Seattle Personal Injury Law Blog

Medical errors the nation’s third-most-common cause of death

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in medical malpractice on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

When you feel unwell and are not sure why, you probably schedule a visit with your Washington doctor so he or she can determine the problem and tell you how you can fix it. Regrettably, though, today’s doctors and physicians are not immune to making mistakes, and there are numerous areas in which they can potentially make errors. At Elk & Elk, we recognize that some doctor errors can mean the difference between you fully recovering and potentially losing your life, and we also recognize that doctor errors have become alarmingly common across the United States.

Medical mistakes have become so commonplace in recent years, per CNBC, that they are now the third-most-common cause of death among Americans, with only heart disease and cancer claiming more lives. Just how many serious medical errors are U.S. doctors making on an annual basis?

What's a few more seconds worth?

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

Have you ever noticed how hurried drivers are? Not you, but others...right?

Chances are, you know exactly how it is. You hit snooze too many times, grab your coffee and rush out the door, only to find I-5 at a standstill. You probably get upset about how nobody can drive or wonder why people are going so slowly. You might even try to give "hints" to the driver in front of you by following them closely, hoping they will pull over and let you get ahead. But is that really worth it?

Lack of bike lanes increasing risk for cyclists

By Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in Injuries on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

Many cyclists across the city protested the redesigning of Seattle's 35th Avenue NE. They claim that the new design only leaves cyclists more vulnerable to serious accidents. And it seems those concerns are valid, especially after recent accidents that left a bicyclist seriously injured and a motorcyclist dead.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) maintains that the redesign is not the issue in these accidents, but many cyclists disagree.

Make sure your child's helmet is safe this summer

By Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in Injuries on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.

Most bicyclists are aware that they face serious risk in the event of a collision with a much larger vehicle. And that risk only increases if they do not wear a proper helmet to prevent a serious head injury.

However, some recent reports regarding bicycle helmets reveal not only how important it is to wear a helmet, but also to choose the correct one.

Jump parks are designed for your children's safety...right?

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in Injuries on Monday, July 8, 2019.

Within the past decade, trampoline parks have gained popularity throughout the United States. The indoor play areas provide an opportunity for your children's supervised physical activity outside of an organized sports program.

However, while countless parents across the nation allow their kids to use jump time to burn off energy, or choose to bring a group to a trampoline park to host a birthday party, you might be wise to question whether it is safe to do so.

Be careful about insurance company offers

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, July 5, 2019.

An insurance company is likely to pay for your hospital bills and other expenses after you become injured in Washington. Does that mean that these companies are on your side? Unfortunately, they might not be acting in your best interest. If you believe that an insurer is looking out for you, this may lead you to settle too early and receive a fraction of what your injuries truly cost you.

At Elk and Elk Co., Ltd., we would like you to remind you that an agent of an insurance company is unlikely to have any obligation to further your interests. In fact, everyone you talk to who is associated with or employed by the opposing party's insurance company would probably be actively working against your goal of getting compensation for your injuries.

How effective are traffic calming measures?

By Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in distracted driving on Monday, July 1, 2019.

Many people hear about ways that drivers can help improve road safety by keeping their attention on the road and driving defensively. However, cities try to help enhance safety by adjusting the physical design of the road as well.

Recently, Seattle has adopted many of these strategies--called traffic calming--to help keep our roads safer. But are these measures helping?

Would you rather kiss or drive? You can't do both!

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. on Monday, July 1, 2019.

Albert Einstein allegedly said: "Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."

Many women may have gotten lost in one of your kisses over the years. Even so, you might seem more attractive if you are both a good kisser and a safe driver. But since a recent survey suggests most Americans overestimate their driving abilities, you might not be as skilled behind the wheel as you think you are - a widespread problem on Seattle's roads.

How much is an average Seattle car crash settlement?

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

How much your car crash case settlement or judgement would be worth in Seattle would depend on a number of different factors. There is no specific figure that suits every case. The point of the personal injury law system is to make you whole, and the responsible parties should pay you until that happens.

Some of the most common considerations in car accident lawsuits in Washington state courts include the extent of your injuries, the level of negligence of the other party and your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. Here is a brief description of how each of these could affect the amount of compensation you could potentially secure with diligent negotiation or litigation.

Are you sure you're a safe driver?

On behalf of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Many people find getting behind the wheel scary at first. But after you drive for some time, your confidence often increases - in some cases, perhaps too much so.

Although nearly everyone believes they are an excellent driver, there are far too many accidents on I-5 each year for that to be necessarily true. However, while you do not have control of other drivers around you, there are ways you can increase your chances of remaining safe on the road.