Kirk Bernard – Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer

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

A construction worker was killed in an Air Force Base after he was struck by a beam. According to a news report, the 38-year-old man was helping with construction of a new Army headquarters and was on an I-beam 20 feet above the ground when another I-beam being lowered by a crane struck him. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating this fatal construction accident.

Accidents involving cranes in construction sites can be devastating and often fatal because of the sheer weight of the equipment that can crush and kill a worker instantly. If a crane accident is caused as a result of negligence on the part of another party, a third party claim may be filed against the negligent party. This is in addition to the worker’s compensation claim. A third party could be a contractor, a sub-contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product.

An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able guide workers and their families through these complicated legal processes and make sure that they receive fair compensation for their injuries and loss. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington construction accident, please contact the skilled personal injury Seattle 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 informational 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.greenvilleonline.com/article/20091231/NEWS/91231005/1004/NEWS01

A construction worker died in Redmond, Washington, after he fell about 30 feet from the roof of a house, according to a Fox News report. The man sustained severe head injuries after he fell off the home that was being built on 161st Court Northeast. He was taken to a Seattle hospital. He initially survived the fall, but died hours later in the hospital. It is not clear how or why this fatal construction site accident occurred.

A fall from a higher elevation can cause devastating injuries or death to a construction worker including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and other types of back or neck injuries. Such serious personal injuries could prevent the worker from returning to his job for an extended period of time causing tremendous financial strain.

According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry. An average of 362 fatal falls occurred each year from 1995 to 1999, a trend which is on the rise. In fact, falls from a higher elevation account for one-third of all construction accident deaths. These are accidents that can be easily prevented by following federally-mandated safety standards. In such cases, negligent contractors or sub-contractors who failed to maintain a safe working environment can also be held liable. Workers who are injured on-the-job are usually entitled to receive state worker’s compensation benefits.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington construction accident, please contact the skilled Seattle personal injury lawyers at 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 informational brochure about Washington construction accident cases, which has educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-122209-fallfromroof,0,4821996.story?track=rss

A woman sustained fatal injuries in Puyallup, Washington, after she was struck by an Amtrak train. According to a King5 news report, the fatal train accident occurred during the early morning hours near 26th Street NW and West Stewart Avenue. No passengers were on the train at the time and none of the crew members were hurt. Amtrak is looking into what caused this fatal accident.

In 2006 alone, train accidents caused 909 fatalities and 8,244 injuries nationwide, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Railroad employees, passengers in other autos who were struck at railroad crossings, injuries to passengers aboard trains or walking on or near railroad tracks are among those injured in these dangerous train accidents.

There have been several recent train accidents in Washington over the last year or so where pedestrians have lost their lives. Pedestrians must be extremely careful while walking near train tracks. It is illegal and hazardous to actually walk down the train tracks. Always remember that trains have the right-of-way. Whether you are in a vehicle or crossing by foot, never go around lowered crossing gates. It’s possible that you may not always hear a train and the engineer may not see you in time to sound the horn or come to a stop. There are also times when pedestrians are unnecessarily struck and killed as a result of a train operator or conductor’s negligence or because of lack of safety features such as crossing arms, gates or lights at the crossing.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington train accident, please contact the experienced Seattle 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 informational brochure, which has useful, educational information about train accident and other personal injury cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/Woman-killed-by-train-80412297.html

Pharmacy errors can happen more often than you know. Recent studies show that as many as 10 percent of all medical prescriptions are filled in error. Adverse reactions to receiving the wrong medication can result in serious personal injuries, organ damage and even death. Prescription errors could involve dispensing the wrong medication or giving the patient the wrong dosage. In some cases the pharmacist may not account for drug allergies or harmful drug interactions with other medications that the patient was taking.

According to a recent news report, a pharmacist error cost the life of a nursing home resident who suffered kidney damage and died as a result of taking the wrong medication. The pharmacist apparently sent the wrong formulation of a powerful antifungal drug, which caused kidney failure and prevented effective treatment for cancer and fungal pneumonia. The drug comes in four formulations including a traditional one that is more damaging to the kidneys. Although the prescription called for a different formulation, the pharmacist gave the traditional formulation and sent it to the nursing home with the wrong label. By the time the error was discovered, it was too late for this patient.

Damages for pharmacy errors may include medical expenses incurred and any future medical care required to treat the long-term effects of the harmful medicine. Victims can also seek compensation to cover lost wages if the injury or illness results in a disability, loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. If the loved one died as a result of the pharmacy or prescription error, the family could pursue a wrongful death claim against the pharmacy or the hospital.

If your loved one has been seriously injured by medical negligence as a result of pharmacy or prescription errors, please contact the reputed personal injury Seattle 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 informational brochure about Washington personal injury cases, which has useful, educational information that will help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.startribune.com/local/north/79462122.html

Two drivers sustained critical injuries in a King County car accident, after a suspected drunk driver going east on the Interstate 90, crossed the center median and crashed head-on into a westbound vehicle, near Preston. According to the News Tribune, a state trooper who was going eastbound on the highway saw a 2001 Acura RL drive up over the dirt median and cross over to the westbound lanes. After avoiding a collision with a big rig, the Acura crashed head-on into a 2006 Honda Civic. Both drivers were transported to a Seattle hospital. The driver of the Acura, a 53-year-old man, apparently has a prior DUI conviction and will face charges as a result of this major injury car accident.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious crime in Washington State. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.502, driving under the influence is when “a person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within the state.” It is also illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.

Drunk drivers who cause fatalities may also face vehicular homicide charges. In addition to facing serious criminal charges, drunk drivers could also be held civilly responsible for their actions. Victims of alcohol-related accidents may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy and other related expenses.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the experienced Seattle 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 informational brochure, which has useful educational information that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/996236.html

Crane accidents are among the more scarier and deadlier of construction site accidents. To a crane operator, few experiences may be as frightening as when a crane becomes unbalanced while a load is being lifted or when the crane collapses under the weight of an excessive load.

According to a recent news report, one worker died and another was seriously injured after a 400-ton crane collapsed onto a welding shop near a construction site. The crane operator was injured and a worker inside the welding shop was killed. About 50 workers were in the shop at the time when the crane’s 200-foot boom landed on its roof, crushing part of the building. A 30-year-old worker was pinned under the metal debris and a roof beam. He died at a local hospital. The crane carried a 30-ton weight from an 18-wheeler’s flatbed to the ground near the shop where it collapsed. Authorities are looking into the cause of this deadly crane collapse.

In such cases, the company that is operating the crane could be held liable for injuries or wrongful death caused as a result of the accident. Where negligence is involved, families of deceased accident victims may file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation to cover funeral expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. Very often, in construction and industrial accidents, we see that families lose their sole breadwinner when tragedy hits. In such cases workers compensation benefits are inadequate to cover the expenses the family has to go through without its primary wage earner.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Seattle construction accident, please contact the reputed Seattle personal injury 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 informational brochure about Washington construction accident cases, which has useful educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20091118/articles/911189954&tc=yahoo

A woman sustained critical injuries in a Seattle pedestrian accident after she was struck while walking near the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Andover Street. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, a man was driving north on Rainier in a Toyota Corolla when he drove up on to the sidewalk at Andover hitting the pedestrian. The driver then fled the scene of the accident. He was stopped a short distance away. Officials are investigating this as a drunk driving and vehicular assault case. The woman was taken to a Seattle hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Both driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and leaving the scene of an accident are serious crimes in Washington State. Drunk drivers whose actions result in serious injury or death face not only, criminal charges, but can also be held civilly liable for causing serious personal injuries or wrongful death. Victims in such cases may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and even long-term care, if the injuries are catastrophic.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Firm. 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 skilled legal team today.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010413964_webpedestrianaccident03m.html?syndication=rss

A woman died after she was hit by a Kitsap Transit bus. The pedestrian accident victim was apparently walking south on State Route 305 near Johnson Way when on oncoming transit bus struck her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. None of the occupants of the bus were injured. The cause of this fatal pedestrian collision has not yet been determined.

Most of us are pedestrians at one time or another, every day. Most of the time, we take it for granted that we can walk on the roadway without any problems or incidents. However, pedestrian accidents are becoming an increasingly common occurrence in Seattle and the rest of Washington State. Most of these pedestrian accidents result in serious or catastrophic injuries, if not death. Washington still has a record for safety that compares favorably to many other states. However, pedestrian accidents do happen because of various factors. It can of course, happen when pedestrians are not careful on the roadway. Many of these incidents occur because motorists fail to yield right-of-way by not watching the road carefully and failing to look out for pedestrians.

If you are pedestrian who has been injured in an accident, contact your Seattle personal injury lawyer immediately. If you have been hit by someone who is on-the-job, remember that the person’s employer can be held accountable for your injuries as well. Please do not sign any papers or talk to any insurance adjusters until you have consulted with your attorney and your doctor. If you are able, be sure to collect names and contact information for eyewitnesses. Any information you gather or photographs you take on the scene immediately after the accident could help bolster your case.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Seattle pedestrian accident, you need helpful information. Call Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team for a free brochure about what action you need to take if you have been in a Washington pedestrian accident. Or contact us today for a free and comprehensive consultation and evaluation of your case.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78384542.html