Multiple Deaths in Amtrak Train Derailment Accident in Washington

Authorities say it could take more than a year to understand how the inaugural run of the train carrying 85 passengers and crew members ended in disaster along a new 15-mile (24-kilometer) bypass route. Friends Jim Hamre, 61, and Zack Willhoite, 35, died of brain and skull injuries. Benjamin Gran, 40, died of multiple traumatic injuries. Whimpering in pain, bleeding from head injuries and dazed by the enormity of the crash, victims in the Amtrak train derailment south of Seattle begged 911 dispatchers for help and said "tons of people" had been hurt. Dozens of emergency recordings released Wednesday by South Sound 911 Dispatch provided a vivid account of what happened during the deadly Dec. 18 crash. "My abdomen hurts really bad. I don't feel good," said a crying woman identified as Angela who was bleeding from her head and wailed in panic each time she couldn't find an answer to a dispatcher's questions. "I don't know how old I am off the top of my head. I'm sorry!" A passenger train on a newly opened Amtrak route jumped the tracks on an overpass south of Tacoma on Monday, slamming rail cars into a busy highway, killing at least three people and injuring about 100 others, officials said. The derailment of Amtrak Train No. 501, making the inaugural run of a new service from Seattle to Portland, dropped a 132-ton locomotive in the southbound lanes of the Northwest’s busiest travel corridor, Interstate 5. Two passenger coaches also fell partly in the traffic lanes, and two other coaches were left dangling off the bridge, one of them wedged against a tractor-trailer. On the highway below lay five crumpled cars, two semi trucks and huge chunks of concrete that were ripped away from the damaged overpass. All 12 of the train’s coaches and one of its two engines derailed. The National Transportation Safety Board said at a Monday night briefing that the train had been traveling more than twice the speed limit before it derailed, or at 80 miles per hour instead of the allowable 30 m.p.h. Don Anderson, mayor of Lakewood, about 11 miles northeast of the crash site, said shortly after the wreck that the tragedy "could've been avoided if better choices had been made" about using the route for upgraded passenger service. "Our community was skeptical of the project both from a financial and safety standpoint, primarily a safety standpoint," Anderson said The mayor of a city along a new route taken by the Amtrak train that derailed in Washington state had expressed concerns about the line as long ago as 2013, court records show.

The real story behind #GoodBoyStorm dog saving a deer on Long Island

From Mark Freeley: owner of the dog that saved a baby deer from drowning.

I had taken Storm and my other dog, Sarah to the beach because I had been fostering two puppies all week that were such an interruption to our own dogs’ routine that I figured my dogs needed a break. The shoreline beach in Port Jefferson Harbor is not a bathing beach, so it’s quite dog friendly. Storm was off leash and running ahead of me and at a point I notice he is charging into the water and swimming after something. I saw a small animal’s head bobbing in the water and when I got closer I realized it was a fawn. Storm gets about 100 yards out to the fawn and its head goes under a few times. Storm reaches and grabs the baby deer by the neck and starts swimming to shore!

Once he brings the fawn to shore, it just lay there at water’s edge. Storm was so excited he just stood over it as it lay there, panting. When it didn’t get up, Storm laid down next to it and started nudging it with his nose and head and then started pawing it just to get it to move.

Since Storm was a puppy, we’ve had him go through a lot of training and socialization, particularly with residents in an assisted living facility, because we were considering him becoming a therapy dog. He is very calm with all sorts of animals gets along with other dogs very well. As a matter of fact, we have a pet rabbit who hops on top of him all the time with no problem. Though he would never even retrieve a ball for me, this fawn was a different story. He sensed that the fawn was in distress and was determined to rescue it.

Mark Freeley is the managing partner at Buttafuoco & Associates.  

A leading national personal injury law firm based on Long Island, NY.

For more information about Mark Freeley call 1-800-669-4878.

Daniel Buttafuoco recognized as nations Top 1% of Lawyers.

Press Release

Daniel Buttafuoco, of personal injury lawyer at Buttafuoco & Associates, has been selected to the 2017 list as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Its mission is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate.

Members are thoroughly vetted by a research team, selected by a blue ribbon panel of attorneys with podium status from independently neutral organizations, and approved by a judicial review board as exhibiting virtue in the practice of law. Due to the incredible selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent of attorneys in the United States are awarded membership in NADC. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession from across the nation.

Bedsore Victim? FAQ's for those seeking information about Bedsore Lawsuits

1)  What is a bedsore and why should they be preventable?

A bedridden patient must undergo frequent regular repositioning of his/her body in order to avoid the formation of ulcers or sores that form as a result of constant pressure. These wounds are usually found on the sacrum and the heels and range in size from stage I to stage IV, stage IV being the deepest and largest type. 

2)  Can you sue for bedsores?

A patient may be entitled to financial compensation if they form these bed sores and suffer from the many complications that occur as a result of them. A lot of times bed sores require surgical intervention to control. They also cause serious infections which could lead to death. 

3)  What to do if you notice bedsores on a family member?

This a serious and well known condition that affects a patient whose ability to move themselves in the bed is compromised. The failure of the hospital or nursing home staff to frequently and regularly re-position the patient is negligence and is typically grounds to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

Jim McCarthy

Attorney Partner

Buttafuoco & Associates

The Top 3 Things to Look for when Hiring an Injury Lawyer

1. Experience handling only accident/injury cases. The insurance companies and their lawyers know the firms that know how to properly handle accident claims, bring lawsuits, take depositions, select juries, and get big verdicts. They keep lists, and if your lawyer is not on the list it is likely to affect the value of your case.

2. Results. Have they consistently over a long period of time obtained large settlements and verdicts for their clients.

3. Reviews. What do their past clients have to say about them. Did they live up to their expectations, provide great personal service. Did they keep them updated throughout the case, keep them involved and push their case quickly?

Our firm has the experience, results and reviews to give you that confident, winning feeling. Go to www.1800nowhurt.com now to see why thousands of have chosen us to represent them.

Mark Freeley

Injury Attorney Partner

Buttafuoco & Associates

The Top Reasons to Change Personal Injury Lawyers

1. All you hear is crickets from your present lawyer. They rarely if ever call you. They don't return phone calls. You never get to speak to the attorney, only a secretary.

2. You chose your present lawyer quickly without really researching how qualified they were. You picked your lawyer because they were a friend, a friend of a friend, a cousin, a friend's cousin, they did a house closing, drafted a Will, or took care of a speeding ticket. All the wrong reasons to hire a lawyer to handle your personal injury case.

3. Your file is collecting dust. They never keep you updated on the status of your case. You don't know if a lawsuit has even been filed. You don't receive copies of important paperwork to show what is happening. You feel like you have no control over what is going on. Time is passing and nothing is happening.

If this sounds familiar, the sooner you call us for a free evaluation the better. We will even check the status of your case on the court computer while we have you on the phone!  Call 1-800-669-4878 or visit www.1800NowHurt.com

Mark Freeley

Injury Attorney Partner

Buttafuoco & Associates

Top 3 Reasons People are Afraid to Change Injury Lawyers

1. They think they will end up paying more in legal fees...FALSE
The lawyers will SHARE the 1/3rd legal fee, so changing lawyers will NOT decrease the client's share.

2. They feel guilty or bad that the prior lawyer won't get paid...FALSE

The new lawyer will reimburse the old lawyer for all of their expenses AND share the legal fee with them based upon the amount of work the old lawyer performed.

3. They think it will delay their case...FALSE

Changing lawyers is a quick and easy process that will not delay your case.

Remember, you only have once chance to get the results that you deserve. The right lawyer makes all of the difference.

To speak with an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer call 1-800-669-4878 or visit www.1800NowHurt.com

Mark Freeley

Injury Attorney Partner
Buttafuoco & Associates

WASHINGTON LOOKING TO DO AWAY WITH YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL

Dear friends,

PLEASE READ & SHARE...VERY IMPORTANT!

As most of you know, I am a Personal Injury Attorney and have been representing people like you, me and our family and friends against insurance companies and big business for over 25 years. When insurance companies refuse to fairly compensate people for the way their lives have been changed, we have always been able to present their case to a jury for them to decide what is fair and just.

However, there is a big push in Washington under the new administration to do away with your right to a jury trial, to cap your pain, suffering and loss of quality/enjoyment of life at $250,000.00 regardless of how seriously you were injured or how severely your life has changed due to someone else's carelessness. There is a Bill pending in Congress at this very minute which will severely limit our rights and limit access to our court system when we are injured. This is the gateway to mandatory arbitration anytime you are harmed, and that system tremendously favors insurance companies and big business.

There is no basis in fact for anything they are attempting to accomplish. In states where they have imposed caps on medical malpractice recoveries insurance premiums have actually increased for doctors.

The reality is this Bill will only serve to line the pockets of big business and insurance companies. Our right to a jury trial is under attack, and the name they use for this type of law is "Tort Reform". They call it this because people think that it is will be good for them and save them money from crazy juries...that is complete nonsense. Do not be fooled, these changes will only hurt those of us who become injured and will not reduce any our insurance rates. Just so you know, almost all large jury verdicts are reduced by the Trial court and then even further reduced by the Appellate Courts. Even many not so large verdicts are reduced. You only hear about the occasional crazy verdict in the news, never about the reductions and what the person actually recovers...it is MUCH different.

These Bills are being written behind closed doors because they want to try to pass them before people like us realize what has been taken away.

Below please find the link for you to instantly send a letter to your respective representatives and senators to oppose the assault on our civil justice system. This will take you less than one minute.

PLEASE SHARE WITH EVERYONE!

Thanks so much,

Mark Freeley

Manager Partner, Buttafuoco & Associates

SIGN THE LETTER BELOW:

http://cqrcengage.com/aaj/app/onestep-write-a-letter?0&engagementId=304253  

Choosing an attorney: Know what to expect.

If you are looking to hire an attorney, there must be something important happening in your life. That’s why choosing the right attorney is incredibly important. You must find someone competent, experienced in the area that you need help in, and with whom you can personally connect and build trust

The best way to start your search is to get referrals from friends, Family and personal acquaintances. Once you have a name and number, call to schedule a consultation. Initial consultations are often free. When you meet, the attorney will want to know all about your case. There are also several things you will want to know about the attorney before making a hiring decision. To know what to ask about in your initial consultation, you need to know what to expect from an attorney. You should be able to expect the following if you have a good attorney.

Choosing an attorney. Know what to expect.

• The attorney you will hire to represent you should be experienced and knowledgeable in the area(s) of law relevant to your case

• No attorney can see the future, but they should be able to Estimate, based on experience, potential time frames, possible awards, and the relative Strength of your case

• Your attorney should clearly state their fee structure. Most charge hourly flat or contingency fee. They should also be able to explain other costs that may come up during the process

• If an attorney takes your case, they should be willing to go to trial and have the experience needed to win

• A good attorney will keep you informed about the progress of your case. Ask how they will do this for you.

• You should know who exactly you will be working on your case- the attorney you are meeting with or someone else at the firm. You should meet with whoever will be representing you.

    

• Your attorney should be willing to pay personal attention to your case and respond to any phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner.    

•  Any attorney who wishes to represent you should be willing to promise to  respect your privacy and keep your information confidential.  

•  Every attorney  should be keeping up- to- date with changes in the law by actively continuing their education

• Your attorney isn’t the only one who will have responsibilities, you do too. Your attorney should be able to tell you what these responsibilities may be