The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Your life can be changed forever in a few short seconds if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident. What happens immediately following your accident may help you recover from your accident more quickly and hold those responsible legally liable.

In the event you are involved in a motor vehicle accident some advice to try to remember is to first and foremost seek medical attention even if you do not think you have been injured. Some injury’s symptoms, such as whiplash injuries, take hours or days to surface and can leave you with a life-long disability if left unattended for an extended period of time.

Notify the police so there is an official police report of your accident which may be useful to you in the future in case of a lawsuit. Make sure you obtain vehicle and contact information from all individuals involved in the accident and try to obtain any witness information as well.

It would be very helpful if you could take pictures of the accident that can provide actual photographic evidence of the accident and prevailing conditions of the road and weather at the time that may prove to be of assistance to an accident reconstruction expert.

The motor vehicle accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm have many years experience in handling all manner of motor vehicle accident claims and work with experts in every legal and medical field to ensure their clients get the best legal representation available.

If you live in the Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina area and you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how you can protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you need to face the challenges that face you in the future.

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A death in the family is a heartbreaking event. A death in the family caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness is heartbreaking and difficult to comprehend and deal with. A wrongful death is a legal term that defines a death due to the negligence or recklessness of another.

A wrongful death claim does not seek to punish the individual responsible for the wrongful death, but seeks financial compensation for the family of the deceased for their losses. Financial compensation for a wrongful death is meant to recover damages for funeral and burial expenses, medical and hospital costs, pain and suffering, loss of income and anticipated earnings, loss of inheritance and benefits and loss of companionship.

A wrongful death can result from a motor vehicle accident, medical malpractice, a surgical error, a defective consumer product, nursing home abuse and neglect, a criminal assault or a construction accident.

The wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm will evaluate your claim and make certain you have the best legal representation possible to ensure a successful and just outcome so you can face the challenges ahead with a secure financial future.

If you have lost a family member to a wrongful death, please contact the Mobile, Alabama area office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to your confidential consultation to learn how to proceed with your wrongful death claim.

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Medical mistakes that take place during surgery can happen when a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist or other member of the surgical team fails in their duty to provide an acceptable standard of care for their patient. A recent report issued by The Institute of Medicine reveals that upwards of ninety-five thousand deaths in the nation’s hospitals can be attributed to medical and surgical mistakes.

A surgical mistake can include the wrong surgical procedure being performed, the wrong surgical site being operated on, medical instruments used during surgery being left inside the patient, organ puncture, unnecessary or unwarranted surgery, delayed or prolonged surgery, anesthesia problems, or a failure to react in a timely manner to problems that arise during or after surgery.

Some of the most common surgical procedures that are at risk for surgical mistakes include a hysterectomy, gall bladder surgery, appendicitis, back surgery, bariatric surgeries including lap band and stomach-stapling procedures and cosmetic surgical procedures.

Since surgical medical malpractice claims are complex and difficult to prove, it is important to contact The Cochran Firm without delay so we can evaluate your surgical medical malpractice claim and determine what compensation you deserve.

If you have been a victim of a surgical mistake in the Jackson, Mississippi area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to discuss your options with an experienced surgical medical malpractice attorney who can protect your legal rights and get you the financial compensation you deserve.

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Police brutality refers to the inappropriate use of excessive force in a situation involving the police and citizens that can include physical, verbal, psychological or sexual abuse. Police brutality or misconduct can include false arrest, intimidation, racial profiling, political repression, surveillance abuse, sexual harassment and police corruption.

Every citizen has the right to expect law enforcement to obey the laws of the constitution and not use police brutality tactics against them or against even those who may be accused of a crime. The majority of victims of police misconduct and brutality are minorities or the so-called working class. A routine traffic stop should not be a matter of life or death for Chicagoans, but in some instances it is exactly that.

When the police abuse their power and cause harm to an individual, the victim can file a police brutality lawsuit. The Cochran Firm has a long standing tradition of civil rights advocacy and is well known for its excellent record of obtaining justice and financial compensation for their clients for insults and injuries incurred by police misconduct or brutality.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois or surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been the victim of police misconduct or brutality, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation with the leader in civil rights advocacy to protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

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A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is usually the result of a sudden and violent blow to the head from an automobile accident injury, a fall, a job-related injury, a criminal assault or a sports-related injury.

Symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, may include a brief period of unconsciousness, headache, mild confusion and dizziness, blurred vision and some difficulty concentrating for a short time. However, symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury include a persistent headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, weakness of the extremities, loss of coordination, profound confusion and agitation and the inability to awaken.

A severe traumatic brain injury requires immediate emergency hospitalization and intensive care. The effects of a traumatic brain injury are physically and emotionally challenging and life-altering as well as life-threatening. Victims of a traumatic brain injury will require months and years of emotional, physical and financial support. The traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm are very experienced in handling the complex legal and medical issues involved in a case of traumatic brain injury.

If you live in the Sacramento, California area and you or someone you care about has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with our attorneys to protect your legal rights and find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.

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Product liability laws are in place to compensate consumers who have been injured or killed by the use of a defective product while holding the manufacturer and distributor of the defective product legally responsible.

Defective or dangerous consumer products have a history of causing devastating injuries and deaths to thousands of innocent people each year, including infants and children. Defective products have caused severe burns, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations, debilitating illnesses and fatalities.

Some common defective consumer products have included toys, cribs, strollers, seatbelts, tires, smoke detectors, pet foods, medical devices, cars, drugs and household appliances. The list of defective consumer products includes thousands of items we use in our everyday lives that put us all at risk for injury and death.

Damages for injuries suffered by consumers while using a defective product include payment for your pain and suffering, lost income, medical expenses, disability and disfigurement, rehabilitation costs and in the event of a wrongful death, funeral and burial expenses and damages to the survivors and beneficiaries of the deceased.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of a defective product, you should know the product liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm have years of experience working together as a team so you can benefit from their expertise while they work to protect your legal rights and ensure you obtain the financial compensation you deserve for your losses.

If you have been victimized by a defective consumer product, please contact the Minneapolis, Minnesota office of The Cochran Firm today.

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Wrongful death is a legal term used to describe the death of an individual brought about by the negligence or willful actions of another individual. A wrongful death entitles the survivors and beneficiaries to financial compensation for their loss.

Some examples of a wrongful death are those caused by a motor vehicle accident, a criminal assault, a work-related injury, medical malpractice, a death in a nursing home, or a death caused by a defective product or drug.

Discovering if the death of a loved one was caused by the negligence or willful actions of another individual requires investigation and the knowledge and experience of an attorney with many years successfully litigating wrongful death claims like those at The Cochran Firm. A wrongful death attorney familiar with the laws and statutes of the state of Alabama will handle your claim efficiently and without delay.

Financial compensation for the survivors and beneficiaries may include damages for medical, funeral and burial costs, payment for the deceased’s pain and suffering prior to death, the loss of financial support for the survivors and loss of future earning potential of the victim.

The experienced wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Huntsville, Alabama are dedicated to assisting those suffering the loss of a loved one. Please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights at this sad time in your life and to ensure those responsible for your loss are held legally and financially responsible.

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Automobile accidents caused by drivers operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medications (DUI) are responsible for the death of an American every thirty minutes of every day.

Substances that affect your coordination impair or distort your vision, and slow normal reaction times when behind the wheel such as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin or prescription medications such as sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and other depressants cause many motor vehicle accidents that are responsible for serious injuries and deaths.

Alcohol and drug impaired drivers make a choice to drive under the influence that impacts the lives of countless innocent people every day. Car accident-related fatalities of one in five young people under the age of fourteen can be attributed to alcohol and drugs as a causative factor.

The trauma sustained in an automobile accident involving alcohol or drugs is often devastating to the spinal cord or head because along with the alcohol and drugs, excessive speed and head-on collisions are typically implicated. Victims of impaired drivers suffer a physical, emotional and financial toll that demands financial compensation for their suffering.

The automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm have years of experience handling DUI cases for their clients and will work diligently for you to protect your legal rights and obtain the justice and financial compensation you deserve to help you cope with the challenges you may face in the future.

If you have been victimized by an alcohol or drug impaired driver, please contact the Birmingham, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today.

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Automobiles with defects that have provoked lawsuits recently have included, but are not limited to gas pedals that stick or are responsible for unwanted acceleration, fuel system defects that cause fires and explosions, wiring and electronic defects that cause multiple problems, brake failures, faulty airbags and vehicle rollovers.

Vehicles with defective parts or a defective design can result in accidents, injuries and fatalities. The individuals legally responsible for damages include the car manufacturer, the parts manufacturer, the distributor of the defective vehicle parts and the car dealership.

The legal issues of liability are complex when an injury or wrongful death is caused by a defective vehicle or defective car part. The experienced defective vehicle attorneys at The Cochran Firm will guarantee you receive excellent legal representation and fair compensation from those responsible for your injuries. An important point to remember is that your vehicle is considered evidence and must be treated as such to be examined by an expert who will be asked to testify to their findings at trial. You have no case if your vehicle evidence is lost to mishandling or ineffective examination.

If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and you or someone you love was injured or killed in an accident caused by a defective vehicle or defective car part, please contact the highly skilled attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and the interests of those you love.

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Two trains collided head-on in the town of Halle; at the time of this writing, the cause of the collision is still unknown. It was snowing at the time of the crash but not a great deal of snow was coming down. It took about 30 minutes for rescue crews to arrive at the horrific scene; some passengers did not even know there had been a head-on crash.

The collision occurred during the morning rush hour.

Nine years ago, eight people died in a train collision in Belgium. It was suggested that the cause of the crash was a language issue between a French-speaking signalman and a Flemish-speaking one.

Monday's train collision is one of the deadliest train accidents in Europe.

If you have suffered or if a loved one has been killed in a train accident anywhere in the United States, the experienced train accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help.

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Oklahoma has sued 14 poultry companies in both Oklahoma and Arkansas over pollution of the Illinois river watershed. That watershed is shared by the two states and Oklahoma’s attorney general, one Drew Edmondson, claims that phosphorous from poultry litter runoff has stimulated the growth of algae, depleted oxygen and could kill certain types of fish.

Green is Good?

As a college student, he says, he was able to stand in the Illinois river up to his chest and see his toes.

• "I've seen it change," Edmondson says. "It's nice to have green land. It's not so nice to have green rivers."

Green land is what poultry farmer Gene Pharr claims credit for, saying that the chicken droppings that were spread in the Ozarks have created a lush green area; and further, of course, that the poultry industry has brought a lot of prosperity to northwestern Arkansas.

If the poultry industry is targeted by attorneys who put chicken waste on the same level as industrial solvents or pesticides, says Pharr, “We could see the loss of this industry to this country.” Pharr has 125,000 chickens, which is a fraction of the area’s $2 billion industry.

Poultry Partners

The poultry farmers have joined together in a group called Poultry Partners to help each other. The lawsuit was filed June 13 and seeks money to clean up the river. Plaintiff lawyers are from a South Carolina firm that filed lawsuits against tobacco companies.

• "The poultry industry is not the tobacco industry, and poultry litter is not a hazardous waste," says Janet Wilkerson of Peterson Farms, a spokeswoman for the companies.

The Arkansas farmers are asking why, instead of suing them, Oklahoma doesn’t seek more regulations. In their view, any money available should be spent on better ways to use poultry waste, such as in generating electricity or composting.

The lawsuit has been creating bad feelings between the two states. According to the lawsuit, Oklahoma has 508 chicken farms in the Illinois river watershed whereas Arkansas has 2,363. Between them, they are adding phosphorous waste equivalent to what 10.7 million residents would add per year. Defendant lawyers claim that the water pollution is caused by twelve wastewater treatment plants in the area and by runoff from local cattle waste.

Edmondson is targeting the chicken companies, rather than the farmers, for money to finance a cleanup. However, one Bev Saunders, who, with her husband, raises broiling chickens in Oklahoma, says:

• "If the companies don't survive, we don't survive. If we don't survive, it could have a drastic impact on America's food supply."

There are many lawsuits nationwide over perceived harm done by farmers, such as the odor from hog farms and the waste from dairy farms. This suit will play itself out, like all lawsuits, and no doubt, somehow, the Illinois river will end up being clean again.

If you have been hurt by the way someone else maintains their property, you could have a valid premises liability claim. To learn more about your legal position, please contact our office for a free case review.

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A longtime friend of former Pennsylvania Congressman, John Murtha, alleges that Murtha's large intestine was damaged during gallbladder surgery; the complication, according to Representative Bob Brady from Pennsylvania, led Murtha to be hospitalized. The surgery had been performed a few days earlier at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Murtha, a longtime Congressman and critic of the war in Iraq, passed away at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. Brady said Murtha had an infection with a fever when he was admitted on January 31, 2010; he died February 8, 2010.

Approximately 30% of all gall bladder surgeries are performed laparoscopically (known as Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy), and this procedure is one of the most oft-performed surgeries in the U.S. However, as with any surgery, there are risks and complications can arise during and after surgery, leading to further injury and even death. If you have been a victim or a loved one has died due to a surgical error, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Although no medical malpractice claim has been formally made in this case, there are thousands of these cases in the United States each year. According to surgerymalpractice.com, a staggering 225,000 people die each year due to medical errors, making medical negligence the third leading cause of death in American adults after heart disease and cancer.

If you feel you may have a valid medical malpractice claim, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm today; we have offices nationwide and surely have one near you. In Pennsylvania, we have an office in Philadelphia.

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Back in 1995, one Andrew McCarrell, aged 23 at the time, began using Accutane, a drug for acne. He became ill and had to have five surgeries, one of which, in 1996, was to remove his colon. He had developed inflammatory bowel disease. Before he began taking Accutane, he was a college football player in robust health.

What is Accutane?

Accutane (Isotretinoin) is made by the Swiss pharmaceutical company, Roche Holding AG. It is a form of Vitamin A designed to reduce the amount of oil produced by the skin’s oil glands and to help the skin renew itself. Accutane is usually used for severe acne after other medications have failed to be effective. For most users, Accutane is highly effective and no further acne treatment is needed.

The company began selling Accutane in 1982 and over 13 million people began using it immediately. It can only be obtained by registering in a special program called iPLEDGE, where you sign statements saying that you understand Accutane’s dangers and that you agree to use birth control while you are on Accutane. Accutane can cause major birth defects and should not be taken by a pregnant woman. Pregnancy testing is required by the iPLEDGE program.

The Risks of Accutane

Accutane has been connected to birth defects and depression and more recently with a rare but very painful skin condition called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). In SJS, the top skin layer dies and peels off, exposing the person to a severe risk of infection. The patient must be hospitalized in a burn unit for treatment. SJS is fatal in about three percent of cases.

Since Accutane works by inhibiting oil gland production, skin and mucous membranes over the entire body are affected. That gives rise to many side effects such as:

• Dry and itching skin
• Eye irritation
• Decreased night vision
• Increased sensitivity to the sun’s rays
• Dry nose and lips
• Intestinal and urinary problems

Most of the side effects are minor but in McCarrell’s case, the intestinal problems became major. He won a jury award in 2007 for $2.62 million but an appeals court overturned it and ordered a new trial.

The Sixth Accutane Jury Award

Yesterday, McCarrell won $25 million. He is the sixth Accutane user to win a jury award on the basis that Roche failed to warn users of the drug’s dangers (although one award, for $7.2 million has been overturned). Roche is facing about 1,000 other lawsuits and withdrew Accutane from the market in 2009.

McCarrell’s nine jurors deliberated for 3.5 hours to arrive at their decision. They also awarded McCarrell $159,000 to cover his past medical expenses. The jurors were not unanimous about whether Roche had failed to provide adequate warnings. Two of them regarded the warnings as adequate.

“It was all about the wording on the label,” said juror Vince Packer. “It didn’t give a clear-cut explanation as to what you can get by taking this drug. That’s my issue -- was it properly labeled?”

No doubt the labeling issue will be central in the remaining 1,000 or so lawsuits that remain to be tried.

If you have been harmed by a defective drug – whether defective in its medical effects or its labeling – you may have a valid claim. Please contact us if you would like to schedule a free case review. Our offices are nationwide for your convenience.

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No one should buy a product that is known to be defective. Retailers have a responsibility to protect consumers by getting recalled items off their shelves, but currently they have no legal liability to enforce that responsibility. Under current product liability law, retailers are protected from lawsuits over defective products, even after that product has been recalled, which means that they have nothing to lose in continuing to sell defective products.

In many ways, protecting retailers makes sense. They are middlemen and cannot be expected to understand the working of every product they sell. But they can and should be expected to pay attention to product recalls. One of the main problems limiting the effectiveness of product recalls is that the manufacturer does not have contact with end consumers, but lines of communication always exist between manufacturers and retailers, and most retailers play an important part in product recalls. Those who fail to their customers should bear some legal responsibility.

Changing this flaw in the product liability law may be a long time coming. In the meantime, The Cochran Firm is prepared to seek compensation for your defective product injury from those who have legal liability, the manufacturers. Please call or email us today for a free consultation.

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Toyota has found a solution to the sticking gas pedal defect that caused millions of its most popular vehicles to be recalled; the nation's number one seller, the Camry, was included in the massive recall. The solution involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a way that eliminates friction that caused the accelerators to stick. Replacement parts are being shipped to dealers and employees will be working around the clock to fix the defective vehicles. Owners of the defective vehicles will be contacted as early as this week and will be told when to bring their vehicle in for repairs. Toyota will cover all costs to fix the defect.

The repair, which involves installing a steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly to reduce surface tension and prevent friction, only takes about thirty minutes. Dealerships will be open seven days a week, extended hours to get all vehicles fixed in a timely manner.

If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a defect in a vehicle or some other product, please contact the defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

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Avandia and Actos are both drugs for treating type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. Avandia is offered by the British company GlaxoSmithKline and Actos is offered by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. with Eli Lilly & Co. They have both been found to increase the risk of heart failure and in 2007, the FDA required them to have a black box warning to that effect. A black box warning is the strongest FDA warning.

They belong to a class of diabetes drugs (called thiazolidinediones or glitazones) that work by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Another drug in this class was Rezulin, which was withdrawn from the market in 2000 for causing liver disease fatalities.

In 2007, The Avandia and Actos companies separately issued warnings that their drugs can also increase the risk of broken bones in women.

A Harvard Study

The American Diabetes Association is planning to publish a study done recently by a group of Harvard researchers. The study covered the years from 2000 to 2006 and focused on the medical records of 26,375 diabetic patients who took Avandia. They were all patients at Boston area clinics and hospitals affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

The study compared this group with another group in the same time period who took Actos. Researchers were looking for reports of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and they found such reports nearly twice as often for patients on Avandia as for those on Actos.

Separate and Similar Studies

1. In a separate study done by GlaxoSmithKline and i3 Drug Safety (a drug safety firm), researchers found that the risk of heart attack among Avandia users is increased by 35 percent to 41 percent over that for Actos users. This study used the medical records of 47,501 patients for each of the two drugs and covered the years 2000 to 2007. It will be published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics shortly.
   
2. In 2003, the Mayo Clinic published the results of their Actos and Avandia study. This was a much smaller study but it involved live patients. The six patients had type 2 diabetes and took either Actos or Avandia. They all went to an emergency room complaining of congestive heart failure symptoms (shortness of breath, weight gain, swollen feet) and four of them also had chronic kidney trouble.

As a result of this study, The American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association have issued guidelines for use of the glitazone group of drugs. They are warning the public that if you have mild heart disease or any kidney problems and you take any of these drugs, you may have increased risk of developing congestive heart failure.

About 13,000 people have filed claims against GlaxoSmithKline after using Avandia and suffering a heart attack. An unknown number have also filed against Eli Lilly and Takeda. However, the FDA has so far refused to order these drugs withdrawn from the market.

If you have been harmed by a defective drug and are wondering whether you might have a valid legal claim against the drug manufacturer, please contact our law firm today. Our lawyers work out of offices nationwide and we will be happy to schedule a free case review for you.

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Typically, automobile accidents at intersections involve left-turning vehicles that are attempting to cross on-coming traffic, the failure to yield the right of way or the failure to obey stop signs or traffic lights. Failure to yield the right of way, driving through a stop sign or ignoring a traffic signal at an intersection is responsible for almost 45% of all fatal automobile accidents.

Obscured stop signs, faded or missing stop signs and malfunctioning traffic lights, along with faulty intersection design are responsible for motor vehicle accidents at intersections also. The experienced California automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm have road design engineers, accident investigators and experts in many fields available to assist in the determination of possible negligence on the part of municipalities for an accident at an intersection.

Automobile accidents at intersections often result in devastating injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, broken bones and massive soft tissue trauma. You should be financially compensated for any expenses caused by someone else’s negligence due to your injuries, such as medical and long term care expenses, the loss of income, your pain and suffering, and in the case of a wrongful death, the survivors are entitled to damages for their losses also.

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

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Rear end car collisions have become the most common type of car accident since the introduction of the cell phone, with over 2.5 million rear end collisions every year in the United States.

A rear end car collision often results in serious physical injury to the occupants of the automobile that is struck due to an injury commonly known as whiplash. Whiplash is the result of a sudden, violent involuntary forward and backward motion of the head and neck, which causes soft tissue trauma to the muscles and ligaments of the neck that results in pain, swelling, stiffness, headache, nausea, numbness and loss of balance.

Whiplash injuries can range from mild symptoms to severe, life-changing disabling pain. If left untreated, this condition can be responsible for months and years of debilitating pain and suffering.

The experienced rear end car collision attorneys at The Cochran Firm work together as a team so clients can benefit from the level of skill and knowledge available to them. If you have suffered because of someone else's negligence and inattention, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.

If you live in the Memphis, Tennessee area, please contact The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you love was injured in a rear end car collision to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve from the law firm that cares.

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Every day commuting back and forth to work or driving to a doctor's appointment, grocery shopping or dropping your children off at school is stressful enough, but when you add the danger inherent in a tired truck driver speeding to meet a deadline in an overloaded, poorly maintained, 40 ton truck in the lane next to you, the stress level rises to new heights.

If you are ever involved in an accident with a truck, protect your rights by gathering as much information about the accident as possible, and notify your own insurance company without delay; a delay in notifying your own insurance company may affect your claim. Do not allow the trucking company or insurance adjuster to choose your physician; you have the absolute right to choose your own doctor, and do not sign anything without the advice of your own legal representative.

Trucking companies have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters on the payroll whose main goal is to protect the trucking company in the event of an accident and limit their financial and legal responsibility.

If you have been injured in an Alabama truck accident you can benefit from the experience of the truck accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm who will be aggressive in protecting your legal right, and willing to do everything they can to give you the legal representation and personal attention you deserve.

If you live in the Dothan, Alabama area, and you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident with a truck, please contact The Cochran Firm today and learn how we can help you recover financial compensation for your injuries and losses without delay.

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Many products we use every day have the potential to be harmful or defective and can cause serious injuries to us, our children and our grandchildren. Anyone involved in the design, manufacture, distribution or sale of a defective product is subject to a product liability claim for injuries and losses suffered as a result of its' use.

Dangerous or defective products can be found all around us in household appliances that may cause a fire, children's toys that are made of toxic materials or cause choking hazards, defective or malfunctioning smoke detectors, faulty tires that cause horrific car accidents, defective car seat belts and air bags, pet products and defective drugs and over-the-counter medications.

The Cochran Firm has the resources necessary to investigate how a product could have been responsible for your injuries or the wrongful death of a family member. You should be able to recover financial compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, reimbursement of lost wages and any other injury-related costs you incur due to the consequences of using a defective product.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a product that failed, the product liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help. Please contact The Cochran Firm located in Oakland, California today to schedule an appointment so we can put our experienced team to work for you.

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No one should be above the law, especially those we entrust with the authority to serve and protect our communities. New Orleans and other cities in Louisiana have a reputation for police misconduct, the use of excessive force and wrongful arrests. After years of turning a blind eye to police abuse and misconduct, lawmakers and the general public will no longer tolerate the excesses of an abusive police force.

Although the use of reasonable force by police officers in the execution of their duties to protect and defend is warranted, there have been documented cases of police misconduct in some instances. Many people have been injured by police misconduct and brutality due to improper training, poor screening of those seeking jobs on the police force and inadequate supervision of police officers.

Police misconduct can take many forms including sexual harassment, physical abuse, the use of excessive force, improper use of restraints resulting in serious injury or death, intimidation and corruption.

The attorneys at The Cochran Firm aggressively pursue financial compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering and any other physical and emotional damages incurred as a result of police misconduct and have been at the forefront of civil rights advocacy for years.

If you live in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and you or someone you love has been the victim of police misconduct, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect you rights and learn how to proceed with your case.

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Train travel is thought to be safer than plane or automobile travel by many people, especially those who are afraid to fly and think highways are dangerous places. The record high gasoline prices in California are causing the residents of the Los Angeles area to consider train travel as their primary mode of transportation.

Unfortunately, train accidents are more common than we are led to believe and are caused by driver distraction, excessive speed, lack of adequate training and equipment failures. In the state of California, over 48% of all train accidents are caused by human error.

A train accident can result in catastrophic injuries such as, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries that can lead to paralysis, amputations, burns, broken bones and wrongful death.

If you have been injured in a train accident in the Los Angeles area, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation from those responsible for your injuries. The Los Angeles train accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm will investigate the circumstances of your train accident and assist you in recovering financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs and any other accident related expenses you may incur.

Please contact the Los Angeles, California office of The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you love has been injured in a train accident to protect your legal rights and hold those responsible for your injuries legally and financially accountable.

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Oppressed groups in this country know and understand the dangers of police misconduct and police brutality. The city of Detroit, Michigan has dealt with police misconduct, police brutality and overzealous law enforcement for years. Civil rights violations are a serious problem and encompass not only police misconduct and police brutality, but charges of unlawful search and seizure, false arrest and false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and excessive fines and bail.

Interactions between the police and citizens are typically anxiety and stress filled and therefore, dangerous. Police officers are trained to make certain they are safe when making arrests, investigating crime scenes, performing traffic stops or pursuing suspected perpetrators of crimes. While the threat of force and the occasional use of force are understandably necessary at times in the performance of police duties, it is well documented that the use of excessive force is responsible for many instances of police misconduct and brutality.

A claim of police misconduct or brutality may involve injuries suffered due to the use of excessive force during an arrest, a case of mistaken identity or false arrest, malicious prosecution, or a motor vehicle accident caused by a police pursuit.

The experienced attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the knowledge and understanding of what is required to investigate and litigate police misconduct or police brutality claims and will do whatever is necessary to protect the legal rights of their clients.

If you live in the Detroit, Michigan area and have been the victim of police brutality or misconduct, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and hold those responsible for your injuries accountable.

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Toyota has found a solution to the sticking gas pedal defect that caused millions of its most popular vehicles to be recalled; the nation’s number one seller, the Camry, was included in the massive recall. The solution involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a way that eliminates the friction that caused the accelerators to stick. Replacement parts are being shipped to dealers all over the U.S. and Europe, and employees will be working around the clock to fix the defective vehicles. Owners of the defective vehicles will be contacted as early as this week and will be told when to bring their vehicle in for repairs. Toyota will cover all costs to fix the defect.

The repair, which involves installing a steel reinforcement bar into the accelerator pedal assembly to reduce surface tension and prevent friction, only takes about thirty minutes. Dealerships will be open seven days a week, with extended hours, to get all vehicles fixed in a timely manner.

If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a defect in a vehicle or some other product, please contact the defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

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