Seattle Personal Injury Law Blog

In some parts of the country, winter weather is receding, and warmer temperatures are being welcomed. During the spring, many people enjoy spending time outside and some people want to get exercise by jogging or going for walks. Although this can be a great way to burn calories and enjoy the outdoors, it can also present certain dangers, such as the risk of a pedestrian accident for those who find themselves near traffic. Moreover, the risk of a pedestrian accident can be especially high at certain times, such as periods of heavy fog.

Whether someone regularly walks their dog alongside the road or walks to work in the morning, this can be particularly dangerous if it is foggy. For example, those who walk alongside the road may be struck by a driver who was unable to see them or stay on the road due to fog. In rural areas, where there may not be any sidewalks, walking on the shoulder of the road can be very dangerous if it is foggy. Moreover, some pedestrians may try to cross the street and if there is a great deal of fog, they may have difficulty seeing oncoming traffic.

Parenting is an expensive endeavor as is, but when your child sustains a brain injury, especially one that results in long-term disabilities, it can be even more so. If your Seattle birthing team failed you and your child in that it allowed your child to sustain a disabling birth injury, you may wonder if there are programs available that can help you cover the cost of inevitable expenses that stem from the injury. The good news is, there are.

According to Birth Injury Guide, the United States government has established numerous programs and services designed to provide parents of disabled children with additional financial, medical and educational care assistance. For instance, the Social Security Administration makes Supplemental Security Income available to children with disabilities and their parents. The SSA pays SSI benefits monthly to ensure families of disabled children do not suffer financially. Some birth injuries SSI covers include muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, complete blindness or deafness and serious intellectual disorders in children over seven years of age. 

Residents in Washington State who are concerned about the ongoing problems associated with vehicle accidents may well be interested to learn about ways to improve safety on the road. Over the past few years, more and more companies are working to develop autonomous vehicles. There are many assertions made about how these vehicles may reduce or even eliminate traffic accidents and deaths. 

As the technological advances continue, it is important to track how ready consumers really are for these vehicles to hit the streets. As reported by Deloitte, their 2019 Global Automation Consumer Study has found that there remains significant concerns among consumers when it comes to their willingness to adopt fully self-driving cars. In 2017, nearly three-fourths of people surveyed indicated they were not ready to trust the safety of these vehicles. A year ago, trust seemed to improve dramatically as only 47 percent of people cited such hesitation. Today, that number is relatively unchanged at 50 percent.

For most Washington families, the birth of a child is a joyous time filled with celebration and love. Most pregnancies progress to full term without issue. However, complications can occur in even the healthiest mothers. At Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. we often represent clients whose child sustained injuries at or near the time of birth due to doctor negligence or a medical error.

American Pregnancy Association reports that fetal distress can occur throughout your pregnancy and during labor. Typically, the term refers to a situation in which the fetus receives inadequate amounts of oxygen, but it has become a generic term that can describe many issues. Birth asphyxia occurs as a result of insufficient oxygen before, during or after birth. This may happen if the umbilical cord becomes compressed, reducing the blood flow to the fetus or if the mother’s blood has low oxygen levels.