Washington Injury Attorney Blog

OSHA has fined a Spokane, Washington company, Graham Construction and Management, $25,200 after a bridge collapse in southwest Idaho late last year that injured 14 workers.

According to a report in The Seattle Times, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued four citations for safety violations, each of which carry a $6,300 fine . Graham Construction claims the accident was not their fault but the fault of a company which provided prefabricated bridge girders for the project.

The accident occurred on October 27, 2008 during a concrete pour at the Robinson Boulevard overpass on Interstate 84. The fourteen construction workers fell approximately 30 feet and suffered injuries including fractures, lacerations and a broken back.

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 negligence including construction accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Wenatchee World reports that a 2-year-old East Wenatchee boy suffered severe injuries when his legs were run over by a riding lawn mower driven by his grandfather on Sunday around 9:40am.

The boy suffered injuries to his left food and ankle and may have injuries to his right leg. He was taken to Central Washington University and then transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The horrible accident occurred at the 200 block of Broadmoor Street Northwest in East Wenatchee. Apparently, the boy had stepped off of the mower's lower platform and the grandfather put the lawnmower in reverse not realizing the boy had stepped off.

This is a tragic accident and I am sure the grandfather and mother are in a state of grief and shock. We wish this little boy well and know that the trauma center at Harborview will give him the world's finest care.

Whenever we read about an accident such as this we like to remind others of some safety tips regarding riding lawn mowers:

• Children should not be allowed to operate a mower and until they are old enough and have had safety instruction
  
• Never carry a passenger
  
• Clear lawn of foreign objects like rakes, buckets, etc. before turning the mower on
  
• Never allow a child or pet to be in the lawn area when mowing in case objects are hurled by the mower's blade
  
• Maintain the lawn mower's fasteners and guards
  
• Disengage the clutch and mower blade and put the gear shift in neutral before starting the engine
  
• Do not wear loose fitting clothing
  
• Wear proper feet coverings
  
• Be extra careful when backing
  
• Be extra careful on slopes and when making turns so as not to tip the lawnmower
  
• Disengage mower blade when driving on hard services such as gravel lanes and sidewalks
  
• Do not operate when not in the driver's seat
  
• Do not operate when under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  
• Do not add fuel when the engine is running or hot.
  
• Shut off the engine when adjusting the machine or making repairs.

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This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious injuries caused by the negligence of another or defective products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Seattle Times reports that several people who were injured when an Amtrak train derailed near Stevenson, Washington in 2005 have reached a financial settlement with Amtrak.

Emma Madrid Diaz (age 59 of Kennewick), Nancy C . Zamudi (age 22 of Pasco), Maria Madrid (age 40 of Richland) and Carlos Madrid (age 23 of Richland) and four unnamed minors reached a settlement in mediated negotiations according to the report.

These eight were among the 26 people injured when a westbound Amtrak train derailed on April 3, 2005 in the Columbia River gorge, east of Portland.

According to an Amtrak attorney, the total of all settlements in the accident are under $1 million dollars.

One lawsuit is still pending, that of Christopher Blankenship, age 36.

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 accidents due to the negligence of another person including people who were hurt in car accidents, train accidents and construction accidents.

The Farber Law Group is a Washington-based personal injury law firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue. Contact us at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com.

Steven Gall, a Medford, Oregon, man who suffered traumatic brain injuries after being hit in the head by a discus at a Rotary relay has filed a suit against the Medford Rotary Club for failing to safeguard spectator's safety.

Gall was photographing the event in April of 2007, when a 3.3 pound discus hit him in the head above his eye. He suffered brain lacerations and skull fractures and has a cognitive impairment due to his injuries. He has trouble reading and working.

In the lawsuit against the Rotary Club, Gall is asking $2.7 million in compensation including $2.5 noneconomic damages, $65,000 for medical expenses, $3,500 loss of income and $125,000 or more loss in income in the future. Non economic damages damages allow a person to recover monies for mental anguish and physical caused by the injury accident.

The lawsuit claims that the Rotary Club was negligent in the setup of the spectator area and knew that a discus was likely to go into the spectator area as one had earlier in the day.

Gall settled with the Medford School District for a sum of $125,000 about six weeks ago.

Information for this article is from The Seattle Times.

This blog is provided by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious personal injuries due to a person's negligence or wrongful act. With your help, you may recover compensation for your damages including loss of wages, medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

An autistic teen age boy who got stuck in a yard container while he was crushing debris, was accidentally picked up in the container and dumped into a trash truck. The truck driver ran the compactor and the boy suffered injuries including a broken pelvis, cuts and lacerations to the face, elbows and knees and bruises on his torso. The truck driver discovered the boy when he stopped to pick up another container and the boy, who was trying to climb out, fell out of his truck.

The accident occurred in front of the boy's home in Portland, Oregon reports Seattle's KOMO News.com. His parents had called 911 about the time the boy was discovered by the driver.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of another. Contact us for a free and confidential case evaluation.

A West Seattle High School athlete, Mackenzie "mac" Clay, has settled with the Seattle School district for $15 million after he suffered a spinal cord injury in his neck two years ago at wrestling practice reports The Seattle Times.

Clay, who is paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair, maintained in his lawsuit that the School District was negligent because the coaches did not follow standard wrestling-safety procedures. The coaches only used one mat on the concrete floor of the West Seattle High School cafeteria even though there were more mats available at the time. The student athletes were confined to a small area because of the lack of mats and Clay was injured when two other students fell on him. The suit also cited the fact that the coaches did not have Washington Interscholastic Activities Association certification.

Clay was an athletic senior when he was injured. He had lettered in three sports. He was also a cellist in the Seattle Youth Symphony and had played the cello since he was six years old.

The $15 million settlement is to be used to pay for Clay's medical bills and an attendant. His future medical needs are projected at $29 million. The Seattle School district paid $1 million of the settlement and their insurer, Washington Schools Risk Management Pool covered the rest.

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 the families of those killed due to another's negligence. General negligence can cover any accident that is caused by negligence or carelessness including failing to secure a swimming pool, failing to install playground equipment properly (i.e., a soccer goal or a baseball diamond backstop), etc.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury because of negligence, you need a personal injury attorney to represent you. The Farber Law Group, with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, has more than 30 years experience representing clients in personal injury cases.

Contact The Farber Law Group because you deserve fair and equitable compensation for your injuries.

The Seattle Times reports that Erik Anderson, 38, was killed in a freak bowling alley accident when he was attempting to dislodge a bowling pin from the basement bowling alley at Spokane Community College. According to the report, Anderson's neck was broken by the machinery and he apparently died instantly.

Anderson was a popular running coach and instructor at Spokane Community College. He was teaching a bowling class when the accident occurred around 11:30 am on Thursday.

Athletes and students at the college were devastated by the loss of the popular track coach and teacher. Anderson leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.

The report said that there was a common problem with pins getting jammed at the bowling alley. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is investigating the cause of the accident.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured and the families of those killed due to defective and dangerous products.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free case consultation.

Eighteen members of a Burbank, California bound Alaska Airlines flight were sickened when fumes from the de-icer fluid permeated a Boeing 737 at SeaTac. The fumes caused eye irritation and nausea among the crew and passengers, some who required eye washes at the airport. The pilots and five flight attendants were taken to Highlight Medical Center in Burien as a precaution.

An Alaska Airlines spokesperson, Caroline Boren, said that the airlines is trying to figure out how a concentration of the de-icer fluid was so strong in the plane. Boren said, "A mild smell during de-icing isn't unusual, eye irritation is."

De-icer fluid is used to keep ice from accumulating on an airplane before it takes off.

According to the article in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the passengers and crew were able to take later flights about four hours later.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have received serious injuries due to the negligence of another person. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Clackamas County Sheriff shot and killed a pit bull that attacked and severely injured a 7-year-old girl, Jayda Kempas in Happy Valley, Oregon. Kempas was to undergo surgery for her dog bites reports KOMOTV.COM in Seattle.

In a horrific attack, the pit bull attacked the little girl and bit her severely on the leg in several places. Kempas' father, National Guard Staff Sgt. Steven Hehr, wrestled the dog and pulled it off only to be bitten himself. He also suffered a dislocated shoulder while wrestling the dog.

While Hehr held the dog, a bystander repeatedly clubbed the dog with an aluminum baseball bat. When the bystander became too exhausted and the dog was still vicious, the dog's owner took the bat and started beating the dog but it could not be subdued.

Deputy Greg Martin arrived to the scene of the struggle and shot the dog dead. He was quoted as saying that the little girl would have died had her father not intervened.

Dog bite injuries can be very serious, even fatal. Nearly 2% of the U.S. population suffers a dog bite injury every year. In 2006, there were 26 dog bite fatalities. Injuries can leave a victim with serious and often permanent injuries including nerve damage and scarring.

If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite, you should contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing the victims of dog bites and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Travis D. Cunningham, the owner of two pit bulls that viciously mauled and injured Hung Le, 71, of Sea-Tac in September entered a "not guilty" plea in King County Court.

King Country Prosecutors say that Cunningham 36, was negligent in not securing the two dogs who had repeatedly escaped and were a danger to people. He is also being charged with two counts of illegal gun possession.

Le suffered disfiguring injuries, her ears were ripped off and she had bite wounds up and down her legs after the attack which occurred after she walked her grandchild to the school bus. Doctors spent more than 13 hours repairing her wounds according to a report by Seattle's Kiro TV.com. See our regarding the attack. She still suffers pain and emotional trauma three months after the attack.

It is ironic that the same day that Cunningham entered his "not guilty" plea and Le's son appeared in Monroe to speak to the City Council about adding restrictions to certain breeds of dogs, dog owners jammed Monroe City Hall in defense of the pit bull breed. Le's son Makus, wanted to speak about what happened to his mother yet the protesters against breed-specific laws did not allow him to speak.

Makus said, "It's human dismemberment is what these dogs tried to do. It's not a little puncture wound. They rip and tear. They tear ears off."

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a serious dog bite or mauling, you should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in dog bite cases. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that a 6 year old Moses Lake boy, Alex Medina, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and is in serious condition after being attacked by a neighbor's pit bull last Friday.

Medina suffered serious injuries to his face, scalp and ears. According to the report, Medina was in his own backyard when the dog entered and attacked him. His mother and some relatives pulled the dog off of the boy.

Medina was first taken to Samaritan Hospital in Ephrata before he was moved to Harborview.

This attack came a week after Huong Le, 71 of SeaTac suffered severe injuries after a vicious attack by two pit bulls running loose in her neighborhood. In that horrific incident, police killed the two dogs and confiscated two others owned by the same man.

Le suffered serious injuries with dog bite wounds all over her body, her ears were torn off and had to be re-attached and she suffered a broken wrist or arm.

In August, we reported on a Federal Way girl attacked and bitten by a pit bull when she was dropping off a business card on its owner's front porch.

The owners of the dogs in these incidents should face criminal charges. People with serious dog bite injuries also deserve to be compensated for all of their current and future medical costs, cost of rehabilitation and for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been mauled by a vicious dog, you need a personal injury attorney who will protect your rights and who specializes in serious dog bite injuries. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience representing people for serious injuries due to the negligence of others and for wrongful death.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that two pit bull dogs attacked a 71-year-old Sea-Tac woman in her own driveway after she walked her grandchildren to the school bus. The attack occurred at around 8:18 am this morning and King County Sherriff's responded to the call at South 105th Street and 30th Avenue south. When police officers arrived, one dog was continuing the attack on the woman. The police officer shot both dogs dead.

The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and was in serious, but stable, condition with bite injuries from her legs to her head. The woman was described as a tiny woman who stands under 5' in height and weighs under 90 pounds. Police said there was no way an adult -- much less a tiny woman -- could have fought off two adult male pit bulls.

According to the Animal control, the dogs had no history of prior complaints. However, this was not the first time the dogs had escaped from their owner's house. In May, they were found wandering on International Boulevard and placed in a Kent Shelter where they were picked up three days later by their owners.

The owner of these two dogs also owns two other pit bulls and police confiscated them today.

Only three weeks ago, we wrote about a pit bull who mauled a 7-year-old girl in Federal Way after she dropped off a business card on the owner's property.

Failing to secure a pet that then injures a person may be a case of "general negligence." In civil law, an injured person can be compensated for their injuries, and for pain and suffering, if a person had negligent behavior which resulted in an injury. Failing to secure a pet may be seen as general negligence.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience representing people with serious personal injuries including dog bites. With our help, you may recover compensation for bodily injuries and for pain and suffering.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Seattle's KOMONews.com reports that a little girl in Federal Way, Washington was attacked and bitten by a dog as she walked up to the dog owners' front door. The girls was attacked, pinned to the ground and was bitten several times. The 7-year-old girl was helping her father by dropping off business cards on resident's doors.

The dog, a pit bull terrier-chow mix, is owned by Chris Brown. Brown contends that the girl is at fault not his dog, "I would never send my daughter on someone's property. I would have walked up there myself. You never know what's going to happen." Brown says that the dog was raised to be a security dog.

Brown's house has no fence or gate, only a sign that reads "Warning: Security Dog". He does have an "invisible" or electronic fence installed.

The King Country Animal Control has quarantined the dog for 10 days. Federal Way law prohibits dangerous dogs within the city limits.

The girl's parents have hired a lawyer.

This appears to be a case of "general negligence." In civil law, an injured person may be compensated for their injuries if a reasonable person had negligent behavior which resulted in the injury. Failing to secure a pet that mauls a child may be seen as a case of general negligence. In this case, the judge may find that an electronic fence was not a reasonable precaution. A reasonable person might assume that anyone should be able to have access to a front door including a mail carrier, meter reader or parcel delivery service.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence of another person, you should contact an attorney that specializes in personal injuries. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience representing people with severe personal injuries including dog bites. With our help, you may recover compensation for both your bodily and emotional injuries.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

United Airlines Flight 1139, a flight from Seattle bound for San Francisco, had an accident on-board last night upon or just after take-off. According to The Seattle Times, some passengers were crushed after a row of seats came loose and slid into the row behind it. The pilot turned the plane around and returned to Sea-Tac. One passenger, a 61 year old woman in Row 4, was injured and taken to Highline Medical Center in Burien. She was able to re-book her flight and fly to San Francisco this morning.

The flight to San Francisco resumed after repairs to the seats were made. United said that a bolt holding the seats in place came loose. Mechanics for the airline tightened the bolts and the flight was able to take-off again.

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 accidents caused by the negligence of another. As personal injury law specialists, we handle many injury cases that fall under categories like medical malpractice, automobile accidents, construction accidents or product liability. However, a case like this Airline Accident might fall under the category of "General Negligence." In civil law, an injured person can be compensated for injuries if a reasonable person had negligent behavior which resulted in the injury. Compensation can be awarded for medical costs, pain and suffering and for loss of income.

If you have been injured because of the negligence of another, contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that a 54-year-old woman, Pamela Almli, from Arlington in Snohomish County was fatally shot in a hunting accident while hiking with a friend in Skagit County. The accident occurred while the woman was hiking near Rockport in the Sauk Mountain area. Apparently a 13-year-old boy from Concrete mistook her for a bear and killed her with one shot.

After the shooting, the woman fell down a steep hillside. Search and rescue teams recovered the woman's body. The youth was questioned but no charges have been filed at this time. The young teen was accompanied by an adult on his hunting expedition. According to reports, bear hunting is legal at this time of year.

Detectives from the Skagit County sheriff's office detectives and officers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife are investigating.

This incident is tragic. One wonders if the youth was being properly supervised, if he had firearms training and if the firearm was properly maintained. Were the youth's actions reckless? Were signs properly posted warning both hunters and hikers that the area was open to both?

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent families who have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person. Washington State has a wrongful death statue which allows spouses, parents or children to bring a civil suit if a person's death was caused by the negligence of another person. Wrongful death suits can arise from auto accidents, medical negligence, work-related injuries, criminal attacks and sometimes supervised activities.

Please contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

Seattle's KOMO News reports that Ronda Petty, of Skokomish Nation, Washington was attacked by a neighbor's Rottweiler dog as she carried groceries to her RV parked outside of her home. The dog left her with "deep bite wounds on her shoulder, waist and hip," according to KOMO news. The dog is owned by her neighbor Henrietta Smith.

In describing the attack, Petty said, "And then grabbed my arm first and just started ripping it like an old rag doll, and I think it just ripped my arm right out, and he went for the stomach, the hips."

The dog is being checked for rabies at Shelton Veterinary Hospital and Smith has agreed to euthanize it.

If you have been a victim of an attack by a dog, you may be entitled to money for your damages including your medical and hospital bills, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and loss of wages. If the dog owner has homeowners insurance, we may be able to help you recover your damages. We have represented dog bite victims in the Seattle area including children playing at a neighbor's house and people who have been attacked by dogs at a park.

The Bellevue dog bite lawyers at The Farber Law Group represents people who have suffered serious injuries due to dog bites including rabies, puncture wounds, emotional trauma, scars and wrongful death.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A 4th of July celebration ended in tragedy in Rochester, in Thurston County, Washington, when three people were injured by shrapnel from a cannon that was fired at a party. Emily Johnson is in critical condition at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with serious abdomen and leg injuries reports The Olympian. She is in a drug-induced cannon and has undergone several surgeries with at least one more planned.

An 11-year-old-boy and a 34-year-old man both suffered lacerations to their legs and abdomens and are being treated for their injuries. The boy was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and the man is being treated at Providence Centralia Hospital. Their names and conditions have not been released.

Sgt. Cheryl Stines of the Thurston County Sheriff's department said the incident is under investigation. The cannon was fired in the 9200 block of Applegate Loop SW. in Rochester. The explosion was so strong that it sent projectiles through the wall of a neighbor's house.

This accident is very similar to one that occurred last year near Littlerock. Devin Vybony, an 8-year-old boy from Olympia was killed after his Grandfather exploded a small cannon at a family gathering and he was hit in the chest with shrapnel.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious personal injuries due to the negligence of others. A case like this may fall under the category of "general negligence." In civil law, an injured person is eligible to receive compensation for injuries if a reasonable person had negligent behavior which resulted in the injury. A victim of an injury may be awarded compensation for medical costs, the cost of rehabilitation and for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured due the negligence of another, you need a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing people with personal injury claims.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The wrongful death of a DuPont, Washington worker recently resulted in the Washington State Supreme Court reversing on appeal the King County Superior Court’s dismissal of claims for wrongful death and negligence.

The King County worker was crushed to death when concrete blocks fell on him while he was investigating the source of a leak in subterranean pipes that burst and liquefied the soil in which he was working. The trial court dismissed the estate’s claim for wrongful death and negligence against the general contractor and the subcontractor who buried the pipes. The dismissal was based on what is known as the “completion and acceptance” doctrine, which stood for the proposition that once a design professional or contractor turned over work on a building to its owner, the design professional and contractor were exempt from liability for negligent design or faulty work.

The good news for Washington workers is that in reversing the King County Superior Court, the Supreme Court joined 37 other states and invalidated the “completion and acceptance” doctrine and held that the estate of a worker injured by improper design or faulty work on a building should be able to recover damages and that a special 6-year statute of limitations applied to lawsuits against design professionals and contractors.

If you want more information on this case or assistance with a wrongful death case, contact us at The Farber Law Group. With the help of the Farber Law Group, a Washington firm experienced and knowledgeable in handling wrongful death cases, you may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.