The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

A new study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has found that texting while driving increases your risk of an auto accident exponentially compared with other driving distractions. This study, which is the first to evaluate the dangers of texting behind the wheel, points out the importance of refraining from engaging in this dangerous behavior while driving.

The study examined the texting behavior of truck drivers over an 18 month period. Cameras were inserted into the cabs of semi-trucks to evaluate both their use of texting and the way it affected their attention to the road.

The study found that drivers had a 23 times greater risk of getting into a truck accident while texting. Furthermore, drivers spent approximately five seconds looking at their cell phones on average while texting. This is enough time to drive more than the length of a football field at high speeds.

Researchers also found that the texting behavior of truckers closely mirrors that of automobile drivers. While trucks are far less maneuverable than cars and take longer to stop, the Virginia Tech study estimates that the risk to car drivers would be roughly similar to what they found among truck drivers. Furthermore, they found that the increased risk of accident caused by texting far surpasses the risk caused by other distractions.

Currently, only 14 states ban texting while driving. Hopefully, this study will convince other states to follow suit. The safety of our nation's drivers is at stake.

If you have suffered a serious personal injury in an auto accident caused by the negligence of another driver, the experienced attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Please contact our auto accident attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

An Aledo, Illinois family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of Great Escape Theatres for the 2007 death of a 50-year-old woman. The spouse and children of the deceased are suing Great Escape Theatres, Alliance Entertainment, and Ragains Enterprises, as well as the architect firm that designed the theater.

In July 2007, the victim slipped and fell at the movie theater breaking several bones. She died a few days later after developing a blood clot which traveled to her lungs. The suit alleges the injuries suffered in the fall caused the clot which killed her.

The lawsuit states the design of the theater's entrance, which includes ceramic tiles next to each studio in the theater, is defective. The tiles are not slip-resistant, and the suit claims this, as well as failure to clean up spills. The ceramic design is used in these theaters to keep spills off the theater carpet and make clean up easier.

The husband and grown children of the victim are seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

It may go without saying that no amount of money can compensate for the death of a loved one, but in many cases the compensation may protect the survivors' future. Financial security is a poor substitute for a wrongful death, however it may be the right kind of justice to bring a bit of closure to the family.

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to another party's negligence, please contact the experienced wrongful death attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

Labels: Chicago, main

Federal and state anti-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, age, gender or disability.

Still, low income Latinos are discriminated against routinely nationwide with millions of Spanish-speaking immigrants living their lives unprotected by the law. Latinos are cheated out of wages, denied basic healthcare coverage and are victims of racial profiling.

In a survey, over 40% of Latinos said they experienced theft of their wages by their employers, another 40% reported unfair treatment by police and over 70% of Latino women experienced sexual harassment by superiors, who used their immigrant status against them. In addition, Latinos are often passed over for promotions despite their qualifications and long term employment.

The Latino section of The Cochran Firm has attorneys with special skill and knowledge in Civil Rights, Immigration Law, Class Action and Personal Injury cases. Headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana with offices in Atlanta, Georgia, the Cochran Firm-Latino Section is accessible nationwide to handle the legal needs of the Latino community.

If you have experienced employment discrimination anywhere in this country, please contact the Latino Section of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you with our nationwide network of experienced anti-discrimination attorneys to protect your legal rights and get the representation you are entitled to in your fight for justice.

Labels: Latino

The leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are motor vehicle accidents, falls and sports injuries. Trauma to the brain can occur when the head hits the floor in a fall or the windshield in a motor vehicle accident or from the impact of a tackle on the football field.

The skull does not have to be penetrated to sustain a serious brain injury. Bruising and bleeding of the brain can occur when the brain strikes the interior of the skull and there appears to be no visible sign of injury. The area of the brain that is injured determines the type and severity of the injury suffered.

A mild traumatic brain injury usually results in a headache, slight confusion for a short period of time, loss of balance and dizziness, some blurred vision and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury include a persistent headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, weakness of the extremities, loss of coordination and profound confusion and possible amnesia for the event. Victims of a severe traumatic brain injury will need physical, emotional and financial support for a very long time.

People suffering from a traumatic brain injury need specialized legal representation also. TBI litigation is complex and requires an attorney experienced in the medical and legal issues involved.

If you live in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area, and you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer at the Washington, D.C. office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to determine the course of action to take to protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: DC

Wrongful death is a legal term used to describe the death of a human being as a result of a negligent act, such as being killed by a drunk driver or during a criminal assault. A wrongful death becomes the basis for a lawsuit against the individual who caused the death on behalf of the family or beneficiaries who have lost the comfort and support of the deceased.

In this way, a child would be entitled to compensation for the loss of a father and a wife could be eligible to recover damages for a lifetime of anticipated financial support.

The loss of a loved one is a devastating loss, because nothing can replace that loss. Money is the one tangible measurement the legal system can use to gauge what has been lost to you.

The legal issues surrounding wrongful death claims allow legal action only for a limited period of time. An experienced wrongful death attorney can answer any questions you may have concerning time limits for legal action.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have lost your loved one due to the actions of another person, please contact the experienced and highly qualified wrongful death attorneys at the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you, to discover how to obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to under the law for your loss.

Labels: Tuskegee

A spinal cord injury usually results from a sudden blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. Damage occurs when bone fragments or ligaments bruise or tear spinal cord tissue. It is rare that the spinal cord is actually severed. Some injuries to the spinal cord allow for a complete recovery, while other injuries to the spinal cord result in total paralysis.

Emergency treatment and aggressive care and rehabilitation can minimize the damage to the nervous system and restore limited abilities. Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete. An incomplete spinal cord injury means the ability of the spinal cord to function is not completely lost. Those people with an incomplete injury retain some motor or sensory function. A complete spinal cord injury means that there is a total absence of motor or sensory function below the level of the injury.

Automobile accidents are a primary cause of spinal cord injuries, with falls and sports related accidents also cited as contributing factors in this type of injury. Spinal cord injuries invoke feelings of hopelessness and fear in the victim and family members which can be aided to some extent by engaging in discussions with your healthcare team and obtaining as much useful information as possible about the available care and treatment.

If you live in the San Jose, California area and you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact the experienced spinal cord injury lawyers at the San Jose, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you to discuss what options you may have to secure financial compensation for your injury.

Labels: San Jose

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain injury that occurs when a sudden, unexpected event damages the brain. Traumatic brain injury can result from an object violently piercing the skull and entering the brain or the brain violently striking an object, such as the windshield of a car or the pavement in a fall.

Someone with a mild TBI may remain conscious or lose consciousness. Other symptoms of a mild TBI may include headache, confusion, dizziness, fatigue and trouble concentrating. Someone with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury will experience the same symptoms as those with a mild TBI, but the headache will be persistent with repeated nausea and vomiting, seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, slurred speech, dilated pupils, weakness in the extremities and profound confusion.

Anyone who has suffered a moderate or severe TBI should, of course, receive immediate medical attention. About 50% of those who suffer a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury will need surgery to repair or remove damaged brain tissue or blood vessels.

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury or know of someone who has, physical, emotional and financial support will be needed for months and perhaps years to come due to the disabling nature of your injury.

If you live in the San Francisco, Oakland, California area, and you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact the expert traumatic brain injury attorneys at the Oakland, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss what steps to take to secure the financial compensation you may be entitled to.

Labels: San Francisco

Construction sites are inherently very dangerous places to work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that over one thousand construction workers are killed each year as the result of an accident on a construction site.

Some common reasons for construction site accidents are that there are inadequate safety procedures in place, negligence, defective machinery or equipment and violations of OSHA regulations and procedures.

Construction site accident injuries are historically severe. Injuries can range from fractured limbs, to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, crush injuries, electrocution, amputations and many injuries result in fatalities.

Construction site safety is the responsibility of the site owners, contractors, architects and manufacturers of the machinery and equipment that is operated on site. There are strict work laws in place to protect the workers and provide a safe work environment which at times are overlooked in an effort to get the job done quicker and cheaper.

If you live in Sacramento, California or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in construction site accident, please contact an experienced construction site accident attorney at the Sacramento, California office of The Cochran Law Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and obtain the justice and compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Sacramento

Thousands of Americans are injured or killed every year by defective consumer products they unknowingly bring into their homes and lives.

Cars, toys, cribs, household appliances, medical devices and medications, and food for beloved pets that sicken and kill them are bought and consumed by an unsuspecting public. People wrongly assume that all consumer products are carefully tested and approved by the manufacturer and our government agencies before they are allowed to be sold to a trusting public.

If a manufacturer fails to deliver a safe product to the consumer, the result can be a life-threatening condition or death. If you have been injured by a defective consumer product, filing a lawsuit against the responsible parties may save others from suffering a similar fate.

If you feel you have suffered harm from a defective consumer product, you may be able to recover losses for medical expenses, lost wages, permanent physical disability and pain and suffering.

If you reside in the Raleigh, Durham, North Carolina area and you or someone you love was injured or died as a result of using a defective consumer product, please contact an experienced defective consumer product attorney at the Durham, North Carolina office of The Cochran Firm today and get the justice you deserve for your pain and suffering and learn if you are entitled to financial compensation for your losses.

Labels: Raleigh

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers almost all of the internal organs. Every year, two to three thousand more people are diagnosed with this disease. Mesothelioma most often affects the lining of the lungs, the heart and the abdomen.

Exposure to asbestos fibers is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is found in many everyday consumer products, such as, insulation, cement, brakes, shingles, and flooring. Workers who manufactured and handled these products on a daily basis for years are at the greatest risk for contracting mesothelioma.

Manufacturing companies that were aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, knowingly exposed their employees to these hazards. Therefore, it is safe to say, millions of Americans have been exposed to the dangers of asbestos fibers. Most new cases of mesothelioma appear in men fifty to seventy years of age, since it is difficult to diagnose and often goes undetected. Mesothelioma is usually in an advanced stage when initially discovered.

If you live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos fibers or has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and obtain the justice and compensation you are entitled to for being subjected to this illness.

Labels: Philadelphia

Workplace exposure to asbestos fiber is a major contributing factor to contracting mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a fare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of cells lining the internal organs of the human body.

Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs accounts for 70% of the diagnosed cases of this disease. Mesothelioma also affects the tissues of the abdomen and heart. The dust created from the handling of the asbestos fiber can settle in the lungs and abdomen if inhaled or swallowed. The dust causes an irritation in these organs that is thought to lead to mesothelioma.

Some workers who may have encountered asbestos fibers on the job are those employed as miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, ship builders, construction workers, automobile mechanics, steel mill workers, oil refinery employees and cement plant workers.

If you have been employed in any of these fields and have been experiencing chest or back pain, coughing, an unexplained weight loss, fatigue and shortness of breath, abdominal pain or difficulty breathing, you may have been exposed to asbestos fiber.

If you live in the Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia area and suspect you have been exposed to asbestos fiber or have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney at the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about what your legal rights are in this matter and to obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Norfolk

Wrongful death is a legal term used to describe the death of an individual who has died due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual and that the death entitles the victim's survivors to be financially compensated for their loss.

Of course, it is known that nothing can ever replace a loved one or make amends for that loss. This fact leaves the legal system with only one resource to bring justice and some measure of comfort to the survivors and that is assessing monetary damages on the responsible individual.

Financial compensation in a wrongful death claim may include payment for medical, funeral and burial costs, payment for the deceased's pain and suffering prior to death, loss of financial support for the survivors along with any future earning potential assessed and the pain and suffering of the survivors that is experienced due to their loss.

The laws governing wrongful death claims are very complicated and there are time limits involved in filing a wrongful death claim. An experienced wrongful death attorney has the knowledge to evaluate your claim and assist you through the process of obtaining justice for you and your loved ones.

If you live in New York City or the surrounding area, and you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, please contact an experienced and highly qualified wrongful death attorney at the New York City office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you, to discuss the course of action to take to secure your legal rights and get you the financial compensation you deserve.

Labels: New York

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs is a major cause of automobile accidents. Legally obtained prescription medications must also be included in this category of driving under the influence because prescription medications can also affect your ability to safely operate an automobile.

Commonly used intoxicants that impair the ability to drive and are a major cause of automobile accidents include, but are not limited to, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and prescription medications such as Vicodin, Percocet, Valium, and Xanax. These substances affect motor skills, impair and distort vision and slow normal reaction times.

The crime committed most frequently in this country is driving under the influence. An American is injured every two minutes or killed every thirty minutes by an impaired driver.

When you become the victim of an impaired driver, not only is the driver responsible for your injuries and losses, but the party or entity that supplied the alcohol in the case of a drunk driver, may also be held liable. This is referred to in legal terminology as "dram shop liability."

If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana and you or someone you care about was injured or killed by an impaired driver, please contact the experienced DUI accident attorneys at the New Orleans, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you, to learn about your legal rights in this matter, and how you can obtain the compensation you deserve.

Labels: Louisiana, New Orleans

Premises liability is a legal term used to describe the legal liability an owner of a property has for accidents and injuries that occur there.

Some examples of premises liability accidents or injuries include falls, equipment failures that cause injury, criminal assaults due to lack of security provided and being struck by a falling object.

A factor in determining legal responsibility for an injury is whether or not the owner of the property made a reasonable effort to correct the dangerous or hazardous condition or if they even knew it existed or should have known the dangerous condition existed.

An example of this would be, if you tripped and fell on a cracked sidewalk that has be in disrepair for many months, the owner most likely can be held responsible. However, if you spill a drink in a restaurant and slip and fall on the spill before anyone has the time to wipe it up, responsibility for your fall may not be the owner's.

If you live in Mobile, Alabama or the surrounding area and you believe negligence contributed to you being injured on someone else's property, please contact an experienced premises liability attorney at the Mobile, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to determine if you are entitled to financial compensation for your injury.

Labels: Mobile

Motorcyclists have special concerns about sharing the roadways with automobiles and trucks because the motorcyclist is more physically exposed than the occupants of the other vehicles and, therefore more susceptible to injury.

Safety precautions such as wearing helmets and other personal protective gear, and improving your riding techniques and motorcycle maintenance routines will lessen your risk of accidents and injuries. Safety tips such as being aware of blind spots on cars and trucks, flashing your brake lights when slowing or stopping, may seem obvious to you, but if you practice these simple strategies you may avoid an accident.

Even motorcyclists who take every safety precaution and are knowledgeable operators, can be involved in an accident. Other drivers who fail to see a motorcycle in traffic are a major cause of collisions, especially at intersections. Adverse weather conditions, road hazards and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs also contribute to the number of motorcycle accidents.

A motorcycle accident can result in devastating injuries and loss of life. These injuries and fatalities cause enormous emotional, physical and financial burdens for the injured and surviving family members.

If you live in Minneapolis, Minnesota or the surrounding area and you or a loved one had the misfortune to be injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at the Minneapolis, Minnesota office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about your legal rights and whether or not you are entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and losses.

Labels: Minneapolis

Many motorcycle accidents are due to the negligence and recklessness of other drivers and not only the motorcycle rider. The failure of other drivers to actually see a motorcycle in traffic is one major cause of motorcycle accidents, with intersections being the most dangerous place to be.

Other common causes of motorcycle accidents are speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, defective equipment, road and weather hazards along with poor visibility. Dangerous driving behaviors exhibited by motorcycle operators that contribute to accidents include failure to yield, failure to change lanes properly, failure to observe a safe distance, passing on the shoulder and weaving in and out of car lanes.

A motorcycle accident can have catastrophic consequences for the motorcycle rider such as massive head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, severe burns and even death. These injuries place an enormous emotional, physical and financial burden on the victim and their loved ones. Serious injuries can mean serious medical expenses, lost income, and permanent disability.

If you reside in Miami, Florida or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has had the misfortune to be involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Miami, Florida office of The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and learn if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Labels: Miami

Wrongful death is a legal term to describe a death that should not have happened. A wrongful death claim makes the assertion that someone has died because of the misconduct or negligence of an individual or individuals and that the survivors of the deceased are entitled to financial compensation because of that death.

A wrongful death can be the result of an automobile or truck accident, a criminal assault in a shopping mall parking lot, medical or surgical malpractice, a fall, nursing home abuse or a work-related injury all resulting in death.

A wrongful death claim is a very complex matter to prove, since evidence must be gathered to support the claim, possible witnesses must be interviewed and deposed and medical records, police reports and expert testimony must be obtained. An experienced wrongful death attorney will assist you in the process by protecting your legal rights and making certain justice is served.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area and someone you love has died because of the misconduct or negligence of another individual, please contact the experienced wrongful death lawyers at the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

Labels: Metairie

The National Safety Council has released a study that concludes talking and texting on a cell phone while driving has become one of the most dangerous behaviors exhibited by the driving public.

Drivers using cell phones have exhibited the same dangerous behaviors as drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs and are responsible for many automobile accidents. Drivers using cell phones drive slowly, weave erratically, are slow to apply brakes and slow to regain speed after braking, and they are involved in rear-end collisions at a much higher rate than other drivers. A survey by a national insurance group reported that over 80% of drivers admit cell phone use while driving.

The magnitude of drivers using cell phones represents a danger to all of us on our nation's roadways. Many states are now in the process of considering legislation to restrict the use of cell phones while driving.

Studies prove cell phone use while driving does not save time, but may cost you your life or the life of a loved one. If you must make or take a call while in your automobile, pull off the road to a safe place to complete your call. You may avoid a trip to the hospital or worse.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by a cell phone using driver, please contact an experienced automobile accident attorney at the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Labels: Memphis

Many businesses in this country rely on the trucking industry for their livelihoods. There are over 3,000,000 trucks on American highways on any given day. Statistics reveal within the span of one year over 144,000 trucks were involved in accidents and over 5,000 of those accidents involved fatalities.

In 80% of those accidents, the non-commercial driver was not at fault, but suffered the injuries and deaths as a result of those accidents. Statistics like those reveal how important it is to keep a safe distance from trucks when you are on the highways, to take extra precautions during hazardous driving conditions and to expect the unexpected and be ready for anything.

The most common causes of truck accidents include speeding, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fatigue, reckless or aggressive driving behaviors and mechanical failure.

If you have the misfortune to be involved in an accident with a truck, you need an experienced truck accident attorney representing you from the minute the accident happens. You should be fully compensated for any medical expenses due to the accident, for your pain and suffering and for lost income and other expenses you incur due to the accident. The attorneys representing the trucking company will be doing all in their power to see you get as little as possible, if anything.

If you live in Los Angeles, California or the surrounding area and you have been involved in an accident with a truck, please contact the Los Angeles, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney who will protect your legal rights while obtaining justice for you and the compensation you deserve.

Labels: Los Angeles

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death in people under the age of forty-five. A traumatic brain injury occurs every fifteen seconds in this country, with estimates over five million people suffer from some form of traumatic brain disability at this point in time. The leading causes of TBI are automobile accidents, falls and sports-related injuries.

A traumatic brain injury is the result of the brain being injured or damaged by a force such as a blow to the head or a gunshot. Traumatic brain injuries are either classified as a closed head injury, in which the skull and brain are left intact, or a penetrating head injury, in which an object enters the skull and brain. Traumatic brain injuries are also classified by the severity of the injury such as mild, moderate or severe.

The symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include a brief period of unconsciousness, headache, slight confusion and dizziness, blurred vision and difficulty concentrating. A moderate to severe traumatic brain injury may reveal a persistent headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, an inability to awaken, weakness of the extremities and profound confusion. Victims of a severe traumatic brain injury will require months and perhaps years of physical, emotional and financial support to overcome the lasting effects of their injury.

If you reside in Las Vegas, Nevada or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact the experienced traumatic brain injury lawyers at the Las Vegas, Nevada office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and obtain the representation you need to recover damages suffered due to your injury.

Labels: Las Vegas

Emergency rooms across this country are under siege. The lack of adequate healthcare insurance is sending people flocking to emergency rooms to seek medical care for every conceivable ailment. This influx of patients with mostly non-emergency medical problems, puts those truly in need of emergency medical care in jeopardy.

Emergency rooms are overcrowded and understaffed and this leaves the door open for medical errors to be made. Although hospitals and medical personnel have a duty to render the best care possible, negligence and wrongdoing thrive in this environment.

Emergency room medical malpractice can include the failure to evaluate a patient properly, misdiagnosis, a delayed or a failed diagnosis, delayed treatment, wrong medication or improper dosage and patient dumping. Patient dumping is a term that refers to a patient being transferred to another facility for monetary, not health treatment reasons.

Emergency room medical malpractice can cause great pain and suffering, long term disabilities and death. Compensation includes payment for medical expenses, lost wages, long term care costs, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and burial expenses.

If you live in Jackson, Mississippi or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has been the victim of emergency room medical malpractice, please contact an experienced emergency room medical malpractice lawyer at the Jackson, Mississippi office of The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and obtain the justice and compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Jackson

Birth injuries or birth traumas can range from the mild to the severe. There can be minor bruising to brain damage. Not all birth injuries or trauma are due to medical malpractice or negligence, but many are.

Estimates are that there are 10 birth injuries for every 1,000 births in this country annually due to medical malpractice or negligence. When a healthcare professional such as a doctor, nurse, or a healthcare facility, such as a hospital, urgent care center, or birthing center fails to provide a certain standard of care and treatment, it rises to the level of negligence and medical malpractice.

The most common birth injuries that occur are bruising from the use of forceps, facial paralysis, swollen head, brachial palsy, fractured bones and brain trauma. Cerebral palsy is a chronic condition caused by damage to the baby's brain at the time of labor and delivery. These injuries can occur when the medical team fails to respond to fetal distress, there is a delay in performing a cesarean section, there is a misuse of forceps and inadequate management of the labor and delivery in general.

Symptoms of a birth injury are not always evident immediately after the birth, but become so days, weeks, months or even years after. The financial hardship of caring for a birth injured child can be devastating unless assistance is made available to the family.

If you live in Huntsville, Alabama or the surrounding area, and your child suffered an injury at birth, please contact an experienced birth injury lawyer at the Huntsville, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and the future of your child.

Labels: Huntsville

Motorcyclists are at a high risk of severe injury and death if they are involved in an accident simply because there is really nothing to protect them physically except their helmets and clothing from an impact with the pavement or another vehicle.

Some motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence and recklessness of other drivers on the highways and some motorcycle accidents are caused by the motorcycle operators that do not obey the rules of the road, drive while under the influence of alcohol and drugs and also practice reckless driving behaviors. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of causes of accidents or shortage of injuries and deaths related to these accidents.

A motorcycle accident can result in scrapes and bruises or massive head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and fatalities. The losses suffered in a motorcycle accident can be very high in terms of injuries, medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and the cost of long term care in the case of a permanent disability.

If you live in Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you or someone you love was severely injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to determine what compensation you are entitled to for your losses.

Labels: Houston

When you or a loved one is sick or injured and you need medical treatment, it is only natural for you to assume you will receive the best care and treatment available to you and your loved one. Unfortunately, medical errors and mistakes are a fact of life in this country. Every day, thousands of Americans fall victim to medical negligence and malpractice.

Over 250,000 people die every year nationwide from the consequences of medical malpractice errors, such as unnecessary surgeries, medication errors, infections contracted in hospitals and instances of misdiagnosis, and delayed diagnosis.

Studies have shown that over 40% of medical malpractice claims are initiated due to a healthcare provider's inability to correctly diagnose a disease or condition. This failure to diagnose leads to delayed treatment, the incorrect treatment or no treatment, which can lead to a life-long disability or eventually, the death of the individual.

Breast cancer, lung cancer, heart attack, appendicitis, cervical and ovarian cancer are often misdiagnosed or at best, not diagnosed early enough to treat the disease it it's early stages when a successful outcome may be possible.

If you live in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been the victim of medical malpractice, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and hold the responsible individuals accountable for your loss.

Labels: Dothan

A spinal cord injury is one of the most destructive events that can occur in anyone's life. The person who has suffered the injury and their loved ones and friends will never experience life in the same way again.

The burden a spinal cord injury imposes on the injured person and the community is staggering. In the past 60 years, persons with spinal cord injuries have, however, seen a great improvement in their quality of life when compared with the previous decades. Improvements in the levels of care, equipment available and environmental adaptations along with legislation benefiting the disabled, have helped to enhance and enrich the lives of many victims of spinal cord injuries.

The most common causes of spinal cord injuries vary with the age group affected. Sport-related spinal cord injuries are prevalent in children and teenagers, while work-related spinal cord injuries are most common in adults.

Due to the severity and permanence of a spinal cord injury, it is important to retain the services of an experienced, highly trained attorney to obtain the best financial compensation you may be entitled to. An attorney experienced in handling catastrophic injury claims will be able to investigate and discover the individuals or entities that are legally responsible for your injury.

Residents of Detroit, Michigan or the surrounding area who have suffered a spinal cord injury should contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney at the Detroit, Michigan office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and get the representation you need to obtain justice and the compensation you deserve.

Labels: Detroit

Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability cases that rest on the question of the property owner's responsibility to maintain their property so it does not present a danger to others.

Injuries sustained in a fire or other types of injuries resulting from dangerous, hazardous or defective conditions on someone's property also fall into this category known as premises liability. Accidents classified under premises liability law can occur on residential, commercial or public property as all owners have a level of responsibility to make certain their property is safe.

A premises liability claim must prove either that the property owner created the hazard that caused the accident or knew or should have known the hazard existed and did nothing to correct it.

The injured party in a premises liability accident may have injuries ranging from bruising and abrasions to broken bones or a traumatic brain injury that can cause life-long disability or even death. Proper legal representation in these cases is essential to you receiving compensation for current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, income losses and pain and suffering.

Residents of Dallas, Texas and the surrounding area who have been injured as a result of premises liability should contact an experienced premises liability attorney at the Dallas, Texas office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost, to protect their legal rights and obtain the compensation they deserve.

Labels: Dallas

Every day consumers all over America use thousands of products, such as automobiles, household appliances, toys, lawn mowers, medications and medical devices, child car seats, pet foods, building supplies, the list is endless. At times these everyday products cause injuries and deaths even when used as the product was intended.

The investigation of and proof of product liability against the manufacturer of defective consumer products is the job of an experienced and highly trained product liability lawyer. A product liability lawyer can make sure you receive compensation for injuries suffered as a result of the use of a defective consumer product.

If you or a loved one has been affected by the use of a defective consumer product, it is important you consult a product liability lawyer without delay as there are time limits involved in filing a claim. The manufacturer, designer and the distributor of the defective consumer product involved must be held responsible. How else can we get these dangerous products off the market?

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed because of the use of a defective product, please contact an experienced product liability lawyer at the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to make sure the people responsible are held liable and you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Chicago

The pharmaceuticals industry has sales totaling hundreds of billions of dollars annually, yet recalled pharmaceuticals dominate the news every day. Every year, defective pharmaceuticals cause injury and death for thousands of unsuspecting consumers in the United States.

In many cases, pharmaceutical manufacturers ignore the safety of the consuming public in an effort to rush new drugs onto the market while failing to conduct adequate testing that could have alerted them to real dangers inherent in their product.

Injuries and deaths occur even when these defective pharmaceuticals are used according to the directions given by the pharmaceutical company. These defective drugs often cause liver and kidney damage, damage to the heart and pulmonary dysfunction, stroke and heart attack.

Drug categories often involved are arthritis medications, cholesterol lowering drugs, diet drugs, anti-depressants and vaccines. Although side effects are a common occurrence when taking medications of any kind, defective pharmaceuticals cause life-threatening and often fatal results. The consumption of defective drugs causes great pain and suffering for many and lawsuits with damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

If you live in Birmingham, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or a loved one was injured or died as a result of consuming a defective pharmaceutical, please contact an experienced defective pharmaceutical attorney at the Birmingham, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm if you would like an evaluation of your case at no cost to you so you can obtain the compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Birmingham

A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that results in a level of loss of function. Frequent causes of damage to the spinal cord are car and motorcycle accidents, knife and gunshot wounds, falls and sports-related injuries. In most people the spinal cord is not totally severed, but damaged enough to result in a loss of function.

The spinal cord is a major bundle of nerves that carries nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. The brain and spinal cord are the central nervous system.

The effect of a spinal cord injury on the body depends on the type and level of the injury on the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries can be divided into two types of injury, complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury means there is no function below the level of the injury, no sensation or voluntary movement and both sides of the body are affected. An incomplete injury means there is some functioning below the level of the injury. Someone with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb, may have sensation in parts of the body and may have functioning on one side of the body.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you have suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney at The Cochran Firm's Atlanta, Georgia office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

Labels: Atlanta

When a person with a spinal cord injury is admitted to a hospital emergency room, there is no standard treatment. Certainly they are given care and testing in efforts to reduce pain and precisely locate the injury site. When motor nerves in the spinal cord are damaged, they are unable to carry messages to the body's muscles telling them to contract or relax. This causes paralysis in all areas below the injury site. Some patients are given steroids to possibly reduce paralysis, but most are not.

A research team at the University of Rochester Medical Center recently published results of a study they did on mice with spinal cord injuries. They were following up on their research of 2004 where they had studied a substance called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) which shows up quickly at the location of any spinal cord injury. It kills off healthy tissue, making the original injury more severe.

They found in 2004 that if they injected an oxidized ATP into the injured rats of their study, it blocked the destructive effect of ATP and the rats recovered their ability to walk. But this was not very useful for application to humans, as nobody would want to insert a needle into an injured spinal cord. That could possibly make the injury worse. Also, injecting ATP into the bloodstream can have serious side effects.

The researchers found in 2004 that the spinal cord contains an abundance of a molecule called P2X7, also called "the death receptor" because it allows ATP to destroy motor nerves. But they also knew that a compound called BBG (Brilliant Blue G) could cancel out the effects of P2X7.

Following Up With Gatorade Blue Color
Since BBG is very similar to a blue food dye approved by the FDA back in 1982 and used in Gatorade and M&Ms, the researchers felt encouraged to test its usefulness for spinal cord injuries.

The team's recent study tested BBG in mice with injured spinal cords and found that those injected with BBG recovered their ability to walk and those not injected remained paralyzed. The BBG did not entirely cure the injury, as the injected mice walked with a limp. But it did reduce the severity.

"Even a moderate improvement in functional performance of the patient is a big, big event for these patients," said Maiken Nedergaard, professor of Neurosurgery and director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. "They can control their bladder. If they can just take small steps instead of sitting in a wheelchair all the time, it's a tremendous benefit for these patients."

Time and future research will determine whether BBG might be effective for humans. It will need to be injected within eight hours of the injury and if that is done, it may greatly reduce the impairment caused by a person’s spinal cord injury.

If you or a loved one have sustained a spinal cord injury because of another's carelessness, please contact our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation.

Labels: main

On Sunday, a woman driving a minivan with two of her children and three nieces got on the Taconic State Parkway traveling the wrong direction. She hit another car head-on, then went sideways into a third vehicle before rolling down an embankment and bursting into flames. But this car accident was not an isolated incident. It was the second crash that day involving a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway. Could a defective roadway have contributed to both these crashes and the wrongful death of 8 people, including 4 children?

The Taconic State Parkway was begun in 1927 as the "Bronx Parkway Extension," after the route was approved by the New York State Legislature in 1923. Construction on the highway continued through 1963, linking homes in the scenic New York countryside with New York City. However, rapid population growth along the highway has also dramatically increased traffic. Some communities along the highway saw growth of 25% or more from 1990-2000, and along with them traffic on the highway grew over 200% in one section from 1978-1998. This increased traffic caused the New York State Department of Transportation to launch a program of closing crossings and instituting road improvements in 2002-2003. However, a poll of New York Daily News readers indicates about a 50-50 split on whether the highway is still too dangerous.

Although police are still exploring contributing factors to the fatal crash, including the possibility that the driver was sick and disoriented, the fact remains that old roadways can become extremely dangerous when population growth contributes to increased traffic. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car accident on a dangerous road, the New York personal injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm are prepared to help you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Labels: main, New York

In the usually quiet town of Seaside Heights, New Jersey, a woman's body was found on a street, the apparent victim of a pedestrian versus car accident. Alexis Cohen, a former American Idol contestant who auditioned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania two years in a row but never made it to the final ten, was struck by 23-year-old Tom's River resident Daniel Bark, who was arrested and charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

The investigation is ongoing.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, you have legal rights. If your loved one was killed by a driver and left for dead, you may certainly have a wrongful death claim to pursue.

The experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, have the experience and resources to provide you with the aggressive representation you deserve during this traumatic time. Please contact an office near you today.

Labels: main

Zdenek Philip Hodousek, a 50-year-old resident of Mission Viejo, California, has sued a local Claim Jumper restaurant after he found a condom in his French onion soup. Hodousek was chewing on what he believed to be a tough piece of cheese. When he could not break it down in his mouth, he spit it out, only to find out that it was a condom.

Hodousek vomited both in the Claim Jumper bathroom and parking lot after the incident. He has had difficulty sleeping ever since and has experienced bouts of severe anxiety, wondering if he has contracted a dangerous disease from chewing the used condom.

Female DNA was found in the condom. Hodousek has requested that all female Claim Jumper employees submit to a DNA test to determine if any of them are a match for the DNA found in the condom. However, Claim Jumper has not been very compliant with this request.

Hodousek's premises liability lawsuit charges Claim Jumper with negligence in allowing a condom to enter their soup. It is uncertain how many other customers ate French onion soup from the same container that evening. Most likely, these individuals had no knowledge that they had consumed soup containing a used condom.

The Claim Jumper chain denies all wrongdoing. They claim that while Hodousek found a "foreign object" in his soup, there is no evidence to prove that this "object" was the same used condom that he brought to a lab for testing.

If you have consumed a food product that contained a contaminated object that may cause you serious health issues, you may be entitled to receive compensation through a premises liability lawsuit. The experienced attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you hold the negligent party accountable for their actions so that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Please contact the personal injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm today to schedule your initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

Labels: main

Westchester County, New York saw the largest medical malpractice award in its history when a jury awarded a 30-year-old woman $48 million in her medical malpractice suit against a Mount Vernon internist. There were originally four others named as defendants in the case, but reached settlements before the end of the trial.

Beginning in February 2000, the victim had complained of severe pain in both her legs to Mount Vernon Hospital doctors. The defendants failed to diagnose the problem as a spinal tumor called an astrocytoma. When the tumor was finally diagnosed correctly, the victim suffered permanent damage. She must now get around in a wheelchair most of the time.

The jury found she was owed for pain and suffering, medical expenses and rehabilitation. They found the internist 30 percent liable (he must pay at least $14.4 million), the hospital 25 percent liable, an OB-GYN 15 percent liable, an association the OB-GYN belongs to ten percent liable, and another internist ten percent liable. A doctor who was not named as a defendant in the suit was also found to be ten percent responsible, but the ruling does not carry any legal liability.

The victim is obviously relieved in the ruling. She has been working with a therapist so that she can sometimes get around on crutches, and is able to drive with adaptive technology. However, this happened to the victim when she was 20-years-old. While she is finally able to claim victory, she will be living with this for the rest of her life.

Don't let the negligence of those who are supposed to care for you keep you from the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury through the negligence of a doctor or the staff of a hospital, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at the Cochran Firm for an initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

Labels: main

On July 19, in northern Germany, a giant pile-up occurred near Hanover. It was late in the day, with the sun hovering low on the horizon and shining in drivers' eyes. It was also raining and slick on the roadway, with puddles where some vehicles skidded and aquaplaned. Despite these conditions, cars were traveling at high speeds.

Scores of ambulances, police cars, and fire engines arrived at the scene, as well as a helicopter, and a tent was set up at the roadside to care for injured people. Sixty-six were injured, of whom ten are reported to be fighting for their lives in local hospitals.

Cars littered the road for a long distance, some off the shoulder, some alone at odd angles, and many in muddled clumps where rear-end collisions had occurred as well as side-swipe collisions.

Emergency workers worked all night treating the injured and police spent the whole night clearing the road of damaged and inoperative vehicles, and debris. This stretch of Germany's Autobahn connects Berlin and Hanover and was in an area with fields on each side.

Police are attributing this massive automobile accident to a combination of weather conditions and fast speeds.

Freeway travel can become monotonous and even hypnotizing, as you sit for long periods going at a uniform speed with no cross-traffic or pedestrians. Accidents are always caused by something - they do not happen randomly. Too many of these Autobahn drivers were evidently inattentive to the road conditions and not able to stop when the car in front of them braked suddenly or rear-ended the car in front of them.

If you have been injured in an auto accident and are wondering if you may have a valid legal claim, please contact our personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm today. Our offices are nationwide and we will be happy to give you a free consultation.

Labels: main

According to some research, cell phone use while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. To confirm this risk and develop guidelines for effective practices that would prevent car accidents and save lives, researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed an ambitious long-term study of cell phone use while driving and its risks. However, the NHTSA decided not to pursue the research and was urged to stick to its mission of gathering safety data, rather than developing data and recommending guidelines for state laws that could save lives.

No one knows just how many accidents and wrongful deaths have been caused by cell phone distraction, but estimates say nearly 1000 deaths and 240,000 accidents may have been caused by cell phone distraction since 2002. Cell phone use in cars has grown, and with it, the risk of cell-phone-related car accidents. Research shows that drivers using a cell phone are four times more likely to crash than other drivers, comparable to someone with a blood alcohol content level of 0.08. A blood alcohol content level of 0.08 is considered illegal in all 50 states.

To reduce the risk of cell phone distraction causing accidents, many states have enacted laws requiring hands-free devices, but research does not show that hands-free devices offer significant safety benefits.

If you were involved in an accident with a driver talking on a cell phone, the auto accident injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm can help. Contact us today.

Labels: main

Labels: main

Labels: main

Labels: main

In 2008, after watching a television show called CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, many parents bought toy fingerprint kits and forensic lab kits. They were manufactured by Planet Toys, Inc. and sold for $30 each.

They were found to contain asbestos, a mineral that is strongly linked to mesothelioma (a form of cancer) and also causes asbestosis, a potentially fatal lung disease. Asbestos is a fibrous substance and its microscopically tiny fibers easily become airborne and can be breathed in. They become lodged in lung tissue, or sometimes in heart or abdominal tissue, and the body is unable to remove them.

Eventually a tumor grows at the site, or scarring occurs that impedes breathing. This takes many years. You can read more on our Mesothelioma Questions page and What Asbestos Can Do To Your Body.

Class Action Suit

In May of 2008, a class action suit was filed against Planet Toys by parents who had bought the toys expecting them to be educational. Both kits had a powder containing asbestos and children could well have been exposed to the asbestos fibers that became airborne, or that they may have accidentally ingested from their fingers.

The Wall St. Journal recently reported that refunds are now being offered to customers who bought these toys. However, Planet Toys filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in March, 2009, after negotiating for a settlement to the class action lawsuit. So it is not this company that will pay for the refunds, but the retailers who sold the toys.

Specifically, those retailers are:

• Toys R Us
• CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and
• K-Mart
  

If you bought either of these toys, you can mail them back free of charge and obtain your refund.

Our mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys will be glad to give you a free consultation if you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos. Please call or send us an email today.

Labels: main

• Elevated thirst

• Frequent urination

• Tiredness

• Dry or flushed skin

• Nausea or vomiting

• A fruity odor on the breath

• Confusion or shortened attention span

• Shakiness or dizziness

• Sweating

• Pale skin

• Clumsy movements or seizures

• Sudden, excessive hunger

• Behavioral or mood changes

Labels: main

Labels: main

Wrongful death is a legal term that is used to describe a death that occurs due to the negligence or willful actions of another, and states that the survivors, heirs and beneficiaries are entitled to monetary compensation as a result of the death.

A wrongful death can result from medical malpractice, an automobile accident, a criminal act, the use of a defective pharmaceutical or product, a fall, or any means by which someone dies due to the negligence or actions of another.

Each state has a statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim which usually varies from one to three years. If a family member or the person who was responsible for your financial support has died as a result of the actions or negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.

Compensation in a wrongful death claim may include the cost of medical expenses, hospital bills, funeral and burial costs, compensation for the victim's pain and suffering prior to death, loss of financial support and pain and suffering for the survivor's loss.

Laws regarding a wrongful death claim are very complex. It is important to protect your legal rights by consulting with an experienced wrongful death attorney to ensure those responsible for your loss are held legally liable.

If you live in San Jose, California or the surrounding area, and you have lost a loved due to a wrongful death, please contact an experienced wrongful death attorney at the San Jose, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to ensure your rights are protected and the responsible party is held accountable.

Labels: San Jose

Truck accidents involving large vehicles such as tractor trailers, semi-trucks, and other large freight carriers such as log trucks and automobile transporters, can cause catastrophic damage when they are involved in a crash. These huge trucks can spill hazardous cargo, roll-over, cause multi-vehicle pile-ups and reduce passenger vehicles to scrap metal.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some causes of truck involved accidents were trucks traveling too fast for road and weather conditions, driver fatigue, alcohol and drug use and aggressive driving behaviors.

The physical consequences of being involved in an accident with a truck are very serious and most often fatal. The size and weight of large trucks is so great, that a passenger vehicle has no chance of coming out of an encounter with one unscathed. The occupants of the smaller vehicle are almost always the victims of disabling and life-threatening injuries.

If you live in Sacramento, California or the surrounding area and you or a loved one was involved in an accident with a truck, please contact a qualified truck accident attorney at the Sacramento, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you, to help you understand the complex laws and what your rights are in litigation with the trucking company.

Labels: Sacramento

If you or someone you know is taking or has taken a prescription medication and have experienced adverse side effects from these medications, you may be entitled to compensation from the awards being settled by drug manufacturers. If you have not experienced any adverse side effects after taking a prescription medication you may still be entitled to some form of compensation because of the possibility of the drugs deadly side effects in the future.

Some recent additions to the ever growing list of defective or potentially dangerous drugs are Yaz, an oral contraceptive, Byetta, an injectable prescription medication for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, Digitek, a prescription medication to treat heart failure, and Raptiva, a prescription medication to treat psoriasis.

The list of defective drugs is endless. There are numerous FDA approved medications on the market today that could actually be classified as defective.

Proving a drug is defective is the most important part of a defective drug lawsuit. It requires the expertise of a variety of highly skilled people and a law firm with a history of handling defective drug cases successfully.

If you live in the Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina area and you or someone you care about was injured by a defective drug, please contact the Durham, North Carolina office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation with an experienced defective drug attorney at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and obtain justice and the compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Raleigh

A claim of wrongful death states that a person has died due to the negligence or misconduct of another person, and that the survivors of the victim are entitled to damages as a result of the death.

A wrongful death claim may apply in the case of a death caused by medical malpractice, an automobile accident, a criminal assault, a slip and fall accident, a death caused by the use of a defective product or pharmaceutical or any number of instances in which a death was the fault of someone else.

A wrongful death usually leaves those left behind in a devastating position, emotionally, financially and legally. Each wrongful death claim is unique and involves details which must be uncovered and examined by an experienced wrongful death attorney in a timely manner. The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim varies from state to state, but is commonly limited to one to three years duration. The laws involved in wrongful death claims are very complex and time is of the essence when filing a claim involving a wrongful death.

Compensation in a wrongful death may include medical, funeral and burial costs, compensation for the victim's pain and suffering prior to death, loss of financial support for the survivors, loss of future earning potential and pain and suffering of the survivors due to the loss of the deceased.

If you live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the surrounding area and you have lost a loved one due to the actions or negligence of another, please contact an experienced wrongful death attorney at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation at no cost to you to obtain the justice you deserve.

Labels: Philadelphia

A motorcycle accident often results in catastrophic injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, loss of limbs, paralysis and death. If you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident it is very important to try and think clearly, act rationally and calmly.

For example, try to check for injuries, and see if you are in danger of being struck by other vehicles that cannot see the downed motorcycle. As soon as you can safely do so, try to remove yourself from further injury by getting out of the roadway. Then call 911 and/or the police so you can get any needed medical attention.

Do not leave the scene of the accident before police arrive, and do not talk to anyone about the accident without the advice of an attorney. Try to gather as much information from the other people involved in the accident such as names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information and any other pertinent information.

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents involve speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, road hazards, poor visibility and equipment defects. The failure of other drivers on the road to see a motorcycle on the road is reportedly a major contributing factor in motorcycle accidents.

If you live in Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia or the surrounding area and you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

Labels: Norfolk

The most common type of car accident in this country is the rear end collision. There are over 2.5 million rear end collisions annually in the United States. Consequently, it makes sense that the rear bumper system is an important safety feature on motor vehicles. A superior quality rear bumper is capable of absorbing the force of a low speed rear end collision while an inferior bumper system forces the impact to be absorbed by the occupants of the vehicle.

The human body is not designed to absorb the force of impact in a rear end collision and can suffer serious physical injury in the form of a whiplash injury. Whiplash injury is a common injury suffered in a low impact rear end collision. Whiplash, which is also known as cervical acceleration/deceleration injury, is caused by the sudden, involuntary whipping back and forth of the neck in a rear end collision.

To avoid a rear end collision, be aware of the activity behind you as well as in front when you are driving, always signal lane changes or turns well in advance of the maneuver, keep pace with the traffic and stay away from tailgaters.

If you live in New York City or the surrounding area and you have been involved in a rear end collision, please contact an experienced rear end collision attorney at the New York City office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: New York

Boating accidents are commonplace events in this area due to the abundance of waterways and the many opportunities to enjoy the boating lifestyle.

Recreational boating is very popular in Alabama. Unfortunately, this leisurely activity can and often does result in property damage, injuries and death because of accidents. The main causes of boating accidents are carelessness and recklessness, an inexperienced or inattentive operator, and excessive speed.

The most common accidents are those involving a collision between two vessels, but capsizing and falling overboard cause over 50% of the fatalities reported in boating accidents.

If a boating accident results in injuries or fatalities or property damage, it is in your best interests to consult an experienced boating accident attorney to be made aware of your legal rights under the law. A boating accident attorney who is an expert in maritime law and knowledgeable in the complicated legal issues involving boating accidents will be able to assist you in protecting your legal rights.

If you live in Mobile, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been involved in a boating accident, please contact an experienced boating accident attorney at the Mobile, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation at no cost to you to ensure you are represented competently and efficiently.

Labels: Mobile

Defective tires are responsible for thousands of motor vehicle accidents, injuries and fatalities each year in this country. Many Americans are unaware of the magnitude of the defective tire problem in this country. Tens of millions of tires have been recalled because of defects in the past decade. Several million of these recalled tires are still in use on cars, SUVs and light trucks Americans drive in every day.

Defective tires are those that are over six years old, tires with tread separation, blowouts and tire or rim explosions. Tires that were manufactured or processed in China have also been involved in massive recalls in recent years. The quality control in China is not nearly as strictly monitored as in this country. However, many tire recalls are for American-make tires from well-known tire companies such as Firestone, Cooper, Dunlop and B.F. Goodrich.

If a defective tire caused an accident resulting in property damage, injuries or fatalities, the consumer has a legal right to take action against the tire’s manufacturer and/or distributor.

If you live in Minneapolis, Minnesota or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by a defective tire, please contact an experienced defective tire attorney at The Cochran Firm's Minneapolis, Minnesota office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.

Labels: Minneapolis

Many truck accidents are the result of truck driver error. Delivery deadlines and long hours on the road contribute to the causes of truck accidents. The majority of the injuries and deaths involved in truck accidents are suffered by the occupants of the other vehicle involved in the accident with a truck.

Common causes of truck accidents are speeding, alcohol and drug use, reckless or aggressive driving, fatigue, hazardous road conditions and mechanical failure due to poor equipment maintenance.

Estimates report that over 80% of truck accidents are the fault of the truck driver. If you are ever involved in an accident with a truck, it is important for you to know your adversary is the trucking company and not the truck driver. The trucking company should be held liable for your losses. You should be fully compensated for all your medical expenses related to the accident, any loss of income or future earning potential, and pain and suffering you have had to endure. You will need an experienced truck accident attorney protecting your legal rights and fighting to obtain justice for you while the trucking company is attempting to minimize their responsibility for your losses.

If you are a resident of Miami, Florida or the surrounding area, and you have suffered an injury in an accident involving a truck, please contact an experienced truck accident lawyer at The Cochran Firm's Miami, Florida office today to protect your legal rights.

Labels: Miami

The third leading cause of death in the United States right after heart disease and cancer is medical malpractice. This statistic is mentioned in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in an article that reports that 250,000 Americans die each year because of medical malpractice and negligence.

Misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis were the leading allegations in lawsuits related to medical malpractice in cases of breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart attack and appendicitis. A misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis can cause a delay in treatment, the incorrect treatment, unnecessary surgery, in some cases life-altering disability and even death.

Compensation in the case of medical malpractice or negligence can include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, long term care costs, loss of income and loss of future earning potential, and in the case of a death, the survivors and heirs can be compensated for their losses also.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area, and you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, please contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and the rights of those you love.

Labels: Metairie

Surgical medical malpractice is responsible for many deaths in this country every year. Surgical medical malpractice is the failure of a surgeon to provide an adequate standard of care and treatment to a patient which results in injury or death.

Surgeons are implicated in over 50% of all medical malpractice allegations in the United States each year. These allegations involve pre-operative procedures, actual surgical procedures and post-surgery recovery care. Surgery is a risky undertaking at best, but surgery below the accepted standard of care and treatment is not risk, it is surgical malpractice.

Surgical procedures commonly involved in surgical malpractice lawsuits include, but are not limited to, cosmetic surgical procedures, LASIK eye surgery, gastric bypass surgery and back and orthopedic surgery.

Compensation for cases of surgical medical malpractice can include damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of current income, loss of future earning potential, rehabilitation costs, long term care expenses and loss of quality of life. If the surgical medical malpractice results in a death, the family, heirs, beneficiaries and dependents of the deceased may also be eligible for compensation.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or died due to surgical medical malpractice, please contact an experienced surgical medical malpractice attorney at the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

Labels: Memphis