The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Laws have been enacted to protect consumers against harm caused by a defective product. They allow an injured consumer to receive financial compensation from the manufacturer or distributor of the product for injuries and damages caused by the defective product. The Cochran Firm's Chicago, Illinois office has hardworking, dedicated, and knowledgeable defective product attorneys available to hear the details of a defective product injury you have suffered.

Financial compensation for injuries sustained from a defective consumer product may include payment for any of the following:

• medical expenses
• pain and suffering
• disability and disfigurement
• loss of income
• rehabilitation expenses
• any other expenses incurred as a result of the injuries inflicted
  

Unfortunately, defective consumer products include items we encounter on a daily basis that can inflict serious bodily injury and death on an unsuspecting public. Defective tires and motor vehicles and the injuries and deaths they cause are on the news channels every day. Stories of the injuries and deaths of small children due to defective cribs, strollers, and toys have become almost commonplace.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or even killed because of a defective consumer product, the experienced product liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm want to help you protect your legal rights and hold those responsible for your losses legally accountable.

If you live in Chicago, Illinois or the surrounding area, please contact the experienced product liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm today so our investigative team can help you get the financial compensation you need and deserve.

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Dolores "Dee" Howorth, a 74-year-old woman, died 27 days after being admitted to a nursing home in Chicago, Illinois. It is reported that she died of dehydration. She was restrained in a wheelchair with a lap belt and the nursing home staff neglected to document her declining health or keep her adequately hydrated, which led to acute renal failure and Howorth's wrongful death.

Howorth's family is suing ManorCare Health Services-Hinsdale for nursing home abuse and the wrongful death of Dolores Howorth. The family believes that Howorth was unnecessarily restrained physically and chemically for the convenience of the nursing home staff. They also believe that Howorth's quality of life deteriorated when she was admitted into their facility.

We want our beloved family members to have the best of care in their later years. This is why we do our best to choose nursing homes that will meet our loved one’s needs and make sure they are safe and healthy. When a nursing home neglects to properly take care of our loved ones, they are committing nursing home abuse.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and have a nursing home abuse lawsuit, please contact the Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers at the Cochran Firm for help. Our experienced lawyers will protect your rights and the rights of your loved one.

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A spinal cord injury is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical intervention in the hope of reducing the devastating long term effects that can include partial or total paralysis.

A spinal cord injury is usually the result of a trauma that fractures or dislocates vertebrae or severs the spinal cord, such as occurs with an automobile accident, a sports-related injury or a workplace injury. Medical conditions and medical procedures can also injure the spinal cord. Tumors, infections and surgical errors also contribute to the occurrence of spinal cord injuries unrelated to trauma.

Spinal cord injuries are often permanent and always life-changing events that affect both the lives of the victim and the lives of those who love them. The Chicago, Illinois spinal cord injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the skill and experience to make sure their spinal cord injured clients get full and fair financial compensation for their injuries and the long term consequences with which they have to cope. Our spinal cord injury attorneys will make certain your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, supplies and equipment and your pain and suffering are fully compensated by those responsible.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact the experienced spinal cord injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to protect your future and get the compensation you deserve.

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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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A wrongful death is any death that is caused by the negligent or intentional actions of an individual either as the result of a motor vehicle accident, a crime, elder abuse, a defective product or even police negligence or brutality. A wrongful death claim can be brought by parents, a spouse, children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren of the decedent.

Pursuing a wrongful death claim to recover financial compensation can never replace the loss of someone you love, but it is the only tool available to punish the negligent party and try to make a grieving family whole again. You may be able to recover the cost of medical expenses incurred prior to the death, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, lost future earning potential of the deceased and the pain and suffering caused by your loved one being torn from the family by cruel circumstances beyond their control.

The experienced wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm have a long history of protecting the legal rights of their clients and ensuring that justice is served, no matter where the blame falls and who must be held responsible. Since time limits are involved in a wrongful death claim, it is important you act without delay so your legal rights to financial compensation for your loss are not forfeited forever.

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and you have lost someone you love to the negligence or intentional actions of someone else, please contact the experienced wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to learn whether you are entitled to financial compensation for your tragic loss.

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A wrongful death is legal terminology used to describe the death of someone due to the negligence or wrongful actions of another which entitles the deceased's survivors to financial compensation for their loss. Since absolutely nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, the legal system has only one option to bring justice and comfort to the survivors. That one option is in the form of financial damages to be paid by the individual that is responsible for the death.

One of the most common examples of a wrongful death is being killed by a drunk driver. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is a major cause of automobile accidents with fatalities. Someone is killed every thirty minutes in the United States by a drunk driver. Lives are devastated by alcohol and drug impaired drivers who make the choice to drive while under the influence.

If someone you love was the victim of an alcohol or drug impaired driver, you are entitled to financial compensation for the loss you have suffered from the driver, the bar or restaurant that served the driver or the person or homeowner who provided the alcohol to their guest. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical, funeral and burial expenses, the pain and suffering of the deceased prior to death, loss of financial support and your pain and suffering due to the loss of your loved one.

We encourage you to please contact the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you consultation to learn about your legal rights in this situation and obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

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Medical malpractice occurs as a result of a negligent act by a healthcare professional or healthcare facility that causes harm to a patient. Medical malpractice is the leading cause of wrongful deaths in many areas of the country.

A healthcare professional may be a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, pharmacist, medical technician or other staff employed by a healthcare facility such as a hospital, nursing home, dialysis or same day surgery center. Medical malpractice can involve a misdiagnosis, surgical error, medication mistakes, the failure to diagnose a life-threatening illness and birth injuries.

The medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm have extensive experience in the area of medical malpractice litigation and work together to make sure you are represented fairly and keep focused on your specific needs. The laws governing medical malpractice are designed to protect injured patients, but there are time limits involved in a medical malpractice claim.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of medical malpractice, it is important to seek legal advice without delay so your case can be investigated and evaluated and a determination made whether you should seek financial compensation for injuries suffered due to the negligence of a healthcare provider.

We encourage you to please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Chicago, Illinois today if you were harmed by a healthcare provider to protect your legal rights and obtain financial compensation for those you care about.

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Following a massive recall by Toyota Motor Corporation of many of its vehicles for floor mats that interfere with gas pedals and sticking gas pedals that cause unwanted acceleration, Chicago area residents are filing lawsuits claiming the defects led to accidents that resulted in serious injuries and deaths.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also received complaints regarding the brakes on some Toyota vehicles and is launching an investigation into the matter. Toyota owners are becoming increasingly upset and fearful of even driving their cars and many have parked them and turned to rental cars for safety reasons.

An investigation has revealed that Toyota has refused to provide important information sought by crash victims and survivors after an automobile accident involving a Toyota vehicle’ and when Toyota was pressed to provide the requested information either settled out of court or provided information with key facts blacked-out in the documents.

Our defective vehicle attorneys at The Cochran Firm have years of experience dealing with automobile manufacturers corporate legal teams and their delaying tactics and will work diligently to ensure our clients receive the best legal representation available in their fight for the financial compensation they deserve for the damages they have suffered.

If you have been in a car accident in the Chicago, Illinois area that may have resulted from a defective Toyota vehicle, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and hold those responsible legally liable.

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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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Construction workers confront some of the most hazardous working conditions every day they report to work. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction site accidents account for the greatest number of worker fatalities of any industry.

Construction workers can suffer serious injuries even though there are regulations, statutes, ordinances and industry standards that are supposed to provide a reasonably safe working environment.

The many dangerous conditions inherent at a construction site make it almost impossible to prevent all injuries from happening. Falls from scaffolds and other elevations, being struck by heavy machinery, electrocution, exposure to asbestos and other hazardous substances, and injuries caused by defective or other unsafe equipment occur with alarming frequency.

If you have been injured in a construction site accident, the experienced construction site accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you and make certain you understand just what your legal rights are and what financial compensation you can expect for the injuries you have suffered. The severity of construction site injuries often makes it impossible for a worker to resume their previous occupation and this must be taken into consideration when determining the extent of financial compensation due to the loss of future income potential.

If you have been injured in a construction site accident and live in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn how to proceed in securing your future and the future of those you love.

Labels: Chicago

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Chicago

"Wrongful death" is a legal term that alleges a person died due to the negligence, misconduct or willful actions of another individual, and that the victim's survivors are deserving of financial compensation because of that death.

Some examples of instances of wrongful death can be the result of an automobile accident, an airplane crash or train accident, a criminal act, exposure to a hazardous substance, a drunken driving accident, medical malpractice or a death caused by the use of a defective consumer product.

Monetary compensation in a wrongful death case may include compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, compensation for the pain and suffering of the victim prior to their death and the loss of financial support to the survivors due to the loss of their loved one.

The laws regarding wrongful death are complex and involve time limits, so it is vitally important to consult an experienced wrongful death attorney without delay. Nothing can compensate you for the loss of a loved one, but the individual responsible for your loss must be held accountable in the manner the justice system provides.

If you have suffered the loss of someone you love due to the negligence, misconduct or willful actions of someone else, please contact an experienced wrongful death attorney in the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today.

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Medical negligence and medical malpractice can take many forms and is not limited to surgical errors or errors in medical care and treatment. Treatment delayed and treatment denied are subtle forms of medical malpractice that "patient dumping" encompasses.

"Patient dumping" is a term used to describe the all too common practice of discharging or transferring a medically unstable patient purely for financial reasons. The practice favors treating insured patients and leaves those without insurance and unable to pay, to government programs or charitable organizations to absorb the costs of treatment. Millions of Americans are at risk for this practice every day in this country.

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) prohibits patient dumping, yet this practice is a common occurrence in medical facilities around the country. Economic concerns instead of medical concerns should have no role in medical treatment decisions.

The Cochran Firm's attorneys are experienced in dealing with medical malpractice in the form of patient dumping and will be able to evaluate and investigate the circumstances of your case and obtain justice for you.

If you live in Chicago, Illinois and you or someone you love was the victim of medical malpractice, please contact The Cochran Firm today so one of our experienced attorneys can learn the details of your case and advise you on how to proceed.

Labels: Chicago

Almost twenty thousand people in this country suffer a spinal cord injury every year. There are, at the present time, over two hundred thousand people living their daily lives coping with the devastating consequences of a spinal cord injury. Automobile accidents are a major contributing factor to the incidence of spinal cord injuries, with falls and sports related injuries also a factor in the number of injuries reported.

A spinal cord injury is usually the result of a sudden, forceful impact to the spine that damages or dislocates the vertebrae. Although some spinal cord injuries have a reasonably good prognosis, most injuries to the spinal cord result in either partial or complete paralysis.

The physical, emotional and financial burdens suffered by victims of spinal cord injuries are immeasurable. The cost of medical care and treatment over the long term can total hundreds of thousands of dollars, and years of pain and suffering.

Since the permanence and severity of a spinal cord injury make this a life-altering occurrence, it is vitally important you have an experienced spinal cord injury attorney on your side to make certain all your legal rights are protected and you obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

Residents of the Chicago, Illinois area who have suffered a spinal cord injury should contact The Cochran Firm today to obtain the representation necessary to obtain justice and the financial compensation you deserve.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Automobile accidents can be caused by many factors, such as distracted drivers, drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless drivers, drivers driving over the posted speed limit, adverse weather conditions or hazardous road conditions or just plain bad luck.

The leading cause of death for Americans aged three to thirty-three is car accidents. Distracted drivers are responsible for over 50% of all car accidents. A distracted driver can be someone talking or texting on a cell phone, someone reading a map, adjusting the radio or CD player, or someone distracted by an unruly child or pet. We all share the roads with these drivers everyday and it is frightening to think about.

There is an automobile accident every 10 seconds in this country, resulting in over three million injuries and forty-four thousand deaths annually. Pedestrians do not fare any better, with over five thousand fatally injured by automobiles each year. Car accidents increase by 50% after the sun goes down.

If you live in Chicago, Illinois or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in an automobile accident, please contact an experienced automobile accident attorney at the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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A sports utility vehicle rollover accident occurs usually when the vehicle is turning sharply and moving at a high rate of speed. All vehicles are capable of rolling over, but sports utility vehicles with a high center of gravity are more prone to do so.

Thirty-three percent of car accident fatalities are due to rollover crashes. More than ten thousand lives are lost annually due to rollover crashes and thousands more are injured. Many of these injuries and deaths are caused by the vehicle roof collapsing in the rollover. Occupants injured in these roof collapses usually suffer spinal cord injuries often resulting in paralysis and death.

Those injured in a sports utility vehicle rollover accident usually need emergency medical treatment, surgery, long term continuing medical care and treatment, rehabilitation and more. They may lose income, future potential earning capacity, amass high medical bills and their families may be left with final expenses also. The vehicle manufacturer should be held responsible for all these expenses due to injuries sustained as a result of their defectively designed vehicle.

If you live in Chicago, Illinois or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been injured or killed as a result of a sports utility rollover accident, please contact the Chicago, Illinois office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced sports utility rollover accident attorney to protect your legal rights.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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