The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

The abuse of vulnerable elderly people in nursing homes or their own homes can take many forms. Physical abuse is relatively easy to detect, but abuse in form of financial exploitation of the elderly is an insidious abuse that hides in the shadows, masquerading as care and concern.

Financial exploitation of the elderly occurs when someone entrusted with the care of the elderly and vulnerable steals, withholds or misuses that person's money, property or valuables for their own benefit or profit without the elderly person's permission or knowledge.
Some instances of financial exploitation may include a person taking money, property or valuables without permission or the awareness of the elderly, borrowing money with no intention of paying it back, selling the elderly person's possessions without permission, misusing credit or ATM cards, forging signatures on checks and documents.

The caregiver typically uses emotional deceit and subtle intimidation practices to control the assets of the elderly often promising life-long personal care in return for financial control of bank accounts or being designated the beneficiary in a will or on life insurance policy. In some instances, the victim is totally unaware of the abuse being perpetrated on them and will often defend their abusers to all who inquire.

If you suspect your elderly family member or friend is the victim of financial exploitation by a caretaker entrusted with their well-being, please contact the Oakland, California office of The Cochran Firm today to protect their legal rights and hold those responsible for this abuse accountable.

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Massive, heavy trucks are a danger to cars that share the road with them. A truck has blind spots and a high center of gravity which makes it prone to rollover accidents. Truck's brakes fail, their loads shift or can spill, leaving hazardous substances or debris on the roadways causing dangerous driving conditions. Drowsy or alcohol and drug impaired truck drivers' raises the danger to other drivers to an even higher level.

A truck accident in Minnesota is not just another motor vehicle accident from a legal point of view. Truck companies and their drivers must follow strict state and federal regulations based on log books, time sheets and other criteria that can be crucial to a claim based on fatigue or alertness problems.

If you are ever involved in an accident with a truck, never take it upon yourself to negotiate a settlement with the trucking company because they do not have your best interests in mind. They employ highly skilled adjusters trained in claims negotiations to gently coerce and manipulate a victim of a truck accident into signing a statement or accepting a much lower financial settlement than you would actually receive if you had your own legal representation looking out for your interests.

Truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or death, usually to the other driver and the occupants of the other vehicle involved. The truck driver and truck company should be held accountable when the fault is theirs in an accident.

If you live in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area and you have been the victim of a truck accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to get proper legal representation to protect your rights and get a fair and just settlement for the injuries you have suffered.

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Pedestrians practice a healthy, "green" and necessary pursuit in walking to get from point A to point B, but it can also be a dangerous pursuit.

Pedestrian accidents in which walkers are struck by a car, truck, bus or motorcycle often lead to serious injuries and deaths. Over 5,000 pedestrians are killed and over 64,000 are injured every year in the United States. The human body is no match for the massive forces involved in being struck by any type of motor vehicle. The injuries sustained in such an accident may include brain and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paralysis and may often prove fatal.

Accidents involving pedestrians often occur between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. when darkness and the consumption of alcohol become a factor. The additions of speeding and distractions while driving further increase the possibility of a pedestrian being hit. A pedestrian has an obligation to take reasonable care for their own safety or they may be accused of contributory negligence in the event of an accident if they ignored a "Don't Walk" sign, failed to use a designated crosswalk or darted out in front of a vehicle between parked cars.

If you live in the Tuskegee, Alabama area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and get the advice of the experienced attorneys there on how to proceed with a claim against the responsible parties.

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Over 250,000 Americans are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), one of the most devastating injuries to cope with for the victim and those that love and care for them. Over 11,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries are documented every year, with males accounting for 80% of that number. Half of those injured are between the ages of 16 and 30 with the most common causes being automobile accidents, acts of violence, falls, and sports related injuries.

The effects of a spinal cord injury are virtually irreversible despite major advances in medical research. In cases of spinal cord injury where the nerve damage is minimal, some basic motor functions do remain, but the majority of spinal cord injuries cause paralysis below the level of the injury.

Symptoms of having sustained a spinal cord injury include a sudden loss of consciousness, pain in the back, head and neck, loss of movement of limbs, difficulty breathing, and loss of bladder and bowel control. Victims of spinal cord injuries require life-long care involving physical, emotional and financial support in order to have a certain quality of life to sustain them.

If you or a loved one has suffered the devastating effects of a spinal cord injury, please contact the Sacramento, California office of The Cochran Firm today to learn how to proceed to get the financial help you may need to improve your quality of life and the lives of those dear to you.

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A catastrophic injury has a severe impact on the victim and their family for a long time; that is why it is important to pursue financial compensation that covers medical and personal care expenses not only for the present, but well into the future.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is classified as a catastrophic injury because of the complex and delicate tissues of the brain that are damaged as a result of a blow to the head. A traumatic brain injury can cause a lessening of motor and cognition skills, memory loss, debilitating headaches, vision and hearing problems, dizziness, loss of consciousness, emotional instability and personality changes. People with TBI often suffer permanent damage and require extensive medical and personal care for their entire life.

Traumatic brain injuries can occur as a result of an automobile accident, a sports injury, a criminal assault or a job-related injury, but can also result from a simple fall or what is perceived to be at the time, a slight bump on the head. Over 3,000,000 people struggle with life after TBI in this country every day that requires physical, emotional and financial support in enormous quantities.

If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office of The Cochran Firm today to find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for your injury to assist you in securing a better quality of life.

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Thousands of homes across America were constructed using defective Chinese drywall after a construction boom and repeated hurricane damage that was experienced between 2004 and 2007 created a shortage of domestically manufactured drywall.

Defective Chinese drywall causes a strong sulfur odor, reminiscent of rotten eggs, property damage and health problems like headaches, respiratory and sinus problems, nosebleeds and eye irritation. Homes constructed with defective Chinese drywall have been experiencing corroding electrical systems, heating and cooling systems and piping corrosion along with the health problems.

Over 100,000 homes are reported to be affected at this time and simply removing the defective Chinese drywall presents another problem. It has been reported that the removal procedure can actually release more toxic gases if not done properly.

Insurance companies are reportedly dropping homeowners or not renewing their homeowners insurance policies based on the presence of defective Chinese drywall in their homes. The defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm are aggressively pursuing the international companies, builders and insurers involved in this complex issue for their clients.

If you live in the Miami, Florida area and your home has been affected by defective Chinese drywall, please contact The Cochran Firm today and allow the experienced defective product attorneys there to advise you on how to proceed to protect your legal rights and get the financial assistance you deserve.

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It is one of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make in your lifetime. The placement of an elderly family member in a nursing home is a heart-wrenching decision, filled with feelings of guilt and fault. It is important to remember that aging and ill-health are no one’s fault, but just the next step in the process of life.

It is a fact of life that, unfortunately, elderly people in a nursing home are vulnerable to those that provide their care and are easy targets for nursing home abuse and neglect. Due to understaffing, overcrowding and inadequate training, nursing home residents often fall victims to physical and emotional abuse and neglect.

Nursing home residents are subject to malnutrition and dehydration, prescription and medication dosage errors, bedsores from failure of the staff to turn them at appropriate intervals when they are bedridden, broken bones from falls, wandering away from inadequate staff supervision, and bruises and injuries inflicted by physical abuse. A recent finding in several Chicago area nursing homes has uncovered sexual abuse of residents committed by unregistered convicted sex-offenders residing in area nursing homes.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to serious injuries and death and it is reported that over one million elderly residents of nursing homes nationwide suffer the consequences of abuse and neglect every year.

If you suspect a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse and neglect, please contact the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and the legal rights of your loved one.

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In September, 2009, McNeil Consumer Healthcare announced a recall of infant and children’s Tylenol. McNeil Consumer Healthcare is part of the Johnson & Johnson group that manufacturers Tylenol. They had found that one of the inactive ingredients in 21 Tylenol products was possibly contaminated. Bacteria were found in the ingredients but not in any finished products. However, they issued the recall for safety’s sake.

Arthritis Pain Caplets Now Included

Now Johnson & Johnson is expanding this Tylenol recall to include Arthritis Pain Caplets that are reported to have a moldy smell, described as musty like mildew, when the bottles are opened. The caplets are in 100-count bottles that have a red “ez-open” lid to enable people with arthritic fingers to open the bottle easily.

The first of these caplets were recalled in November – five lots only. At first the smell was causing nausea and Johnson & Johnson called those reactions “non-serious” and “temporary”. However, more reports were received where people were suffering from vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea because of this odor, as well as nausea.

A Fungicide the Cause

An in-depth investigation was then carried out and officials found that the cause of the odor was a chemical fungicide called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole. It was used to prevent fungus in the wooden shipping pallets used for the materials that were used in bottling the caplets. That is how the fungicide got inside the bottles.

This original September 2009 recall announcement by McNeil Consumer Healthcare gives the lot numbers of all the infant and child Tylenol withdrawn from the market at that time.

If you have purchased the arthritis caplets in those 100-count bottles, you are advised to stop using them immediately. The company is offering refunds and you can call them at 1-888-222-6036 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Defective drugs can be caused by events at many points along the route between initial manufacturing steps and consumer use. Investigations sometimes take a long time to pinpoint the problem and sometimes come up with an erroneous answer at first. This happened with the Heparin recall earlier this year, where the problem turned out to be a faulty ingredient used in China.

If you have been harmed by a defective product of any kind and would like to know more about your legal options, please contact our law office today for a free case review.

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"Premises liability" is a legal term that refers to the responsibility of certain people or entities for injuries and costs to others stemming from the ownership of property where the injury or damages occurred.

Under California law, there must be negligence on the part of the property owner in order for them to be held legally responsible for injuries or damages sustained on their property. The simple fact of owning a property does not make the owner legally responsible for injuries or damages that occurred on their property.

Some common types of injuries often involved in premises liability lawsuits include slip or trip and fall accidents, dog bites, construction accidents or accidents involving repairmen, swimming pool drownings or diving board accidents, injuries from exposure to hazardous or toxic substances, fires, inadequate security at malls or office buildings, poor lighting in parking garages or parking lots leading to criminal assaults.

Premises liability lawsuits are complex and most likely involve property insurance issues that only an experienced premises liability attorney can decipher and pursue to provide adequate compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury on someone else's property, please contact the San Jose, California office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you, to learn how to proceed with your case and obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

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Defective pharmaceuticals are responsible for causing serious harm and even death to thousands of trusting American consumers every day in the United States. With sales totaling hundreds of billions of dollars annually, recalled drugs are still in the news daily, because callous pharmaceutical executives make the decision to release a drug to the public knowing dangerous side effects exist. Taking a medication prescribed by your doctor should not be a life-threatening occurrence.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers routinely ignore the safety of consumers in a mad dash to get new drugs on the shelves while being guilty of inadequate testing and quality control procedures. A defective drug can cause heart attacks, kidney and liver damage, stroke and birth defects.

In the recent past drugs for arthritis pain, cholesterol lowering medications, oral contraceptives, diet drugs, anti-depressants and vaccines have been on the dangerous drugs list along with hundreds, if not thousands of others.

Defective drugs cause enormous pain and suffering for many and have been responsible for lawsuits and awards for damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

If you have been the victim of a defective drug, please contact the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today for a confidential evaluation of your case, at no cost to you, to take the first step towards justice and the financial compensation you deserve.

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Many homeowners in Louisiana are abandoning their homes after reporting foul odors, health concerns like headaches, respiratory problems, nosebleeds and eye irritation, and the corrosion of wiring, copper pipes and appliances due to toxic defective Chinese drywall that was used in the construction of these homes.

The defective Chinese drywall has higher than normal levels of the hazardous substances strontium and sulfur. To make matters worse, some homeowner insurance companies are canceling the homeowners insurance on these homes citing a failure on the part of the homeowner to maintain the home in a livable condition. This is a classic “catch 22” situation.

Louisiana’s defective Chinese drywall problem has not yet peaked and shows signs of getting worse. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were responsible for thousands of homes being rebuilt with the defective Chinese drywall and now those same people whose homes were destroyed have become victims of a different kind of disaster. However, citizens of Louisiana are protected to some extent by a consumer protection law unique to Louisiana.

If you or a family member or friend suspects your home contains defective Chinese drywall, you need the help of The Cochran Firm, a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that is committed to holding the international companies responsible for this disaster accountable.

If you live in and around Metairie, Louisiana please contact The Cochran Firm today and learn how the law in Louisiana can assist you in your efforts to obtain justice and protect your legal rights in your fight against the manufacturers and distributors of defective Chinese drywall.

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A "wrongful death" occurs when an individual dies as a result of the negligence or misconduct of another person, company or entity. Pursuing a wrongful death claim for financial compensation can never replace the loss of a loved one, but it will provide for lost income, medical and funeral expenses and the pain and suffering caused by the finality of your loss.

Wrongful deaths can be the result of medical malpractice, fatal car or truck accidents, construction fatalities, deaths caused by defective products or defective drugs, drowning or fire-related deaths and those killed as the result of a violent act. Losing someone you love is heartbreaking, but when that loss was avoidable and caused by the negligence or misconduct of another, the loss somehow seems more difficult to endure.

The only method available for measuring the cost of the loss of a loved in a court of law in a wrongful death case is by determining the financial loss that the death caused to the victim's survivors and beneficiaries.

When that loss is measured, the money the deceased earned, could have earned had they lived and how financially dependent the survivors were on the support of the deceased is taken into account. Medical, burial and funeral expenses are also taken into consideration.

Please contact the Birmingham, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today if you have lost a loved one to a wrongful death to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and get you the financial compensation you so rightfully deserve.

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The Constitution of the United States guarantees the citizens of this country certain rights. Police brutality violates those rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The police are obligated to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to honor your rights under the Constitution. You have the right to be free from the use of excessive force and cruel and unusual punishment even if you broke the law.

It is apparent that too many Latinos are put at risk everyday of their liberties and in some cases their lives, because of police brutality. The Latino community is a population that suffers a disproportionate number of instances of police brutality.

Although the use of reasonable force by the police in certain circumstances is necessary and understandable for the protection of innocent citizens, there are well documented cases of police abusing their authority and causing harm to undeserving citizenry. Police brutality can take many forms, such as racial profiling, false arrest, sexual harassment, intimidation and corruption. The majority of incidents of police brutality go unreported and therefore undocumented.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of police brutality, please contact the Latino Section of The Cochran Firm with offices nationwide today to schedule a private consultation at no cost to you to learn what you can do to protect your legal rights and the legal rights of those you love.

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The end of 2009 has brought the beginning of a well-deserved and highly anticipated ban on texting while driving in North Carolina. Drivers must now take their hands off the cell phone buttons and leave them on the steering wheel or face a fine.

The risk of an auto accident is 23 times greater than usual when a driver is texting while behind the wheel according to a recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study. Texting causes drivers to take their eyes and attention off the road for at least five second intervals. During that five second interval a car moving at highway speeds will travel the length of a football field.

The North Carolina texting while driving ban carries a one hundred dollar penalty that can more than double with fines for someone caught sending or reading a text while the car is in motion. Studies reveal that talking on a cell phone while driving, even using a hands-free headset, is also dangerous, increasing the likelihood of an automobile accident to the level of an alcohol or drug impaired driver. This distraction should be included in the ban as well to protect everyone on the roads and highways around the state.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident with a cell phone using texting driver, please contact the Durham, North Carolina office of The Cochran Firm today to learn how to proceed to protect your legal rights.

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According to the United States Department of Transportation there are over 170 people killed in truck accidents on New York roads every year with more than 2,000 people seriously injured. In spite of strict government regulations regarding driver training, truck safety and safety procedures, truck accident injuries and fatalities cause devastation to victims and their families.

Due to the tremendous size and weight of these trucks on the road today, they create enormous amounts of energy as they travel at highway speeds. As a consequence collisions with these trucks cause serious injuries or death to those unfortunate occupants of smaller passenger vehicles involved.

Common causes of truck accidents are overloading or improper loading of cargo, poor tire and equipment maintenance, defective or poorly designed roadways, poor driver training, driver fatigue, unsafe speeds and driving while impaired.

The wide spectrum of possible causes of a truck accident makes determining the cause of a truck accident a difficult job for anyone other than an experienced and knowledgeable truck accident attorney who understands the complexities involved. The Cochran Firm has experts in all fields of truck accident investigation available to assist their clients in obtaining the best possible legal representation when confronting the trucking industry in litigation regarding an accident with one of their trucks.

If you have been in an accident involving a truck in the New York City and surrounding areas, please contact The Cochran Firm today to get the legal representation you deserve.

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Property owners are obligated by law to provide safe premises for guests, customers and renters. If the owners of properties or businesses fail in their legal obligation to keep people safe on their property, innocent people may be seriously injured or killed.

Premises liability laws hold property owners legally liable when serious injuries or deaths occur due to their negligence. A "slip and fall" accident is an example of what can happen as a result of a hazardous condition on someone else's property. A hazardous condition may be caused by pooling water, ice, snow, poor lighting, a hole or crack in the pavement, a torn carpet or oily substance left on the floor.

Slip and fall accidents account for over 16,000 wrongful deaths each year in people aged 65 or older. Almost 2,000,000 elderly people are treated annually in emergency rooms across the United States for fall-related injuries with over 1,000,000 actual admissions to hospitals for those injuries.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else's property, you are eligible for financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses incurred as a result of your fall.

If you live in the Memphis, Tennessee area and you believe a negligent property owner was responsible for your injuries suffered in a slip and fall accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to proceed to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Recent studies have revealed that over one hundred thousand people are injured in this country every year resulting in over five thousand fatalities in accidents involving large trucks More than two hundred of those people lost their lives in Georgia. The massive size and weight of a large truck traveling at highway speeds creates an incredible force in an accident that can cause devastation to people and property.

A truck accident is a frightening event that becomes a complicated event in the aftermath that requires knowledge of trucks, the trucking industry and insurance issues. Truck accidents typically involve multiple vehicles, multiple victims and multiple insurance companies that complicate the resolution of culpability and responsibility further. An experienced truck accident attorney such as those with The Cochran Firm have expertise in all types of truck accidents and are familiar with just how catastrophic injuries and losses can be in an accident involving a truck, with broken bones and severed limbs, internal trauma, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, severe burns, and even death.

Truck accident victims can be financially compensated for medical expenses and lost income, lost future earning capacity, pain and suffering and the loss of your quality of life. In the event of a wrongful death due to a truck accident, survivors are also entitled to financial compensation for their losses brought about by the death of their loved one.

If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have been impacted by the involvement in an accident with a truck, please contact The Cochran Firm today.

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Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the linings of our internal organs. The mesothelium is the lining that protects our organs. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to and inhalation of asbestos. Asbestos is a natural material that became a very popular use for many products due to its resiliency and resistance to heat.

The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma often do not manifest for decades after asbestos exposure. There are three main types of this cancer:

• Pleural Mesothelioma
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma
• Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. It affects the lining of the lungs. Inhalation of asbestos causes the tiny, sharp fibers that make up the material to penetrate the lining of the lungs and destroy the mesothelium.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum, which is the lining that surrounds the gastrointestinal tract. The peritoneum provides lubrication for the stomach and intestinal tract, allowing them to move and digest food properly.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma. Just like the gastrointestinal tract, the heart is a moving organ, and requires lubrication to move and operate properly. The pericardium is the fluid filled sack that surrounds the heart, allowing it to move and function properly, and also preventing it from over-expanding. In pericardial mesothelioma, the tiny, sharp fibers of asbestos penetrate this lining and mutate into the cancer. It can cause coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.

The symptoms associated with all three types of this cancer resemble many more common diseases, which is why it is very important for your doctor to be aware of any exposure you may have had to asbestos, even if that exposure occurred decades ago.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or exposed to asbestos, please contact the experienced mesothelioma attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices across the nation, today.

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Every time you go to a store you take your life in your own hands. Does that sound like a true and rational statement? What if you went shopping knowing a few items in every store could cause you serious harm, but you did not know which ones?

That is exactly what happens every day in the United States as millions of Americans buy products and bring them into their homes, a sort of consumer- based game of Russian roulette. Most products are tested by their manufacturers, but in some cases dangerous flaws are either allowed to remain or go undetected until it is too late.

Defective or dangerous consumer products cause devastating injuries and deaths to thousands of unsuspecting consumers every year. Defective and dangerous products cause severe burns, brain injuries, paralysis, lost limbs or debilitating illnesses and even deaths. The parties responsible must be held legally culpable and financially liable for the damages they inflict on an unsuspecting public.

Some typical defective consumer products have included food items, toothpaste, toys, household appliances, automobiles, airbags, tires, cribs, strollers, pet foods, smoke detectors, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, flammable fabrics, the list is endless.

If you or someone you love has been injured by the use of a defective consumer product, please contact the Los Angeles, California office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about your legal rights and how an experienced product liability attorney can get you the financial compensation you deserve.

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Every day it seems a new drug is recalled or a warning is issued to consumers from pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding defective drugs. Over 20 million people have been affected by drug recalls in the past. The effects of taking a defective pharmaceutical can cause long term medical complications, frightening symptoms and permanent disabilities and death.

Too often pharmaceutical companies put profits before people and their safety by rushing to release the latest "wonder drug" to consumers eager for a solution to a health problem. The result can have a disastrous impact on those who take the drugs and experience horrific side effects. Defective pharmaceuticals have been responsible for heart attacks, strokes, birth defects and liver and kidney failure at times resulting in death.

Laws are in place for individuals injured by a defective drug to seek justice and financial compensation for their injuries or wrongful death. Defective pharmaceutical lawsuits are very complicated and require the knowledge and expertise of a law firm experienced in taking on the giant pharmaceutical industry. The Cochran Firm has been fighting successfully for justice for their clients against this industry for decades and it is their firm belief a company that places profits before peoples’ lives must be held financially accountable for their actions.

Please contact The Cochran Firm today at their Washington, D.C. location if you have been injured by a defective drug and make it your first action toward getting the financial compensation you deserve.

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A fully loaded18-wheeler traveling at interstate speeds can cause terrible injuries and death in a collision with an automobile. Speeding, distractions, fatigue, an alcohol or drug impaired driver, a poorly maintained truck, are all typical reasons why trucks crash.

Other truck accidents involving delivery or commercial trucks on city streets that do not involve speed, but entail pulling out into traffic without maintaining the proper lane, running over pedestrians or bicyclists, failing to see a motorcycle rider or sideswiping a car, can also cause serious injuries.

Due to the weight and speed of these trucks, the injuries are often catastrophic. Spinal cord injuries for example can result from these accidents and require multiple surgeries, or result in paralysis and require a lifetime of medical care, expenses and limitations.

When you are the victim of a truck accident you have inadvertently entered into an adversarial relationship with a trucking company and team of lawyers working to deflect blame for the accident and distance themselves from any legal responsibility for your injuries. An experienced truck accident attorney at The Cochran Firm will make sure you are fully compensated for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and any expenses you incur as a result of your injuries.

Visitors and guests injured in a truck accident while visiting Las Vegas should consult with The Cochran Firm whose attorneys have the experience and knowledge of trucking industry law and insurance issues to make certain you receive adequate financial compensation.

Please contact The Cochran Firm today in Las Vegas, Nevada if you have been the victim of an accident with a truck and make sure you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

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Mississippians expect their local police forces to protect them, not harm them. The people of Mississippi do not expect abusive behavior from the police during a routine traffic stop, or unnecessary and unwarranted racial profiling of their particular minority group either.

They do not expect physical or emotional abuse, assault by a police officer with a nightstick or flashlight, unlawful or warrantless arrests, vindictive arrests or prosecutions or problems with off-duty police officers at a restaurant or bar. Mississippians do not expect this behavior, but they are often victims of police misconduct and brutality.

The use of reasonable force by the police in certain circumstances is necessary to protect their lives and the lives of innocent people caught up in the rising tide of criminal behavior in many communities. However, there are cases where some police officers have abused their authority over the years.

When a police officer abuses their power and deliberately harms an individual, the victim can file a police brutality claim. The Cochran Firm has a long and proud tradition of civil rights advocacy and is well equipped to use every legal avenue to retaliate against police brutality wherever it occurs and to pursue financial compensation for the insults and injuries innocent citizens have suffered at the hands of a few bad police officers.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of police brutality, please contact the Jackson, Mississippi office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn how you can protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

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These 14 firefighters were recently promoted to lieutenant and captain. This week, they filed a lawsuit seeking back pay, damages, and legal fees. Their employment law attorneys claim that the firefighters are entitled to back pay with interest for the promotions they should have received more than six years ago had their test scores been certified.

The firefighters are also suing for damages to cover “the humiliation and economic hardship of prolonged career stagnancy in a rancorous atmosphere fostered by raw racial divides.” These employment law claims may cost the city of New Haven as much as $1 million.

The experienced employment law attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you recover damages for unfair practices committed by your employer, including but not limited to racial discrimination. These are highly complex cases and require the assistance of an attorney with a great deal of expertise in the field of employment law.

Please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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Kidney dialysis treatments replace the function of the kidney which serves as your body's filtration system. The kidney dialysis treatment removes waste products and excess fluids from your bloodstream while maintaining the correct chemical balance of your blood.

Twenty million people over the age of twenty suffer from chronic kidney disease. Several hundred thousand people must undergo kidney dialysis treatments every year to stay alive. Unfortunately, kidney dialysis treatments themselves are not without risk to victims of chronic kidney disease.

There are thousands of incidents of errors in kidney dialysis treatments every day in the United States. Errors in kidney dialysis treatments may include medication errors, vascular access-related injuries, excess or prolonged blood loss, inadequate cleaning and filtering of dialysis machines, failure to properly monitor patient vital signs and patient falls.

If you or someone you love is presently undergoing kidney dialysis treatments and you have questions regarding the level of care you are receiving you should consult an attorney with experience in kidney dialysis errors like the attorneys with The Cochran Firm who are well-versed in kidney dialysis care and treatment and incidents of malpractice in that field.

If you are a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana or the surrounding area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal right to high quality medical care and treatment.

Labels: Louisiana, New Orleans

According to a heart-stopping statistic, some hospitals are responsible for causing harm to up to 36% of their patients due to medical errors that caused injuries and deaths.

Medical malpractice is the result of a negligent act by a healthcare professional or facility that culminates in damage to a patient. That healthcare professional or facility may include, but not be limited to, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nursing homes or hospitals and involve misdiagnoses, surgical mistakes, medication and dosage errors, failure to diagnose a life-threatening disease and other countless acts of negligence.

Medical malpractice laws were designed to protect patients and their right to pursue financial compensation if they were injured as a result of medical negligence and malpractice. There are time constraints governing how long someone may wait to bring a medical malpractice claim.

If you are concerned you have been a victim of medical malpractice, do not hesitate in contacting an experienced medical malpractice attorney. A medical malpractice attorney at The Cochran Firm can evaluate your case, determine if you do indeed have a just claim and initiate that claim for financial compensation for you without further delay.

We encourage you to contact The Cochran Firm today if you live in the Huntsville, Alabama area and have been the victim of medical malpractice, to protect your legal rights and take the first step in obtaining justice for yourself and for those you love.

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In 2005, one Lester Fleming, M.D. entered into a contract to provide anesthesiology services to a medical center in Yuma, Arizona. Before he began work there in November that year, he was asked to sign an addition to his contract and refused to do so. It would have disallowed him to keep a work schedule that accommodated his Sickle Cell anemia. Because he would not sign this paperwork, his contract was canceled.

Fleming sued the medical center for breach of contract and claimed that the center was in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

What is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Anemia is a general term for conditions where the blood has too few red cells or the cells have too little hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries iron and oxygen around the body and gives blood its red color. With a deficiency of red cells and hemoglobin, a person has too little oxygen in the body’s organs.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease where the red blood cells have a sickle shape instead of a donut shape. They are sticky and stiff and cannot flow easily through the blood vessels. They tend to form clumps and block blood flow. They live only ten to twenty days instead of the normal 120 days, and the body cannot replace them fast enough.

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia include fatigue, poor concentration, and a feeling of malaise. The heart may race in an effort to circulate the blood faster. The legs may be painful and tend towards cramping.

An anesthesiologist would spend a lot of time standing, as the job includes monitoring each patient’s vital signs for the duration of their surgery. He would visit all patients in the recovery room to determine when they are awake and alert enough to be discharged or sent back to a ward. With sickle cell anemia this could be exhausting and painful in the legs and the doctor might need shorter shifts or more days off.

The Rehabilitation Act

The Rehabilitation Act is a provision in a 1973 federal law designed to protect qualified people from discrimination based on their disability. When Fleming sued, the court ruled in favor of the medical center on the basis that Fleming was not an employee, but a contractor. Fleming appealed on the basis that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act did cover him even if he was a contractor.

The Ninth Circuit court reversed the dismissal, claiming that Section 504 does not incorporate the American with Disaiblities Act’s definitions of who is covered; it incorporates only the ADA’s standards for defining a violation of the Act. The Rehabilitation Act is broader than the ADA and covers “otherwise qualified individuals” as well as employees.

The Sixth and Eighth circuit courts have previously ruled otherwise but the Tenth has agreed with this current ruling. Therefore the issue will probably make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court at some point for a final determination.

Employment law can be very complex. If you think you have been dealt with unfairly by your employer, please contact our law office today for a free case review. Our offices are nationwide for your convenience.

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A high number of automobile accidents happen at intersections, causing serious injuries and deaths. Collisions at intersections involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, bicycles and pedestrians are caused by many factors including speeding, drunk driving, distractions like cell phone use and texting, failure to obey traffic laws and poor road maintenance.

Many motor vehicle accidents at intersections involve left-turning vehicles attempting to cross on-coming traffic, the failure to yield the right of way and ignoring stop signs. Over 40% of fatal automobile accidents involve driving through a stop sign or ignoring a traffic light at intersections. A collision at an intersection can result in devastating injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones or amputations, severe burns and death.

Missing, faded or obscured stop signs are also responsible for many accidents at intersections. The experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm have design engineers, accident investigators and experts in the dynamics of car accidents available to expose negligence on the part of municipalities responsible for a dangerous intersection and will hold them legally responsible for the injuries and fatalities caused by poorly designed or maintained intersections.

If you or someone you love was injured or killed at a dangerous intersection in the Mobile, Alabama area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and learn how to proceed with your case during a confidential consultation at no cost to you.

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People injured as a result of negligence on someone else's property are entitled to pursue financial compensation for their injuries. Business owners, homeowners and commercial property owners are all legally liable for accidents that occur on their property and they are equally liable for the resulting injuries.

Wet floors, obstacles and poor lighting are the common causes of many accidents that occur in stores and businesses, but other premises liability injuries may involve a lack of security or other negligent actions. Accidents that may result in a valid premises liability lawsuit include a slip and fall caused by torn carpet, uneven walkways or highly polished slippery floors or a parking lot assault resulting from inadequate security personnel or poor lighting.

The injuries in premises liability accidents may include back or neck injuries, hip fractures, head injuries or other serious life- threatening injuries. Texas premises liability law requires the injured party must prove the property owner knew the dangerous condition existed but failed to correct it. The experienced premises liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm have proved liability under Texas law for their many clients’ countless times over the years.

If you live in the Houston, Texas area and you or someone you love has been injured on someone else's property, please contact The Cochran Firm today where your case will be investigated and your options explained to you so you can pursue the financial compensation to which you may be entitled.

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The fast pace, overcrowding and understaffing of emergency rooms in Alabama and throughout the country are responsible for seriously ill people sometimes being sent home with a misdiagnosis, a serious and often fatal occurrence.

The risks of going to the local emergency room, though well-known, must be put aside when you have no choice in the matter. Accidents, medical crises and health concerns come without warning in most cases and visits to the local emergency room are not by choice but by necessity. However, over 50% of all allegations of medical malpractice come from injuries suffered as a result of an emergency room visit.

Common emergency room medical malpractice incidents may include a delay in treatment or a failure to treat, medication errors, a wrong diagnosis, diagnostic testing and laboratory errors, and overall negligence on the part of healthcare professionals on staff there.

Emergency room errors can lead to medical complications and deaths from medication overdoses, infections contracted in the emergency room due to unsanitary conditions, and brain injuries due to the lack of oxygen.

Financial compensation for medical expenses both present and future, lost wages, rehabilitation costs and other damages may be awarded to victims of emergency room medical malpractice and their families.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of emergency room medical malpractice, please contact the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm's experienced medical malpractice attorneys to get the legal representation to ensure justice is served and those responsible for your injuries are held accountable.

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Whenever you seek medical care in Michigan you expect a healthcare provider will treat you or your loved ones with the high standards demanded of the medical community nationwide. Medical malpractice is a healthcare provider's failure to provide a degree of care and skill expected of any other medical professional under similar circumstances.

Medical malpractice is a serious issue in Michigan and is the leading cause of wrongful death. There are many different instances you or someone you care about can be affected by medical malpractice, some of which include surgical errors such as wrong site surgery or instruments left behind in the surgical site, anesthesia errors, medication errors, birth injuries, misdiagnoses, emergency room failures to diagnose the correct problem, infections contracted in a hospital and nursing home neglect and abuse.

It is important your attorney has extensive expertise in the field of medical malpractice litigation. Medical malpractice law is complicated, technical and a specialized field of law. The highly skilled team of professionals at The Cochran Firm has long worked together to ensure you have the best legal representation available and are focused on your needs. Their experience and perseverance will help you obtain the financial compensation you deserve for the injuries you have suffered.

Please contact the Detroit, Michigan office of The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you love has suffered injuries or died due to medical malpractice.

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Texting while driving can lead to a fatal distraction. Millions of Americans are hooked on texting and using their cell phones at the expense of others on the roadways. "Intextication" like drunk driving, causes slower driver reaction times, weaving in and out of lanes and the general risky driving behaviors often associated with intoxicated drivers.

According to a recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study the risk of an automobile accident is 23 times greater while a driver is texting. Texting causes a driver to divert their eyes from the road for at least five-second intervals, the length of a football field when traveling at highway speeds.

Text-messaging is increasing dramatically with more than 135 billion text messages sent in the period of one month in 2009, a 19-fold increase over four years earlier according to a wireless industry group that supports bans on texting while driving.

Public outrage and common sense are having an effect on lawmakers in many states, causing bans on texting and phoning while driving to be implemented so the laws in reference to texting while driving are changing daily. An experienced automobile accident attorney familiar with Texas texting laws like those at The Cochran Firm are a valuable asset to you if you were involved in an accident with a texting driver.

If you live in the Dallas, Texas area and you were in an automobile accident with a texting driver, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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After repeated media pronouncements about an upcoming pandemic of swine flu, it has turned out that the H1N1 virus is less serious than predicted. According to Harvard University researchers, it is only slightly stronger than the seasonal flu. U.S. demand for vaccines has dropped overall, though it varies across the country.

Tom Skinner, spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states that there may be a surplus of vaccines, although it is still too soon to be sure. There could be more cases of swine flu in the new year and meanwhile, the seasonal flu has started appearing.

Swine Flu Shots Recalled

Sanofi Pasteur is a large French pharmaceutical company that has made many of the swine flu shots used in the U.S. Yesterday they voluntarily recalled about 800,000 pre-filled syringes that had been designed for children between the ages of six months and three years.

In fact, most of those syringes have been used, as they were distributed around the country in November. Testing at the time of shipping confirmed that they had the correct strength, but testing done a few weeks later showed that the strength had dropped a bit below the necessary level. It is not known why they lost strength, but they are safe.

The children these vaccines were meant for were supposed to be given two shots about a month apart. If your child was given two of these shots, you do not need to take any action. If your child had just one shot so far, you should go ahead and have the second one done according to the plan.

Tips For Avoiding Swine Flu

The H1N1 virus is transmitted by personal contact. You can reduce your chances of getting this swine flu, and of spreading it if you do get it, if you wash your hands effectively and often. Also cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough and do not share any food utensils or eat any food samples you might find in stores.

Recalls of defective products happen every day. There can be defective medications, defective vehicles, or defective medical devices. Defective product lawsuits can become complex, with product experts warring over details; but it is important that there be consequences to a manufacturing company if any of their products injure people.

If you have been badly hurt by a product that turned out to be defective, please call or email our personal injury attorneys today for a free case review.

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If you are dealing with broken plumbing, heating, or other unsafe building conditions in your rented apartment building or rented house and are being ignored by your landlord, help is on the way.

Problems with leaky roofs, and malfunctioning heating systems or water heaters are the responsibility of the landlord. If your concerns about your living conditions are being ignored, there are legal actions you can take to make things better. Your landlord must make necessary repairs to make your living conditions meet local housing codes and to ensure the premises are safe. In a landlord/tenant dispute, the law is on your side. There are legal rights that protect tenants from being exploited by their landlords and it is important that you know what those legal rights are and you take advantage of the full protection of the law.

Headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana, but connected to a nationwide network of attorneys, the Latino Section of The Cochran Firm is ready to help the victims of oppression across this country, standing by our commitment to uphold civil rights for all. The Cochran Firm Latino Section is dedicated to ensuring equal treatment under the law for all.

If you have attempted to resolve a landlord/tenant dispute with no results, please contacto the experienced landlord-tenant dispute attorneys with offices nationwide at el Bufete de Abogados Cochran today to schedule a no cost to you consultation to learn how to solve your problem quickly and successfully.

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According to the FDA, there are about 150,000 CT brain perfusion scans done each year in the U.S. They are done to diagnose strokes. These are not ordinary CT scans. The patient is given an iodine injection first and then for 45 seconds, a long series of X-rays are taken that gives a detailed image of the brain’s blood flow. There is therefore more radiation administered in these scans than in routine CT scans.

The FDA is doing an investigation into some possible radiation overdoses at two hospitals: one in California and one in Alabama. In August 2009 there was a similar investigation into eleven Cedars-Sinai facilities in Los Angeles county and that review is finished now.

The current possible California overdoses were found by L.A. county safety inspectors who reported them to the FDA last week. They were at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and the CT scanners were made by Toshiba. Previous scanners were made by General Electric.

Possibly a Nationwide Problem

The fact that two manufacturers and several medical institutions are involved is giving rise to the suspicion that this problem may be nationwide. The case in Alabama involved a 59-year-old woman who had a CT brain perfusion scan in September at Huntsville Hospital and then developed a bald strip around her head where the X-rays had entered. The scan determined that she had not had a stroke, but her medical records evidently show that she was given too much radiation, even more than was given at the Cedars-Sinai centers.

This week, the FDA asked hospitals nationwide to review their radiation dosage guidelines for these CT perfusion scans and to train their CT technicians to check the scanner’s display panel for dosage data before they begin any scan.

Physicians are not the only professionals who can be charged with medical malpractice. X-ray technicians can be thus charged, as well as nurses, physician assistants and even the hospitals themselves.

If you have been injured by a medical professional who was possibly negligent in doing their job, you may have a valid legal claim. Please contact our medical malpractice attorneys today for a free case review.

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