The Seattle Personal Injury Blog
Posted Friday, October 1, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
If you have been in a car accident, you know how quickly things can go wrong. A defect in your vehicle can occur at any time and in any component. In the aftermath of a car crash, it can sometimes be hard to pinpoint exactly what happened. Some vehicle defects will be obvious, such as defects to the steering mechanism which would make you feel like you have no control over the vehicle, or to the brake system, which would leave you unable to come to a complete stop. While other defects may only be apparent upon investigation afterward. The bottom line is that your vehicle is supposed to protect you. If any component of your vehicle is defective and that component causes or contributes to physical or financial harm, you have grounds to hold the manufacturer liable. You can do this by bringing a product liability lawsuit.
*What is a Product Liability Lawsuit? *A product liability lawsuit is intended to hold manufacturers liable for the safety and integrity of their products. Unlike in a personal injury lawsuit, all that you have to establish in a product liability lawsuit is that a defect was present and harm occurred as a result. It is not necessary to prove that the company was negligent in causing or failing to notice the defect. Its existence is sufficient to have standing to claim compensation. This is all the more reason to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible if you believe a vehicle defect may have been involved in your car accident. The information in this article is meant to be general, but if you would like to talk to a lawyer about the specifics of your case, you are encouraged to contact the experienced Seattle personal injury and product liability lawyers at Pivotal Law Group to schedule a consultation and receive personalized feedback.
*Common Vehicle Defects*Vehicles are complex and defects can be present in any component, from the visors to the latching mechanisms in the seat belts. However, some of the most common forms of vehicle defects are the following:
- Seat Belt Defects. Seat belt defects include defects to the locking mechanism to the spool, which can cause the seat belt to rapidly release rather than lock upon impact. Other defects may include issues with the seatbelt’s ability to latch, such as becoming unlatched upon impact or for no reason.
- Airbag Defects. When an airbag functions properly it can save your life, but when it fails to deploy, deploys for no reason, or deploys with unreasonable force, it can result in serious injuries to the face and upper body, including burns, bruising, broken bones, whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and brain hemorrhage.
- Door Latch Mechanisms. Defective door latch mechanisms can cause doors to launch off of the car when they are closed too hard or when any pressure is applied against them. This can cause passengers to fall out of the car.
*Schedule a Consultation with Pivotal Law Group *If you have been injured in a Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or greater Washington State area car accident that was not your fault, and you believe a vehicle defect played a part in your injuries, contact Pivotal Law Group and schedule a consultation today.
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Posted Friday, September 24, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
Train accidents are relatively rare, but may not be as uncommon as you think. There are about 40 train accidents a year in Washington state, which boasts over 3,000 miles of active railroad tracks. However, nationally, a person or car is hit by a train every three hours. The vast majority of these accidents are collisions that take place between cars and trains at railway crossings. These accidents can occur due to defects or malfunctions with the railroad gate or signals, breaking problems with the train, speeding or negligent conduct by the driver, or motorist issues, such as their vehicle stalling out on the track, ignoring proper railroad signals, or getting caught on debris in the track.
*Railroad Accident Injuries *Although railroad accidents and train accidents are far less common than vehicle accidents, the consequences can be far more devastating and catastrophic. A single train derailment can result in thousands of injuries and deaths. In instances of train collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, the chance of fatality is incredibly high. There is little chance of surviving an impact with a train. For this reason, these accidents must be taken seriously, and in order to deter them, railroad companies and their employees are held to a much higher standard of care than regular motorists or employees in other fields.
*Suing for Railroad Injuries or Wrongful Death *If you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries or even death as a result of a train or train company, you are likely wondering what options, if any, you have available to you. While each case must be assessed individually on the basis of its facts, the good news is that as noted above, train companies are held to an incredibly high standard of care. This means that the burden falls on the train company to establish that it and its employees did everything they reasonably should have to prevent the accident that resulted in your injury. On the other hand, if they cannot meet this burden, or you can demonstrate that they deviated from their required standard of care by acting negligently, then they will become liable for all harm that resulted due to their negligence or breach.
*How a Lawyer Can Help *Suing for railway accidents can be complicated. An experienced Washington personal injury attorney can review the specifics of your case to ensure that you have a claim and determine the best way forward. A lawyer can also ensure that your rights are protected and that you are not taken advantage of by receiving or accepting a lowball settlement offer. The biggest thing that a lawyer can do is give you the peace of mind of knowing that someone else is fighting for you while you can return your focus to moving forward in life.
*Talk to a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer *Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, and the greater Washington State area, Pivotal Law Group is ready to fight to ensure that you get the representation and compensation that you deserve. Contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Pivotal Law Group today to schedule a consultation.
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Posted Friday, September 17, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
The head is so critical to life and function that any injury to it should be taken seriously. Concussions are sometimes written off as a sports injury or something that can just be iced, but concussions result in real trauma to the brain, and can result in long-term symptoms and consequences that can significantly impact one’s ability to work and even enjoy life. If you have suffered a concussion in an accident or due to someone else’s negligence, you may be unsure of what legal options you have available to you. Concussions can necessitate time off work, resulting in lost wages, in addition to expensive medical bills and rehabilitative therapies. The good news is that you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover for the harm that you have suffered.
*Injuries and Accidents That Cause Concussion * There is no limit to the kind of injuries that can result in concussion. Concussions can be caused by blunt force trauma to the head, such as when someone falls and hits their head, hits their head during a car accident, or is punched or struck in the head by another person or object. Concussions can also be caused by a severe jolt or impact to the head or body, such as may be experienced when being tackled, struck, or shaken. The most common causes of concussions in adults are slip-and-fall accidents, and the most common place for these accidents to occur is in parking lots and on sidewalks due to uneven or unstable ground. Other common places for slip-and-fall accidents to occur include slick floors, such as marble or tile floors, slippery surfaces, such as by pools, water features, water fountains, and soda machines, and on stairs.
*Suing for a Concussion * If you are thinking about suing for a concussion, there are a number of factors to consider. First, it is important to understand that in order to have standing to bring a lawsuit, you have to have suffered damages. This means that the harm you suffered must be financially quantifiable. If you do not have any medical bills, lost wages, or costs associated with your concussion, you will not likely have a claim. However, if you have suffered significant damages as a result of your concussion, which can be quantified by bills and lost wages, then you will meet this threshold requirement. It is also necessary that your concussion be caused by the intentional or negligent conduct of another person or party. This is the person or party who you are holding accountable by bringing a lawsuit. The more evidence you have to support that this person acted negligently and that their negligence caused your concussion and subsequent damages, the stronger your claim will be.
*Talk to a Seattle Personal Injury Attorney * If you or a loved one have suffered significant harm due to a concussion that was not your fault, Pivotal Law Group is ready to help. Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, and the greater Washington State area, our lawyers will fight to get you the compensation that you are entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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Posted Friday, September 10, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
Restaurants are among the most demanding places to work, and it is often the employees who pay the price. Restaurant employees face a veritable gauntlet of potential hazards on their way through the kitchen room to the dining room, from hot boiling liquids and slippery floors to unstable trays and spilled beverages, restaurant employees can suffer serious injuries on the job. If you have been injured at work, you may be feeling overwhelmed and wondering what your options are legally. To some degree, that will depend on your classification. If you are an employee of the restaurant, as opposed to an independent contractor, then you qualify for workers’ compensation coverage.
*Common Restaurant Worker Injuries * It probably comes as no surprise that the majority of restaurant employee injuries occur in the kitchen. Whereas most restaurant patron injuries occur due to slip-and-fall accidents in the parking lot or sidewalk outside of the restaurant, employees suffer cuts and lacerations more than any other form of injury. These cuts and lacerations are often due to knives and equipment used in food preparation, however, they can also be caused by broken glasses, dishes, and other accidents. The second leading cause of injury among restaurant employees is slip-and-fall accidents. These accidents are most often caused by oil or spilled liquids on the ground, and are most likely to occur in the kitchen by the fryer or sink. However, these accidents can occur anywhere, and spilled beverages, obstacles, uneven floors, steps, and heavy and unstable trays are all likely to contribute to slip-and-fall accidents at work. Burns are also common (but very painful!) injuries experienced by restaurant workers. These can be caused by hot pans, boiling pots and liquids, hot beverages or items that are being transported, equipment, and the stovetop, among other possible causes. Finally, strains, sprains, and soft tissue injuries are also frequently experienced by restaurant employees.
*Recovering for Restaurant Injuries * If you are an employee, you must file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer. You are entitled to workers’ compensation insurance benefits for injuries that you incur in the course of your employment and for the benefit of your employer. This means that you may not receive coverage for an injury that you received while pranking a coworker, but provided the injury was caused by doing things required by your job, you are entitled to coverage. Workers’ compensation coverage provides medical care and paid time off while you recover from your injury. If you are having trouble receiving the benefits that you are entitled to, a Seattle personal injury lawyer can help ensure that you get the full benefits and maximum compensation to which you are entitled. If you are not an employee, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the restaurant or a third-party if their negligence contributed to or caused your injury. Talking to a personal injury lawyer will allow you to determine the best path forward to compensation.
*Talk to Pivotal Law Group* If you have suffered an injury at your Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or greater Washington State area workplace, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Pivotal Law Group are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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Posted Friday, September 3, 2021 by
Chris Thayer
Most people go to a hotel for a relaxing getaway, and trust that their experience will be clean and safe. It is reasonable to put your trust in hotels, as they have a duty of care to their guests. If hotels breach this duty of care by acting negligently or recklessly, they become liable for any financial or physical harm that occurs as a result. Bed bugs are small insects, but they can do a great amount of harm. If you have suffered bed bug bites, you know that they are no joke. Bed bug bites can be pervasive, painful, and result in serious complications. Itchy, painful bites can become infected wounds or trigger serious allergic reactions. Sometimes the bites cause permanent scarring, and other times the bed bug infestation at the hotel can spread to guests’ homes and workplaces, resulting in extensive property, career, and personal damage.
*When Can a Hotel be Sued for Bed Bugs?* Bed bugs are, to some degree, inevitable in a hotel setting. With so many people coming and going, and the impressive ability of bed bugs to travel on luggage and clothing, most establishments deal with some degree of exposure, it is how they respond to the information that matters. It is possible to hold a hotel or motel liable for bed bug-related injuries in Washington state, but there is one catch — the establishment had to have been aware of the infestation. If the hotel had knowledge of the bed bugs, that means they had an opportunity to address and exterminate the bed bugs. If they did not take reasonable action to do so, then they have breached their duty of reasonable care, and they become liable to future guests for any harm that results due to their inaction. If, in addition to failing to remedy the situation, the hotel or motel also attempted to conceal or lie about an infestation, further exposing guests to bed bug bites and harm, then punitive damages will likely be appropriate, and they may be into the millions.
**Bringing a Lawsuit for Bed Bugs
**If you and your family have suffered bed bug bites in a Seattle-area hotel or motel, you are familiar with the catastrophic consequences that a bed bug infestation can have. People can require hospitalization and medical treatment as well as time off of work. Property damage may be extensive in these claims if personal clothing, furniture, and bedding was infested. Pain and suffering also tends to be generous in these claims as the bites can be extremely painful, often causing people to scratch until the skin breaks, and resulting in infections.
*Talk to a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer * If you have suffered bed bug injuries at a hotel, motel, or rental property in Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, Issaquah, or the greater Washington State area, you do not have to navigate the process alone. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Pivotal Law Group are ready to help. Contact Pivotal Law Group today to schedule a consultation.
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