The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

An SUV had a tire blowout on I-15 in Utah, causing the vehicle to rollover. Eleven people were in the Ford Expedition at the time of the auto accident. One man, Jose Alvarez, a 29-year-old from California, died in the accident.

The tread on one of the tires separated while the vehicle was cruising down the highway. The driver hit the brakes, causing the car to fishtail and roll over into the median. Six passengers were ejected from the vehicle, and one occupant was trapped and had to be freed by rescue officers. Injuries suffered in the auto accident included broken limbs and severe lacerations.

While the Ford Expedition is only equipped to carry eight passengers, there were 11 traveling in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Three children were sitting on the laps of adults, and only two passengers in the entire vehicle were wearing seat belts.

The majority of passengers were treated at local hospitals; however, two of the children needed to be airlifted to a hospital in Las Vegas. All of the accident survivors are expected to fully recover from their injuries.

According to the highway patrol officers at the scene, the accident could have been avoided had the driver reacted differently when the tire blew out. Instead of slamming on the brakes, she should have eased off the gas and directed the car to the shoulder of the road.

The auto accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you receive the compensation you deserve if you have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another driver. Please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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When a consumer product is defective and causes an injury or a death, the manufacturer or distributor can be held liable for damages.

Some of the most common instances of defective consumer product injuries and deaths recently have involved automobiles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and tires. However, there are defective consumer products in many other areas. There are dangerous and defective toys, seat belts, appliances, power tools and products we use every day in our daily lives.

The injuries sustained with these defective consumer products range from minor bruises to life-threatening injuries and even death. You can be compensated for medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of future earning potential, pain and suffering and any other losses you incurred as a result of your injuries due to the use of the defective consumer product. In the case of a death, the survivors may be entitled to compensation also.

Defective consumer product liability law is very complex and it is very important that you consult an experienced attorney to ensure your claim will be handled competently and quickly.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have suffered an injury due to a defective consumer product, you should contact the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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An off duty police officer attempted to subdue a man in a parking lot with pepper spray after observing him in an argument with his wife. A few moments later, fellow officers arrived and beat the man with batons and repeatedly used Taser stun-guns to subdue him. After the beating and the use of the stun-gun, the man went limp and was pronounced dead.

The wrongful death of this man was reportedly due to heart failure caused by the many jolts with the stun-gun and the struggle with the police. This wrongful death case was settled for $70,000 and is the first case to be settled that has been linked to a police stun-gun death in San Jose.

We expect everyone to act responsibly, especially those committed to upholding the law. If you have lost a loved one due to the personal injuries sustained in an accident, medical malpractice, or a situation such as this beating, you are entitled to compensation. There are several factors that the courts consider when they determine the sum of compensation you will receive. These factors include:

• The salary earned by the deceased
• The mental anguish suffered from the loss of companionship
• The amount of medical and funeral expenses incurred due to the loss
• The level to which the remaining family members were financially dependent on the deceased

Losing a loved one is devastating and knowing what steps to take next is difficult. Please contact the Cochran Firm's Wrongful Death Lawyers at the San Jose, California office to schedule a confidential, no cost consultation.

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Medical malpractice is a term used when describing errors that occur in a medical setting that result in injury or death to a patient. Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States right behind heart disease and cancer. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 250,000 Americans die annually as a result of the consequences of medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice can take many forms such as, unnecessary surgical procedures, surgery at the wrong site, medication errors, misdiagnoses, failures to diagnose properly and in a timely fashion, improper treatment options, infections contracted in hospitals, and birth injuries.
Medical malpractice laws are for the protection of all who must seek medical intervention at some point in their lives. However, not all poor outcomes are considered to be medical malpractice.

Breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart attack and appendicitis are the five diseases and conditions most involved in medical malpractice cases.

Compensation in a medical malpractice case can include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of future earning potential and in the case of a death, funeral and burial expenses.

If you live in the San Francisco, Oakland, California area and you have been a victim of medical malpractice, please contact the Oakland, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn more about your legal rights.

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Motorcycle accidents happen even to safety-conscious riders. Studies reveal most motorcycle accidents occur because the driver of the other vehicle involved just did not see the motorcycle before impact.

One-half of all motorcycle fatalities involved excessive speed and alcohol or drugs. Male riders are involved in over 96% of all motorcycle accidents and more than half of those had only five months of riding experience. The majority of motorcycle accidents happen after dark.
Motorcyclists are at a great risk of injury due to the lack of physical protection surrounding them, such as air bags and seat belts and the enclosure of being in an automobile. Motorcycle riders have only their helmets and clothing to protect them from physical contact with the road. Helmets have proven to lessen the number of head and neck injuries and have saved many lives.

If you are unfortunately ever involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to stay calm and check for injuries, call 911, and do not leave the scene of the accident before police arrive.

Motorcycle accident injuries range from scrapes and bruises to massive head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paralysis and even death. Serious injuries can mean astronomical medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, permanent disability and death.
Motorcycle accident injuries can place a huge financial, emotional and legal burden on the victim and the victim's family members. Compensation may be paid for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, loss of income and in the case of death, the survivors may also be entitled to compensation for their losses.

If you live in Sacramento, California or the surrounding area and you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Sacramento office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you.

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Teenagers are four more times likely to be killed in an automobile accident than any other age group. Most automobile accidents involving teenagers happen on a weekend night between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., with fifty percent of those involving alcohol. Teenagers are more prone to speeding and not wearing their seat belts. Over eighty percent of accidents involving teenagers are caused by driver error.

Typical teenage behaviors, such as risk taking, joking, talking on cell phones and their exuberance for the freedom driving gives them, can turn deadly in an automobile. The teenagers most at risk for an accident are males, teenagers driving with their peers and newly licensed teenagers. The first six months after receiving their license to drive are the most deadly for teens. Over five thousand teenagers are killed every year in this country in automobile accidents.

If you have a teenage driver in your family you should encourage them to refrain from speeding and drinking and driving. Teenagers should not be allowed to drive with other teens and should not use their cell phones while behind the wheel. Seat belt use should be mandatory for your teen and driving after dark prohibited.

If you are a resident of the Raleigh, Durham, North Carolina area and your have been involved in an automobile accident, you should contact the Durham, North Carolina office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Medical malpractice lawsuits are down 41% in Pennsylvania due to the adoption of two new procedural changes. These changes were meant to ease the effects of the rising premiums for medical malpractice insurance.

The first procedural change requires the plaintiff to get a "certificate of merit" from a medical professional for filing with the county. This certificate is meant to establish that the medical treatment received fell below the appropriate standard of care.

The second procedural change requires all plaintiffs to file their medical malpractice case in the county in which the alleged medical malpractice occurred. This is meant to prevent plaintiffs from filing the case in a county where juries are more likely to award larger sums for damages, like in Philadelphia.

Understanding Medical Malpractice Procedures

The medical malpractice laws differ from state to state and they have a tendency to change. A medical malpractice lawyer will be able to walk you through the steps in filing your medical malpractice case to ensure your case is filed correctly according to the law.

No matter how the laws have changed, you will still have a case if you have suffered due to medical malpractice. If you are in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, please contact the Cochran Firm's Philadelphia office to speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer. We know the law and will protect your rights.

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Thousands of Americans are injured or killed in boating accidents annually. Most of these injuries and deaths were caused by carelessness, recklessness, excessive speed and operator inexperience. Alcohol consumption was a factor in 50% of all boating accidents. Poor weather conditions had very little to do with causing boating accidents according to statistics.

Boaters fall overboard, boats capsize, boats collide with other boats, docks and floating debris. Falling overboard and drowning is the primary cause of death in boating accidents. Statistics reveal that 85% of the drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. It has also been shown that a boating accident with injuries or fatalities usually involves excessive speed, the consumption of alcohol and an inexperienced operator.

Some safety precautions to follow to ensure a pleasant experience on the water would include life jackets for all on board, never operating the boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not using excessive speed and watching out for floating debris at all times.

If you live in the Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia area and you have been injured in a boating accident, you should contact the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Construction sites are very dangerous places to be. Construction workers are historically and statistically often the victims of serious and sometimes fatal injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), says over one thousand construction workers are killed each year due to construction site accidents.

People other than construction workers have also been injured at construction sites. Machinery or heavy construction equipment just outside the site or debris falling or left on walkways can injure an innocent passer-by.

Construction site injuries are normally very serious and often catastrophic. Falls are the most common accident at a construction site. While forklift accidents, nail gun and welding injuries, electrocution and hazardous substance exposures also play a roll. Some causes of construction site accidents are having inadequate safety procedures in place, defective machinery or equipment or negligence.

Construction site safety is the responsibility of the owners, architects, contractors and manufacturers of the construction machinery and equipment.

If you live in New York City, New York or the surrounding area and you have been injured on a construction site, you should contact the New York City, New York office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn all about your legal rights.

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Wrongful death is a term used to define a death that occurs due to the negligence or willful actions of another individual. Legally, the victim's survivors are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the death from the responsible individual.

Wrongful death can result from an automobile accident, a criminal assault, a failure to diagnose a fatal illness, the use of a defective or hazardous product and many other scenarios.

Each state has a statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim. This time limit varies from one to three years in most cases. If the person responsible for your financial support has died because of the negligence or actions of another, you may be entitled to compensation.

You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, compensation for the victim's pain and suffering prior to death, loss of present and future financial support and the pain and suffering of the survivors. It is very important to consult an experienced wrongful death attorney to protect your legal rights. Although nothing or no one can replace the loss of your loved one, holding the individual responsible for your loss legally accountable, can help bring a measure of comfort to you.

Residents of New Orleans, Louisiana who have suffered as a result of a wrongful death, should contact the New Orleans office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Minnesota is the worst state when it comes to disciplinary action of doctors in medical malpractice cases. A doctor that engages in substandard medicine practices is subject to disciplinary actions under the law. The rate of disciplinary actions has fallen since 2004 and the worst percentage of doctors disciplined is in Minnesota.

Disciplinary actions for a doctor involved in medical malpractice include:

• Suspension or revocation of medical license
• Probation from practicing medicine
• Restriction of a license

There is no reason for the lack of disciplinary action. Any doctor that is negligent in his practice of medicine or who causes the wrongful death of a patient must be held responsible for those actions. A doctor should not be allowed to continue practicing medicine after harming a patient. Every doctor takes the oath to first do no harm.

Medical Malpractice can be the result of:

• Surgical errors
• Misdiagnoses
• Emergency room errors
• Hospital workers' negligence
• Discharging a patient too early

Medical malpractice may leave you or a loved one seriously injured and in some cases, may cause wrongful death. Please take the time to contact the experienced Medical Malpractice Attorneys at the Cochran Firm's Minneapolis office for help. We will hold the responsible parties accountable and get you the compensation you deserve.

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Defective pharmaceuticals or drugs have dangerous side effects that totally outweigh any benefits they may have for consumers. Defective pharmaceuticals are often released for consumption to the general public with the companies that manufacture them being well aware there are problems. Drug companies only have to add a warning label to allow the drug to be sold to an unsuspecting consumer.

The Food and Drug Administration adds to the problem in its failure to conduct timely research and screening of drugs. This lack of intervention often leads to the approval of defective drugs. Defective pharmaceutical consumption results in much pain and suffering and many lawsuits against pharmaceutical manufacturers with damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars paid to the victims.

The most common types of drugs found in the defective category are arthritis medications, cholesterol lowering medications, diet drugs, antidepressants and some vaccines. These defective drugs can cause liver and kidney damage, heart attack or stroke, depression and suicide.

If you are a resident of Mobile, Alabama or the surrounding area and you suspect you have been harmed by a defective drug, you should contact the Mobile, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Physical and emotional abuses in a nursing home setting are relatively easy to recognize. Open wounds, bruises, bedsores are often signs of physical abuse or neglect, while agitation, remote and solitary behaviors are signs of emotional abuse.

Financial exploitation of the vulnerable elderly nursing home population happens daily in nursing homes and assisted living facilities around the country. Financial exploitation happens when a caregiver steals, withholds or misuses a vulnerable adult's money, property or valuables for their own personal advantage or profit.

The signs of financial exploitation of the elderly may include actually stealing money, property or valuables, borrowing money with no intention of repaying it, giving way the victim's possessions without their permission, and the fraudulent misuse of ATM or credit cards. Often deceit and intimidation is used to achieve the desired result. The caregiver may promise lifelong care in return for a joint bank account or a power of attorney. Many times the victim is totally unaware of the real intentions of the perpetrator.

Suspicious signatures on checks, missing funds and belongings and a sudden interest in the elderly adult's finances by caregivers are all warning signs that warrant investigation.

If you live in the Miami, Florida area and suspect someone you care about has been the victim of nursing home abuse in the form of financial exploitation, please contact the Miami office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you.

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Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for contracting mesothelioma. Asbestos is a mineral found in the environment. Workers handling asbestos are at the greatest risk for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers almost all of the internal organs of the human body. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs, the heart and the abdomen.

When dust is created by the handling of the asbestos fibers, it may be inhaled or swallowed and can then settle in the lungs or the stomach. This causes an irritation that may lead to the development of mesothelioma, though how this process occurs is not fully understood.
Even though manufacturers of asbestos have known of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, they still exposed their employees to these hazardous conditions. Millions of Americans have been exposed to the hazards of asbestos fiber contact.

There are almost three thousand new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed every year with men aged fifty to seventy being the age group most diagnosed.

If you are a resident of Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos or have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Over 10,000 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries every year, most with catastrophic consequences. Almost a quarter of a million people in the United States live out their lives with the lasting effects of a spinal cord injury. The financial burden to these Americans for continuing care can total hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The emotional and mental costs are unfathomable. A spinal cord injury is a life altering event.

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the major causes of spinal cord injuries in this country. Falls are a common cause in those 45 years of age and older. Sports injuries are responsible for many spinal cord injuries with the sport of diving being the one involved most commonly.

At present, there is no way to reverse the affects of a spinal cord injury. Recent medical advances have improved the rehabilitation time involved with this injury. Researchers continue to try to develop new treatments that promote nerve cell regeneration or try to improve the function of the remaining nerves after a spinal cord injury.

If you are a resident of Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, you should contact the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation today to learn about your options in this matter.

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A traumatic brain injury can occur as a result of an automobile accident, a fall, a job-related accident or a criminal assault. Traumatic brain injuries occur when there is a sudden violent blow to the head. The blow to the head can cause bruising to the brain, nerve fibers and bleeding. Traumatic brain injury is the most common combat-related injury in war zones today.

Symptoms of a mild injury to the brain may include a brief period of unconsciousness, a headache, some mild confusion, dizziness and blurred vision. Symptoms of a severe injury to the brain may include unconsciousness, seizures or convulsions, inability to awaken and dilation of the pupils. The effects of a traumatic brain injury are physically and psychologically devastating. A severe traumatic brain injury can result in paralysis or death.

A severe traumatic brain injury can involve a long period of hospitalization, extended rehabilitation and occupational therapies. People with severe traumatic brain injuries require months and sometimes years of physical, emotional and financial support.

Detroit, Michigan residents who have suffered a traumatic brain injury should contact The Cochran Firm's Detroit office to schedule a confidential consultation to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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A sports utility vehicle rollover accident occurs when the SUV turns over on its side or roof. This usually happens if the vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed and turns sharply. Vehicles with a high center of gravity, such as an SUV are more prone to this occurring. Rollover accidents are of great concern to the driving public due to the popularity of sports utility vehicles.

Rollover accidents are responsible for 33% of fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes. Over 10,000 people lose their lives each year in rollover accidents. Many of these fatalities are caused by vehicle roofs that collapse in the rollover. Occupants injured in these roof collapses suffer major injuries to the spinal cord, often resulting in paralysis and death.

If you are involved in a rollover accident, you may need extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation and other expensive medical care. You may have incurred lost income at the present time and your future earning potential may be at risk. The vehicle manufacturer may be held responsible for your losses.

If you are a resident of the Dallas, Texas area and have been injured in an SUV rollover accident, please contact the Dallas, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you.

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There is no contest when an automobile is involved in an accident with an 80,000 pound truck. Truck accidents almost always result in devastating injuries and death for the occupants of the other vehicle involved.

The vast majority of truck accidents are the result of truck driver error. Speeding, driver fatigue in an effort to meet deadlines and driving long hours without sleep, contribute to many accidents involving trucks. A revealing statistic is that 94% of the occupants of the other vehicle involved in an accident with a truck are either injured or died.

Cases involving truck accidents are often complex because they involve a trucking company, not only the truck driver. With the trucking company comes a large legal staff employed to keep the companies losses at a minimum. The trucking company should be held responsible for your medical expenses, lost income and other expenses incurred due to the accident involving their truck and employee.

The Cochran Firm has the experience and knowledge to represent you in your fight for your legal rights against a large trucking firm. If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and have been involved in an accident with a truck, please contact the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you.

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A class action defective product lawsuit was filed in Memphis, Tennessee against the manufacturer of the denture cream Fixodent on March 10, 2009. Fixodent is one of the most popular denture creams and is used by approximately 35 million Americans.

The lawsuit claims that the high level of zinc contained in Fixodent is not properly indicated on the warning label and there is not an appropriate warning about the dangers of too much Zinc intake. A healthy, balanced diet needs a small amount of zinc. However, normal daily use of this denture cream has been known to cause an abnormal amount of Zinc to be absorbed by the gums and ingested through the mouth. High levels of zinc ingested in the body may cause:

• Decrease in copper levels
• Zinc poisoning
• Neuropathy
• Neurological problems

Any of these conditions may leave the user permanently disabled and the user may need the aid of a walker or a wheelchair.

Defective Products Affecting You

Serious personal injuries may be caused by many types of defective products:

• Defective automobiles
• Defective medical devices
• Defective drugs
• Defective consumer products

Any defective product may potentially cause you harm. When a serious injury occurs, the parties responsible for these defective products must be held accountable and give you the compensation you deserve. Our defective product attorneys can help.

A defective product may cause you or a loved one undue pain and suffering. If you live in the Memphis area and need legal advice, please contact our Defective Product Lawyers at our Memphis office for a confidential consultation.

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You want your baby to have the best products available. Typically, Disney is a trusted company when it comes to items manufactured for children. However, a bassinet manufactured by Simplicity, Inc. with characters licensed by the Walt Disney Company was recalled due to a flaw in the design. Two metal bars in the bassinet were designed too close based on the Crib Federal Safety standard. These two bars resulted in at least two infant deaths.

A lawsuit was filed late last year in Los Angeles because this defective product was still available for purchase even after the bassinet killed the first infant almost a year prior. The wrongful death of these two infants could have been avoided if the manufacturing company stayed true to the rules and stipulations laid down by the law for their products.

When a loved one is lost, you want the responsible parties to be held liable. You want to make sure that their mistakes and negligence will never happen again. This is why a medical malpractice attorney is a necessity. Your attorney will find all responsible parties and help you receive the compensation you deserve for your wrongful death claim.

If you have lost a loved one due to a defective product, please contact the Cochran Firm's Los Angeles office to speak with a Defective Product Attorney about your case. We will find the responsible parties and get compensation for your suffering.

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Recently in Las Vegas, Nevada, two colonoscopy clinics were involved in a medical malpractice case. In an act of gross negligence, thousands of former patients were exposed to Hepatitis C from contaminated medical equipment. These clinics did not properly take care of and clean their equipment, which resulted in 100 of these patients developing the disease.

Due to the size and seriousness of this case, the Nevada Assembly has removed the cap on damages typically in effect for medical malpractice cases. The supporters of this bill argue that the removal of the damages cap in cases involving gross medical negligence will ensure that high standards of care will be maintained. Also, there is the hope that medical professionals will report medical malpractice and negligence committed by their colleagues.

Medical malpractice may occur for several reasons such as:

• Overcrowded Emergency Rooms
• Prescription Errors
• Failure to Diagnose
• Early Discharge of a Patient
• Surgical Errors
• Anesthesia Malpractice

Please contact the Medical Malpractice Lawyers at the Las Vegas location of the Cochran Firm if you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice. All of your questions will be answered in a no-cost consultation. We will work for you to get the compensation you are entitled to.

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Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the internal organs of the body. Seventy percent of mesothelioma cases involve the lining of the lungs. The other organs usually involved are the linings of the heart and abdomen. Exposure to asbestos is the only recognized cause of mesothelioma.

Workers have been exposed to the dangers of asbestos for decades even though many manufacturers of asbestos and employers were aware of the hazards. In fact, millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos through the years. Asbestos is found in factories, schools, shipyards, construction sites and manufacturing facilities. Unsuspecting workers have brought asbestos fibers home on their shoes and clothing to their families.

Mesothelioma symptoms take years to materialize in most cases. The symptoms may be ignored at first, or be attributed to everyday common ailments. Some of these symptoms are shortness of breath, back pain, chest pain, a persistent cough, difficulty swallowing, weight loss and fatigue. There are three thousand new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed every year in this country.

If you live in Jackson, Mississippi or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos or are presently suffering from mesothelioma, please contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney at The Cochran Firm Jackson, Mississippi office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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All property owners, businesses and municipalities are obligated by law to maintain their property so it does not present a safety hazard to the public. However, studies reveal falls are the major cause of injury-producing accidents. Over 8,000,000 people are injured in slip and fall accidents each year.

Individual property owners, businesses or municipalities, can be held liable for injuries sustained on their properties because of hazardous conditions encountered by the public. These hazardous conditions must have been known to the property owner and ignored or should have been known to the property owner. Hazards such as slippery floors, uneven roadways and sidewalks, icy or crumbling steps, poorly lit pathways and stairs, torn carpet, all represent possible dangers to an unsuspecting public.

The victim of a slip and fall accident can escape with bruising or sustain broken bones or a head or spinal cord injury that causes lifelong disability or even death. With proper legal representation if you have sustained an injury in a slip and fall accident you may be compensated for current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, income losses, pain and suffering and other losses encountered.

If you live in Huntsville, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been the victim of a slip and fall accident, please contact an experienced slip and fall attorney at The Cochran Firm Huntsville, Alabama office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and what compensation you are entitled to.

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In April of this year, an Alabama man lost control of his vehicle and ran it off the road. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his truck. This accident resulted in his death. Alcohol is suspected to be the cause of the car accident.

Fortunately, this man did not claim the lives of others as well. However, he certainly paid the ultimate price for drinking and driving. He lost his life due to his inability to judge his own intoxication level. Many car accidents are the cause of someone else's negligence. Other reasons for car accidents are:

• Defective products such as seat belts and tires
• Defective automobile
• Defective roads
• Inattentive drivers
• Intoxicated drivers

What to do After an Overwhelming Car Accident

A car accident can be overwhelming and you may not know what your next steps should be. You know you are not at fault, but you still have questions. Some questions you will want answered may be:

• Who is responsible for paying my medical bills?
• Who will pay for the rental expenses and vehicle repairs?
• Should I see my doctor for a medical checkup after the accident?
• How will I know if the responsible driver has insurance or if I have adequate insurance?

Our Dothan Car Accident attorneys are here to help answer all of your questions and put your mind at ease. We will deal with the pushy insurance companies so you don't have to. Accidents happen and those at fault should be held responsible for your vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

If you have been involved in a car accident and need advice, please contact the Cochran Firm's Car Accident Attorneys located at the Dothan office for a confidential, no-cost consultation.

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An 8-year-old girl suffered a brain injury when she was six months old. An abscess in her brain resulted in cerebral palsy. She was unable to feed herself or pick up a paperclip at age four. This young girl has made great strides in her therapy thanks to the ACQUIRE therapy program. She now able to feed herself and pick up small objects.

ACQUIRE is a therapy program created by a behavioral neuroscientist and his colleagues at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. This therapy was first used with adults suffering from traumatic brain injury and stroke patients.

Cerebral palsy (which sometimes results from a medical mistake during delivery) affects the movement and coordination of the muscles. AQUIRE therapy focuses on improving changes in the motor behavior of the muscles and the brain. In the case of this young girl, her weak arm was trained in developmental tasks while her stronger arm was restrained. This allowed her to focus on her weaker arm resulting in amazing improvement.

A brain injury is a serious matter that will affect the rest of your life. If you or someone you love lives in Birmingham, Alabama and has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact the Birmingham location of The Cochran Firm today. We will help you get the compensation you deserve.

Labels: Birmingham

Car accidents are a common occurrence, and car accidents resulting from a collision in an intersection are responsible for 40% of all car accidents. There are many reasons collision in intersections occur. Some of these reasons are:

• The diver making a left turn
• Lane change in the middle of an intersection
• Not stopping at a four way stop
• Running a red light

Labels: Atlanta

The family of a psychiatric patient who died on the floor of New York City's Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn has settled their wrongful death suit for $2 million. However, the family is still waiting for a full investigation into those who were responsible for the woman's death last summer.

The 49-year-old woman was waiting in the hospital for nearly 24 hours when she collapsed. The surveillance video of the woman thrashing and trying to get up as hospital staff and other patients watch was beamed across the country sparking obvious and understandable outrage. The video shows several security guards and medical staff watching the woman and then walking away. It wasn't until an hour after she stopped moving that a nurse checked the patient's pulse only to find she had died.

Six hospital employees lost their jobs over the incident, but according to the US Department of Justice, it was simply listed among other abuses which occurred at Kings County over time. Investigators state that a pattern of inadequate care, sexual abuse, and violence all took place. Reforms have been made, including replacement of two top administrators and adding 200 medical personnel to the 600 person staff. The average wait time in the psychiatric emergency room was an astounding 27 hours prior to adding staff. However, the wait time is still an uncomfortable eight hours.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Please contact the experienced wrongful death attorneys at the Cochran Firm for an initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

Labels: main, New York

The May/June issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery has a report on how facial injuries caused by auto accidents have been decreasing. You can read the Summary here. They used a database of crashworthiness data for the years 1993 through 2005. In that period, there were 167,391 people who sustained one or more facial fractures in an automobile collision. There were also 55,150 who sustained skull fractures and 196,855 who suffered nasal fractures.

Researchers found that the total number of facial fractures decreased each year during that period. They associated it with increasing numbers of newer model cars being on the roads. Newer models have improved safety features.

Factors Affecting Facial Fractures

• Individuals most likely to receive facial fractures included those who:
• Are taller than average
• Were in a vehicle that increased its speed because of the collision
• Were in a vehicle that hit a stationary object, light truck, SUV or van
• Were in a side-impact collision

Researchers found that a person’s gender and weight made no difference at all in the likelihood of facial injury.

Seat Belts and Airbags
People who were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision were significantly less likely to sustain any facial fracture, as were those who both wore seatbelts and had airbags in their vehicle. However, airbags alone did not make any significant difference.

The researchers stated in their conclusion that restraint use is the best way so far to prevent facial or skull injury and that further research is needed to learn more about how side impacts cause these injuries and how best to improve restraint systems for prevention of side impact injuries.

If you or a loved one has sustained a severe injury in any type of motor vehicle accident, please call or email our car accident attorneys today to schedule a free case evaluation and consultation.

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Premises liability refers to a legal term that describes the holding of property owners legally responsible for accidents that occur on their property. Premises liability claims can include slip and fall accidents to injuries suffered on an amusement park ride.

Premises liability accident claims can arise out of being struck by a falling object, a fall caused by a broken sidewalk, a fall on a poorly lit stairway, an assault in an unsecured parking garage or any number of other scenarios.

Liability is determined by whether the owner of the property knew the dangerous condition existed and failed to correct it, or at least should have known the dangerous condition existed and failed to correct it. An experienced premises liability attorney should be consulted to protect your legal rights in determining who is at fault.

A claim for premises liability will allow you to be compensated for pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of potential future earning capacity, medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses and any other expenses you may have incurred due to your injury. A premises liability claim may also compensate survivors in the event of a death caused by an accidental injury.

Residents of Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area who have suffered an injury on someone else's property should contact the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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An AHA Conference was held in New Orleans where a study was presented about a blood thinning medication called Plavix. Doctors have been prescribing this medication to patients who had received heart stents. Plavix thins the blood to prevent blood clots around the stent in the artery. This medication has recently been discovered to cause problems if the patient is also taking a heartburn drug such as Nexium or any medication from a family of proton pump inhibitors.

The patients that received these combinations of medications have been known to have a 50% increased risk of:

• Strokes
• Heart Attacks
• Bypass Surgery
• Heart-related death

Medical Malpractice and Medication Errors

Medication errors are more common in hospitals and doctors' offices than most Americans think. This form of medical malpractice is not limited to any one form of medication error. Several medication errors may occur such as:

• Administering the wrong medications
• Overdosing patients on their prescribed medications
• Improperly calculating the correctly ordered dose of medicine
• Failing to order the proper medicines under the circumstances
• Failing to give the appropriate dose of the ordered medicines in a timely manner

If you have suffered an injury due to a medication or pharmaceutical error, please contact the Medical Malpractice Attorneys at the Cochran Firm's New Orleans office today. You will meet with an experienced attorney in a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your case.

Labels: Louisiana, New Orleans

It's the day after Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer driving season. As the season gets underway, remember that driving conditions in the summer are different. There are many reasons why you might be more likely to get into a car accident over the summer, more reasons to be cautious when you get in your car and drive.

More Cars: Between vacations and cruising teenagers, more people drive - and drive more - during the summer than the winter. With more volume, you're likely to see crowding in places that can contribute to more accidents.

Drivers in Unfamiliar Territory: Whether you live in a tourist town or just Anyburg, USA, you are likely to see more people driving around that don't know where they're going. They may be visiting family or going to a tourist destination, but wherever they are, these drivers often behave unpredictably, and spend too much time navigating to avoid you. This makes it your responsibility to watch out for them.

Different Vehicles: In the summer, the distribution of vehicles on the road completely changes. People break out their motorcycles, antique roadsters, go-karts, and any other kind of vehicle you can think of. Motorcycle accidents increase in the summer, but so do other types of accidents. Drivers are encouraged to watch out for unusual vehicles that may travel slowly, and try not to be too distracted by the traffic menagerie. Summer is also moving season, so be on the lookout for people driving with large loads. Also, truck accidents involving drivers in rental trucks that are unfamiliar are not uncommon.

Summer driving can be fun for you and your family, and if you use extra caution, chances are it will be safe. But if you or someone you love has been injured in a summer car accident, schedule a car accident consultation with the injury lawsuit attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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Recent allegations have been made against CVS, a national pharmacy chain. The allegations have been made by the group Cure CVS Now, an affiliate of the nationwide organization Change to Win. The group claims that many CVS branches in the Baltimore area sell expired products.
The organization conducted a survey of 310 CVS stores across nine states. According to the results of the survey, 57% of the CVS stores in the Baltimore region sell expired products. Among the most alarming products in this list are milk, baby formula, and over-the-counter medication.

Some of the infant medications sold in CVS stores had expired more than three years ago. This constitutes a blatant disregard for public safety. Fortunately, there have been no reports yet of any injuries or illnesses sustained from these expired products. However, this gross negligence has opened CVS up to many potentially massive product liability lawsuits if any injuries do get reported.

Representatives from CVS deny any wrongdoing, claiming that these reports have been made by disgruntled former employees. CVS claims that they follow a strict product removal policy at their store branches. However, it is unlikely that so many reports of expired products could be a fabrication.

The Cochran Firm can help you recover the compensation you deserve if you have suffered an illness or injury from the use of a defective consumer product. Please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation with one of our product liability lawyers. We serve clients nationwide.

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The Clark County, Nevada Sheriff's Department will be forming a committee to evaluate the department's training and procedures for officers responding to calls after it was revealed that an officer who was recently killed in an accident was traveling at 109mph without lights and sirens at the time of the collision.

The officer hit a pickup truck that was attempting to make a left turn at the time. At the speed the officer was traveling, it is estimated he would have gone the length of a football field in about two seconds, which was too little time to avoid hitting the pickup truck. In addition to speeding without lights and sirens, it was further determined by crash investigators that the officer was not wearing his seatbelt, although it is not known if this contributed to his death since he was not ejected in the auto accident. A second officer was traveling behind the first also without lights and sirens. His speed has not been determined.

The original story is that the two officers were responding to a domestic violence call involving a 14-year-old girl just after midnight earlier this month. As they sped toward the location, a drunk driver pulled out in front of the first officer. Though he tried to swerve out of the way, he hit the pickup and was killed. The driver of the pickup admitted he had been drinking earlier in the day, failed a field sobriety test, and was arrested for driving under the influence and failing to stop for an emergency vehicle. Due to the traumatic nature of the accident and the chaos that often occurs and continues even several hours after the accident, much of this information is incorrect.

Due to the new information that the officer was not traveling with lights and sirens on, it has been reported that the driver of the pickup will likely have the charge of failure to stop for an emergency vehicle dropped. In addition, the driver's blood alcohol content level was .035 an hour after the accident, below the limit of .08. A second test showed his BAC dropping to .021. His attorney has stated this is simply a case of two men meeting at the worst possible time.

The Clark County Sheriff believes it is important that there be transparency throughout this case. While this report shows there were mistakes made by the officers involved in the accident, it also shows the pickup truck driver may have also been a victim and not the guilty party as has been portrayed in the media.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident involving an emergency vehicle, please contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at the Cochran Firm for an initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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In 2008 there was a series of reports about Baxter's Heparin. Heparin is a blood thinner used during kidney dialysis and heart surgery, and Baxter Healthcare's pre-filled vials were associated with severe allergic reactions and about 80 deaths. Baxter recalled the drug and after investigating, they discovered that a production plant in China had used an inappropriate chemical - oversulfated chondroitin.

The first recall occurred in January, 2008 when nine lots of multi-dose heparin vials were recalled. In February Baxter expanded the recall and stopped production of heparin entirely.

A number of lawsuits were filed and all federal lawsuits have been consolidated in a multidistrict litigation (MDL). Pretrial proceedings are being conducted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Baxter Denies Current Heparin Problem
At Beebe Medical Center in Delaware, two patients have died and a third is having serious complications after being given Baxter heparin from pre-mixed bags through an intravenous (IV) line.

On May 8 of this year, Baxter and the FDA were both contacted by Beebe Medical Center and asked to verify the heparin's purity. On May 15, Baxter International released a statement reporting that they had conducted tests and confirming that the heparin contained no contaminants that could explain the Beebe incidents.

The general manager of Baxter Pharmaceuticals & Technologies, which is part of Baxter's Medication Delivery business stated: "Following extensive product testing and further medical evaluation, we are confident that the events at Beebe Medical Center are unfortunate, isolated, institution-specific issues, unrelated to the quality of Baxter's heparin premix product."

Defective drugs too often cause severe illness and death and we will be watching the progress of this current Baxter heparin situation. If you or a loved one have suffered from stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, breathing difficulties, low blood pressure or dizziness after being given heparin, you may have a valid legal claim.

Please call or email our defective product attorneys today to schedule a free case evaluation.

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Drywall is the most common material used in finishing interior walls of houses in the United States. It is also known as gypsum board because it contains a gypsum compound held between two sheets of thick paper. Good insulating properties, fire resistance, and relative ease of installation are responsible for its popularity as a building material. However, as many as 100,000 homes may now be ruined as a result of defective drywall used during their construction.

According to homeowners, building associations, and doctors, the drywall gives off foul-smelling sulfurous fumes that corrode metal in the homes and cause irritation in the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs of occupants. It may also contribute to upper respiratory infections, and many families have been told by their doctors to leave the affected homes. The actual compounds responsible for the smell and the corrosive effects have not been identified, but a recently published article in the journal Clean may point to the answer. Analyzing the content of the natural gypsum deposits where the raw material for the defective drywall was mined, researchers discovered numerous organic sulfur compounds that seem identical to the unidentified sulfur compounds found in the finished drywall.

The drywall was installed primarily during the housing boom that was caused partly by rising real estate values and partly by hurricane damage in the South. The building boom led to a shortage of domestically-produced drywall, leading builders to import drywall from China. Estimates of the number of homes affected range from 30,000 (the number of complete homes that may have been built using the amount of imported drywall) to 100,000 (the number of homes that might also have received the drywall if small portions were used in many renovation projects). The majority of affected homes is in Florida, but reports of this defective drywall grow as warmer weather increases the emissions of sulfur compounds in homes across the country. Reports of sulfurous emissions from drywall have been received in Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C.

Although some builders are cooperating with homeowners to resolve the problem, others are not. If your builder is refusing to fix your defective drywall, forcing you to choose between your health and home, schedule a defective product lawsuit consultation with The Cochran Firm today. Whether you work contact us in Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Huntsville, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi, or at any of our other offices, you can count on the nationwide resources of The Cochran Firm to help protect your family and your property.

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Most motor vehicle accident insurance claims can usually be handled on your own. Some home insurance claims and minor personal injury claims may also be settled without attorneys getting involved. Most of these claims involve a few phone calls and a visit from an insurance adjuster. However, there are times when a lawyer's services and helpful and necessary.

You may need a personal injury lawyer because of complex laws involved in your claim or the severity of your injuries may mean you are entitled to greater compensation than normal, or because an insurance company refuses to settle your claim fairly and honestly.

Some vehicle accidents result in serious and permanently disabling injuries. The amount of your compensation is determined by the seriousness your injuries, the amount of your medical bills and the length of time it takes for you to recover. It is important to have a lawyer handle your claim and be certain you receive the highest compensation available to you. In the case of a medical malpractice lawsuit, the complex issues involved definitely require the services of an attorney.

When an insurance company refuses to pay your claim regardless of the kind of injury or amount of medical bills involved, you will benefit from the efforts of a lawyer to get you a fair settlement.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you need the services of a personal injury attorney, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the Cochran Firm's Tuskegee office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Elderly people in nursing homes are some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Formerly independent and self-sufficient men and women must depend on others for their daily needs, safety and emotional well-being. Even though they deserve the best care, many senior citizens find themselves in less than ideal surroundings.

These vulnerable and often frail men and women sometimes suffer physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of the very people entrusted with their care. They suffer bedsores, malnutrition, dehydration and falls.

Residents of nursing homes are guaranteed certain rights under the law. Above all they have the right to be treated with consideration, respect and dignity and to have safe, clean and decent living conditions.

Most families and friends that visit nursing home residents find them reluctant or unable to communicate instances of abuse and neglect, some simply cannot communicate and some fear retribution for speaking the truth.

If you live in St. Louis, Missouri or the surrounding area and you know or suspect your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney at The Cochran Firm's San Jose office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights in this case and whether you are entitled to compensation.

Labels: San Jose

Nearly half of all medical malpractice incidents occur in emergency rooms throughout the country. People go to emergency rooms because of accidents or acute illness. Two of the leading causes of malpractice allegations, heart attacks and acute appendicitis are two of the leading reasons people go to an emergency room. In these cases misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can have disastrous results.

Millions of people have no choice and are forced to seek emergency room intervention in their lives each year. Some emergency rooms are overcrowded and understaffed, and therefore are high stress environments where mistakes are likely to occur. Staff is sometimes inadequately trained and poor procedures are in place for the administration of medication, another area where mistakes can be made.

Common emergency errors include misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, inappropriate medication or dosage, failure to diagnose correctly and negligence. Emergency room errors can lead to injury, permanent disability and even death.

If you live in San Francisco, California or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been the victim of an emergency room error, please contact an experienced emergency room malpractice attorney at The Cochran Firm's San Francisco office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights in this matter and whether you are entitled to compensation for your losses.

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A wrongful death lawsuit claims a person died as a result of the negligence or actions of someone else, and that the person's survivors are entitled to monetary damages.
Spouses, children and parents can file wrongful death claims in most cases. Wrongful death lawsuits can be brought against the driver at fault in a motor vehicle accident, a negligent employer, the manufacturer of a defective or dangerous product or the perpetrator of a violent crime.

A wrongful death can leave those left to grieve in an extremely difficult situation. There are often legal, emotional and financial problems to deal with during a very trying time, a time when most people are just not able to handle these problems alone. An experienced attorney can assist you at this trying time. There is a time limit imposed on the filing of a wrongful death claim.

Most wrongful death cases involve negligence in a motor vehicle accident, a work-related accident, medical malpractice or defective products. Laws vary from state to state and are very complex.

If you live in Sacramento, California or the surrounding area and someone you love died due to the negligence or actions of someone else, please contact an experienced wrongful death attorney at the Cochran Firm's Sacramento office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights in this matter and whether you are entitled to compensation for your loss.

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In recent years, trucking companies have increased their efforts to prevent or at least diminish the number of truck accidents. They have increased safety training and awareness for their truck drivers in a campaign to accomplish this.

However, most truckers have tight delivery deadlines. If you work in an office and you are at risk of missing a deadline, you work faster and longer hours. If you are driving a truck and you are at risk of missing a delivery deadline, you drive faster. This too often leads to an accident.

Truck accidents are responsible for serious injuries including spinal cord injuries, head and neck injuries, broken bones and many deaths. Trucks carry large and sometimes dangerous cargo loads. Truck drivers work very long hours, leading to stress and fatigue caused accidents. In a startling statistic, over 94% of occupants in a vehicle involved in a truck accident were either injured or killed.

If you live in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in an accident involving a truck, please contact an experienced truck accident attorney at The Cochran Firm's Raleigh-Durham office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation for your losses.

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Tire failure is just as, or even more dangerous, than a mechanical failure in an automobile. There is little that is more frightening to deal with while driving than a blow-out in a fast moving vehicle.

Many tire manufacturers have experienced tire defect and failure problems with their tires. It appears to be an industry wide problem and not confined to only one or two manufacturers. Tires have been recalled in the past due to tire manufacturing defects and tire failures which resulted in sudden blow-outs and de-treading.

Tire tread separation at highway speeds is disastrous and too often a rollover accident is the result. Rollover accidents often crush the occupants of the vehicle causing spinal cord injuries, head injuries, paralysis and death.

Tires manufactured with inherent flaws are more likely to have problems like tread separation, premature wear and tear and tire fatigue. Tire failure usually begins with cracks on the side of the tire. These cracks grow larger and instead of causing a flat tire, the cracks create a separation between the tire treads and belts which causes tread failure.

If you live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the surrounding area and you or someone you love was injured in an automobile accident caused by a tire defect, please contact an experienced tire defect attorney at The Cochran Firm's Philadelphia office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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A "slip and fall" accident is a term used to describe an accident which occurs when someone slips, trips and/or falls as a result of a hazardous condition on someone else's property. A hazardous condition could be caused by water, ice, snow, poor lighting, a hole or gap, a torn carpet, an oily substance or any substance or condition which causes a slip and fall.

Fall-related injuries are of great concern to older adults. Over 16,000 people age 65 or older die each year from fall-related injuries. Almost 2,000,000 senior citizens care treated in emergency care centers for fall-related injuries and almost half of that number have to be hospitalized.

If you slip and fall and are injured on someone else's property as a result of a hazardous condition, the property or business owner may be liable for your injuries. Consequently, if you are a property or business owner and someone is injured on your property, you may find yourself legally responsible for those injuries. The advice of an experienced premises liability attorney would be very helpful in either case.

If you live in Norfolk, Virginia or the surrounding area and you have been involved in a slip and fall accident with injuries, please contact an experienced slip and fall attorney at The Cochran Firm's Norfolk office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Half of all medical malpractice cases filed in the United States involve surgeons. These cases involve surgical procedures, pre-operative work-ups and after-surgery recovery. Surgery is never risk free, but a less than perfect surgical outcome that results from surgery that is considered to be below the accepted standard of care and treatment is not a risk, it is surgical malpractice.

Some surgical procedures that are commonly involved in surgical medical malpractice cases are those involving cosmetic surgery, LASIK eye surgery, gastric bypass surgery, back and orthopedic surgery. There are millions of surgical procedures performed every day in this country and a higher than expected rate of errors reported. Errors occur with anesthesia, the wrong part of the body being operated on, the wrong limb being amputated, surgical instruments left in the surgical site and post-surgical infections.

Most surgical errors are the fault of the surgeon, an anesthesiologist's mistake, or negligence on the part of the hospital. The patients and families of patients victimized by surgical medical malpractice should not have to bear the consequences of someone else's mistake alone.

If you live in New York City or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has been the victim of surgical medical malpractice, please contact an experienced surgical medical malpractice attorney at The Cochran Firm's New York City office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights in this matter.

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Spinal cord injuries result from a trauma that damages the cells in the spinal cord or severs the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord.

Spinal cord injuries occur in about 15,000 people every year in this country. Almost 10,000 are permanently paralyzed and many of the remaining die as a result of their injuries. Males between 15 and 35 years of age are most commonly involved.

Motor vehicle accidents are the major cause of spinal cord injury in the United States. Falls are another common cause in people 45 years of age or older. Sports injuries cause many incidents of spinal cord injury with the sport of diving being the most often involved.

A spinal cord injury invokes feelings of depression, fear and hopelessness. Discussions between the physician, patient and family members may bring some emotional relief and focus the attention of those involved on the treatment and goals ahead, and the very real prospect of recovery that rehabilitation offers.

If you live in Minneapolis, Minnesota or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney at The Cochran Firm's Minneapolis office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation for your injury.

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Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers the internal organs of the body. Pleural mesothelioma affects the tissue surrounding the lungs and is the most common form of this disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the tissue around the abdomen and pericardial mesothelioma affects the tissue surrounding the heart.

Exposure to asbestos is the major risk factor in contracting mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are found in insulation, shingles, flooring, cement, brakes and many other commonly used products. Asbestos fibers are widely used because they are strong and resistant to heat. Workers who handled asbestos fibers on a daily basis are at a great risk for mesothelioma. Some people who may have encountered asbestos on the job include miners, ship builders, railroad workers, automobile mechanics, steel mill workers, construction workers, people who work in oil refineries and power plants.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include, but are not limited to shortness of breath, pleurisy (painful breathing), painful cough, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, dry cough, abdominal pain, lumps in abdomen, abdominal swelling and constipation and/or diarrhea.

If you live in Mobile, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney at The Cochran Firm's Mobile office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to receive compensation.

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The definition of a wrongful death is the death was a result of negligence or the actions of another, and the surviving dependents, beneficiaries or heirs are entitled to monetary damages or financial compensation. Unfortunately, thousands of wrongful deaths occur in this country every year.

Some of the most common causes of wrongful death are motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice and construction or jobsite-related accidents. When someone dies as a result of the negligence of another party or parties, medical malpractice, or the actions of someone else, the family of the victim is entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against those responsible. Damages in wrongful death cases are awarded for medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses and other costs.

A wrongful death leaves those left behind emotionally and financially devastated. Laws governing wrongful death cases are complex. Every wrongful death case is different and must be examined in great detail by an experienced and highly-trained attorney to protect your rights. Also, there are time limits to observe in filing a wrongful death lawsuit which an experienced attorney will explain to you.

If you live in Miami, Florida or the surrounding area and someone you love has died due to the actions of another, please contact an experienced wrongful death attorney at The Cochran Firm's Miami office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn all about your legal rights and what compensation you are entitled to.

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Although truck accidents account for a smaller percentage of highway accidents than other motor vehicles, the destruction in a truck accident is usually catastrophic. Truck accidents are increasing on I-12 and I-10 as well as other roads in this area.

When a truck is involved in an accident, several questions come to mind. Was the truck maintained in good working order? Was the cargo load secured and loaded properly? Did it meet trucking industry standards and regulations? Was the driver properly trained to operate this particular vehicle? Was the truck driver impaired by drugs or alcohol while operating the truck? How many consecutive hours was the truck driver at the wheel before the accident?

Truck accident cases are challenging because they frequently involve a trucking company as an opponent. You should be compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and other expenses and the trucking company should be held responsible.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving a truck, please contact an experienced truck accident attorney at The Cochran Firm's Metairie office to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you today to learn about your legal rights and whether or not you are entitled to compensation for your losses.

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A birth injury can be prevented with good obstetrical and neonatal care. A birth injury results from something that went wrong during labor and delivery. Prolonged or difficult labor (dystocia) can lead to a birth injury. Dystocia causes oxygen deprivation to the fetus. Cerebral palsy is a chronic medical condition resulting from damage to the brain of the baby during the birthing process.

Studies reveal eight to ten birth injuries occur for every one thousand live births in the United States because of medical negligence and malpractice. Factors involved in some birth injury cases are failure to perform a C section in a timely fashion, abnormal position of fetus, breathing problems, prolapsed umbilical cord, umbilical cord wrapped around neck of baby, fetal distress and premature labor. The use of forceps and vacuum extractor increase the risk of injuries to the baby also.

Birth injury can be responsible for a wide range of conditions from mild to severe. Minor bruising to actual brain damage can occur. In the case of brain damage, the financial burden of caring for a brain damaged child can be devastating.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and your child was injured at birth, please contact an experienced birth injury attorney at The Cochran Firm's Memphis office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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Someone in this country dies in an automobile accident every 13 seconds. The most common causes of automobile accidents are driver error, mechanical failure or poor road conditions. Driver error, distracted and fatigued drivers account for 95% of automobile accidents. Some examples of driver error are speeding, tailgating, aggressive driving, and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Cell phone use, adjusting the radio or CD player and other passengers cause serious driver distraction. Driver fatigue accounts for over 100,000 accidents a year in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among people aged 3 years to 33 years. There are over 6,000,000 automobile accidents every year in this country. Over 3,000,000 people are injured and there are over 45,000 deaths.

An automobile accident can leave you or a family member seriously injured and financially devastated through no fault of your own. If you are involved in an automobile accident, try to remain calm, call police and/or 911, and move automobile to a safe place off the road if there are no injuries and it is possible to do so.

If you live in Los Angeles, California or the surrounding area and you have been involved in an automobile accident, please contact an experienced automobile accident attorney at The Cochran Firm's Los Angeles office to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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It is almost impossible for the average consumer to know if they have been sold a defective tire until it is too late. The American consumer depends on the honesty and integrity of tire manufacturers and retailers to provide them with well-made, safe tires. Unfortunately, defective tires have been responsible for thousands of accidents, injuries and deaths in this country. Although millions of defective tires have been recalled, several million defective tires are still in use throughout the United States.

Over the past decade, major tire manufacturers were found liable for damages resulting from accidents caused by the use of their defective tires. Millions of dollars have been paid to the victims and the families of victims who were seriously injured or died in accidents caused by defective tires.

Certain tire manufacturers knew their tires were defective and sold them to an unsuspecting public anyway. When a defective tire fails, it can lead to a total lack of control over your vehicle and to serious injury or death to you or your family members.

If you live in Las Vegas, Nevada or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in an accident caused by a defective tire, please contact an experienced defective tire attorney at The Cochran Firm Las Vegas office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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A car accident may have many outcomes. Sometimes, victims of the accident walk away unharmed. Other times, the victims suffer permanent injuries such as a spinal cord injury.

A Reverend in Mississippi died almost ten months after he was in a terrible car accident that claimed the lives of his wife and grandson and left him with a spinal cord injury. He believed he would walk again and that he would be able to preach to his loyal congregants. He was unable to do so and lived with the painful injury and memory of the accident for almost a year. He is terribly missed by many who loved and respected him.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury can leave you paralyzed from the waist down or the neck down. Some victims of a spinal cord injury can recover and gain the use of their limbs. Rehabilitation therapy is an option for some victims. Continuing treatment and therapy will include:

• Management of Nutrition
• Occupational Therapy
• Psychological Counseling
• Physicians Monitoring Progress

Labels: Jackson

A truck attempted to turn resulting in the collision of the truck and a motorcycle. A Lawrence County Coroner pronounced the motorcycle driver dead at the scene. No one knows the exact reason for the truck turning and hitting the motorcycle. The truck driver was injured and is fine.

Information About Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents account for 11% of the total amount of traffic fatalities. There are numerous reasons for these accidents and most are due to the inattentiveness of the other driver. Many times, the driver of a truck or car does not properly look for other vehicles and then merges or turns into a motorcycle causing a potentially fatal accident. Other reasons for motorcycle accidents due to another driver's negligence are:

• Lack of sleep
• Bad weather conditions
• Driving without corrective lenses
• Impaired judgment due to a high blood-alcohol level

There are several steps you must take if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident. These steps include:

• Getting medical attention at the scene of the accident
• Being seen by your general doctor
• Taking pictures of the damages to your bike
• Contacting an experienced motorcycle accident attorney

Contacting a motorcycle accident attorney is important to make sure you take all the right steps. Insurance companies can be tricky and they don't want to give you the compensation you deserve.

The best step you can take in protecting yourself is contacting a Motorcycle Accident Attorney at the Cochran Firm's Huntsville office for a no-cost, confidential consultation. We will guide you through the process and answer all of your questions.

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The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has stated that 250,000 people die each year in this country due to the consequences of medical malpractice.

The five diseases or medical conditions most involved in medical malpractice are breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart attack and appendicitis. Misdiagnosis was the lead allegation in these cases. Misdiagnosis causes an unnecessary delay in the proper treatment and could cause a poor outcome and even death. Medical malpractice may also involve unnecessary surgery, medication errors, errors committed by medical staff, and the contracting of life-threatening infections while hospitalized.

Medical malpractice may involve a hospital, a clinic, a physician or any other healthcare provider-patient relationship entity. However, not all less than perfect medical care is considered medical malpractice. Each allegation of medical malpractice must be investigated by an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Compensation in medical malpractice cases can include damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other losses. If the medical malpractice results in death, the family and heirs of the victim may also be eligible to receive compensation. Medical malpractice laws are there to protect you and your family.

If you live in Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you suspect you or someone you care about has been the victim of medical malpractice, please contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at The Cochran Firm Houston office today and schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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There are thirty six million people in this country over the age of sixty five. Many of these older adults will require the services of an assisted living facility or a nursing home at some point in the future. While many of these facilities are staffed with dedicated, hard working and caring people, some older adults may find themselves vulnerable to various forms of neglect and abuse by an undertrained and uncaring staff at another facility.

These same older adults are often unable or unwilling to communicate their abuse to visiting family and friends for fear of retribution by their abusers. It is believed that elder abuse is often under reported for that reason. Estimates say almost one million senior citizens are the victims of nursing home abuse each year.

Add to that statistic that nursing homes have become a dumping ground for people with mental illness. Younger and stronger residents of nursing homes with depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are living next to frail senior citizens and sometimes lashing out at them. The National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform says the nursing homes are failing to provide a safe environment for the frail elderly population entrusted to their care.

If you live in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area and your loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, please contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney at The Cochran Firm Dothan, Alabama office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to find out about your legal rights.

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After four years of pain and agony from her father's wrongful death, a Detroit woman's case is now set for a conference on May 13th. Brutal force was used in the arrest of her father after he fled from a tractor he stole in 2004. The police officers involved claim that the man tried to choke one of them while they attempted to arrest him. The officers used pepper spray and a taser gun in an attempt to defend themselves. The man stopped breathing and died during the arrest.

Why Wrongful Deaths Occur

A wrongful death may be the result of many reasons such as an emergency room error, defective product, or medical malpractice. Some of the responsible parties in a wrongful death lawsuit may be:

• Manufacturing Companies
• Hospitals
• Doctors

However, a wrongful death may also occur from a car accident caused by the negligence or inattention of a driver. No matter the reason and no matter who the responsible party was, you have rights to compensation when a loved one is unjustly taken from you. You also have help available during these difficult times.

Please contact the Cochran Firm's Wrongful Death Lawyers in Detroit to help you through this emotional time. These skillful lawyers will fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

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More than ten thousand Americans suffer a spinal cord injury every year. A spinal cord injury can have catastrophic consequences. Over two hundred thousand people in this country live their lives every day with the lasting effects of a spinal cord injury. The financial costs of continuing care for these people can total hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The emotional and mental costs are immeasurable.

A spinal cord injury at the level of the neck can cause paralysis and make it impossible to breathe without the assistance of a respirator. An injury to the spinal cord on a lower level may affect only the lower half of the body. In either case, a spinal cord injury is a life changing event.

To date, there is no way to reverse the affects of a spinal cord injury, but recent advances have improved the recovery and rehabilitation time involved with this devastating injury. Researchers are discovering new treatments that promote nerve cell regeneration or can improve the function of the remaining nerves after a spinal cord injury.

If you live in Dallas, Texas or the surrounding area, and you or someone you care about has suffered a spinal cord injury through no fault of your own, please contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney at The Cochran Firm Dallas office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you. You may be entitled to compensation for your losses.

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Traumatic brain injury is caused by a sudden, violent blow to the head. The most common causes of traumatic brain injury are falls, motor vehicle accidents, being struck by an object and assaults.

Falls are the main cause of traumatic brain injury in children and adults over seventy-five years of age. Traumatic brain injury from motor vehicle accidents is highest in teenagers fifteen to nineteen years of age. Traumatic brain injury is the most common combat-related injury seen in active duty military in war zones.

There are many cases of traumatic brain injury that cause permanent disability and death every year. Over one and one half million people sustain a traumatic brain injury in this country every year. Of that number, over two hundred thousand are hospitalized and fifty thousand die. Over one million are treated and released from hospitals or treatment centers.

A mild traumatic brain injury can cause temporary confusion and headache while a severe traumatic brain injury can cause paralysis and death.

If you live in Chicago, Illinois or the surrounding area, and you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney at The Cochran Firm Chicago office to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn if you are entitled to compensation for your losses.

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