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Friday, July 30, 2010

7 Children Injured in Auto Accident

Seven children were injured in an SUV rollover accident yesterday in New Hampshire. In total, there were ten people injured in the auto accident. Police say none of the injuries were serious.

The seven children were being transported in a Jeep. As the Jeep drove through an intersection, it was hit by a Ford Taurus turning left. The Jeep rolled over into a parking lot and hit a parked car.

The seven children in the Jeep were all between the ages of one and twelve. The woman driving the Jeep runs a private day care facility. She was on her way to a dentist appointment for one of the children in her charge. Police are currently investigating why eight people were traveling in a vehicle that only contains five seatbelts.

The driver and all seven children were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The woman driving the Ford Taurus and her 93-year-old passenger were also taken to a nearby hospital. The cause of the auto accident is still being investigated.

If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by the negligence of another driver, the experienced auto accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you receive compensation for your damages.

Please contact our auto accident attorneys today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 8:59 AM

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Automobile Accidents in Washington, D.C.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Losing a loved one in an automobile accident is particularly tragic because it is so sudden and unexpected. An automobile accident is usually the result of negligence, recklessness or intentional wrongdoing.

Serious automobile accidents can happen in an instant and cause life-threatening medical problems, life-long pain and suffering and change the entire course of your life. If you or your loved ones have suffered serious injuries in an automobile accident you deserve to be financially compensated for your medical expenses, lost income and any other expenses incurred due to the accident.

The experienced and knowledgeable automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm will aggressively pursue financial compensation for you and your family for the injuries and losses you have suffered by negotiating or litigating your case, while protecting your interests every step of the way.

To help minimize your chances of being involved in an automobile accident it is important to obey all traffic laws, never drink and drive or use illegal or prescription drugs while behind the wheel, put away the cell phone, and drive carefully in inclement weather or on dangerous roads.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the skilled automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm today before you settle with an insurance company because we are committed to obtaining justice for our clients.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:42 AM

Toyota Recalls More Vehicles

Toyota has announced that 412,000 cars in the U.S. and over 16,000 in Japan will be recalled because of steering problems. Most of the recalled vehicles in the U.S. are Avalon models 2000 to 2004. The Japanese vehicles are the 2000-2004 Toyota Pronard.

The defective vehicles reportedly have improper casting of the steering lock bar. This is a component of the steering system and the defect causes cracks to develop on the surface. The cracks can potentially lead to a crash if the lock bar breaks.

In addition to the Avalon recall, 39,000 2003-2007 Lexus LX 470s are being recalled because of a steering shaft problem. This is a different problem than the Avalon steering issue.

All owners will start to receive information in the mail about where they can take their vehicles for repairs. The Avalon steering problem will be taken care of by replacing the steering column bracket. The Lexus problem will be fixed by replacing the snap ring in the steering shaft.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries associated with accidents that may have been caused by the defective part.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to a defective part, please contact the experienced defective product attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 8:10 AM

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Defective Chinese Drywall in Tuskegee, Alabama

Is your Alabama home permeated with the odor of rotten eggs? Have you had to make repairs or replace your home's plumbing, wiring, heating and cooling systems and appliances? Does your family suffer from irritated eyes, breathing problems, nose bleeds, nausea, vomiting and headaches that go away when you are gone from your home? If so, you may be a victim of defective Chinese drywall.

Thousands of homes throughout the United States, including Alabama, which were built between 2004 and 2007, contain defective drywall imported from China. The defective Chinese drywall contains dangerously high concentrations of sulfur which produces a rotten egg odor that can destroy your home’s electrical wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, appliances, and jewelry and cause serious health problems.

Millions of sheets of defective drywall were imported from China into the United States during a domestic shortage caused by a housing boom that followed a series of hurricanes that struck the Southeast United States. More than six million sheets of defective Chinese drywall were imported in 2006 alone. Some of the worst defective Chinese drywall was found to emit one hundred times more sulfur as drywall manufactured in the United States. The defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm are aggressively fighting the international companies responsible for this devastating problem for homeowners across the country.

If you live in the Tuskegee, Alabama area and you have encountered the same problems with your home, you may be a victim of defective Chinese drywall. Please contact the experienced defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you need to make your home livable again.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:36 AM

How Big is the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill?

The Gulf oil spill has been successfully capped by British Petroleum (BP) and oil has stopped leaking in the Gulf waters. Over this past weekend, as a precaution against tropical depression Bonnie turning into Hurricane Bonnie, cleanup work was suspended. Now the crews are back at work but are not finding much oil to clean up.

There are 389 skimmers deployed to work on surface oil slicks – Navy ships, shallow water barges, and vessels of opportunity. In one day about two weeks ago, skimmers picked up 25,000 barrels of oil but last Thursday could only find 200 barrels. ABC News sent crews to look for oil around the marsh areas and in the water around the Deepwater Horizon rig but they could find none.

One Ed Overton, a professor of environmental studies at Louisiana State University explained it this way:

  • “It’s mother nature doing her job.”

“Mother Nature” Plays a Role

Two things to keep in mind when assessing this oil spill are (a) that if oil companies were allowed to drill in safer, more shallow waters, there would be less difficulty in capping any spill; and (b) oil is continually leaking from the ocean floor worldwide. Mother nature does indeed do her work in that oil from natural leaks is cleaned up by such things as:

  • Microbes in the sea water that ingest oil, bringing it harmlessly into the food chain
  • Hot air temperatures
  • Wind
  • The action of waves
  • Very warm water

Comparison With Previous Oil Spills

CNBC did an interesting comparison with other recent oil spills around the world. Based on an estimate of the Gulf oil spill as being 182 to 184 million gallons, they found that this current spill is:

  • Far larger than the Exxon Valdez tanker spill (10.8 million gallons);
  • Somewhat larger than Mexico’s Ixotoc spill in 1979 (140.3 million gallons); but
  • Quite a bit smaller than the Kuwaiti spill, deliberately leaked by Saddam during the Persian Gulf War (239.4 gallons)

On a persnickety note, there is a difference between an oil leak and an oil spill. Spills happen from tankers whereas leaks happen from the ocean bed or equipment in the ocean. So strictly speaking, we should be talking about the Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak.

With help from humans, mother nature has entirely cleaned up those previous oil disasters, suggesting that before too long, the Gulf of Mexico will also be clean and hospitable.

If you have been harmed by the damage of this oil spill, the Jones Act may cover your situation and one of our drilling rig injury lawyers could help.

To learn more about any legal recourse possible, please contact us for a free case review.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 10:20 AM

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Spinal Cord Injury and Diving: Not always Obvious

Swimming is a fun recreational activity that many children see as a great way to pass their summer break. However, swimming is also a source of many dangers for children. Of course, there is always the risk of drowning, and all pools must be closely monitored and children supervised to reduce this risk. It is also important to ensure that pools have safe drains and not defective drain covers that can lead to entrapment.

But there is another danger, the risk of spinal cord injury or brain injury while diving. Thousands of children every year suffer these types of injuries. And for young children, there is a significant risk that they may suffer an injury and it will pass unnoticed for up to several days after the injury.

The phenomenon is known as spinal cord injury without radiographic anomaly(SCIWORA). It occurs when a child strikes an object, and, instead of suffering a break or deformity in the spinal column, they suffer lesions on the spinal cord, lesions that can lead to paralysis and worse. They may seem fine at first, suffering only transient loss of sensation or pain, but over the next few days paralysis may set in. Once this paralysis develops, few children recover.

Children under the age of 8 are most at risk for this type of injury. If you take your young child to the emergency room for a head and neck trauma, they should not simply examine x-rays, but should check for this type of injury. If your doctor fails to consider this type of injury, you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit.

To learn more about what to do after your child has suffered this type of injury, whether you can pursue legal action against pool owners, doctors, or others, please contact The Cochran Firm today for a free initial consultation.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 7:46 AM

Monday, July 26, 2010

Spinal Cord Injuries in San Jose, California

Spinal cord injuries often result from motor vehicle accidents, sports or recreational related accidents or work site accidents, but the outcome is virtually the same in all instances. A spinal cord injury usually means a lifetime of paralysis, painful therapies, crushing financial burdens and psychological and emotional devastation.

A spinal cord injury changes the quality of life for the victim and family and friends as well. A victim of paraplegia or quadriplegia requires intensive medical care and treatment for a lifetime, with special equipment such as wheelchairs, vans, a handicap-accessible home, a hospital bed, lifting equipment and other equipment designed to help them get through the activities of daily life.

The experienced spinal cord injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm know what is required to make your life as comfortable as possible and free of the worry of how you will possibly be able to afford what you need to survive. If you or someone you love has been injured, do not wait to protect your legal rights.

If you live in the San Jose, California area and you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, please contact the experienced and compassionate spinal cord injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today so we can evaluate the circumstances of your case and get the financial compensation you need and deserve to preserve your quality of life for the long term.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:34 AM

Defective Consumer Products in Sacramento, California

When you buy a product there is an implied guarantee that the product is safe to use and is free of defects that can harm or kill you or those you love. Unfortunately, people are hurt, disfigured, burned, maimed and killed every day in the United States by defective consumer products.

Any product manufactured can be defective. Motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, and airplanes, trains and buses can have defects that make them unsafe and prone to serious, fatal accidents. Defective medical devices and drugs have caused serious side-effects, life-threatening medical conditions and wrongful deaths. Tires, household appliances, cribs, toys, strollers and pet foods have brought pain and suffering into the lives of innocent, unsuspecting consumers.

A product can be considered defective because of a design flaw, a manufacturing defect, a failure to warn of possible side effects or adverse reactions or negligent marketing. The defective consumer product attorneys at The Cochran Firm are a team of experienced attorneys familiar with product liability law who can help you in your fight against those responsible for your injuries or the injuries of those you care about.

Please contact the Sacramento, California defective consumer product attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to learn how to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you are entitled to under the laws of California.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:32 AM

Medical Mistake Leaves Man with No Legs

After a surgeon botched a routine gallbladder removal surgery, a Texas Airman stationed in California had to have both legs amputated due to a massive amount of blood loss. Twenty-year-old Colton Read underwent routine laparoscopic surgery at a hospital near Sacramento, but about an hour into the minimally invasive procedure to remove his gallbladder, something went terribly wrong. A nurse was heard by the man’s wife saying, "We need blood now," as she was running out of the operating room.

Allegedly, an Air Force general surgeon mistakenly cut Mr. Read's aortic valve (the valve that supplies blood to the heart) but waited hours to transport the patient to a hospital with a vascular surgeon. Due to blood loss, Mr. Read lost both legs. While the doctor admitted his mistake, the Reads cannot sue under federal law. Because of the Feres Doctrine, the military cannot be sued for its medical mistake. A bill is pending that would end this law.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to medical malpractice, please contact the medical malpractice at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today to schedule a confidential consultation.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:18 AM

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Defective Drugs in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina

Drug manufacturers aggressively market their products and in some cases minimize or even ignore possible health risks to gain a greater share of the market. When the public is finally made aware of possible health risks related to certain drugs, many people may have already experienced harmful side effects. These harmful side effects vary but can include heart attacks and strokes, diabetes, suicide, kidney and liver damage and birth defects.

If you took a prescribed mediation and it harmed you instead of helped you deal with your medical condition, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. The experienced defective drug attorneys at The Cochran Firm have represented people who have been injured due to dangerous and defective drugs. We have the resources and expertise to successfully pursue those responsible for defective or dangerous drugs and hold them legally accountable for their actions because victims of dangerous drugs are entitled to financial compensation for their medical expenses, the loss of present and future income, and their pain and suffering.

If you live in the Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina area and you feel you or someone you care about has suffered serious side effects caused by a dangerous or defective drug, please contact the defective drug attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to find out how to get the financial compensation you need and deserve from the drug manufacturers who may have harmed you.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:31 AM

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a lethal form of cancer, in addition to other serious medical conditions and fatal diseases. A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating and results in feelings of fear, confusion and uncertainty of what lies ahead for the victims and their families.

The people most at risk of developing mesothelioma are those who have worked with or around asbestos and also their family members who have come in contact with the asbestos fibers through casual, everyday contact with their loved one’s clothing, shoes or because of a welcome home hug.

If you have been exposed to asbestos directly or indirectly, you should seek a medical evaluation to determine if you have contracted meosthelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. Mesothelioma has destroyed the lives of many families throughout Pennsylvania for decades.

The mesothelioma attorneys at The Cochran Firm have superior knowledge about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure litigation and will use that knowledge to provide you with the legal representation you deserve to pursue justice and the financial compensation you are entitled to under the law.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other diseases caused by exposure to asbestos in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, please contact the mesothelioma attorneys at The Cochran Firm today because you have to protect your legal rights to sue those responsible for your injuries or the death of someone you loved.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:29 AM

Friday, July 23, 2010

Traumatic Brain Injury in New York, New York

Every twenty-three seconds someone in the United States is the victim of a brain injury. The consequences of a traumatic brain injury can be overwhelming, challenging and expensive. Everyone in the family suffers when a loved one endures a traumatic brain injury. No matter how the brain injury occurred, every brain injury can be serious, debilitating and even life-threatening.

A wide variety of symptoms can manifest themselves after a traumatic brain injury, such as slurred speech, paralysis, profound confusion, memory loss, changes in personality and difficulty swallowing and breathing.

Although no amount of money can reverse the damage a traumatic brain injury causes, a fair settlement can provide you with the necessary resources for the long term rehabilitation and medical care and treatment which is often necessary in the case of a traumatic brain injury.

The experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the skill and knowledge to represent our brain injured clients in their fight to get fair and just financial compensation for the devastating injuries they have suffered. We have the resources required to hire scientific experts and investigators to build a convincing case that substantiates the facts surrounding your injury.

If you or someone you love has suffered a devastating traumatic brain injury in New York, New York or the surrounding area, please contact the caring and compassionate traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you need and deserve.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:28 AM

GlaxoSmithKline to Pay $1 Billion to Settle Paxil Cases

Pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline recently agreed to pay more than $1 billion in damages to plaintiffs involved in litigation regarding their popular antidepressant drug Paxil. Victims taking the defective drug allege that it caused birth defects when taken during pregnancy.

The $1 billion will be used to settle more than 800 pending cases. Victims will receive an average of $1.2 million each. There are still more than 100 Paxil claims pending against Glaxo. The company has set aside $2.4 billion to cover litigation claims stemming from Paxil and their diabetes drug, Avandia.

After settling the 800 birth defect claims, Glaxo has paid over $2 billion in defective drug claims regarding the drug. Previous claims alleged that Paxil caused suicides, attempted suicides, and addiction problems in patients taking the drug.

While Glaxo has agreed to settle the cases, a spokesperson for the company has stated that they believe they acted responsibly when conducting clinical trials, marketing the drug, and monitoring its safety after it received FDA approval.

Glaxo agreed to the massive settlement of the birth defect claims after a Philadelphia jury awarded $2.5 million in damages to the family of Lyam Kilker, a 3-year-old who was born with a heart defect. His mother was taking Paxil during the pregnancy. In this case, the jury found that Glaxo failed to properly warn the doctor treating Lyam’s mother that Paxil may lead to birth defects, and they concluded that the drug was a "factual cause" of Lyam’s heart defects.

Internal Glaxo documents surfaced during the trial indicating that company executives discussed burying negative studies related to Paxil’s link to birth defects. Other documents were produced stating that Glaxo’s scientists were alarmed by the increasing number of children born with birth defects after the mother took Paxil during the pregnancy. Many of these instances involved heart defects.

If you have a Paxil claim, please contact the pharmaceutical liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 7:06 AM

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Gulf Oil Spill Related Illnesses- New Orleans, Louisiana

Months into the catastrophic Gulf oil spill reports are surfacing of clean-up workers experiencing medical problems after working near and in waters contaminated with the oil and oil dispersants.

Crude oil contains carcinogens, mutagens and is dangerous at even the lowest levels of exposure. Oil dispersants cause irritation to the nose, throat and lungs and long-term exposure can result in central nervous system, blood, kidney and liver damage.

Clean-up workers are encouraged to wear protective gear to limit their exposure to these toxic substances by healthcare providers, but there are reports the protective gear is not being readily provided by those responsible for the safety of the clean-up crews.

When a company does not take the necessary steps to protect its workers in a reasonable and timely fashion, they have committed negligence and can be sued for the damage they have caused. The experienced environmental and toxic substance attorneys at The Cochran Firm are working diligently to make sure our clients that have been harmed by the oil spill get the financial compensation they deserve. Under Louisiana law a lawsuit for negligence must be initiated within one year of the injury.

If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana or the surrounding area and have experienced health problems after being exposed to the oil or oil dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico or waterways surrounding the area, please contact the experienced environmental and toxic substance injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:26 AM

Bus Accident in Fresno Kills Six

A Greyhound bus accident outside of Fresno, California killed six people and injured 34. Four of the injured are in critical condition. The bus accident happened early Thursday morning on Highway 99. It was reportedly traveling from Los Angeles to Sacramento. It was to arrive in Sacramento around 5:15 am. It crashed just after 2:00 am.

According to reports, the bus swerved to miss an overturned minivan and hit a concrete divider. The bus then hit a car and a tree. Pictures of the bus accident show almost all of the damage on the left and front of the bus.

It is not known if all those who died were on the Greyhound bus. It was carrying 35 passengers at the time of the bus accident. Greyhound sent a relief bus to get passengers who wanted to continue the route to Sacramento.

Bus accidents are not a common type of accident, but when they happen, the chances for multiple serious injuries and death is high because there are no seatbelts. Catastrophic injuries to the spinal cord and head are very possible. Passengers are tossed around in the event of an accident.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bus accident, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm for an initial case consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 7:30 AM

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

FDA Panel Keeps Avandia on the Market

Last week, a 33-member FDA panel met for two days to hear presentations about Avandia and its side effects and benefits. Their job was to decide whether Avandia should be withdrawn from the market or not.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) is a medication for Type 2 Diabetes, also called adult onset diabetes. It is made by GlaxoSmithKline, Britain’s largest pharmaceutical company and has been a big seller for many years, helping to control blood sugar levels, but never curing diabetes. It has been found to cause cardiac problems and lead to cardiac arrest.

One reason Avandia is a controversial drug is that many medical professionals support its continued use. According to many studies, the risk of heart problems from Avandia has been 0.3 percent and though it has recently risen, the rise is only to 0.4 percent. In other words, four out of every hundred people taking Avandia may experience a heart problem, not necessarily severe. To many, this is an insignificant risk, far outweighed by Avandia’s benefits for diabetes.

The FDA Panel Divided

Panel members were asked a series of questions and they voted on each one to register their decision about it. They were using a new voting system that caused some confusion, since some panel members pushed the wrong button and wanted to change their votes.

In a split vote, members voted to keep Avandia on the market. Twelve of the 33 members voted to withdraw it and three voted to keep everything as it is. Some wanted to restrict the type of doctor who can prescribe it – perhaps endocrinologists only. Many wanted to keep Avandia only as a second choice if another diabetes drug such as Actos failed in any given case.

For several of the questions, many felt that the data presented was inadequate for making any decision:

  • Twenty panelists voted that data was insufficient for judging safety concerns on death from Avandia; one thought it was sufficient; 12 abstained.
  • On the question of whether Avandia is safer than Actos, 12 voted the data was inadequate; seven that it was adequate; and 14 abstained.

Avandia will Stay

The panel did decide that Avandia will remain on the market, but as a back-up drug after another drug has been ineffective. It is a common situation in medicine that a given drug does not work well for a given patient and therefore a second drug is prescribed. So this panel decision does not seem to change the status quo much, except to delay Avandia for patients for whom it could have been an immediately effective treatment.

FDA-approved drugs are quite often determined later to cause pharmaceutical injury. Although the FDA trials are extensive, time-consuming, and expensive for the drug manufacturer, they cannot possibly predict how every individual person will react to every specific dose of each specific drug. There will always be a need for doctors to make a judgment call, perhaps use a drug off-label, and when necessary, prescribe a second drug.

If you have been harmed by a defective drug, or if you have lost a loved one in a wrongful death arising from a defective drug, please contact us for a free case review. We have offices throughout the nation.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 1:17 PM

Gulf Oil Spill Victims in Mobile, Alabama

The inability of those at fault to stop the Gulf oil spill from continuing to assault the Gulf Coast has caused and is causing, what appears to those affected, the total destruction of a way of life.

The fisherman, oysterman, crabbers, shrimpers and seafood processors, rental agents, real estate developers, charter boat owners, captains and crews, marinas, restaurants, boat dealerships and others have lost income and profits due to the oil spill and the resulting devastation.

If you rely on the Gulf of Mexico for your livelihood or if you own waterfront property that has been affected by the Gulf oil spill you have a right to be financially compensated for your losses. The experienced environmental and toxic substance attorneys at The Cochran Firm will ensure you receive financial compensation for removal and cleanup expenses related to the Gulf oil spill, property damage, subsistence losses, lost government revenue, and lost profits and earnings. Our attorneys have extensive experience standing against the likes of BP, Transocean, and Halliburton to protect the rights of our clients.

If you live in the Coastal Alabama area and you or someone you love has been affected by the Gulf oil spill disaster, please contact the experienced Alabama oil spill attorneys at The Cochran Firm today so our experienced attorneys can help you get the financial compensation you need and deserve at this trying time in all our lives.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:25 AM

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Cancer Treatment a Defective Drug? Avastin up for Review

In the 1950s, all an alien species had to do to lure us into a bargain we'd regret later ("To Serve Man," anyone?) was to offer a cure for cancer. It seems we'll still jump at that bargain, only now we're bartering with pharmaceutical manufacturers. One such deal was made over the drug Avastin (bevacizumab), which was given expedited approval for treating breast cancer because of its promise in treating cancer. Although many have openly and angrily criticized the drug's exorbitant price (nearly $10,000 per month's supply), it is hard to argue down the price on extra life, which preliminary studies, according to some doctors, show might be as much as five months for some types of cancer.

However, other doctors, and the FDA's own advisory panel, say the drug does not increase the lifetime of terminal breast cancer patients. Nor does it increase their quality of life during their last months. The only thing it has been definitively shown to do is to prevent tumors for growing, what is described as "progression-free survival," and it was on this basis that FDA administrators overruled their advisory panel to give the drug accelerated approval. Today, the drug manufacturer (Genentech, the bright minds behind Accutane (see also here and here)) has returned to argue for the drug's continued approval before an FDA advisory panel, armed with two more studies.

These new studies show what the earlier studies had shown: the drug increases progression-free survival by 30-36% but does not increase survival times. In fact, the studies showed the drug might decrease survival times, but this was not statistically significant. And along with taking the drug, patients experienced more serious side effects, mostly hypertension, bleeding, and febrile neutropenia, but also includes potential bowel perforations and fatal hemorrhage. And there is no evidence that the drug increases quality of life during treatment, something neither of these new studies bothers to evaluate. A drug that does not increase the length or the quality of life for terminal cancer patients, whose benefit is only visible on an x-ray or CAT scan, and that has serious side effects would seem to be a defective drug.

So, the question is, should this drug be allowed to stay on the market? Certainly, we can understand why cancer patients are willing to pay up to $10,000 per month for even false hope, but what does it say that some are willing to charge for it?

If you or a loved one has been mislead by false promises about a drug, only to suffer its dangerous side effects, you may be able to receive compensation in a pharmaceutical injury lawsuit. The Cochran Firm can help. To learn more, please call or email us today for a free initial case evaluation.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 12:30 PM

Automobile Accidents in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths in the United States every year, with over 43,000 people losing their lives in collisions and many thousands more suffering serious injuries.

The experienced Minneapolis automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm know the rights of automobile accident victims are controlled by the Minnesota No Fault Insurance Law. Under this law, Minnesota automobile accident victims have the right to make a "No Fault" claim and an "At Fault" claim.

The "No Fault" claim includes financial compensation for medical and other health-care related expenses and the right to receive reimbursement for lost income. The knowledgeable automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can investigate your automobile accident, interview possible witnesses and gather medical records to make certain your personal injury claim is documented properly.

If you were injured in an automobile accident as a result of someone else's negligence, carelessness or recklessness, you are entitled to be financially compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage and your pain and suffering. In cases of extreme wrongdoing, such as a collision with a drunk driver, you can seek punitive damages.

Please contact the Minneapolis, Minnesota automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you love was injured in an automobile accident to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:23 AM

Monday, July 19, 2010

Defective Chinese Drywall in Miami, Florida

Thousands of homes in South Florida and across the United States contain defective Chinese drywall that was imported into this country during a domestic drywall shortage between 2004 and 2007 that was brought about by a combination of a housing boom and hurricane damage in the southeast.

The defective Chinese drywall contains excessively high concentrations of sulfur which is identifiable by a very distinct odor reminiscent of rotten eggs, which can destroy your homes’ electrical systems, plumbing, heating and cooling units and other metals such as appliances and jewelry. In addition, and perhaps even more frightening, is the incidence of various health problems caused by the noxious fumes.

An ever increasing number of defective Chinese drywall lawsuits have been filed in Florida on behalf of the homeowners who have suffered health problems and have had to abandon their homes or have had to remove the defective Chinese drywall, have had to replace heating and cooling units, wiring, plumbing and appliances at great expense and hardship.

The experienced defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm have been aggressively pursuing the international companies, builders and insurers involved in this complicated litigation with great success.

If you have been affected by the influx of defective Chinese drywall into the Florida building market, please contact the experienced defective product attorneys at The Cochran Firm today and we will be pleased to advise you how to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you need and deserve.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:22 AM

Most Common Causes of Automobile Accidents

More than six million automobile accidents occur in the United States each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Someone is injured in a car crash every 14 seconds, and approximately two million of those people suffer permanent injuries. The statistics of auto collisions are staggering. Even the most proficient driver could be the victim of another driver's carelessness.

By knowing the most common causes of automobile accidents, hopefully you can avoid becoming a part of those staggering statistics. If, however, you or a loved one are a victim in an accident, the qualified auto accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you determine liability and possible compensation in your claim.

Common Causes of Automobile Accidents

Automobile accidents are an all too common occurrence on the roads today, especially considering how many of them could have been prevented. To help avoid dangerous automobile accidents, it's valuable to know some of the leading causes of car accidents. The following is a list of some of the most common causes of car accidents today:

• Inattentive drivers
• Aggressive drivers
• Driver fatigue
• Alcohol/drug impaired drivers
• Vehicle defects
• Weather

If you have been injured in a car accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today; with over 25 offices nationwide, there is one near you.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 6:01 AM

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Gulf Oil Spill Claims in Metairie, Louisiana

What is considered to be a "legitimate claim" in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill? A so-called legitimate claim as defined by the CEO of British Petroleum (BP) may be very different from what is considered a legitimate claim sought by a bayou shrimper, restaurant owner or resort manager on the Gulf Coast.

Although BP is said to have paid out $80 million dollars to over 10,000 people in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, it appears to residents of the Gulf Coast that BP's oil is spilling out at a much faster rate than BP's cash.

The environmental and toxic substance attorneys at The Cochran Firm who are handling claims for our clients regarding the Gulf oil spill know the nature of industries and businesses along the Gulf Coast can bring in good sums of money in a very short period of time during the season. However, people find it difficult to provide evidence in the form of bank statements, pay stubs and the like to back up their claims. Restaurants and resorts see receipts dwindling, but how is it possible to prove the oil spill alone is at fault?

For these reasons, it is important to have experienced legal representation from the skilled attorneys at The Cochran Firm on your side in your legal battle that is sure to take place as claims start pouring into BP.

If you live in and around the Metairie, Louisiana area and you have been adversely affected by the Gulf oil spill, please contact the Louisiana oil spill attorneys at The Cochran Firm without delay to protect your legal rights and make certain you get the financial compensation you need to sustain your way of life while battling this disaster of historic proportions.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:19 AM

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Motorcycle Accidents in Memphis, Tennessee

In the event of an accident, a motorcycle offers practically no physical protection from injury or death. Thousands of people are injured or killed every year in motorcycle accidents across the United States with injuries or fatalities occurring in 80% of all motorcycle accidents. Of course, your first priority if you are involved in a motorcycle accident should be receiving the appropriate medical care if you are injured, but it is never too soon to contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.

The highly skilled motorcycle accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm know how to proceed if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident to negotiate fair financial compensation from insurance companies and other motorists involved. Our attorneys have assisted many motorcycle accident victims and their families receive financial compensation to help in their recovery. Motorcycle accidents can result in catastrophic injuries such as paralysis, lost limbs, broken bones, spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries that can leave victims with years of medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost income.

If you were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Memphis, Tennessee, please contact the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with our caring lawyers who will fight for your right to fair financial compensation for your injuries.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:18 AM

Birth Injuries in Los Angeles, California

In the year 2010, most women in the United States give birth in modern hospitals surrounded by highly-trained medical professionals and state-of-the-art medical equipment. Still, seven of every one thousand babies born in these modern, up-to-date medical facilities surrounded by highly qualified medical professionals will suffer a birth injury.

Newborn babies are fragile little human beings with soft bones and newly developed organs that are very susceptible to injury and infection at the critical time of their birth that can leave them with devastating, permanent disabilities for life.

Sadly, these injuries and infections are too often the result of a healthcare professional's negligence. Birth injuries are more likely to occur with a large baby or premature baby, during a prolonged or difficult labor or a breech delivery. Birth injuries can have a devastating and permanent effect on your child’s development and life experiences. Many birth injuries are irreversible and require expensive, long-term medical care and treatment.

You may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your medical expenses, mental anguish and more if your child was injured at birth. The qualified birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm can answer all your questions, evaluate the circumstances of your case and make sure you get the financial compensation you need to provide a safe and comfortable future for your child.

If you live in the Los Angeles, California area and you feel your baby was harmed as a result of a healthcare professional's negligence, please contact the experienced birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:15 AM

Friday, July 16, 2010

Nursing Home Abuse in Las Vegas, Nevada

When you are unable to care for elderly family members, nursing homes and assisted living centers represent themselves as good alternatives to that personal care you cannot provide. However, incidents of emotional, physical and sexual abuse by nursing home and assisted living center caregivers are becoming more frequent.

Several factors contribute to the abuse and neglect of the elderly residents of these facilities and include poorly trained and unqualified staff, staff with a history of violence, understaffed, overworked and poorly paid caregivers, the isolation of the residents and their reluctance to report the abuse for fear of making the situation worse.

Specific examples of nursing home abuse and neglect may include the presence of bedsores and open wounds, chronic infections, unnecessary physical or medical restraints, and inadequate personal hygiene care.

The nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at The Cochran Firm have decades of experience in handling nursing home abuse and neglect cases and will fight to make sure your elderly family member is treated with respect and dignity while pursuing all legal options available to hold those responsible legally and financially accountable.

If you live in the Las Vegas, Nevada area and you suspect your elderly loved one is suffering abuse and neglect at the hands of a caregiver, please contact the experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to take the necessary action to make the abuse stop.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:14 AM

BP Oil Spill Contained…For Now

Cautious optimism is the mood among Gulf Coast residents, BP executives, and government officials this morning. As of now, the new well cap placed on the ruptured BP oil well seems to be working, and the oil spill is being contained. Pressure in the cap has been steadily rising, a sign that no oil is being forced out through a fresh leak. However, the pressure has not reached optimum levels yet. Hopefully, that will occur shortly.

BP officials are currently conducting an integrity test on the well cap. The testing may take several days to complete, but afterwards, engineers will have a much clearer picture of the extent to which the leak has been contained. Once the testing is complete, BP plans to open the valves on the well cap to siphon the oil to two ships located on the surface of the ocean.

It is important to understand that the new well cap is not a permanent solution. BP is currently constructing two relief wells to contain the oil spill for the long term. The relief wells should be completed sometime in August.

Hopefully, the focus of the operation will be able to shift to clean-up efforts in the coming weeks. Since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in late April, the Gulf Coast has been ravaged by the oil spill, which has become the worst in our nation's history. Individuals working in the fishing and tourism industries have been hit hardest financially; however, the ecological damage to the coastline has certainly affected all residents of the region.

Currently, BP faces over 300 toxic tort lawsuits from victims living in the Gulf Coast. In the coming months, it is expected that many more lawsuits will be filed. In total, these claims will seek billions of dollars in damages to provide relief for victims and their families.

If you have a BP oil spill claim, please contact the toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 9:05 AM

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Birth Injuries in Jackson, Mississippi

Medical malpractice surrounding the birth of a child is tragic but occurs frequently. Medical errors can cause birth injuries such as brain damage, cerebral palsy, bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, oxygen deprivation, forceps injuries, paralysis and other life-altering or life-threatening complications.

When a healthcare provider makes a mistake during the birthing process, they are legally responsible for their actions. Some of the most devastating birth injuries that can occur are the ones affecting the infants' brain. Oxygen deprivation or bleeding in the brain has an overwhelming effect on the baby's' brain and can result in mental retardation, autism or epilepsy. Decisions made during your labor and delivery are crucial to your baby's health and future.

If you are coping with the tragedy of a birth injured baby, the experienced birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm understand what you need and deserve at this time in your life and will work closely with you to develop a life care plan that will ensure appropriate care and a comfortable quality of life for your child for their lifetime. In Mississippi there is a statute of limitations that restricts the amount of time you have to start legal proceedings after a birth injury has occurred.

Please contact the experienced birth injury attorneys in Jackson, Mississippi at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to your to protect the rights of your child and get the financial compensation needed for their future care.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:11 AM

New Standards for Cribs Announced

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously in favor of new mandatory standards for baby cribs this week. After a final vote, the new standards will go into effect next year. The standards will eliminate drop-side cribs, require better mattress support, better quality wood for construction, and sturdier hardware and get rid of these defective products.

These new standards will put most cribs in violation of the code, even if they were not considered unsafe for babies. However, this is in response to the number of serious injuries and deaths that have been associated with cribs. According to Commission Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum, there have been 36 deaths as a direct result of structural problems with cribs.

Some of the hazards associated with cribs are gaps created due to mattress support and slats easily broken due to poor wood quality. Gaps create areas where babies can suffocate and broken slats cause them to fall out.

This also means that retailers and manufacturers cannot sell cribs already in stock that do not meet these standards. There are worries this could strain budgets, but when it comes down to it, the public demand for safer cribs is the logical choice.

While a final vote will not be taken until December of this year, there will be a period for public comments.

If your child has been injured because of a faulty crib, please contact the experienced defective product attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 7:50 AM

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Nursing Home Abuse in Huntsville, Alabama

There are over 240 nursing homes with over 25,000 residents in the state of Alabama. As the number of nursing home residents increases, the number of nursing home abuse and neglect cases increases, also. Although most nursing homes are regulated by the Nursing Home Reform Act, abuses still take place every day. Shamefully, Alabama nursing homes have a very poor record of providing quality nursing home care for our elderly citizens.

Many nursing homes choose to cut operating costs by reducing staff levels and hiring under-qualified staff which leads to overworked and underpaid caregivers giving substandard care which in turn leads to emotional and physical abuse of the nursing home residents. Nursing home residents are the victims of nursing home facilities that place profits over the welfare of those given over to their care.

Substandard care leads to nursing home residents falls, bed sores, malnutrition and dehydration, medication errors and physical and emotional abuse. The dedicated Alabama nursing home abuse attorneys at The Cochran Firm have fought tirelessly for the right of every nursing home resident to receive respectful and adequate care and treatment, and to hold those responsible for abuses legally and financially accountable.

If you live in the Huntsville, Alabama area and your loved one has suffered as a result of nursing home abuse and neglect, please contact our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to correct the wrongdoing and punish those responsible without further delay.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:10 AM

GlaxoSmithKline Agrees to Settle 10,000 Claims

GlaxoSmithKline is approaching its first Avandia trial, scheduled for October in Philadelphia. There are about 13,000 lawsuits against the company, claiming that Glaxo concealed Avandia’s cardiac risks.

Now Glaxo, Britain’s largest pharmaceutical company, has agreed to settle about 10,000 of those suits for $460 million. That is about $46,000 for each case. Glaxo had been budgeting in case it had to pay $500,000 per case, so this is good news for them.

Plaintiff’s lawyers are also pleased with this deal, since it is prompt and the cases have been dragging on for about three years already.

Avandia (rosiglitazone) is a drug for type two diabetes – that is, adult onset diabetes. It is meant to control blood sugar levels but has some severe effects on heart function.

New FDA Safety Panel

An FDA panel of 33 people is set to meet starting next Tuesday, July 20, for two days. Its purpose is to discuss Avandia’s safety and whether its diabetes benefits outweigh its potential cardiac harm or not. It may decide among three courses of action:

  • That Avandia should be pulled from the market;
  • That Glaxo should add more labeling to the Avandia bottles; or
  • That Glaxo should create programs for monitoring patients on Avandia

Diabetes is becoming more widespread and more people are needing a drug like Avandia or one of its competitors such as Actos. Since Avandia came onto the market in 1999, it has been widely used and earned about $1.1 billion for Glaxo just in 2009. Before 2007, it earned even more each year, until the first FDA panel met to review its safety.

According to news reports, many people will be watching to see the results of the panel’s decision next week. Medical professionals are interested, as are drug company investors. If Avandia is pulled from the market, investors may re-evaluate the risks of investing in medications of this type. If it is kept on the market, the FDA will have to devise a standard, or protocol, for that decision – is Avandia more risky than Actos? If not, why is Actos still on the market?

Seamus Fernandez, the managing director of pharmaceuticals at the investment bank Leerink Swann stated:

  • "At a certain point, the FDA just has to say, 'We just have to cut our losses and move on, it's taking too many resources'."

Have you been harmed by an FDA-approved drug? If you are wondering about your legal options, please contact us today for a free case review.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 10:06 AM

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Gulf Oil Spill in Houston, Texas

The impacts of the Gulf oil spill will be felt for decades. Lives, livelihoods and futures have been lost or changed forever across the Gulf coast. Those responsible for the oil spill have acted quickly to deflect blame or deny culpability so it is important that those affected by the oil spill act quickly to protect their legal rights.

Immediately after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP signed up legal teams, scientists and laboratories specializing in the collection and analysis of air, sea, marsh and beach samples, evidence crucial to proving damages in environmental and toxic substance cases. What have you done to protect your legal rights?

As attorneys with decades of experience representing victims of maritime injuries, wrongful deaths and environmental abuses, The Cochran Firm realizes that Gulf coast property and business owners are facing enormous economic damages, health concerns and uncertain challenges in the future.

Our attorneys can evaluate your claim for damages to your business or industry such as oyster, shrimp or other fishing, tourism, resort, hospitality and shipping; damage to your coastal property and the devastating results of government-mandated shutdowns during clean-up efforts. In addition, those workers involved in the clean-up efforts are exposed to the oil, oil dispersants and other pollutants that may cause respiratory and neurological problems for years to come.

We encourage the residents of the Houston, Texas area to contact the experienced maritime and environmental attorneys at The Cochran Firm for skilled and determined legal counsel in your pursuit of justice and financial compensation for the injuries and losses you have suffered during the ongoing catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:08 AM

FDA Begins Review of Potentially Dangerous Drug Avandia

After publication of scathing criticism of a major trial supporting Avandia's safety, the FDA will today begin its safety review on the potentially dangerous drug, whose generic name is rosiglitazone. For years, Avandia manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been using studies it financed to say the drug poses no additional risk of negative cardiovascular outcomes, while others said the drug was dangerous. Now major criticism of GSK's flagship study and the revelation of previously hidden studies lead to questions whether the company has been cooking the books all along to protect this lucrative drug whose sales peaked at $3.2 billion in 2006.

The last time the FDA reviewed the drug was in 2007, shortly after the release of a metastudy by Cincinnati researcher Dr. Steven E. Nissen which showed the drug resulted in a 42% increase in heart attack risk, a 50% increase in congestive heart failure risk, and a 64% increase in the risk of sudden cardiac death. However, the FDA concluded that the drug should stay on the market despite its risks, a decision that led many to criticize the FDA and conclude that officials responsible for approving a drug (who often had strong ties to the industry) had too much power over officials responsible for reviewing ongoing safety of a drug.

Now, there is even more reason to question that decision. In February, the US Senate Committee on Finance issued a scathing report at the conclusion of a two-year investigation, saying that GSK knew the risks of Avandia and tried to conceal them by manipulating data and intimidating scientists. It has also been shown that 87% of those who wrote favorably about Avandia had potential conflicts of interest with (i.e. received money from) GSK. This week, we also learned that an FDA scientist has found several irregularities after closely examining the files of GSK's flagship study RECORD (Rosiglitazone Evaluated for Cardiovascular outcomes in ORal agent combination therapy for type 2 Diabetes). And as early as 1999, GSK (then SmithKline Beecham) hid evidence that Avandia increased cardiovascular risks.

On Friday, an FDA scientist said he found that several instances of apparent serious heart problems that were not included in the tally of adverse events in the RECORD study. The scientist said he found a dozen such instances, and notes that that is a very large number for a cursory review of 549 patient records (about 12% of the total patients enrolled in the study). Overall, he found problems with 16% of the records for patients taking Avandia and 9% of the records of patients in the control group. Overall these "problems" favored Avandia by a ratio of 4:1. In other words, more than 10% of records reviewed had "problems" that favored Avandia.

Equally damning is the revelation of an early study that GSK hid from the FDA and doctors. In 1999, SmithKline Beecham (later GSK) began a study to determine whether Avandia was safer for the heart than Actos, a competing diabetes drug. The result gave clear signs that Avandia might actually be dangerous to the heart. These results were never published, and a senior official later wrote in an email, "Per Sr. Mgmt request, these data should not see the light of day to anyone outside of GSK." And so the results remained hidden for 11 years, while millions of prescriptions were written for this dangerous drug.

This may be one of the worst cases of pharmaceutical companies concealing information about dangerous drugs to protect profits, but it is not by far the only case. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury after taking Avandia or another dangerous drug, filing a pharmaceutical injury lawsuit can not only help you receive compensation, but reduce the profits of companies that engage in these deceptive practices and show other companies that endangering the public is an unprofitable practice. The product liability lawyers of The Cochran Firm stand ready to help you fight unconscionable practices by these corporate giants. Please contact us today for a free initial consultation.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 10:47 AM

Monday, July 12, 2010

Premises Liability in Dothan, Alabama

Premises liability cases occur when someone is injured in an accident as a result of unsafe conditions or negligence on property that is owned by someone else. The most common premises liability accidents are those involving slip, trip and fall injuries. Premises liability accidents can occur in shopping malls, supermarkets, office buildings, private residences and city streets.

Premises liability accidents can involve poor security and lighting, falling objects, snow and ice accumulations, wet floors in restaurants, dog bites, injuries sustained in a fire and swimming pool accidents.

Property owners, managers and landlords have an obligation to keep their premises safe for others. If they fail in this obligation they may be liable for the damages, losses and injuries caused by their negligence. At The Cochran Firm our experienced premises liability attorneys will thoroughly investigate your claim and work tirelessly to get you the financial compensation you deserve. As there are time limits restricting the length of time you have to file a premises liability claim, it is very important to act without delay to protect your legal rights.

If you or someone you care about has suffered injuries due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property in the Dothan, Alabama area, please contact the experienced Alabama premises liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm today so we can proceed with your claim and make sure your legal rights are protected.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:07 AM

Civil Rights Feel Violated After Lesser Conviction

When a white ex-transit officer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter instead of murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in Los Angeles, violent protests erupted with stores being damaged and dozens being arrested. Prosecutors had sought a murder conviction in the death of Oscar Grant; Justice Department officials announced they would look into whether the case warrants federal prosecution. The anger was not quite reminiscent of the Rodney King verdict, but protesters were quite angry nonetheless. Race relations has long been a problem in the Los Angeles area, and this latest situation only compounded the problem.

Police state they made 83 arrests following the announcement of the verdict. Approximately twelve businesses were damaged in the rioting, and fires were set in trash bins. A small bomb was even set off near a police station, but, thankfully, no one was injured.

The crime that led to the trial was that 28-year-old Johannes Mehserle, a former transit officer, pulled his real gun instead of his taser and shot Oscar Grant in the back while he lay face down while being restrained to be arrested. The jury found that the defendant did not intend to kill Grant but that his behavior was still so negligent that it was criminal. Involuntary manslaughter convictions carry a 2-4 year prison term.

If you feel your civil rights have been violated, The Cochran Firm stands ready to hear the details of your case. We have over 25 offices nationwide to serve you. Please contact an office near you today.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 6:20 AM

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Slip and Fall Accidents in Detroit, Michigan

Slip and fall accidents are responsible for millions of injuries in the United States annually. The very young and the elderly are at the highest risk for sustaining an injury in a slip and fall accident.

The injuries suffered in a slip and fall accident may include simple scrapes and bruises to broken bones, traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries that can cause lifelong disabilities or even death. Property owners have a legal obligation to keep their properties safe and free of hazardous conditions for all those who have access to their property whether it is a business, a municipality or a personal residence.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident you may be eligible to be financially compensated for your injuries and the losses you have suffered due to that injury such as lost income, current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and your pain and suffering. The experienced slip and fall injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the knowledge and understanding of slip and fall injury cases to ensure you get the financial compensation you need to regain the quality of life you enjoyed before your injury occurred.

If you or someone you care about was injured in a slip and fall accident in the Detroit, Michigan area, please contact the experienced slip and fall injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to make sure you get the financial compensation you deserve while you concentrate on healing and resuming your life as you knew it before you were injured.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:05 AM

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Traumatic Brain Injury in Chicago, Illinois

Every fifteen seconds, somewhere in the United States, someone suffers a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are the leading cause of death in Americans under forty-five years of age. Motor vehicle accidents, falls, recreational and sports related injuries and violent assaults are responsible for over five million incidents of traumatic brain injuries annually.

A catastrophic injury such as an injury to the brain has an overwhelming impact on the victim and the victim’s family and loved ones for months and years to come, so it is vitally important to have a long range plan and goals in mind when considering what financial compensation is required to cover medical and personal care expenses for the present and the future.

The experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the knowledge acquired through litigating many cases involving catastrophic injuries to know what is needed to sustain a good quality of life and will fight for your legal right to get you the financial compensation you need and deserve.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and you or someone you care about has suffered a catastrophic traumatic brain injury, please contact the experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today so we can begin evaluating your case and get you the financial compensation you need to sustain a comfortable quality of life without further delay.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:02 AM

Friday, July 9, 2010

Defective Chinese Drywall in Dallas, Texas

Defective Chinese drywall has been linked to health problems, the corrosion of wiring, heating and air conditioning units, plumbing, electronics and jewelry in homes across the United States since being imported into this country in 2005. The problems involving defective Chinese drywall have been confirmed by independent laboratory testing. Millions of sheets of defective Chinese drywall were imported into this country during a domestic shortage caused by a housing boom.

Recently, a jury has awarded a family $2.4 million in damages in the country's first jury trial over the defective Chinese drywall that has given thousands of families in similar nightmare circumstances hope for a solution to their problems as well. The jury award was seen as an indication how other juries may respond to similar evidence that will be presented in other trials involving defective Chinese drywall including those in Texas.

If you or someone in your family has experienced respiratory problems, headaches or nausea and vomiting because of foul odors in your home and the wiring, plumbing and heating and air conditioning units have corroded, you may have defective Chinese drywall in your home. The experienced defective Chinese drywall attorneys at The Cochran Firm want you to know they are ready to protect your legal rights and get you the financial compensation you are entitled to and deserve.

If you live in the Dallas, Texas area and you suspect your health and housing problems are related to defective Chinese drywall, please contact the experienced defective Chinese drywall attorneys at The Cochran Firm today so you do not lose out on your opportunity to get the financial compensation available to so many others living and suffering under similar circumstances to yours.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:04 AM

BP Oil Spill Cleanup Efforts Fall Short of Company's Estimates

Last winter, several months before the catastrophic BP oil spill which has ravaged the Gulf Coast, BP officials assured the federal government that they had the ability to skim approximately 500,000 barrels of oil daily in the event of a serious accident. However, it appears that this estimate grossly overshot the reality of the oil company's ability.

In the 78 days since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sank off of the Gulf Coast, BP has only collected approximately 67,000 barrels in total, which equates to about 900 barrels a day. This is drastically lower than the 38 million barrels that would have been skimmed had BP's estimate been accurate. Since late April, approximately 2 million barrels of oil have been pouring into the Gulf of Mexico.

Several factors have hindered the skimming effort, including:

• The slow response of emergency workers
• Inadequate supplies and equipment
• Untrained cleanup crews
• Adverse weather conditions

Unfortunately, BP's miscalculation of their clean-up abilities has left many Gulf Coast residents without proper recourse to preserve the delicate ecosystem in which they live.

The toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you receive the compensation you deserve if you have suffered financial hardships as a result of the BP oil spill. We are a large national law firm with the resources necessary to take on the high-powered legal teams employed by the major oil companies.

Please contact our toxic tort attorneys today to schedule your free initial consultation. The Cochran Firm serves clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 7:38 AM

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Are Doctors Irrational or in Denial? 90 Percent Say Med Mal Fears Lead to Overtesting

A recent nationwide study of randomly-selected doctors showed that over 90% say that they conduct additional tests out of fear of medical malpractice lawsuits. They say they fear that even if they give care to the national standard they will face a frivolous medical malpractice lawsuit. If so, this is an irrational fear, as evidence shows that 97% of medical malpractice lawsuits are related to actual injuries, and that the rate of lawsuits is actually far below the number of medical errors. In addition, most doctors have nothing to fear from medical malpractice lawsuits. About 5% of doctors account for about 54% of the medical malpractice payouts (according to data from the National Practitioner Data Bank in 2004), some of them with 10 or more payouts in less than 15 years. This means the other 46% of payouts are divided among the other 95% of doctors, leading to a very small number of payouts among these doctors. Most studies also agree that medical malpractice lawsuits are strongly correlated with quality of care, so it makes sense that if a doctor wants to avoid a medical malpractice lawsuit, all he or she must do is provide quality care, not order "extra" tests.

In his blog, Forbes staff writer David Whelan implies in his blog on this survey that it seems unlikely that doctors are acting irrationally, as he closes with the rhetorical question: "Has an epidemic of mass paranoia overtaken the profession?" This is not, however, so unlikely. Many psychological studies have shown people often exhibit irrational fears. People are more afraid of airplane accidents than they are of car accidents, even though car accidents kill about 40 times as many people as airplane accidents. And if we break it down further: normal, scheduled airline traffic, which most of us use (and many of us fear) accounted for only 50 deaths in 2009, but car accidents accounted for 33,963 deaths in the same year. And consider the relative fear of shark attacks (which have killed 8 people in the last 9 years) and dog attacks (which have killed 230 people in the same period). So it is possible that irrational fears play a role in defensive medicine.

Another possibility is that doctors are somewhat in denial of what they are doing, and surveys like this one serve to conceal the McAllen Effect. When New Yorker correspondent Atul Gawande asked doctors in the town why medical care in the town was so expensive, they all responded "medical malpractice." But, when pressed, doctors confessed that medical malpractice lawsuits had dropped since tort reforms were passed in 2003: "Practically to zero," according to one doctor. But costs continued to rise, and the doctors finally admitted that it was due to overutilization, including overtesting. Helen Haskell, a patient advocate for the group Mothers against Medical Errors, responded to the survey by saying, "I think they certainly believe [they order tests out of fear], but at the same time the overtesting is both easy and profitable for them rather than spending time with the patient."

In writing about the McAllen Effect, blogger James Kwak said, "We long ago stopped expecting lawyers and accountants to behave contrary to their economic interests; now we simply expect them to conform to the law and to certain professional codes of conduct, and otherwise make as much money as possible. Why should we expect anything different from doctors?" This may be true, but it is perhaps not too much to expect that doctors might admit this rather than live in denial about themselves, their profession, and their practices.

If you have been hurt or lost a loved one due to a doctor's negligence, the medical malpractice lawyers of The Cochran Firm stand ready to help you seek compensation for your injuries. To learn more, please call or email us today for a free initial consultation.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 12:02 PM

Truck Accidents in Birmingham, Alabama

Thousands of people are killed in trucking accidents every year in the United States. The trucking industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that is regulated by both state and federal laws that are meant to promote safety.

The majority of truck accidents are the result of driver error involving the dangerous combination of excessive speed and driver fatigue. When sharing the road with the intimidating presence of these enormous vehicles that are everywhere it is important to remember to keep a safe distance between you and a truck, be alert to what is happening around you at all times, and be extra cautious during inclement weather and after sundown.

The experienced truck accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm have a history of successful litigation and negotiation when dealing with trucking companies, their insurance companies and their teams of lawyers who line up to minimize the trucking company’s responsibility for the accident and prevent you from receiving fair and just financial compensation for your injuries and losses.

You deserve to be financially compensated for your medical expenses, lost income and lost future earning capacity, pain and suffering and any other expenses you had to incur as a result of the truck accident.

Please contact the experienced truck accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Birmingham, Alabama today to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you are entitled to for the injuries and losses you have suffered.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:02 AM

Wrongful Death in Atlanta, Georgia

The words "wrongful death" do not convey the anger, grief or devastation felt by the surviving family members when a loved one dies as a result of the negligence, recklessness or deliberate actions of someone else.

When a loved one’s death is caused by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, the surviving family of the victim is entitled to receive financial compensation for that loss. Monetary damages can take the form of payment for medical expenses of the deceased, funeral and burial expenses, loss of present and future income and the pain and suffering of the survivors.

The wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm have a long history of successfully fighting for the rights of the survivors in cases where a wrongful death has occurred whether from medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, job-related accidents, deaths caused by the use of defective drugs or medical devices, and even those deaths caused as the result of a criminal assault. The laws governing wrongful death cases are complicated, but those responsible for your loss must be held accountable at all costs.

If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and you have lost a loved one due to the negligence, malpractice or recklessness of someone else, please contact the experienced wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to discuss your case with us so we can determine whether or not you are entitled to financial compensation for your devastating loss.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:00 AM

Two Missing in Duck Boat Accident in Philadelphia

A six-wheeled duck boat was hit by a barge being pulled by a tugboat in the Delaware River on Wednesday. Two people, a 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man, are reportedly still missing.

The duck boat was carrying at least 37 people on a sight-seeing tour when the engine stalled and went adrift. Ten minutes later, the 250-foot barge used to transport sludge hit the duck boat and sank it. Witnesses describe the barge running over the duck boat and then seeing people wearing life jackets bobbing in the water.

One survivor said they had less than a minute to get life jackets on before they were hit. All passengers rushed to the front of the boat in a panic.

Almost immediately rescue craft and passing boats went to pluck the survivors out of the water. Ten people were taken to the hospital for injuries, but two refused treatment. The other eight were treated and released. Most of those treated were teenagers or young children. The two people missing are reportedly part of a tour group from Hungary.

The National Transportation Safety Board has started its investigation. One of the factors they will look at is how obvious the duck boat was to the tug pushing the barge.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, please contact the experienced boating accident attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 8:25 AM

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Potential Harm From Avastin

Cancerous tumors grow and spread by creating their own blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) is a protein produced by normal cells and over-produced by cancer cells. They send it out to nearby blood vessels, causing those vessels to grow more vessels. These new ones grow towards the source of the VEGF, the tumor, and supply it with more blood. That gives it more oxygen and more nutrients, enabling it to expand and repeat the whole angiogenesis process.

Avastin (bevacizumab) is a drug designed to starve a tumor by blocking its production of VEGF. Avastin binds to VEGF and prevents it from binding to other receptors. This prevents it from stimulating new blood vessel growth.

Severe Side Effects

It sounds like a good idea, and many doctors strongly support Avastin as a good adjunct to traditional chemotherapy. However, Avastin has some severe side effects.

  • A GI (gastrointestinal) perforation – a hole in the stomach or intestines;
  • Severe bleeding (in the stomach, brain, vagina, nose or lungs) that can be fatal;
  • Kidney malfunction that can be fatal, resulting from too much protein in the urine -- The June issue of the journal of the American Society of Nephrology had an article about Avastin and its harm to the kidneys.
  • Vision impairment, possibly blindness;
  • Impaired wound healing;
  • Nervous system impairment, causing headaches, seizures, mental confusion, and high blood pressure.

High blood pressure itself can lead to further problems, such as stroke, tremors, and breathing difficulty. The list of less severe side effects is very long and a few examples are nosebleeds, dry skin, back pain, and skin inflammation.

Targeted Therapy

Avastin, produced by Genentech, was FDA-approved in 2004 (with the approval extended twice in 2006 and again in 2008) and it is part of a new group of cancer drugs called “targeted therapies”. Unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs, which attack all body cells, drugs like Avastin are supposed to zero in on the cancer cells and leave healthy cells untouched.

However, because of its long list of serious side effects, Avastin has a black-box warning, the FDA’s highest level of warning. FDA approval was very specific and Avastin is to be given in combination with IV chemotherapy in certain circumstances for certain types of cancer.

If a doctor recommends Avastin for you or a loved one, be sure to read the labeling and familiarize yourself with the possible side effects. Also make sure that your doctor knows if you have had any recent surgery or injury because Avastin interferes with wound healing. And make sure your doctor knows of any condition related to the liver, kidneys, heart or blood.

If you notice any Avastin side effects, call your doctor immediately for your safety’s sake.

If you have been harmed by a defective drug and would like to know more about your legal options, please contact us today for a free case review.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:18 AM

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Spine Injuries are Usually Very Serious

The spinal cord contains multiple nerves that serve as the messenger between the brain and the body. Every move we make as humans is delivered from our brain, through our spinal cord, to the appropriate destination, such as our arms or legs. The spinal cord plays a vital role in our day-to-day movements, and this is why spinal cord injuries most often result in partial or total loss of movement and feeling.

The location of the injury plays a large part in the effects suffered as a result. If the damage to the spinal cord at a lower point on our backs, there is usually loss of movement from the waist down, but if the injury is high up on the spinal cord, in the neck area, there is usually paralysis of all extremities from the neck down.

There are multiple causes of spinal cord injuries, including:

• Sports injuries
Slip and falls
Automobile accidents
• Acts of violence, such as a gunshot wound or stabbing
• Diseases, such as arthritis or cancer

Spinal cord injuries are not always immediately obvious. In some cases paralysis or loss of feeling may result immediately after the trauma; however, in other cases, the symptoms of a spinal cord injury may slowly become more debilitating as the swelling in the spinal cord increases over days.

If you or a loved has suffered from a spinal cord injury, please contact the experienced spinal cord injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm, operating numerous offices nationwide, today.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 12:20 PM

Friday, July 2, 2010

Truck Accident Spills Beer All Over California Highway

A truck driver lost control of his vehicle yesterday morning, causing a truck accident that spilled beer all over Interstate 5 near Bakersfield, California. The truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and began veering off the road. As the driver realized what was happening, he overcorrected in an attempt to get the truck back on the road. However, his maneuvers caused the truck to tip over on its side, spilling its cargo – cans of Tecate beer – across the highway.

Traffic was detoured off the highway as emergency crews raced to clean up the mess before morning rush hour. The highway reopened before the peak commute. The driver was not injured in the truck accident.

Truck driver fatigue is a common cause of truck accidents in our country today. Many truck drivers are required to work excessively long hours with few breaks in order to meet their deadlines, leaving them too tired to effectively operate the vehicle. When truck drivers experience fatigue, they often are unable to focus their full attention on the road, increasing their risk of accident. Due to the excessive size and weight of tractor-trailers, the injuries suffered in truck accidents are often catastrophic.

If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by the negligence of the truck driver, the truck accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you receive the compensation you deserve. We have the skills and experience to successfully handle these complex claims so that you can start moving on with your life.

Please contact our truck accident attorneys today. The Cochran Firm serves clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 8:45 AM

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Withdrawn FEMA Trailers Reappear in Gulf Disaster

After 120,000 trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were found to have unacceptable levels of formaldehyde and banned from use after Hurricane Katrina, their reappearance as housing for Gulf Oil Spill cleanup workers has raised some alarm. The trailers have apparently been seen in trailer parks, fields, and boat yards as thousands of people look for housing while helping clean up the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The defective FEMA trailers were sold off by the government agency to hundreds of companies and individuals after they were withdrawn from use. Many of the companies who purchased the trailers are disaster contracting firms, and many of them are headquartered in the South, particularly Texas and Louisiana. FEMA requires that placards be posted on the trailers informing users of the risk of formaldehyde and that the trailers should not be used for housing. However, reporters from the New York Times state the placards are missing from the trailers being used by at least one company based out of Texarkana, Texas.

Formaldehyde gives off a distinct odor that can be overwhelming. Breathing in the fumes of formaldehyde has links to cancer risks and other respiratory illnesses, as well as causing burning eyes, noses and throats. Formaldehyde is used in particle board, a ubiquitous building material. Scientists believe the FEMA trailers were constructed with cheap wood and suffer from poor ventilation.

One disaster contracting firm owner doesn't see any problem with using the FEMA trailers as housing. He says, "Bottom line…I'm providing a service." He claims the workers housed in them are happy, and believes that formaldehyde is in everything and is not a big deal. So, what will happen when the people who are living in these trailers complain about becoming sick? Is it buyer beware, or will he turn around and try to sue the government? Knowingly violating rules meant to protect the health of people for a dollar does not excuse you from negligence.

If you or a loved one has become ill from living in a FEMA trailer, either after Hurricane Katrina or while working to clean up the Gulf Oil Spill, please contact the experienced product liability attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 8:10 AM

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