Seattle Personal Injury & Accident Blog

Study Links Most Med Mal Deaths to Inaccurate Diagnosis

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on January 4, 2020

According to a recent study, slightly more than one out of three medical malpractices cases resulting in permanent disability or death are linked to inaccurate or delayed diagnosis, as reported by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Approximately 75% of these cases can be traced to diagnostic errors in only three medical conditions – cancer, vascular events, and infections.

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New Study Finds Pedestrian Safety Features in Cars Fail in Most Dangerous Circumstances

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on December 21, 2019

Research reveals that pedestrian safety features built into new cars fail in the deadliest situations. Researchers in a new AAA study found that automatic emergency braking systems with pedestrian detection perform inconsistently and are entirely ineffective at night. These findings are particularly alarming, as 75% of pedestrian fatalities occur in the dark.

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AAA Study Finds Red-Light Accidents Hit Highest Mark in Decade

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on December 11, 2019

Running red lights is dangerous driving behavior that puts everyone on the roadways at risk. In a recent AAA Foundation study, researchers found that more than two people a day in the U.S. are killed because of impatient drivers blowing through red lights. In 2017, 939 people were killed in red-light-running accidents, which represents a 28% increase from 2012 and a ten-year high, as reported by AAA.
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Stadium Safety Tips of Football Season

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on November 13, 2019

The legal team at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., never gets tired of cheering when Seahawks football season comes around, and this year is no different! We also never tire of is making sure our friends and neighbors in the Seattle community enjoy the football season safely when taking in a game at CenturyLink Field. In order to help ensure your safety and enjoyment during game day, we have put together some tips to help you avoid an accident or injury at the game. Read the rest »

Notes on Medical Malpractice

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on November 7, 2019

Medical malpractice is one of the most complex, demanding, and exhaustive forms of litigation that both victims and attorneys can be involved in. Medical professionals, though they must go through years of training, make terrible errors that can cost patients their health and well-being. These cases are rarely straightforward, and there are many factors involved in holding the negligent parties responsible. Read the rest »

New Motorcycle Helmet Law Proposed in Washington State

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on October 31, 2019

Washington state is one of 19 states in the U.S.A. to have a universal helmet law. This means, every rider of a motorcycle, scooter, or low-motor motorcycle is required to wear a helmet. Yet, under proposed Washington Senate Bill 5007 (SB 5007) and companion House Bill 1125 (HB 1125), a new law to test motorcycle helmet use for three years could allow motorcycle users over 21 to forego the helmets and enjoy the freedom of riding a motorcycle helmet-free. Read the rest »

The Long-Term Effects of Oxygen Deprivation at Birth

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on September 16, 2019

While science has made great developments toward understanding how to diagnose and treat neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), experts have been largely unclear about precisely what occurs in the brain to cause these conditions.

But recently, new studies are providing a promising glimpse into how certain circumstances at birth may contribute to the likelihood of a child developing ADHD or ASD later in life. Read the rest »

The Dangers of Drunk Driving, Especially on the Wrong Side of the Road

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on September 9, 2019

Driving while impaired, whether due to drugs or alcohol, is a poor decision by itself. But when you end up driving while impaired on the wrong side of the road, a situation that already puts you and every other motorist at risk becomes almost certainly deadly.

That’s what nearly happened when one man drove his Audi north up the southbound lanes on I-5 and caused three other cars to crash. Read the rest »

Mold Closes Rooms in Seattle Hospitals

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on September 1, 2019

In an effort to contain an outbreak of Aspergillus mold, officials at the Seattle Children’s Hospital have closed all 14 main operating rooms at the facility. While Aspergillus is considered to be a common form of mold and is ingested almost daily by most people, patients with weakened immune systems are much more at risk for developing infections.  Read the rest »

Newly Licensed Drivers at Increased Risk for Accidents

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on July 30, 2019

For teenagers, getting a driver’s license is seen as a right of passage, one more step on the road to adulthood. However, a number of studies reveal that teen drivers face risks that older drivers do not. Read the rest »