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Negligence is a Factor in a Brain Injury Lawsuit

gosankolaw • Jun 22, 2017

In May 2017, a Seattle firefighter sued Puget Sound Energy, or PSE, because he was allegedly knocked out by the force of the Greenwood natural-gas explosion. This according to the Seattle Times.

 

In the lawsuit filed in May, the firefighter claimed he was standing about 90 feet from the center of the alleyway explosion. That happened in March 2016. The explosion damaged more than 12 buildings and level two other buildings.

 

Since the explosion, the firefighter said he had experienced continuous cognitive problems. These problems included:

 

  • Hearing loss
  • Headaches
  • Memory loss
  • Mental disturbances such as recurring images

 

According to the 50-year-old firefighter, the explosion made everyone fall onto their faces. Concrete and two-by-fours fell on his head.

 

Firefighter was Responding to the Report of a Gas Leak at the Time of the Seattle Explosion

 

He was one of nine firefighters injured during the 2016 blast. They were responding to a report of a natural gas leak close to North 85 th Street and Greenwood Avenue North around 1:04 a.m. They were in the middle of pinpointing the source of the leak when the explosion ripped through one of the buildings damaged.

 

All of the firefighters were treated and released the day of the blast.

 

He’s spent 18 years working as a firefighter. The outcome of his future medical condition is unknown. Also, it is unknown whether the firefighter’s lawsuit will proceed or if the parties will settle out of court.

 

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury in Seattle?

 

A traumatic brain injury is any type of sudden trauma to the head that interrupts normal brain functions. It may change a person’s outward behavior. They also may exhibit symptoms like headaches, vomiting and difficulty concentrating.

 

Negligence is the Foundation of any Seattle Traumatic Brain Injury Case

 

Brain injury lawsuits come down negligence, or fault. Fault means another person or entity other than the victim was did something to cause the accident that lead to the brain injury. The other party could have done something such as speed while driving and caused an accident. They could have not done something like clean a spill from the floor and caused the accident.

 

Proving Negligence in a Seattle Personal Injury Claim

 

To receive damages, or money, a victim, called a plaintiff, has to prove negligence on the defendant’s part. Seattle personal injury law has steps, typically called elements, required for any successful claim. These elements include:

 

  • The defendant had a duty of care to protect the plaintiff from harm
  • The defendant breached the duty by causing the accident
  • The defendant’s action lead to the plaintiff’s injuries
  • The plaintiff suffered injuries that require payment from the defendant. These damages range from pain and suffering to medical bills and lost wages.

 

Contact Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC to Represent You in Your Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit

 

You were injured because of someone else’s negligence. You are not responsible for the damages you sustained from the accident. Contact us. We will fight for you.

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