Miscellaneous

• Statute of Limitations May Run Soon for Windstorm Property Damage Claims

  Michael Myers | November 01, 2007 9:53 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Many of you experienced damage to your houses during the wind storms last year. The majority of the losses occurred on December 14 or 15, 2006. Generally homeowners' insurance policies in Washington have a one year statute of limitations: that is, any claims against the homeowner's carrier must be brought within one year of the incident. Failure to bring a claim in time means it might be...

• Asking for Cruise Vouchers May Undermine Your Case

  Michael Myers | October 12, 2007 12:40 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Stop. Don't do it. I know it may be tempting, but if you have been injured while aboard a cruise don't write to the cruise line asking for free cruise vouchers. And don't accept vouchers for discounted or free cruises, drinks, photographs or souvenirs that cruise ships will sometimes offer you up-front as compensation for your injuries. Accepting these vouchers may waive your right to file...

• Huge Victory for Injured Soldiers and Families of Deceased Soldiers

  Michael Myers | October 11, 2007 12:02 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  Most of the time injured soldiers and families of soldiers who die during military service can't file suit. A rule of law called the Feres Doctrine prevents injured soldiers and their families from suing the military. The doctrine comes from the U.S. Supreme Court case Feres v. United States, in which servicemen who picked up highly radioactive weapons fragments from a crashed airplane were...

• If There Isn't Enough Insurance Consider a Product Defect Claim

  Michael Myers | October 08, 2007 8:25 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  In previous posts we've written about the challenges with our private insurance system and inadequate coverage. Drivers in Washington only have to carry $25,000 in liability coverage. That just isn't enough (and why you should carry as much UIM insurance as you can afford). As a result, there are lots of accidents where there isn't enough insurance to compensate the injured person. When that...

• Rider Family's Frustration Highlights "Duty to Rescue" Doctrine in Washington

  Michael Myers | October 04, 2007 3:24 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  In what was a front-page story, Tanya Rider was rescued after spending more than a week trapped inside her wrecked car that had fallen down a ravine off Highway 169. Despite this unexpected happy ending, Tanya Rider's husband, Tom Rider, has expressed his anger and frustration at the King County Sheriff's Office for not conducting a more extensive search for his wife. Rider, 39, said that he...

• 207 Cruise Ship Incidents Reported to FBI in Last 6 Months

  Michael Myers | October 01, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  In April cruise lines adopted a new method of reporting crimes that happen at sea in an effort to establish a more definitive and standardized picture of crimes that happen at sea. Since April, cruise lines have reported 207 incidents to the FBI. Of those, 72 were considered to be potentially serious crimes by the FBI. 18 investigations were opened, 13 of those for rape. Cruise lines like...

• New Plan Proposes Paramedics on Motorcycles

  Michael Myers | September 28, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  A new plan was unveiled by city officials on Wednesday that would entail Seattle Fire Department paramedics riding motorcycles to navigate through Seattle traffic and reached injured persons in a more timely manner. Similar programs are used in other cities and have resulted in significantly reduced response time to accidents. "All you have to do is look at Fourth Avenue during rush hour, when...

• Four Deaths Linked to Powerful Pain-Killer, Fentora

  Chelsea Gilbert | September 19, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  On Thursday, September 13, Cephalon Inc. announced that four deaths have been linked to the powerful cancer pain drug, Fentora, which they manufacture. Fentora was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last September for use by specific cancer patients. The Fentora fatalities allegedly all involved patients using the drug improperly. Two of the patients who died were reportedly using...

• Washington Supreme Court Rules Statue of Limitations Applies to Minors

  Chelsea Gilbert | September 18, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  The Washington Supreme Court recently ruled that the statue of limitations in a wrongful death case was not "tolled" (that is, continued to run) even though the person filing suit was a minor at the time of the incident and, thus, unable to file suit until he or she turned 18. Kaela Atchison, who was 15 years old at the time of her father's death, appealed a decision by the Clark County...

• Drinking Contributes to Boat Collision on Lake Washington

  Chelsea Gilbert | September 12, 2007 10:55 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  On Monday night a powerboat collided with a sailboat, one boat 44 feet, the other 38, on Lake Washington near the 520 bridge. Four people, including the driver of one of the boats, were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.According to the Seattle Police Harbor Patrol the driver of the powerboat is to blame for the water collision as he had reportedly been drinking. The driver of the...