Kirk Bernard – Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer

A 48-year-old man was injured in a construction site accident in Bremerton. According to a news report in the Kitsap Sun, the man was working for a subcontractor at the Naval Base when he was hit by a spreader beam that was being lowered by a barge crane. The injured worker was taken to a local hospital with chest and back injuries. Officials are still investigating the cause of the accident.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there are as many as 82 fatalities annually associated with cranes in construction sites. A majority of crane accidents occur due to operator error. And, many of these crane accidents can be avoided if construction companies and contractors follow safety standards that are spelled out by the state and federal governments.

Washington state Governor, Chris Gregoire, signed into law HB 2171 which states that effective January 1, 2010, no employer or contractor may permit a crane operator engaged in construction work to operate a crane unless the crane operator is qualified. The new law also requires cranes to be certified at least annually by a certified crane inspector. In any crane accident case in Washington State, a skilled Seattle personal injury lawyer would advise an injury victim to look into whether the crane operator was certified and whether the accident occurred due to the operator’s negligence.

Injured construction workers can seek compensation through their employer. However, they can also file a claim against a negligent person who caused the accident and injuries such as a contractor, sub-contractor or a defective product manufacturer. Such claims, which involve parties other than the employer, are known as “third party claims.”

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington construction accident, please contact the construction accident lawyers with The Bernard Law Group. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington construction accident cases, which has useful educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/feb/16/man-injured-at-naval-base-inserious-condition/?partner=yahoo_feeds

A number of serious auto accidents in Washington State and elsewhere in the country are caused by sleepy and tired drivers. Whether these accidents involve commercial truck drivers or drivers of regular passenger vehicles, fatigued driving is extremely dangerous. Such negligent driving practices can result in serious injuries or even fatalities, thus affecting not only the tired driver, but also others on the roadway.

According to a recent KHQ news report, the driver of an RV fell asleep at the wheel. His camper drifted off the roadway into a ditch, causing it to rollover onto its side. The crash occurred on Highway 2 just north of East Westmoreland Road in Deer Park, Washington. The driver in this accident was extremely lucky not to have sustained injury or have seriously injured another person.

As a skilled Seattle personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard has seen first-hand how serious of a problem fatigued driving is; yet, it is often dismissed by motorists and seems to receive the least attention from drivers. In fact, many drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel 10 or more times in a year. Several studies show that driving fatigued can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety, the effect of being awake for 17 hours causes a performance on psychomotor coordination tests equivalent to that of someone who has a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent. If they stayed awake a full 24 hours, their test performance compared with that of a person who had a blood alcohol level of 0.10. Some states consider you intoxicated at 0.08. Know your limits. If you are tired or sleepy, rest up and do not get behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Seattle car accident attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington auto accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.khq.com/global/story.asp?s=11944700

Britax is recalling about 15,000 of its Blink brand umbrella strollers for a defective hinge mechanism, which could pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to children. Injuries could occur when the stroller is being unfolded or opened. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, this defective product recall involves all Britax Blink single umbrella strollers. The word “Blink” is printed on the metal frame on both sides of the stroller as well as below the hand grips.

The strollers involved in this recall were manufactured in China between May 2009 and September 2009. They were sold by retailers such as Buy Buy Baby and online at Amazon, babiesrus.com, target.com and diapers.com from July 2009 through February 2010. The products were sold for about $150 each.

This product defect recall is only one in a series of identical stroller recalls involving defective hinges that have caused serious injuries to young children. In January, Graco recalled 1.5 million strollers for the same problem with the hinge mechanism. In November, UK-based Maclaren recalled about 1 million strollers for a similar problem. Also in January, Regal Lager Inc. recalled about 1,200 Cybex strollers because the stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and serious injury hazard to young children. Seattle recalled products injury attorneys hope that consumers understand that the recalled strollers are a serious issue that may result in permanent injuries or disfigurement to young children.

If your child has been injured as a result of one of these defective products, please contact an experienced products liability attorney with The Bernard Law Group for a FREE, comprehensive and completely confidential consultation. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2010/britax.html

At least four people were injured in a Seattle car accident after a full-sized pickup truck hit two other vehicles at a high rate of speed, King5 reports. The major injury collision occurred in the 11200 block of 1st Avenue South. Four people sustained injuries and one of those victims is said to be in critical condition. All four of the injured victims were transported to local hospitals. Initial news reports described the incident as a hit-and-run accident, but later reports clarified that the pickup truck was stopped further down the road, but did not leave the scene. An investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.

In this particular case, initial reports suggest that excessive speed may have played a part in the crash. State law (RCW 46.61.400) sets Washington’s basic speed law and the maximum speed limits for state highways, county roads, and city streets. The statute also authorizes agencies to raise or lower these maximum speed limits, when supported by an engineering and traffic investigation. Experienced Seattle auto accident attorneys know the serious consequences that may result if motorists fail to constantly adjust their driving behavior to fit the conditions they encounter while driving. Speed limits encourage consistent travel speeds, fostering safety for the traveling public by reducing the speed differentials between motor vehicles.

If an accident and injuries are caused by excessive speed, the speeding motorist could be held liable. Accident victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, surgeries, long-term care and any other expenses related to the accident. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, the motorist’s own auto insurance policy could help compensate for these expenses. However, insurance companies are extremely tough to deal with and may not readily pay the compensation that you are rightfully due.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/local/Multiple-vehicle-hit-and-run-accident-in-Seattle-83440922.html

The Seattle Times tells the story of a West Seattle man whose Toyota Prius was totaled a year ago as a result of “unintended acceleration.” According to the news report, the driver lost control of his Prius, knocking down a fence post and jumping a retaining wall in West Seattle. In this particular case, the driver escaped without injuries. However, the vehicle was declared a total loss by insurers and he filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This driver is not alone. This man’s complaint was one of more than 100 submitted by American drivers who had issues with Prius speed controls for 2004 to 2010 models.

Last year, Prius models were involved in Toyota recalls where consumers were advised to remove floor mats in order to prevent the gas pedals from getting jammed. Now, the company in the process of looking into brake failure problems reported by drivers of 2010 Prius models. In the West Seattle incident, the driver reported that as he slowed down his Prius to make a right turn to park, his car raced forward. His brakes did not work.

I hope Toyota is seriously investigating both the unintended acceleration and brake failure problems in the Prius. It is indeed fortunate that this West Seattle driver did not get seriously injured or killed in this accident apparently caused by either brake failure or unintended acceleration. If you are a Toyota owner and have sustained injuries because of these or other product defects, please contact a Seattle auto products liability lawyer to find out about your legal rights and options. Knowledgeable auto product defect lawyers would advise victims to preserve the crashed vehicle in its current condition until it can be properly examined for auto defects or malfunctions. In any auto products liability case, please remember that the vehicle is the main piece of evidence.

If your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective auto, please contact the reputed Washington auto products liability lawyers at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington auto product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you better understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010986936_toyotaseattle05m.html?syndication=rss

A 62-year-old man recently sustained serious injuries in a Spokane area car accident, the Wenatchee World reports. The man was driving a pickup truck on Frosty Road about a mile east of Tonasket when his vehicle ran off the roadway, over an embankment and came to rest in a creek. Washington State Patrol officials said the man suffered a cut to his head and chest bruising in the accident. Officials are looking into what caused the man to lose control of his vehicle.

There are many reasons why single-car crashes occur. If the accident was not the driver’s fault, then it is important to look into whether the accident was caused by a mechanical failure or an auto product defect in the vehicle. If that was the case, the injured victim may file an auto product liability claim against the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective product. In some cases, single vehicle crashes also occur because of a dangerous or defective roadway. An experienced Spokane car accident lawyer will be able to analyze a case from all angles and help determine whether you have a claim.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jan/21/driver-suffers-head-chest-injuries-in-accident/

A 25-year-old man sustained critical injuries in a Tacoma pedestrian accident after a vehicle struck him on Spanaway Road and fled the scene. KOMO News reports that the man was walking with a friend when he was hit. The force of the impact pushed the man on to the hood of the car, which kept going for about 20 feet with the man on the hood. Instead of stopping, the driver increased speed, causing the pedestrian to fall off the hood. The pedestrian suffered numerous injuries, including a collapsed lung and shattered leg. Doctors are saying that his injuries could take more than a year to heal. Family members say that he will also have to undergo physical therapy in order to be able to walk again. Officials are describing the suspected car involved in the hit-and-run as a red Acura Integra or red Honda with front-end damage.

Leaving the scene of a crash, or “hit-and-run” as it is commonly called, is a serious violation under Washington State law. Under the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: “A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.”

Hit-and-run victims, especially those who are seriously injured, get the short end of the stick because they have no one to hold accountable for what happened to them. However, under Washington law, if you have been seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver or an uninsured/underinsured driver, you may still be able to seek compensation through your own auto insurance policy. If you are involved in such an accident, please get in touch with an experienced, knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who can help you secure the compensation you rightfully deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful and educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://tacoma.komonews.com/content/thank-god-hes-not-dead-he-could-have-been-dead

A 59-year-old woman suffered serious injuries after her bicycle was struck by a Seattle Police patrol car. According to a KOMO News report, the female bicyclist was struck at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Jackson Street in Seattle’s International District. The woman was transported to a local hospital and is said to have sustained neck and back injuries. The officer in the patrol car was uninsured. Investigators are still looking into the cause of this collision.

According to the Washington Department of Transportation, bicycle commuting in Washington State has increased over 75 percent in the last decade. More people are simply choosing bicycles over other automobiles because of traffic congestion and escalating fuel prices. More people are choosing to bike to work or to run errands or simply to add exercise into their daily lives. With more people resorting to bicycle commuting, bicycle accidents have also increased remarkably over the last decade.

Although there is an increase in the number of bicycles on our roadways, motorists often fail to remember that they share the roadway with bicycles, other small vehicles and pedestrians. As a result, we are looking at an increase in bicycle accidents, not to mention other car accidents as well. Such collisions often result in serious injuries to the bicyclist, who has very little in terms of protection. Bicycle accidents could result in severe head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones or even death. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other expenses.

Please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/83376102.html

Honda has issued a global auto product defect recall for about 646,000 of its Fit models. Of those, 140,000 cars in the United States are subject to the vehicle defect recall. According to a report in The Car Connection, the compact hatchback vehicles have been recalled for a defective master switch that could allow water to enter the power window switch and potentially cause a fire. This recall involves 2007-2008 model year cars.

This is an extremely dangerous vehicle defect. What this means is that the car fire could start at any time in the vehicle and cause serious personal injuries or property damage. It could be lethal if it happens when a vehicle is traveling down a highway or parked in a garage. Several Honda Fit fires have been reported. Honda officials say they will fix the problem by retrofitting the recalled vehicles with a waterproof skirt or by replacing the defective switch.

A number of Washington car accidents are caused by auto product defects. Very often, most people just don’t know that a defective auto had anything to do with it. This is why it is important to preserve a vehicle involved in an auto accident in its current condition so it can be examined by an accident reconstruction expert for any evidence of vehicle defects or mechanical malfunction.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective auto, please contact the reputed Washington auto products liability lawyers at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington auto product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you better understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1042115_honda-fit-fire-recall-646000-cars-globally-140000-in-u-s

A recent Fox News report details the abuse suffered by 15 nursing home residents who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia disorders. According to the report, the nursing assistants allegedly spit in residents’ mouths, poked their breasts and touched their genitals. The residents were also subject to taunting and teasing. Three of the residents died during the course of this abuse.

Nursing home abuse is increasingly becoming a problem in the United States. Incidents of abuse at nursing homes not only have to do with neglect, but are also of a physical, sexual and emotional nature.

Authorities found it difficult to interview the other victims because of their cognitive impairment. The nursing home won’t be penalized because officials followed procedures and notified appropriate authorities.

According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2002, allegations of physical and sexual abuse of nursing home residents are often not reported promptly. In fact, local law enforcement officials stated in this report that they are seldom called to nursing homes to immediately investigate allegations of physical or sexual abuse. Some of these officials said that the incidents are often reported after the evidence has been compromised. Also, some residents or family members are reluctant to report abuse for fear of retaliation while others may not know where or how to report such abuse.

If your loved one has been seriously injured or abused in a nursing home or care facility in Washington, please contact the reputed Seattle nursing home abuse attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,460626,00.html