Miscellaneous

• Putting Profits Ahead of Safety--Cruise Company Fails to Provide Reasonable Medical Assistance for Passenger

  Michael Myers | October 18, 2007 3:17 PM | 0 CommentsTacoma, WA

  A recent cruise ship case involves a man who had a severe asthma attack at a wedding. There was oxygen aboard but the crew would not allow passengers with medical training to assist.By the time the vessel got back to the dock, the passenger was in a very bad way and later died. A magistrate denied limitation of liability because the captain could have diverted to a closer dock. The court noted...

• 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...

• Cascade Plane Crash Kills 10--Highlights Need for Vicitims' Families to Retain Separate Counsel

  Michael Myers | October 11, 2007 12:07 PM | 0 CommentsTacoma, WA

  All 10 bodies of the passengers aboard the plane that crashed Sunday night in the Cascades have been found. The place was traveling from Star, Idaho to Shelton, Washington and crashed en route, about 25 miles southeast of Mount Rainer. Rescue teams were able to locate the crash site through the reports of a hunter who had seen the plane fly low over him and then heard the crash, and by following...

• 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...

• Deaths on Cruise Ships

  Michael Myers | September 27, 2007 4:18 PM | 0 CommentsOlympia, WA

  While the injuries and deaths of cruise passengers is not a particularly fond topic of cruise companies, procedures must be in place for if a passengers falls ill or dies while on board. Almost all ships have doctors and nurses on board, and many ships also have an area that can serve as a morgue. However, there is rarely any counseling available on board for the grieving family of the deceased...

• Insurance Dispute Going Before Arkansas Supreme Court

  Chrissie Cole | September 26, 2007 11:06 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Foremost Insurance Company is going before Arkansas Supreme Court to appeal a Circuit Court order to produce all of their insurance claim files. The company estimates that producing over 600,000 of their insurance claim files will cost the company over $45 million.The suit alleges that following loss or damage to the insured's property, the company failed to disclose or pay the general...