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 MoreBouncy House Accidents are on the Rise. Are Bouncy Houses Safe for Kids?
With their increased popularity, the number of bouncy house accidents causing injuries jumped from 5,311 in 2003 to 17,377 in 2013, according to data gathered from U.S. hospital records by a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). A Stateline analysis identified approximately 20,700 injuries in 2016.
Read MoreSafety Experts Warn Parents about Sparkler Firework Injuries
While sparklers are often seen as a great way for kids to share in the fireworks fun on the 4th of July, safety experts are warning parents that once lit they heat up to 2,000 degrees Farenheit and are hot enough to burn metal, bake a cake or boil water. According to the acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ann Marie Buerkle, sparklers are the most common cause of firework-related injuries.
Read MoreFiat Chrysler Recalls 4.8 Million Vehicles with Cruise Control Issue
On May 25, 2018 Fiat Chrysler announced that it was recalling 4.8 million vehicles because of an issue with the cruise control that could prevent drivers from turning it off when they needed to. Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) has only one incident on file related to the malfunctioning cruise control with no reported injuries.
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 MoreChild Gun Injury Statistics show that Shootings are the Third Leading Cause of Death for U.S. Children
More than 7,000 children are killed or injured by guns every year in the United States; making shootings the third leading cause of death for U.S. children behind illnesses and unintentional accidents like car crashes. While a significant portion of child shootings are unintentional, it doesn’t take away from the tragedy of losing a child.
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