Can I Recover for Loss of Consortium in a Car Accident Claim?
Most car accident claims are brought by the injured party against the at-fault driver for property damage, medical care and pain and suffering. When a person’s spouse, parent or child is severely injured in a car accident the individual may suffer the loss of affection, intimacy, companionship, support and care that their immediate family member is no longer able to provide. When a family member loses these comforts as a result of a loved one’s injury or death in an accident, it is called “loss of consortium.” If the driver who caused the car accident was negligent – distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or street racing, for example – the close family member may be able to receive monetary compensation for loss of consortium. Note that most loss of consortium cases are brought by a spouse but children and parents who experience this type of loss may be able to recover damages in certain cases.
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Read MoreBellingham Man Falls Down Cliff in Whatcom Falls Park
On Sunday, July 29, 2018 at approximately 4:51 p.m., a teenaged man slipped down a steep cliff in Whatcom Falls Park and had to be pulled out by a rescue team. The fall happened near the 15-foot Middle Falls, also known as Pixie Falls. A statement by Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Newbold indicated that the man was wandering around the park off trails and fell when he got too close to the edge. Between the steep hill and some injuries sustained in the fall, the man was unable to climb out on his own.
Read MoreSummer Heat and Humidity Claims Lives of Hundreds Every Year
With temperatures hitting the high 80s this week, Whatcom County is experiencing its annual summer heat wave. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of people lose their lives every year during extended periods of stale heat and humidity; an average of more than 600 per year. Humid conditions are especially dangerous because they prevent the body from cooling naturally through sweat. Older people living in hot apartments without air-conditioning, young children and people with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk for heat stroke.
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Read MoreRisks of Painkiller Addiction after Car Accident
In 2017, drug overdoses became the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50. Public health experts estimate that 2016 drug overdose deaths exceeded 59,000; the largest year over year increase ever recorded in the United States, according to data compiled by The New York Times. The increase represents an estimated 19 percent jump over 2015 opioid prescription deaths which saw 52,404 recorded drug overdose deaths.
Read More3-Year-Old Washington Boy Killed in Riding Mower Accident
On Thursday, April 26, 2018, a 3-year-old Washington child was killed in a tragic riding mower accident. According to a tweet by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the young boy was “riding the lawn mower with his father” when he fell off, went under the mower and was run over. The child was pronounced dead at the scene and a news report on local TV news station KOMO, stated that authorities have ruled the boy’s death an accident.
Read MorePersonal Injury Claims for Swimming Pool Slip and Fall Accidents
Public swimming pools are a great place to cool off, swim laps, teach your kids to swim and to splash and play. But with water comes slippery surfaces and the risk of swimming pool slip and fall accidents and injuries. While it is expected that floors will be wet at public swimming facilities, it is the responsibility of the public swimming pool owner to take reasonable steps to try and prevent slip and fall accidents.
Read MoreWhat is Loss of Consortium in a Personal Injury Case?
Loss of consortium is a cause of action in a personal injury claim where a plaintiff seeks damages for the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship due to injuries caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another. Negligence or wrongful act may be in the form of assault, battery, medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability, wrongful death caused by a drunk driver, etc.
Read MoreTop 10 Spring Cleaning Ladder Safety Tips
Ladders are very useful for spring home cleaning projects both inside and outside your house. While ladders provide a useful benefit, they can pose a risk of injury. With both indoor and outdoor spring cleaning projects in full swing, it is a good time to talk about ladder safety tips. If you are planning to wash windows or clean out your gutters then you are likely going to be using a ladder.
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Read MorePrevent a Catastrophic Injury: Power Washing Safety
Spring cleaning project season is here. Many people choose power washing to clean their concrete, brick, decking and siding of winter grime and buildup because of its efficiency over other methods. If you have never used a power washer before or aren’t very familiar with them, you should know that power washers have the potential to cause catastrophic injury when they are not handled properly. The reason that pressure washers are so dangerous is the water pressure that they create: a garden hose delivers water pressure at about 50 pounds per square inch (psi) compared to pressure washers that can generate 1,500 to 4,000 psi. The good news is that most power washer injuries are preventable when good safety measures are followed.
Read MoreSpring Safety Tips
Spring is often the best time to start cleaning the outside of our houses and driveways as people prepare for the warmer, dryer months ahead. It is also a good time to check that our safety devices are functioning properly. Following through on spring safety tips can help to prevent injuries.
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