Pierce County is paying $1.3 million to settle a lawsuit over injuries suffered by a mentally ill patient who hurt himself while escaping from the window of a county-owned mental hospital over five years ago. According to an Associated Press news report, the 27-year-old man was in a seclusion room on the hospital’s fifth floor when he climbed out a window and attempted to jump 15 to 20 feet to a fire escape landing. The man sustained several broken bones as a result of the fall. Family members allege that his injuries occurred because he was not properly monitored by staff at the Puget Sound Hospital.
Hospitals can be held accountable for the negligence caused by the doctors, surgeons, nurses and administrative staff. Hospitals have a standard of care and rules, policies and procedures for staff to follow. If carelessness or negligence on the part of any hospital staff member leads to personal injuries or death, the hospital can be held responsible. Such errors can happen not only in the operation room, but also during post-operative care or as it occurred in this case, with lack of supervision or monitoring.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of hospital negligence in Washington, please contact the experienced Seattle 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 better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.
Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010678149_apwapatientsuit.html?syndication=rss
Nursing home abuse and negligence are serious problems not only in Washington State, but all over the nation. According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2002, nursing home abuse has resulted in serious injuries and deaths at several facilities across the nation. The report also revealed that facilities were late in reporting abuse incidents 50 percent of the time.
A nursing home was recently filed $6,500 over accusations that some of its elderly and sick residents were mistreated. The nursing home fired one of its certified nursing aides earlier this year after claims that several residents were mistreated. Six residents were reportedly mentally, verbally and physically abused, and the nursing home did nothing to prevent such abuse. One person was also threatened with having their throat cut, another was denied food, and yet another resident was taunted by one employee while the actions were videotaped. The nursing home also had incidents that involved serious negligence. A 74-year-old resident died in October after choking on food after employees failed to supervise him.
In my opinion, a $6,500 fine is nothing when you think about the lives lost and the serious abuse these nursing home residents had to suffer at the hands of staff members. We have observed that in some cases, nursing home staff turn to negligence and abuse because they are over-worked and underpaid. Large for-profit homes deliberately understaff their facilities to keep their profits high and expenses under control. If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home negligence or abuse, please contact an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer at The Bernard Law Firm to find out more 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 which has 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.myjournalcourier.com/news/nursing-24915-home-public.html
A nursing home in Richmond, Kentucky, is being called one of the worst in the nation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The ranking was based on December 2008 data. A hidden video camera apparently caught nursing aides at this facility abusing an elderly patient. The family of the 84-year-old woman reportedly placed a hidden camera in her room to determine why she had bruises. What they found out has led to criminal charges against the former employees of the nursing home. This nursing home is apparently a for-profit chain of facilities.
These news reports are even tough to read without flinching or wondering what kind of a person would physically abuse a frail, elderly person who is very likely suffering from serious illness. But, unfortunately, incidents of abuse and negligence are extremely common in nursing homes. And many of these incidents go unreported because families are required to sign agreements that they will not sue the nursing home, after they place their loved ones there. Many family members are also afraid to complain about the facilities that break the law because they worry about retaliation.
This is wrong and the law should be changed so families are not pressurized to sign such waivers. Here’s the bottom line. If a nursing home employee or nursing home administrator violates the law, they should be held accountable for their actions. The Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group have protected the rights of numerous personal injury victims over the last 25 years. We have also helped many families hold these nursing homes responsible for the actions of their employees. Call 1-800-418-8282 or send an email to info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation that we will provide at no cost to you. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure that has useful and educational information that will help you in understanding your legal rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.
Source:http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/Kentucky-Nursing-Home-Ranked-Nations-Second-Worst/3iinN-DdDUiLZ1ejAU7IPA.cspx
Two out of 16 members of a church group were fatally injured in a 15-passenger van accident, which crashed on its way to Portland, Oregon. The van apparently slid on black ice during the early morning hours, off Interstate 84 near the Idaho and Oregon border. Five people were critically injured and eight others were hospitalized with a variety of injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has consistently issued several alerts about 15-passenger vans. These are dangerous vehicles, which are inherently unstable and can roll over even at normal speeds. It can be even more dangerous in bad weather, as it happened with this van accident. Although NHTSA has issued several safety alerts, a number of these 15-passenger vans are still being used by church groups, universities, day cares and even senior centers to transport smaller groups of people. Some organizations are not aware that these vehicles can be dangerous and others knowingly use them hoping nothing bad would happen.
These vans are a serious auto product liability issue. If you have been injured as a result of a 15-passenger van accident, please contact a reputed Washington auto product liability law firm that will file a claim on your behalf and obtain fair compensation for your injuries, damages and loss. In such cases where defective auto products are involved, the auto manufacturer or the maker of the defective product can be held liable for the accident and the injuries that occur as a result.
For more information regarding your legal options as an auto accident injury victim, please get in touch with the skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Bernard Law Group. Call 1-800-418-8282 or email us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to receive a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation that we will provide at no cost to you. We will also send you a FREE informational brochure that has helpful and educational information that will assist you in fully understanding your legal rights. Contact Kirk Bernard and his devoted legal team today.
Source:http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13791740?source=rss
A deadly E. coli outbreak, which has killed two and sickened many across the nation, has been traced to a large producer of ground beef who stopped testing certain ingredients years ago under pressure from beef suppliers. According to a news report in the New York Times, AFA Foods specifically stopped testing of the ground beef trimmings. The company recalled more than 500,000 pounds of ground beef last month after it was linked to an outbreak that has caused two fatalities and sickened about 500 others. The Times also reported that there has been a surge in E. coli outbreaks in ground beef. There have been 18 outbreaks since 2007.
E. coli is a potentially lethal food-borne illness. As a skilled Seattle products liability attorney, Kirk Bernard knows that such food poisoning can typically cause abdominal cramping, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea with bloody stools and sometimes, fever. In some cases, victims develop severe complications known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which can cause life-threatening kidney failure. Most of these HUS cases can apparently develop after several days of diarrhea due to infection with a specific strain of E. coli. HUS can lead to serious kidney damage or even death. E. coli infections can also leave victims with lifelong health problems.
If food-borne illnesses occur as a result of negligence on the part of the food manufacturer or processor, then those parties could be held responsible for the injuries endured by food poisoning victims. In such cases, victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other related damages. Food poisoning can also occur after you consume contaminated food at restaurants. In such cases, those establishments can also be held liable for your injuries. If you have suffered food-poisoning as a result of someone else’s negligence or willful conduct, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm to find out more about your legal rights and options.
Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/us/13ecoli.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
A 24-year-old woman was seriously injured in a Washington construction accident at the U.S. Naval Base in Bremerton, the Kitsap Sun reports. The serious job injury accident apparently happened when a crane and crews were moving fabricated concrete pilings. A piling shifted and fell, trapping the woman beneath it. The female construction worker was an employee of a California contractor that is helping build an aircraft carrier pier.
Crane accidents are among the more common causes for construction accidents in Seattle and elsewhere in Washington. Crane accidents can be deadly or result in serious injuries that may leave a worker disabled for the rest of his or her life. These accidents, just like many other construction accidents, can be prevented by following standard safety procedures. There are specific requirements for securing and moving loads by cranes, or other equipment.
Accident victims who are injured while on-the-job will receive worker’s compensation benefits through their employer. However, if another party other than the employer was responsible for the accident or the injury, the injured worker may be able to file a third-party claim seeking compensation for injuries and damages. State worker’s compensation benefits are usually not enough to cover medical expenses or other costs, especially if the accident involves serious injuries or death.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, please the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group, who will determine the facts of the case and whether there was any negligence involved. Injured workers could claim compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages and continuing medical treatment. In cases where the accident results in the worker’s death, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Call Kirk Bernard today for a free and detailed consultation.
Source:http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/23/woman-injured-construction-accident-naval-base-kit/?partner=yahoo_feeds
A Nebraska company is recalling nearly 90 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced. This has been classified as a Class I Recall. What this means is that this is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that use of this product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. This is only one of many beef recalls nationwide related to E. coli contamination. So far, there have been no reports of illnesses or deaths caused as a result of this food recall. Apparently, the problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling.
E. coli is a potentially lethal bacterium. The most common symptoms of E. coli-related food poisoning include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and vomiting. Young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to E. coli infections and developing a condition known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). This can cause potentially deadly kidney failure. Most of these cases develop after several days of diarrhea – often bloody – due to infection with a specific strain of E. coli. Both children and adults may develop HUS after E. coli infections.
The best way to avoid food-borne illnesses such as E. coli is to safely prepare your raw meats by cooking it to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check whether your ground beef has been cooked to a sufficiently high temperature by using a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the meat.
If you or a loved one has been afflicted with E. coli, salmonella or any other food-borne illness, please contact one of the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Bernard Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation. Please remember that the food producer, distributor or the establishment that serves you with the contaminated food can be held liable in your case. In such cases, victims may seek compensation to cover medical bills, cost of hospitalization lost wages and other damages. Call the experienced team of legal professionals led by Kirk Bernard today.
Source: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_063_2009_Release/index.asp
KOMO news reports that two Washington State Patrol cars parked on the shoulder of icy Highway 525 were totaled after an out-of-control Ford Expedition SUV slammed into them. The SUV apparently hit the concrete barrier on the highway and then plowed into one of the cars. One sergeant who was in front of the car jumped out of the way. The Expedition spun around out of control and then hit the other car. One trooper sustained an injured thumb. The driver of the Expedition was uninjured.
Washington officials are warning motorists about dangerous road conditions stating that they were extremely icy at the site of the crash. Motorists often get caught off guard when that happens, especially those who are traveling at or near the speed limit. A good idea in winter weather would be to slow down, especially when traveling on icy roads and use caution. The Washington State Patrol reported more than 20 car accidents in the greater Seattle area in less than an hour and a half on this particular day in November.
Often times, car accidents also occur because a roadway is defectively designed or poorly maintained by the governmental agency that is responsible for its upkeep. In such cases where the negligence of the public entity caused the accident, that agency can be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. If you have been the victim of a dangerous or defective roadway, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation. Our skilled car accident lawyers led by Kirk Bernard have years of experience standing up for our injured clients and fighting for their rights. Call us today to find out how we can help.
Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/70102777.html
Century 21 Promotions Inc., a maker of children’s hooded jackets in Seattle, Washington, has announced a voluntary defective product recall of about 17,000 hooded sweatshirts and jackets that pose a strangulation hazard to young children. According to a consumer safety alert put out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. The CPSC, in February 1996, issued guidelines to help prevent children from getting entangled on neck and waist drawstring in upper garments such as jackets or sweatshirts. So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported in connection with these product defects.
These sweatshirts were sold at several retail and gift shops in Seattle, Washington, New England and Alaska for between $25 and $35. Consumers who own these garments are asked to remove the drawstrings immediately from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard or return the clothing to the store for a complete refund. The recalled jackets and sweatshirts were manufactured in China.
There is no question that these articles of clothing pose a significant danger to young children. There have been reports of one case where a child was strangled because the drawstring got caught in playground equipment and another where a boy got entangled in the drawstring when the string got caught in a school bus door. These products continue to be made in China and other countries despite the CPSC-issued guidelines more than 10 years ago.
This is unacceptable. Manufacturers of such products must be held accountable for the defective items they put on the market endangering the lives and well-being of unsuspecting consumers. If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one because of a product’s manufacturing, design or marketing defect, please contact one of the skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Bernard Law Group. Kirk Bernard and his legal team help injured victims or their families file personal injury claims or wrongful death claims against defective product manufacturers. Call us today for a free consultation and discussion of your product liability or personal injury claim.
Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10041.html
Elder abuse and nursing home abuse are increasingly becoming serious problems as more and more of our nation’s seniors head to these facilities. Unfortunately a number of these cases go unreported or undetected and end up resulting in serious personal injury or death to the residents.
Several recent studies including a 2003 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) states that at least one in five of all nursing homes in our country is affected by serious deficiencies that place “residents in immediate jeopardy or cause them actual harm.” The report also points out that the quality of care in these facilities drops considerably when a resident get less than three hours of nursing time each day. Unfortunately, this happens in more than half of American nursing homes.
The GAO report also states that a majority of nursing home staff are underpaid and overworked. For instance, nursing home aides in many of the nation’s facilities are paid $7 to $8 an hour for work that is physically strenuous and mentally stressful. In many nursing homes, we see that serious injuries and fatalities occur as a direct result of understaffing and lack of trained, qualified nursing home staff.
Recently, the nursing home negligence lawyers at the Bernard Law Group led by Kirk Bernard obtained a $40,000 settlement on behalf of the family of an elderly man who was neglected at a hospice care facility. Unfortunately, in this case, we saw evidence that the hospice care facility allowed him to develop bed sores, failed to administer medications and failed to regularly clean his tracheotomy site. The hospice care facility denied liability and claimed that the bed sores developed elsewhere, not when the man was under their care. The case was arbitrated and the arbitrator found in favor of the injured man’s estate.
In such cases, victims and their families need the support and the skill of an aggressive legal team that will fight for their rights and make sure their side of the story is heard. If your loved one has been neglected or abused at a nursing home or care facility, please contact one of the Seattle personal injury attorneys at the Bernard Law Group for a free consultation and case evaluation.