Bernard Law Group's blog

Should You Ride a Motorcycle?

Riding a motorcycle can be a lot of fun. However, if you do not have the skills needed for safe riding, it can end up in a disaster or tragedy. Besides, different riders have different personalities and varying skill levels. Riding a motorcycle is not for everyone. Here are a few questions you would be well-advised to ask yourself before you get on a motorcycle or decide to start riding one.

1. Are you a big-time risk taker? If you have an aggressive personality and cannot resist taking chances and living dangerously, then riding a motorcycle may not be for you.
2. You need to able to ride a bicycle properly. In fact, this is a prerequisite for enrolling in basic rider courses offered by training schools. Riding a motorcycle takes balance and coordination.
3. How is your vision? The ability to see well ahead is important for safe riding.
4. Are you "safety-minded?" If you decide to ride a motorcycle, you need to take safety seriously. You need to make safety a top priority.
5. Can you focus? Inattention (on the part of motorcyclists AND motorists other than a motorcyclist) is one of the major causes of motorcycle accidents in Seattle and throughout the United States.

Whatever you believe your attitude and skill level, it is very important if you take on motorcycling that you undergo the necessary training. You certainly need to familiarize yourself with the safe operation of a motorcycle. When you are equipped with the knowledge, the skills and the right attitude, riding a motorcycle is just the way it should be – fun.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful and educational information about motorcycle accidents that will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Using Child Safety Seats the Right Way

Most of us understand the importance of placing children in car seats, especially younger children. However, a number of studies show that 80 percent of children are not secured correctly in a car seat. Every Seattle personal injury attorney knows that these are mistakes that could seriously injure your child, but these are also mistakes that can be easily avoided.

First of all, parents need to remember the basic rules. Infants must be in a rear-facing infant seat until they are 1-year-old and 20 pounds. After that, toddlers can use a forward facing seat until they are about 40 pounds. After that, children over 40 pounds should be placed a booster seat until they are at least 8 year old, weigh 80 pounds and are 4 feet 5 inches tall. Also, all children should sit in the back seat until they are 12 years old.

But there are several mistakes that are commonly made, although we may have the right seat for our children. Securing the seat incorrectly in your car or not securing the child properly can cause serious injuries in the event of a crash. Here are a few common mistakes that can be easily avoided:

• Having harness straps too loose or in the wrong position
• Having a harness chest clip in the wrong position
• Not locking the seat belt properly with the locking clip, retractor or locking latch plate.
• Not securing the car seat correctly, by either using the wrong seat belt path or not making the seatbelts tight enough.
• Placing an infant seat in the path of an airbag

If you are purchasing your car seat second-hand or in a yard sale, do your research and make sure that the car seat is not included in a defective product recall. If your child has been injured as a result of a defective car seat, contact an experienced products liability lawyer who can give you more information about your legal rights.

Call The Bernard Law Group for a FREE, comprehensive and completely confidential consultation at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Nearly 5 Million Pounds of Meat Recalled for E. Coli Contamination

A meat-packing company in Southern California has significantly expanded its ground beef recall and veal due to fears of E. coli contamination. According to an Associated Press news report, the recall includes about 4.9 million additional pounds of products by Huntington Meat Packing Inc. The original recall was for 864,000 pounds of meat and was announced on January 18. So far, there have been no reports of illnesses or fatalities as a result of these recalled meat products.

The contaminated meat was sold in 10, 20, and 50-pound packages to distribution centers, restaurants and hotels between January 4 and January 22, 2010. The products include ground beef patties, diced beef, veal patties and beef burrito filling mix. The Office of the Inspector General is conducting an investigation of the manufacturing plants. The investigation has apparently revealed that "the products were prepared in a manner that did not follow rules to prevent food safety hazards." Investigators are also saying that they find the company's food safety records to be unreliable.

Seattle personal injury lawyers who have experience handling products liability and food borne illness cases know that E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that in the most serious of cases, can cause kidney damage or even death. The most common symptoms of an E. coli infection include bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are prone to severe E. coli infections. If you have been sickened or have suffered long-term health problems as a result of a food-borne illness, you may seek compensation from the negligent food manufacturer to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering and other related damages.

If you have been sickened as a result of these products, contact an experienced Seattle food-borne illness attorney to find out about your rights. Please call The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iczAgwtWFBT089LUZgG56BhYqkyAD9DRFN9G0

Kirk Bernard's Seven Tips for Driving Safely in Winter Weather

Winter can be a tricky time to drive. At a time when roads are slick with black ice or packed with snow, it is better to avoid driving. However, if you must drive, please use common sense and exercise caution. Here are a few of useful winter driving tips from skilled attorney Kirk Bernard:

1. Always drive with your headlights on. Visibility is usually rather low during the winter months because of overcast conditions, snow or rain. Fog can also hamper visibility quite a bit. Draw attention and be seen. Leave your lights on.
2. If you have four-wheel drive, do not get over-confident with it. Just because you have one of these vehicles, it does not mean that you'll be able to stop faster on an icy roadway.
3. Always give yourself room to stop. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don't have anti-lock brakes, gently bump the pedal.
4. When you approach intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots, please slow down. These are areas that have the potential to develop black ice.
5. It is advisable to avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen your chance of losing control.
6. Do not cut in front of trucks. These large vehicles take a longer time to stop.
7. Avoid using cruise control or overdrive.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington auto accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington car accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Toyota Recalls Prius and Lexus Hybrid Vehicles for Braking Defects

Toyota Motor Corp. has announced a global recall involving more than 400,000 of its Prius and Lexus hybrid vehicles because of braking problems. This defective auto recall has come after quite a bit of deliberation and speculation about how Toyota will deal with this issue. The auto maker has come under fire for not reacting in a timely manner to auto product defects involving faulty gas pedals and floor mats in more than 8 million vehicles. These defects are said to have caused sudden or unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, causing several fatalities and numerous injuries over the last decade or so. In an unprecedented move, Toyota suspended production and sales of eight vehicle models in order to fix the gas pedal problem

The problem with the Prius involves delays in the vehicles' braking capacity especially on icy or bumpy roads. Dealers say this problem can be fixed in 40 minutes. Prius owners complained that they suddenly lost braking capacity and control of the car when they hit a pothole or a bump on the roadway. Toyota officials are saying now that this happens because of a software glitch. If you own one of these recalled Prius models, please contact your Toyota dealer to get the software fixed as soon as possible. You may also wish to speak with a skilled Seattle car accident attorney if you have been in an accident involving one of the recalled vehicles.

If your loved one has been seriously injured by a defective auto, please contact the reputed Washington personal injury lawyers at The Bernard Law Firm to find out about your legal rights and options. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com to schedule your FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure about Washington auto product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you better understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/09/AR2010020900654.html?wprss=rss_business/economy

Kirk Bernard's Tips for Dog Owners to Prevent Dog Bites

Washington dog bites and dog attacks are preventable incidents. According to experts, early obedience training is one way dog owners can make their dogs less likely to bite. If you are a dog owner, it would be worth your while to consider these top 6 tips provided by Kirk Bernard to help prevent dog bites. In Washington State, if your dog bites someone, you can be held liable for the injury, trauma, and associated expenses your dog causes through an attack or bite. If you don't have insurance, even your personal assets could be in peril. It doesn't have to be that way. Here are some ways by which you can prevent your dog from becoming aggressive.

1. It's a good idea to expose your dogs and familiarize them with different types of people – children and adults. Find ways to help the dog make positive associations between them and people.


2. Follow your city's animal control laws. Keep your dog leashed.


3. Do not leave a dog alone or unsupervised when children are present.


4. Train your child not to harass dogs or provoke them.


5. Make sure your dog gets a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Do not keep your dog restrained or confined in a small place for lengthy periods of time.


6. If you believe your dog is getting aggressive or challenges you (the owner), find out about a dog obedience class.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, please contact the Seattle dog bite lawyers at The Bernard Law Group. We always offer FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultations for Seattle dog bite victims. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington dog bite cases with useful educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Washington Construction Accident Attorney Kirk Bernard’s Four Tips to Prevent Ladder Injuries

Every year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room treated injuries in the United States relating to ladders, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. That's exactly why it is extremely important to pick the right ladder when you need to use one. Here are the top 4 tips to help you prevent these potentially serious ladder injuries:

1. Choose the right ladder for the job. First of all, you need to make sure that a ladder is the right or best equipment to accomplish your task. In some cases, you may require a mechanical lift or a scaffold.


2. Make sure the ladder is in good working condition.


3. Tie the top and bottom of the ladder to a fixed point. Securing the ladder should prevent it from sliding side to side or falling backwards.


4. Do not carry tools or other materials in your hand while climbing the ladder. Take precautions when you are going up or down the ladder.

While these tips are informative, they only scratch the surface of the numerous ways in which a worker can help protect themselves while using a ladder or working at great heights. It is always important to go over safety with your employer and fellow workers who will be assisting you during specific projects.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington construction accident, please contact the skilled personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Group. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington construction accident cases, which has useful educational information to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

CYBEX Strollers Recalled for Fingertip Amputation Hazard

Regal Lager Inc. has issued a product defect recall for about 1,200 CYBEX brand strollers because of fingertip amputation and laceration hazards. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, the stroller's hinge mechanism could cause children's fingertips to get cut when the stroller is being opened or closed. This defective product recall involves Ruby, Onyx and Topaz models of umbrella strollers. The recalled strollers were made in China and sold at stores nationwide between August 2009 and November 2009 for between $140 and $260. Those who have these strollers at home would be well-advised to stop using them and contact the company to receive a free hinge cover.

This is the third identical recall of such strollers issued over the last few months by different stroller manufacturers. In January, children's products manufacturer, Graco, recalled nearly 1.5 million strollers after the company got several reports of fingertip amputations caused by the defective hinges. Similarly, in November, Maclaren recalled about 1 million strollers for a similar problem. There is no question that these are dangerous product defects that can result in serious injuries and possibly, permanent disfigurement.

If you have been injured as a result of any of these recalled strollers with defective hinges, please contact an experienced products liability attorney with The Bernard Law Group for a FREE, comprehensive and completely confidential consultation. Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington product defect cases, which has useful, educational information to help you understand your rights. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2010/cybex.html

Tylenol Pain Caplets Recalled

Johnson & Johnson has recalled Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets after consumers reported an unusual moldy odor in the 100-count bottles. According to a Reuters news report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the recall is being expanded to include all available product lots of the pain caplets with the distinctive red EZ-open cap. The initial recall involved five lots of the product in November after patients who took the caplets suffered nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. FDA officials said the odor was caused by the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials. Consumers are asked to stop using these pain caplets immediately and return them for a refund or replacement.

The term "dangerous drug" does not just refer to prescription drugs. A dangerous drug can mean an over-the-counter medication or even a natural herbal supplement. If you have been injured as a result of a contaminated drug or a drug with serious side effects that were not disclosed, you may be entitled to compensation. In such cases, injured victims may seek compensation for medical expenses and other associated costs. Families who have lost their loved ones as a result of a dangerous drug may file a wrongful death claim.

If you have been injured by a defective drug in Seattle or Washington State, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091229/us_nm/us_tylenol_recall_2

Seattle Car Accident Leaves Four with Injuries

Four people, including one pedestrian, sustained injuries in a Seattle car accident after two vehicles collided in the Fremont area. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the accident involved a Chevy Nova and a sport utility vehicle. The driver of the Nova fled the scene of the crash by foot. A woman in her 30s, who was standing in the southwest corner of Fremont Avenue North and North 39th Street, sustained the most serious injuries after she was knocked unconscious by flying debris from the accident. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Three others, a passenger in the Nova and two occupants of the SUV, were also hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police believe the hit-and-run driver was wearing a red shirt with his hair pulled back in a ponytail. He may have a suffered a head injury as well.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in Washington State. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: “A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident.”

Whether you are pedestrian or a vehicle occupant, if you have been injured as a result of someone else's fault or negligence, you may seek compensation for your injuries, damages and loss. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about car accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010608261_freemontcrash28m.html?syndication=rss