Washington Injury Lawyer Blog

You have to love those Group Health commercials touting how great it is that a patient can actually email their doctor. Traditionally, the information contained in a patients medical record was dictated by the doctor into their record as the result of a face to face consultation, or sometimes from a phone note if you called in. The information that made it into a medical record as a result of a consultation, for the most part, is usually factually correct and a true representation of what the patient told the doctor.

However, email is a different animal. How many times have you either sent, or been the recipient of an email that was interpreted differently than what the sender intended? In conversations, there is tone and inflection that allow the recipient to clearly understand your mood etc. Are you conveying that you're upset, angry, happy, sad or maybe you're throwing in a bit of sarcasm. Without tone and inflection, it's up to the recipient to fill in the missing blanks, and often they get it wrong. And then you end up attempting to explain that their interpretation isn't what you meant and that they took it completely wrong.

Now lets take those emails (or letters and diaries for that matter) that you sent into your doctor and they are now in the hands of an insurance defense lawyer because you were in an auto accident or otherwise injured due to the fault of another person. Do you think that the defense lawyer can interpret your email to suit his or her purpose? You bet they can. And then you are put in a position where it appears you are either contradicting what you wrote or trying to explain what that email really meant.

I am sure that the ability to email your doctor can be valuable, but be cautious and understand the pitfalls that can occur with that type of communication. Also, remember that this applies to not only email, but any type of written correspondence, even a diary you may keep regarding your injuries.

Posted by John Williams | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car & Truck Accidents , Injuries To Minors and Children , Motorcycle Accidents

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Whether you are out walking at Green Lake in Seattle, or at your neighbor's house, how often have you heard don't worry, my dog won't bite? While this may be true for many dogs, owners sometimes under appreciate just how dangerous their dog may be, especially to children. In the United States, dog bite victims requiring medical treatment average 800,000 annually. And sadly, children make up 50% of the victims.While most injuries from dog attacks are not fatal, on average, a dozen people die each year due to vicious dog attacks.

It is the responsibility of dog owners to control their pets, especially those owners who choose to own larger breeds such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and German Shepherds. Generally, the larger the dog, the greater the chance of serious injuries occurring during an attack. While dog owners need to ensure that their dogs are securely confined on their property and properly socialized, all of us have to do our part to not become a victim.

We need to be aware of our surroundings and children especially, need to be made aware of the danger associated with dogs. Is there a neighbor on your street that routinely lets their dog run loose or doesn't have the ability to confine the dog to their property? Do you or your children visit friends and family with a dog or dogs? Even your aunt's dog that has always been very good with children, can attack if provoked.

Make sure that your children respect dogs and other animals and know not to tease or harass them. Talk with the neighbor that is letting their dog run loose and request that they become a responsible dog owner by properly confining their dog. Finally, listen to cautions by dog owners. But remember, even if you're told don't worry, they won't bite, you need to use your own judgment to protect yourself from potentially, a very serious injury.

Posted by John Williams | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Dog Bite Injuries , Injuries To Minors and Children

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