.seattlecaraccidentlawyerblog.com/ and other health care providers and in helping victims recover compensation for your injuries, or those of a loved one.

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Continue reading "$9M medical malpractice verdict upheld in case of woman with undiagnosed brain infection" »

David and Celia McCraw have reached an $11 million medical malpractice lawsuit settlement with Tripler Army Medical Center in their medical malpractice lawsuit against two doctors and the hospital reports KITV.com.

The McCraw's daughter, Kayla Mae, suffered a serious brain injury at birth resulting in in cerebral palsy and she requires full-time medical care. The settlement monies will go into a fund to provide for Kayla for the rest of her life.

The McCraw's physicians made several medical blunders during Celia's labor and delivery and they compounded that mistake after the birth of Kayla. During the birth,miscommunication between the resident physician and her supervisor let Celia labor instead of speeding up her delivery.

Once Kayla was born, a first-year intern incorrectly inserted an oxygen tube so that oxygen was pumped into the infants stomach rather than to her lungs. This mistake was not caught for 40 minutes.

In settling the case, Triper Army Medical Center said:

The circumstances surrounding the November 2005 birth of Kayla McCraw at Tripler Army Medical Center were an unfortunate tragedy. Tripler accepts full responsibility for the outcome, resulting in its decision to support settlement of the lawsuit brought by Kayla and her family. Tripler is especially gratified in knowing that the settlement monies will ensure that Kayla will receive the medical care, assistance and rehabilitation that she needs for the rest of her life.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. Our law firm represents the victims of medical malpractice including the parents of children with birth injuries. Birth injury malpractice can result in extreme injuries and while no financial compensation can ameliorate the pain of a child with birth injuries, compensation such as in this case, can make sure the child's medical and educational needs are met.

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A Child Safety Day will be held at Factoria Market Place in Bellevue on Saturday between 11m and 3pm according to The Bellevue Reporter.

At the fair, children will be able to have their bike helmets correctly fitted. The first 50 children under the age of 12 will receive a free helmet. Child bicycle helmets will also be on sale for $9 each while supplies last.

The event is being sponsored by the Bellevue Police Department, Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Factoria Market Place.

While there is not a Washington state law requiring bicyclists to wear helmets, Snohomish, Pierce and King Counties do require them as well as the cities of Seattle and Tacoma.

Every year, approximately 700 bicyclists die in bicycle accidents and two-third of those suffered a traumatic brain injury. Bicycle helmets protect the brain and skull and the neck in an accident. However, the helmet needs to be fitted properly for maximum protection. Improperly fitted helmets have a tendency to shift so an expert fitting can insure a snug and correct fit.

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.

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Continue reading "Factoria Market Place in Bellevue site of Child Safety day Wednesday, September 22, 2010" »

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration just released a study which looked at incapacitating injuries in children under 8 years of age when involved in motor vehicle accidents. The results of the study tell us what we should all know:

Child safety seats when properly fitted and used through 8 years of age dramatically reduces the incidence of incapacitating injuries and death.

The study found that children fared the worst in rollover car accidents and that their likelihood of incapacitating injury was more than three times than of children properly restrained. In side-impact car accidents, unrestrained children was eight times more likely to receive incapacitating injuries.

What are incapacitating injuries?

Head injuries - in car accidents, head injury is the most common injury to children. They are the most dangerous type of injury because they permanently injure a child's developing brain which can lead to lifelong impairment. These injuries include concussions, skull fractures and whiplash. Effects of a brain injury can include "neuropsychological problems, neurological deficits, frontal lobe injuries affecting social interactions and interpersonal skills, and injuries to the brain centers that control reading and writing."

Thoracic Injuries - these include rib fractures and lung injuries. Children under the age of 1 were most likely to sustain this type of injury.

Abdominal injuries - these include small and large-bowel injuries.

Upper Extremity Injuries - Fractures of the humerus, radius and ulna bones in the arms.

The NHTSA report provides parents with information they need to realize the importance of using child safety seats. Read the complete report here.

For information on choosing the correct infant and child booster seat, see The Safety Restraint Coalition Coalition. Based in Kirkland, Washington, they have a lot of information for parents and child care givers.

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.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the major causes of accidental death and disability in the United States. Causes of TBI can include falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries and violence.

Because brain injuries are so devastating, there is a great effort in creating technologies to prevent and protect from these injuries. Seat belts, motorcycle and bicycle helmets are an example of technologies that have reduced the incidence of severe injury.

Causes of TBI

• Falls account to more than 35% of TBI injuries. Falls account for half of the injuries in children under the age of 14 and are the leading cause of brain injuries in older adults.
  
• Motor vehicle accidents - 17% of all TBIs are caused by motor vehicle accidents and this is the leading cause of TBI-related deaths.
  
• Struck by/against events -- Getting hit in the head or colliding with a fixed object accounts for 16.5% of all TBI injuries.
  
• Assault and domestic violence/child abuse -- 10% of TBIs in the general population are caused by assault. War-related injuries are not included in this figure.
  
• Bicycle accidents - account for 3% of accidental brain injuries..

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing brain injury victims and their families. Brain injury litigation is complex and requires attorneys who are experienced in the medical and legal issues involved. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries.

See our Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 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.