Washington Injury Attorney Blog

A construction worker for Washington Closure Hanford was seriously injured after falling through an access door of a catwalk. The worker, whose name was not provided, fell about 50' feet, hitting a ladder as he fell.

A report in The Tacoma News Tribune said that the man had "serious but not life-threatening" injuries. The man was described as an experienced construction worker.

The industrial accident occurred inside a building at the Hanford 300 Area which is located north of Richland.

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 industrial and construction accidents. With our help, you may recover compensation for you damages including rehabilitation costs, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.

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.

A Southern California nursing home has been fined $100,000 by the State after a patient died from a "preventable fall."

According to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the patient who died was in the nursing home, Aviara Healthcare Center, for physical therapy after hip surgery. The patient fell one time so the staff put an alarm on his hospital gown which informed the staff when the patient got out of bed. Even though the patient wore the alarm, no member of the Aviara staff responded when his alarm went off.

The patient got out of his bed and walked in the hallway. There were no handrails in the hallway and when the man started to stumble, he grabbed a lift device that was stored there. When he fell, the lift device fell on top of him. He died from the blunt-force trauma.

State health regulators said that the equipment was not to be stored in the hallway because it posed a hazard to patients.

Handrails in nursing homes are mandatory and heavy equipment such has Hoyer and mechanical lifts should be kept in a closet. Between 15% and 30% of nursing home falls are caused by "environmental hazards" as in this case. Wet floors, clutter, poor lighting and handrails are all types of environmental hazards. Failure to keep patients safe may be negligence and the family of a patient may file a suit to recover damages on their loved one's behalf.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years representing nursing home abuse and neglect victims and their families.

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

Seattle's King5.com reports that a two-year-old child was injured after falling out of a window in Kent, Washington.

According to the report, the toddler fell out of a second story window after pushing the screen out. The report said the child was conscious.

On June 1st, we reported on another child that fell from a Tacoma second story window.

The employees at the Harborview Trauma Center nickname the children who fall from windows, "window jumpers." Every year at Harborview, between 50 and 60 children from the Seattle-are are treated for falls from windows.

Parents and caregivers need to get the message that screens are not strong enough to contain a child or toddler that leans on it. Window guards need to be installed on 2nd story windows in homes, daycare centers, etc. where small children live and play.

Falls from window can cause traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal cord damage and often death.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured due to slip, trip and fall accidents due to the negligence of another person or another entity such as a day care center or business.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Falls in the elderly are a serious health problem in homes, nursing homes, group living situations and hospitals today. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to the emergency room and they are the primary care of accidental deaths in people over the age of 65. Falls are so serious that there are 1,800 deaths caused by falls each year and 9,500 deaths associated with falls.

Injuries from falls can include tissue injury, traumatic brain injury and bone fractures. Fractures to the hip, spine, arms, bones of the pelvis, hands and ankles and hips can be caused by falls. Of fractures, hip fractures are the most serious with 80% of hip fractures occurring in women.

There are various risk factors which can cause a person to fall. Risk factors include muscle weakness, diseases such as Parkinson, poor vision, fear of falling, medication side effects, clothing and footwear and environmental hazards such as slippery floors, missing handrails in halls and bathrooms and obstacles like throw rugs.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations have made it a requirement that hospitals assess fall risks in all patients in order to reduce falls. All hospitals and nursing homes are required to have fall prevention plans in place. Nurses, physicians, food servers and maintenance workers are all responsible to keep the patient safe.

If your loved one has been seriously injured in a nursing home fall due to negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney. At The Farber Law Group, we have experience representing nursing home residents and their families.

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 and we provide a free and confidential case evaluation.

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 Tacoma News Tribune reports that a baby was injured in a fall from a second story window in the 13700 block of 97th Avenue East.

The baby was taken to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and is expected to survive the accident.

As the weather becomes warmer, open windows become a hazard to small children. Every year, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle treats between 50 and 60 children in and around Seattle for falls from windows. Harborview employees nickname these patients, "Window jumpers."

It is not always neglect when a child falls. Parents off believe that a screen on a window is enough protection for their child. However, a screen is not strong enough to contain a child or toddler that leans on it.

Falls from windows can result in severe injuries including traumatic brain injury, fractures, spinal cord damage and often death.

Parents and caregivers should install window guards, move furniture away from windows and install window stops which prevents windows from opening full.

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 slip, trip and fall accidents due to the negligence of another person or a company.

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

A University of Washington student is in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with "serious" injuries after a fall from a 3rd story window.

According to KOMO News.com, the 22-year-old man was under the influence of alcohol when he fell from the Sigma Chi fraternity house at 4505 18th Avenue NE in Seattle.

There were two falls from University of Washington fraternity houses in 2008. In June of 2008, Kevin MacDonald, age 21, died after at fall at the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In May of 2008, a 20-year-old student was seriously injured after falling from the roof of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house.

Falls can be life threatening and those that survive can suffer from traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage. We wish this injured young man the best.

---

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious personal injuries and the families of those killed.

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

A pedestrian was taken to Harborview Medical Center for observation after the sidewalk he was on collapsed and causing him to fall 10' into a hole leaving him trapped for well over an hour reports Northwest News and Weather, NWCN.com.

The slip, trip and fall accident occurred at the Washington Street boat launch near Pier 48 on Alaskan Way South in Seattle around 7:45 am. Rescue workers from the Seattle fire department had to shore up the walls of the hole before they could pull the man to safety using ropes, a crane and a harness.

The man, who was in his 60s, complained of back pain after the accident.

Apparently, the tide undermined the seawall and the sidewalk.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is investigating the accident and trying to determine if other areas of the sidewalk are unsafe.

---

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been injured in slip, trip and fall accidents. Often, slip trips and falls can result in serious injuries including head trauma, broken bones, and muscle and ligament injury. Often the causes of these types of accidents are the negligence of the property owner. State law requires property owners to keep their property free from hazards and to repair sidewalks and potholes.

If you have been injured due to the negligence of a property owner, you should seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group, with offices in Seattle and Bellevue have more than 30 years experience. Contact us at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

Slip, trip and fall is when a person is injured on someone's property. Another name for these cases is "premise liability" and it is the liability that makes a property owner or person who operates a business responsible for injuries by a person on said premises.

When a property owner fails to maintain their property in a safe condition, they can be held legally responsible for injuries a person might suffer. Unsafe and dangerous conditions can include cracked sidewalks, wet and slippery floors, inadequate lighting, stairs or hallways not built to code, floor coverings in disrepair, unsafe shelving and conditions caused by weather like icy entry ways.

Establishing Negligence

To obtain compensation for an injury on someone's premises, one must usually prove that the accident was caused by a "dangerous condition" and that the property owner was aware of this condition. The dangerous condition is one in which the injured party could not have anticipated and it must have presented an unreasonable risk.

To establish negligence, the personal injury attorney must show one of the following:

• The property owner created the dangerous condition
  
• The property owner was aware of the condition and failed to fix it
  
• The dangerous condition was in existence for a time period so that the property owner had opportune time to fix the condition.

An example of negligence would be if a supermarket failed to properly clean up spilled cooking oil in an aisle and also failed to warn shoppers that there was oil on the floor. If a person slipped and broke a hip , the personal injury attorney could argue that the supermarket was negligent in keeping their aisles clean and that an accident was predictable.

A property owner is also negligent if they did not adhere to building codes. For example, building codes specify the rise and run of stairs. However, if a property owner builds the stairs not to code and a person falls on them, then the injured person may have a valid claim against the property owner.

In slip, trip and fall cases on the premises of a business, there may be a number of people who could be held responsible for injuries. The owner of the premises, the business owner or even a maintenance company might be individually or collectively held responsible.

If you or a loved one is injured in a slip, trip and fall accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney who will work to insure your are compensated for your injuries. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in represent people with personal injuries due to slip, trip and fall. These injuries may include broken bones, skull fracture, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Car accidents, sporting accidents, a fall, or a bumping the head at the local hardware store are all accidents which can cause a brain injury and change how the brain works. A minor car accident, a nursing home patient falling out of bed, or a young soccer player heading a ball can may seem not to be serious accidents but they can result in life-altering brain injuries or even death.

What to look for after an accident:

• Monitor the accident victim -- If a person has been in an accident where they have hit their head or their head has been bumped, even if they have never become unconscious, you should monitor them.
• Dizziness, headache, confused thinking and vomiting are warning signs -- if the accident victim displays any of these symptoms, take them to the emergency room immediately.
• Monitor changes in condition -- if the accident victim's symptoms change -- a head ache worsens, they become sleepy or any other change in their behavior within 12 hours of their head injury, they may have a brain bleed and they should be taken to the emergency room immediately.
• Medication -- Be more aware if the person is on blood thinner medication.
• Senior Citizens -- Be more vigilant if the accident victim is elderly or frail.
• Monitor young athletes.
• Take the patient to a trauma center -- In the greater Seattle area and Washington State, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle is the place where victims of serious accidents are taken. Harborview has a neurosurgeon on call which is really important when a person has a head injury and time can be of the essence.

For more information:

• Centers for Disease Control -- Concussion in Youth Sports
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Seniors

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damages due to car accidents, construction accidents, slip, trip and fall accidents and nursing home neglect.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another person, you need a personal injury attorney who understands your injuries and will work to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience representing accident victims and their families. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

A Seattle construction worker was injured in a fall and was rescued by Seattle firefighters this morning. The construction accident occurred around 10:37am at a construction site at 635 Elliot Ave. W.

The Seattle Times reports that the worker, a man in his 30's, was taken in Harborview Medical Center and was in stable condition.

The worker was working on a five-story building at the time of accident.

Every year in Washington State, around 100 construction workers are killed on the job according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. Falls are the leading cause of accidents. Falls can be serious resulting in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones and even death.

A worker who is injured on the job deserves fair compensation to cover loss of wages, rehabilitation and for pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, contact The Farber Law Group. We are a Seattle-based law firm with more than 30 years experience in representing construction accident victims.

Call The Farber Law Group today at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Mark Afforde survived a 25 foot fall on Thursday when his bungee cord broke during a jump from the 200-foot high Canyon Creek bridge near Yacolt. Yacolt is located approximately 170 miles south of Bellevue near Vancouver, Washington.

According to the report, Afforde landed in shallow water under the bridge and was able to walk after the accident. He was taken to Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver where he is said to be in satisfactory condition.

Afforde says he'll bungee jump again.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries due to the negligence of another, including car accidents, medical malpractice and construction accidents.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free review of your case. With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, we are here to help you.

As Bellevue, Seattle and Western Washington cleans up after a big snowstorm, many sidewalks and driveways are still covered with snow and are very icy. Walking around town, it is interesting to see that some businesses and homeowners have been very proactive and shoveled their sidewalks while their next door neighbor may have let the ice and snow accumulate. So, the questions must be asked, "If someone slips and falls on the ice on an unshoveled sidewalk, who is at fault?"

In Washington State, homeowners and business can be held liable if someone slips and falls on a sidewalk that has not been shoveled or de-iced. Property owners are responsible for the condition of their property and for notifying -- by posting a sign -- if there is a hazard.

Premises liability includes accidents when someone is injured because a property owner was negligent in keeping their property free and clear of conditions which can cause an accident. This includes restaurants, grocery stores, apartment building and retail establishment. A person is entitled to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and for pain and suffering.

Slip-and-fall injuries can be serious including a broken hip, broken wrist or even a head injury.

f you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney who works on a contingency basis with a free first consultation. A qualified and experienced personal injury attorney will take into factors such as:

• Was the sidewalk initially shoveled and de-iced?
• Was snow falling?
• What was the time period between the end of snow fall and the fall?

These and other factors are important in proving negligence on the part of the property owner.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing people in premise liability and slip, trip and fall cases. We have obtained compensation for our clients for the injuries they have suffered.

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

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 Bellevue Reporter reports that a little girl was injured and taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue when a tent over the Group Health Ice Arena in Bellevue's downtown park collapsed. According to fire department personnel, the tent collapsed under the weight of snow and ice and fell on the 10 people or so who were skating at the time.

After the accident the Bellevue police department cautioned that people with flat roofs, sheet metal roofs and the like remove the snow to reduce the load. In 1996, car ports, boat sheds and flat roofs collapsed after a heavy snow storm.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been injured in slip, trip and fall accidents and people who have been injured due to the negligence of another person.

Contact The Farber Law Group today; With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, we will provide you a free and confidential case evaluation.

Firearm deer hunting season has opened in many parts of the country. One article that caught my eye, and posted under "Weird News" in bnd.com was that during the opening of the season in Illinois, four hunters were injured and one of those died. Fire arms accidents? No, tree stand related accidents. However, as we have written in the past, tree-stand accidents are far from uncommon and maybe they don't belong under "weird news."

When you think of it, hunters are hauling a lot of gear up a tree onto a platform that is 10-30 feet off of the ground. It's not uncommon for hunters to fall, often suffering serious internal injuries, brain injury, spinal cord damage and even death. Sometimes, a loaded gun will be dropped or bumped and the hunter accidentally shoots him/herself or someone else.

"Hunters need to be vigilant about firearm safety at all times, especially when transporting their firearms, moving them into and out of tree stands, and whenever they are in the field," said Jeff Hopkins, administrator of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Safety Education Section.- "While we had only a few tree stand accidents during the first weekend of the firearm season, most tree stand mishaps are preventable if hunters make sure their stand is structurally sound and they always wear a fall-arrest system full body harness."

If you're going to be hunting using a tree stand, do yourself a favor and wear your harness and take an online tree stand safety course created by the Treestand Manufacturers Association.

This information was brought to you 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 person, or because of a faulty or defective product.

Contact The Farber Law Group if you'd like to talk about your serious injury accident and you think you might need a lawyer.

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 Jon Moreno has filed a personal injury lawsuit against captain Sig Hansen, the skipper of the fishing crew in Discovery Channel's popular show "Deadliest Catch." Moreno claims that he was injured during Seattle's Seafair festival when he boarded Hansen's boat with others and was hoisted above the water by a crane and dropped into the water.

Moreno fell from the crane and broke his pelvis and suffered other injuries.

Moreno's lawsuit asks for damages to cover medical and legal expenses and loss of work. Hansen Enterprises Inc., and Hansen himself are defendants in the suit.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have received serious personal injuries in slip, trip and fall accidents, boating accidents and automobile accidents. With more than 30 years experience representing accident victims in the Seattle area, we have the experience that you need to help you with your case.

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

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released data for 2007 about the number of children who died in toy-related accidents. While nearly 232,900 children suffered from toy-related injuries, only 18 fatalities were toy-related.

Most toy-related deaths are caused by blocked airways, drowning or accidents involving motor vehicles. Most of the deaths were not caused by the toys per se, but happened when the child was playing with the toy.

Nearly 80% of the deaths of children were boys; 14 of the 18 who died were male.

According to the report, the incidents of toy-related death included:

• Tricycle-related accidents: falls, being hit by a car or drowning after falling into a swimming pool while riding.
  
• Chocking accidents -- either on rubber balls or balloons
  
• Suffocation deaths included an infant who fell onto a stuffed animal and one who inhaled a rubber dart.
  
• Two children were killed in auto accidents after being hit by a car while riding scooters.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. A personal injury attorney firm based in Bellevue, Washington, we have more than 30 years experience in representing families with wrongful death claims. If you have lost a loved one due to an unsafe product or because of the negligence of another person or company, you should contact The Farber Law Group to insure your rights are protected. You may be entitled for compensation for your loss.

An off-duty Portland, Oregon firefighter has been seriously injured in a fall at Seattle Seahawk's Qwest field. The accident occurred when the unidentified man and his friends were leaving the stadium after a Seahawks game. According to a report from KOMOTV.com, the man fell 35 feet down a stairwell to the concrete below. Some witnesses said the man did not appear to be breathing on his own after the accident. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he is listed in stable condition.

Lt. Allen Oswalt, a spokesman for the fire department, said that the man was with a group of firefighters from Oregon. He has been with the Portland department for at least five years.

Some comments on the KOMONews.com site speculated that the stairwells at the stadium are very steep and do not appear to be very safe in some places. Let's hope there is an investigation into the cause of the accident so that a tragedy like this one never occurs again.

This information was brought to you 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 in slip, trip and fall accidents. In slip, trip and fall cases, a victim is entitled to compensation if the premises are not safe and the public was not warned.

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

A 19 year old Washington State University (WSU) male student is in Pullman Regional Hospital with unknown injuries after he fell from a three story roof at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house early Sunday morning.

We reported a couple of weeks ago about a female student who suffered head injuries after she fell two stories from a fire escape at the Theta Xi Fraternity house at WSU.

There have been three serious falls at University of Washington (UW) fraternity houses this year: In May, a 20-year-old student was hospitalized after falling from the roof of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. In June, Kevin MacDonald a 21-year-old junior died after falling from a third-floor window at the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In July, a fraternity member broke his back in a fall at the Theta Chi fraternity house.

One wonders if the Universities and the Fraternities are working together to prevent these tragic accidents from occurring.

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 slip, trip and fall accidents due to the negligence of another person.

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

See a chronology of fall accidents at the University of Washington.

In the past few years, hunters have been increasingly using tree stands for hunting. From a tree-stand perch, a hunter is out of the deer's field-of-vision and also out of their range for scent detection allowing hunters to have an excellent vantage point for hunting. Many tree stands are mounted 10 to 30 feet or more above the ground level. As the use of tree stands have become more commonplace, there have been many serious injuries including internal injuries, spinal cord injury, brain injury, paralysis and death among hunters who have had falling accidents involving tree stands.

North Carolina had four serious hunting accidents in two weeks of September including two fatalities. Investigators found that hunters that fell were not using a fall-restraint system.

Hunters fall for many reasons and lack of proper safety precautions and equipment is one of them. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in conjunction with the Treestand Manufacturers Association, found that 82% of all hunters suffering from a fall injury were not wearing a safety device.

Recommended safety precautions include

• Test your tree stand regardless of whether it is homemade or manufactured.
  
• Hunt with a partner or group and rendezvous at designated times.
  
• Do not drink while hunting.
  
• Maintain three points of contact when climbing up and down a tree stand ladder as with any ladder.
  
• Use a haul line to carry your equipment up into the tree stand; keep your hands free for climbing. 75% of all tree stand falls are while climbing up or down the tree.
  
• Check to make sure safety equipment is in good repair.
  
• Make sure you install your tree stand in a healthy tree, not one that is decayed, leaning or without rough bark.
  
• Wear a full body harness.

For more information see the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website, Use of Elevated Stands & Other Techniques Tree Stand Safety. Visit the Treestand Manufacturers Association site for an Online Treestand Safety Course.

This information has been brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seriously injured because of slip, trip and fall accidents through no fault of their own. Sometimes a manufacturing defect or someone else's negligence causes an accident. In this, you need to contact a personal injury attorney who can help you recover compensation for your damages.

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

The Seattle Times reports that a woman underwent surgery at a Spokane hospital after she suffered head injuries when she fell two stories from a Washington State University (WSU) Fraternity fire escape in Pullman.

The accident occurred around 2am Sunday morning at the Theta XI fraternity house. The woman told police she thought the fire escape had stairs instead of a ladder. Police say no alcohol was involved.

Located five minutes from the University of Washington, we have kept apprised of all the fall accidents that have occurred at that University. In the past 25 years, there have been 11 falls, resulting in 6 deaths and 5 cases of severe injuries including broken backs and necks. You might want to read "University of Washington look at death and injury falls at fraternities and dorms"

We are glad this young woman was not killed and hope that she recovers from her injuries with no long lasting effects.

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 due to the negligence of others. We also represent families who are entitled to bring a wrongful death action when someones negligence caused the death of a family member. While these cases are difficult to negotiate through the court system, The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in handling wrongful death cases.

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

The Seattle Times reports that a 25-year-old woman, Chelsea Marie Howe, of Bellevue, Washington died after a fall. According to the report, Howe was in Sheboygan, Wisconsin visiting relatives and friends. She apparently was climbing from a balcony to the roof of a condo when she slipped and fell two stories to her death.

Police said that she suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene. According to investigators, "alcohol was a factor in the incident."

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have more than 30 years experience in representing people in wrongful death lawsuits, slip trip and fall cases and people with serious personal injuries due to the negligence of another.

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 another University of Washington student has been seriously injured in a fall at a fraternity house. The fall occurred at the Theta Chi house located at 4535 17th Ave NE when the student was climbing a ladder. He fell about 25 feet and landed on his back. He suffered a serious injuries including a skull fracture, a broken back and broken ribs.

In a previous posting, we discussed the history of falls resulting in severe injuries. The University has had a hands-off policy regarding many of the falls because they happened at fraternities which are off-campus. Police reports indicate that there have been 11 tragic accidents in the past 25 years due to falls with six deaths and five resulting in severe injuries such as broken backs. All of the injured or killed students have been males between 18 and 21 years of age.

Click here to see a chronology of accidents at the University of Washington.

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 due to the negligence of others. A family in entitled to bring a wrongful death action if someones negligence caused the death of a family member. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in negotiating these complex cases through the court system.

Please contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a 2-1/2 year old Columbia City boy died after a fall from a seventh story apartment house window. The child fell from an open window to a third story courtyard. The boy was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle but he did not survive the fall. The apartment was located at 3642 33rd Avenue South.

Our recent posting reported that Harborview treats approximately 50-60 children a year in the Seattle-area for falls. Within the past two weeks, more than 13 children have been brought to Harborview because of falls from open windows.

Falls from windows often result in severe head injury, brain injury, broken bones and death. Safety precautions should include:

• Keeping furniture away from windows
• Installing window guards
• Installing window stops
• Installing window screens

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries due to slip, trip and fall accidents due to the negligence of another person or company.

Contact us today for a free case consultation.

The Seattle Times reports that Harborview Medical Center treats approximately 50-60 children a year in and around Seattle for falls from windows. In the past two weeks, they have already treated about 12 children. Harborview employees nicknamed these patients, "Window jumpers."

Chief of pediatrics at Harborview, Brian Johnston, says it is not always neglect when a child falls. Often, parents have a false sense of security when a window screen is in place. However, a window screen is not strong enough to contain a child that leans against it.

Falls from windows often result in severe head injuries, brain injuries and often death.

To prevent your child from falling from a window:

• Ensure furniture is away from windows
• Install window guards
• Install window stops to prevent windows from fully opening

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious injuries, including slip trip and fall, due to the negligence of another person or company.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Nick Perry, The Seattle Times higher education reporter, wrote today in The Times about the history of falls resulting in severe injury and death at University of Washington's dorms and fraternities. Perry sites Seattle Police reports that record at least 11 tragic accidents in the past 25 years and of these falls, 6 resulted in death and 5 resulted in severe injuries including broken backs and necks.

We cited on this blog two falls at UW fraternities. In June, Kevin MacDonald was killed after he fell from his third story fraternity bedroom window. Erik Anderson filed a lawsuit after his fall in 2005 resulted in serious injuries.

There have been several common denominators in these tragic falls. All of the students have been male and between the ages of 18 and 21. Many of them had used alcohol before their fall, but not all of them were intoxicated. Others have fallen but were not seriously hurt.

A lot of people want to place the bulk of the blame on the young men that were injured or killed due to the fact that many of them had been drinking prior to their accidents. UW vice provost for student life, Eric Godfrey and the UW police chief, Ray Wittmier, are looking past the blame game and hope to bring in safety experts and alumni to look at the safety of the fraternity buildings. Many of the fraternity houses date back to the 20s and 30s. While fraternities are private institutions, perhaps the UW can exert some influence and help enact some safety policies. Some changes that should be made immediately are:

• Requiring screens on windows
• Not allowing the positioning of bunk beds in front of windows
• Installing windows that do not open out
• Making sure that the number of students occupying each bedroom is appropriate
• The University also needs continue dialogue with the Greek houses about safety and drinking.

Chronology of Accidents

• June 2008 - Kevin MacDonald, 21, died at Alpha Sigma Phi
• May 2008 - 20 year old, serious injuries after fall from the roof of Phi Kappa Psi
• April 2005 - Erik Anderson, 19, fell 45 feet at Delta Upsilon
• May 2002 - Brett Jensen, 19, died at Pi Kappa Phi
• March 2001 - Greg Gilbert, 18, died at McMahon Hall
• October 1996 - Billy Price, 19, broke his neck in fall at Alpha Delta Phi
• December 198 - Bryan Foisy, 19, died at McMahon Hall
• September 1987 - Brian Lopez, 18, died at Beta Theta Pi
• May 1986 - Thomas White Jr., 19, died at Alpha Delta Phi
• January 1986 - Erik Heimbigner, 20, seriously hurt at Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• December 1985 - Chad Houck, 18, serious injuries after fall at Haggett Hall dorm

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 due to the negligence of others. We also represent families who are entitled to bring a wrongful death action when someones negligence caused the death of a family member. While these cases are difficult to negotiate through the court system, The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in handling wrongful death cases.

Please contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that a recent University of Washington graduate is suing his fraternity, Delta Upsilon International Fraternity, for medical bills for injuries he sustained after he fell 45 feet from his bed window onto a parking lot in April of 2005. In the lawsuit, Erik Anderson and his parents, claim that the Fraternity was at fault for failing to provide "a safe living and sleeping space." Anderson's top bunk had no guard rails and it was placed next to a window that swung out. The suit also claims that the Fraternity condoned underage drinking. Reports said that Anderson had been drinking the night of his fall at a chapter-coordinated party.

Luckily, Anderson survived the fall but he sustained serious and permanent damage to his arms, pelvis, lower spine and nervous system. He has had to undergo three years of physical therapy and his medical expenses are nearing $300,000 to-date.

The lawsuit names Delta Upsilon International and Caledonia Bay Builders both as defendants in the suit. Caledonia builders had installed the windows in the house shortly before Anderson's fall.

We reported, just a few weeks ago, that a current UW student, Kevin McDonald, was killed on June 15 when he fell from his fraternity-house bedroom window to concrete below.

In cases we call slip, trip and fall, serious injuries are debilitating and sometimes fatal. The law states that property or business owners must keep a property free from any hazard and in a "reasonable and safe condition." Negligence arises when the home or business owners does not exercise proper caution. In the case of these two tragic falls, one wonders if screening on the windows was present and whether the fraternity is trying to place too many beds in one room when a bed is positioned in front of window.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been seen seriously injured in slip, trip and fall accidents. We will investigate your case to determine whether the property owner's negligence caused your accident.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A 5-year-old-boy was seriously hurt and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after falling from a 2nd story window in Baring, Washington near Index. Falls from open windows becomes increasingly common during the summer months and warm weather. According to King5.com, last summer 25 children were treated for falls from a window. Falls can be very serious resulting in serious head, neck and back injuries, broken bones, permanent brain damage and often death.

As a homeowner, you may be found negligent if a child falls from a window in your own home. Negligence arises when a person fails to exercise proper caution. In the case of a window, it should be properly screened or the lock should be fastened. You would be liable to compensate the injured person for their injuries, medical costs and pain and suffering.

The personal injury attorneys at The Farber Law Group routinely handle slip, trip and fall cases. We have more than 30 years experience in representing people who have suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of others.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case consultation.

The Seattle Times reports that a 21-year-old man is in Harborview Medical Center with "life-threatening" injuries after falling 30 feet from a fraternity house window onto concrete below.

The accident occurred at the 4500 block of 19th Avenue Northeast at 4:30 a.m.

Slip, trip and fall accidents are common and often result in serious injuries. Negligence arises when the property owners does not exercise proper caution and or maintenance.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been hurt in slip, trip and fall accidents.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

A Consumer Product Safety Alert cites 21 deaths in warning that movable soccer goals can be dangerous to kids. The US. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that movable goals are responsible for at least 21 deaths since 1979 due to the goals falling on children. Click here to view an ABC video regarding a deadly soccer goal accident in Phoenix.

According to the web-site Anchored for Safety, there have been 34 deaths and 51 injuries since 1979 attributed to soccer goals including the death of a 22 year old man in Bellevue, Washington who died when a goal post fell onto his head causing massive head injuries. In Woodinville, Washington, a 5 year old girl was injured when a goal post bar fell on her and a 16 year old girl was seriously injured in Yakima when a goal fell on her, striking her in the head. Other injuries include broken bones and severe head and brain injury.

According to Anchored for Safety, the problem with soccer goals is their design. Goals can weigh up to 400 pounds and they are top heavy. Both the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Anchored for Safety call for anchoring soccer goals to the ground to prevent injury and death. Goals should also be re-anchored after they are moved for mowing the grass or for storage. Long term solutions include designing new goals to be tip-resistant and building them out of lighter materials.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission also provides the following safety suggestions:

• Securely anchor all movable goals at all times.
• Never climb on the net or goal framework.
• All nets should be removed when not in use.
• Anchor goals to sturdy fixtures like fence posts when not in use.
• Check all anchor hardware before use and replace damaged or missing parts.
• Disassemble goals for off-season storage.
• Use caution when moving goals.
• Instruct players on goal hazards.
• Use movable goals only on flat surfaces.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a soccer goal accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing victims of serious personal injury and wrongful death. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

The Seattle Times reports that 12 members of a youth group were hurt when the deck they were standing on collapsed. None of the teens was seriously hurt but nine teenagers were taken to Pierce County Hospitals for treatment. The teens are between 14 to 18 years in age.

The deck which measured six feet wide and 12 feet long was 14 feet high.

This kind of accident comes under the category of "premise liability". Premise liability laws consider that the homeowner or property owner are liable for injures suffered by people who visit their premise. In a premise liability case, a victim needs to prove that the property owner was responsible for the dangerous condition. The deck builder may also be liable. The property owner has the responsibility of insuring:

• The deck was built to code and inspected. Deck plans must be submitted before a permit to build can be issued.
  
• The deck was properly maintained and cleaned.

If you have been injured in a slip, trip or fall accident and received a serious injury due to the negligence of a property owner, you should consult a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group is a Washington-based firm with more than 30 years experience in representing people with serious personal injuries or wrongful death. Depending on your case. you may be eligible for reimburse of you medical bills, lost wages and damages you suffered due to your injury. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.