Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC | Washington Legal Blog

Internet and social media warning to personal injury clients!

Please be aware!  

We are seeing more and more cases where the insurance companies and insurance defense lawyers are searching social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube for photos and blogs about what the clients are doing while they are claiming to be injured. The courts are ordering injured plaintiffs to produce their Facebook pages to the insurance company lawyers. 

Initially people were careful about what photos they posted online and who had access to them but these days everybody is more willing to post just about anything.  Your friends may have photos of you, that can be searched by your name, tagged on their pages. Your own privacy settings cannot protect you entirely.

Here is what you can do to protect yourself and your possible injury claim:

1)  Make sure there is nothing you would not want your mother or the insurance company lawyer to see.

2)  Search your name to see that what comes up is acceptable.  Make whatever adjustments are necessary.

3)  Check your privacy settings.

4)  Don't answer emails or requests from people you don't know (keep in mind that because of the lawsuit process, the opposing legal team knows a lot about you and could send you an email that might make you think you know each other).

If you are not sure if your pages are acceptable, speak to your personal injury lawyer about it now.  The Andrew Kim Law Firm represents injured persons from car, motorcycle, bicycle and truck accidents.  If you would like to discuss your case with an experienced Bellevue personal injury attorney, call us and 425-289-1990 or toll free at 1-800-636-3676.

Increased number of WSP troopers during Memorial Day Weekend | Seattle, Bellevue Personal Injury Attorney

According to WSP media release there will be approximately 75 extra troopers patrolling the roadways during the Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th.  They will be looking for:

1)  drivers who are speeding

2)  drivers who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)

3)  drivers who fail to buckle up

4)  vehicles carrying unsecured loads

5)   aggressive and negligent drivers (WSP will use an aircraft to help with that)

The WSP also asks that motorists be aware of increased number of motorcycle riders this weekend!

The Seattle, Bellevue, Washington attorney at Andrew Kim Law Firm represents people injured in car accidents whether through negligent or reckless driving of the other driver.  Call us for a free initial consultation at 425-289-2990 or 1-800-636-3676.

Great resources for Bellevue | Bellevue accident attorney

2 planes collide in Skagit County | Washington plane accident lawyer

Komonews.com reports two planes crashed at the Skagit Regional Airport in Burlington, Washington and all four people involved walked away from the collision without injuries!  Skagit County sheriff's deputies said the biplane came in for a landing on top of the Cessna, which had just landed a moment before.  The impact knocked the Cessna onto its side and the biplane flipped over after crashing into the Cessna.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident.

This information was provided by the personal injury lawyers at Andrew Kim Law Firm.  We represent people seriously injured in plane crashes and other motor vehicle accidents.  If you or someone you know has been injured from a negligent party, call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 to discuss your potential case.

Five reasons for not speeding! | Bellevue accident attorney

$2 million settlement after Wal-Mart's employee death | Seattle wrongful death attorney

CNN.com reported that Wal-Mart reached a settlement with the District Attorney’s Office in Long Island, NY and agreed to pay $2 million which includes $1.5 million for community programs in Nassau County, NY and $400,000 to compensate people who were injured in the "Black Friday" incident and repay out-of-pocket expenses.

The settlement was made in lieu of pursuing criminal charges in the death of 34-year-old man and Wal-Mart employee who was knocked over and trampled to death as 2000 shoppers ran into the store for the morning sales specials.  As a part of the settlement Wal-Mart agreed to a crowd-management plan at each of its 92 stores in NY and it will consider applying new safety measures.

The Washington State wrongful death statue allows the surviving spouse, child or parent to file a lawsuit on behalf of their deceased loved one.  Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represents families of fatal accidents and wrongful death victims.  Please call for a free consultation at 1-800-636-3576 or visit www.wainjurylaw.com

Plane accident in Mansfield injures three | Washington plane accident atttorney

A pilot and his two passengers, all from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho were injured from a single engine plane crash at Mansfield airport near Lake Chelan, Washington after it touched down on the runway, bounced, then veered into a field.  The airfield is owned by the Port of Douglas County.

The pilot James Dunn who was taken by helicopter to Central Washington Hospital.  The two passengers, Brian Dunn and Christopher Berard, were taken by ambulance to Lake Chelan Community Hospital.  The cause of the crash was being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

This information was provided by the personal injury lawyers at Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC.  We represent people seriously injured in plane crashes and other motor vehicle accidents.  If you or someone you know has been injured from a negligent party, call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 to discuss your potential case.

Jefferson County plane flips during take-off | Bellevue personal injury attorney

78-year-old John M. Cook of Sequim, Washington was seriously injured when his light airplane crashed during takeoff from Jefferson County International Airport on April 9, 2009.  A wind gust caught a wing of the two-passenger, single-engine Light Sport by Remos causing it to flip over and corkscrew into the grass next to the runway.

Cook sustained serious injuries including broken bones and cuts to his face and was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.  The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the plane accident.

The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represents persons seriously injured in plane accidents as well as other crashes involving motor vehicles.  You can call us for a free initial consultation at 1-800-636-3676.

Kemore worker injured by train in tunnel | Seattle personal injury attorney

Sequim man killed in helicopter crash | Washington personal injury attorney

66 year old Roger Hershner was killed in a helicopter crash in a field in central near Moundridge, Kansas.  He was piloting the helicopter from Washington to Virginia to perform contract work for the U.S. Forest Service.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation and unknown at this point.  Weather and fuel have been ruled out as a possible cause of the accident.  No other passengers were on board.

This information was provided by the Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC.  We handle serious personal injury cases resulting from helicopter crashes, plane crashes, and all other motor vehicle accidents including cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles.  Call us toll free at 1-800-636-3676 if you have any questions regarding a possible claim.

Turkish Airlines jetliner crash in Amsterdam | Seattle airline crash attorney

Another plane drops from the sky.  This time it's a Turkish Airlines jetliner that plowed into a muddy field just short of the runways at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.  The Boeing 737-800 was flying from Istanbul, Turkey to Amsterdam when it lost air speed and fell out of the sky.  Miraculously, some 125 people survived but nine died including both pilots.  Six of the injured were in critical condition, 25 were seriously hurt and 24 had slight injuries, health authorities said.

The plane broke into three pieces.  The fuselage split in two, close to the cockpit, and the tail broke off.  But the wreckage didn't burn partly because of engineering advances that have resulted in strengthened structures and fire retardant technologies, and because the plane would have used up a major portion of its fuel.  The soft muddy grounds also lessened the impact.

Investigators will explore a wide range of possible causes of the crash, ranging from weather-related factors such as wind shear or icing, to fuel starvation, navigational errors, pilot fatigue or bird strikes. They have checked the plane's documents and there is no problem concerning maintenance.

This information was provided by the Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC which handles all major accidents and crashes resulting in serious injuries and death.  You may call us at 1-800-636-3676 for a free initial consultation.

Continental flight 3407 jet crashes into home | Seattle plane crash attorney

On February 12, 2009, Continental Connection Flight 3407 from Newark, New Jersey crashed into a suburban Buffalo house in a fiery plane crash that killed all 48 people a on board and one person Doug Wielinski in the home.  Two others in the house, Doug's wife, Karen Wielinski, 57, and their 22-year-old daughter, Jill, escaped with minor injuries.

The cause of the accident was under investigation, but reports of ice building up on their wings seems to be a major factor.  The twin turboprop aircraft was coming in for a landing when it went down in light snow and fog around 10:20 p.m. about five miles short of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York.

The 74-seat Q400 Bombardier aircraft, operated by Colgan Air, looked like it suddenly dropped straight down from the sky.  The nearly vertical drop of the plane suggests a sudden loss of control and that icing or a mechanical failure, such as wing flaps deploying asymmetrically or the two engines putting out different thrust, might have caused the crash.

In general, smaller planes like the Dash 8, which uses a system of pneumatic de-icing boots, are more susceptible to icing problems than larger commuter planes that use a system to warm the wings. The boots, a rubber membrane stretched over the surface, are filled with compressed air to crack any ice that builds up.

A similar turboprop jet crash 15 years ago in Indiana was caused by icing, and after that the NTSB issued icing recommendations to more aggressively use the plane's system of pneumatic de-icing boots. But the FAA hasn't adopted it. It remains part of the NTSB's most-wanted safety improvements list. 


Details For Bombadier Q-400 (DH4)
Source: Colgan Air

74-seat twin turboprop in single-class, four abreast configuration

Jet-like speed with state-of-the-art avionics

Performance profile allows operations below and away from congested airspace 

 "Q means Quiet" with advanced noise and vibration reduction

Full size cabin with 32" seat pitch and 6'5" of headroom

Two flight attendants for passenger safety and comfort

Continental Airlines short and medium haul in-flight service offerings

Arrives and departs at Terminal C at Newark Liberty Airport

Length 107' 9"
Height 27' 5"
Wingspan 93' 3"
Passengers 68-78
Engines 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PW150
360 kts (414 mph)

Continental said relatives and friends of those on Flight 3407 who want to give or receive information about those on board can call a special family assistance number, 1-800-621-3263.

This information was provided by the Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC.  We represent people who have been seriously injured or killed in major accidents throughout the State of Washington.  We can be reached toll free at 1-800-636-3676 for a free initial consultation.

Plane makes emergency landing on Hudson River | Bellevue plane crash attorney

A US Airways Flight 1549 bound for Charlotte, NC made an emergency landing on the Hudson River in New York when both engines struck a flock of birds just after take off from La Guardia Airport. and apparently disabled them.

The skillful pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III of Danville, California was able to bring the airplane down to a relatively soft landing on the water without flipping the plane or breaking into pieces.  The intact plane actually floated long enogh for the passing ferries and rescue teams to assist in getting all 155 on board safely off the airplane.

One passenger suffered two broken legs according to a paramedic but there were no other reports of serious injuries except for hypothermia, bruises and other minor injuries.  An infant on board also appeared to be fine.
The plane crash took place on a 20-degree day, one of the coldest of the season in New York. The Coast Guard said the water temperature was 36 degrees.  Good thing there was such a quick response time to the accident.

The Federal Aviation Administration says there were about 65,000 bird strikes to civil aircraft in the United States from 1990 to 2005, or about one for every 10,000 flights. 

2 Planes collide on ground at SeaTac Airport

On December 29, 2008, the Seattle Times reported that two passenger-filled airplanes bound for the Midwest from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were canceled when the planes backed into each other as they left their gates.  No injuries were reported.

A Delta Flight number 1288 to Cincinnati was backing from its gate at the same time Northwest Flight number 620 to Minneapolis was backing away from its gate at the South Satellite Terminal.  The two planes bumped into each other and as a result the flights were canceled and passengers were transferred to other flights.

Often times, injuries do not immediately show up or they start out as relatively minor symptoms which either do not go away or get increasingly worse.  It is important to see a doctor or health care provider sooner rather than later for a thorough examination to rule out any serious injuries.  It is also important to document your injuries should you decide to pursue an injury claim against the at fault party which in the above case would be the airline pilot, and/or the air traffic controller.

The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC handles all personal injury claims whether airplane crash, motor vehicle accident, or train collision.  Call us at 1-800-636-3676 if you have any questions about your legal rights.

West Seattle ATV crash critically injures man | Seattle ATV accident attorney

Komo News reported that a 41-year-old man was seriously injured in West Seattle while riding an all-terrain vehicle with a friend at about 11:30 pm Christmas night.  The ATV crash occurred at 40th Avenue and Barton Street in West Seattle.  It is unknown how the accident actually happened.  The injured man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was reported to have life-threatening injuries from the crash.

The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC represents people injured in ATV collisions as well as other motor vehicle crashes where an at fault person caused the accident and injuries.  We can be reached at 1-800-636-3676 for an initial consultation.

Dozens Hospitalized in Continental Airlines Airplane Crash at Denver International Airport

On the evening of December 20, 2008, thirty eight passengers were hospitalized at several different hospitals in Denver, Colorado after their airplane on Continental Airlines flight 1404 crashed during takeoff and caught fire on the entire right side of the plane.  The cause of the crash is unknown and is still being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The plane landed in a ravine between two runways on the west side of the airfield at Denver International Airport.  The Boeing 737 was departing from Denver and heading to Houston and it was carrying 107 passengers and five crew members who all managed to escape from the emergency chutes.

The Seattle, Bellevue, Washington Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC helps people injured in airplane crashes due to negligent maintenance, faulty equipment or products, defective design, and pilot and crew member error.  Call us for a free initial consultation at 1-800-636-3676.

Public swimming pools and hot tubs required to have new anti-drowning drain covers

A new law that went into effect recently requires any pool or spa that is publicly used, including municipal pools and those at hotels, private clubs, apartment buildings and community centers to have anti drowning drains installed.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the agency will focus initially on public baby pools and wading pools specifically designed for small children, as well as in-ground spas that have flat drain grates on the bottom and just one drain system.

The issue received heightened attention after the 7-year-old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James A. Baker was sucked onto a spa drain in 2002.  She drowned despite efforts to pry her off.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation, a nonprofit group in Colorado Springs, Colorado said about 80 percent of the 300,000 public pools and spas in the United States do not comply with the new rules and may have to close.

Alan Korn, public policy director of the Washington-based nonprofit group Safe Kids Worldwide, said the vast majority of American swimmers don't realize that the bottom of pools and spas and wading pools are a hidden hazard, especially to children.  There have been 33 deaths of children under age 14 between 1985 and 2004 according to his agency.

Kitsap County sled and ATV accident | Tacoma Kitsap County accident attorney

Nordstrom pays civil penalty for selling dangerous and defective clothing, Seattle

Seattle

Nordstrom will pay to settle claim

Nordstrom Inc. will pay a $60,000 civil penalty to settle allegations it knowingly failed to properly report the sale of children's drawstring jackets and sweaters to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that had declared such clothing dangerous and defective more than a year earlier.  The strings pose a strangulation hazard for children, and the CPSC has had guidelines against them.

Airbus A320 airplane crashes during training flight off France's southern coast

PARIS (AP) - Search teams on Friday found the flight recorders from an Airbus A320 passenger jet that crashed off France's southern coast during a maintenance flight, killing two people and leaving five others missing and feared dead, officials said.

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