The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

For over twenty years now, Wellbutrin (generic bupropion) has been a popular and highly effective anti-depressant that is also prescribed for obesity, smoking cessation, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and sexual dysfunction. Now it has come to light that this drug, and its variations (Wellbutrin XL and Wellbutrin SR), may cause a variety of very serious side effects including:

• Depression
• Psychological disturbances
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• Memory problems
• Psychosis
• Mania
• Changes in personality
• Severe allergic reactions
• Seizures

If you have taken Wellbutrin and have suffered any of these side effects, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The product liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm’s Dothan, Alabama office are now accepting Wellbutrin cases. Product liability claims are often complex and require expert knowledge of product liability law in the state in which you live. The attorneys at The Cochran Firm have both the knowledge and resources necessary to fight these difficult cases.

When we take a prescribed drug, we would like to think that it is safe and will achieve its intended purpose. Unfortunately, however, this is not always the case. The problem with defective or dangerous drugs is that their side effects can be deadly, and the side effects may not surface for years after beginning taking the drug.
If you or a loved one has suffered ill effects as a result of taking Wellbutrin or any other drug, please contact the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency basis, which means we do not get paid unless you receive a settlement. We will work tirelessly to hold accountable anyone who caused you undue pain and suffering.

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On September 13, 2010, the opening arguments began in a Dothan Federal Courthouse in a police brutality trail brought forth by a woman who claims that one police officer used excessive force against her while another officer was present and failed to intervene.

According to the plaintiff, she was restrained face down in a Southeast Alabama Medical Center gurney and one of the police officers used a TASER gun on her three times consecutively. She claims the second police officer stood nearby and did nothing to prevent the excessive brutality.

The officers claim that the woman was unrestrained at the time the first officer used the TASER gun and only used it twice after repeatedly warning her to calm down. They claim she kept attempting to kick and bite the police officers.

Both officers are being charged with:

• Excessive force
• Assault and battery

Police officers are responsible for keeping us safe. Sometimes, however, police officers use excessive force or needlessly use their TASER guns causing personal injury and wrongful death to those they are meant to protect.

If you have been a victim of police brutality in Dothan, Alabama, do not hesitate to contact the Dothan personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm.

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Medical malpractice is a failure of healthcare professionals and/or healthcare facilities to adhere to a standard of care that results in a misdiagnosis, a failure to diagnose, inadequate medical management, errors in medication, emergency room or surgical errors, birth injuries during labor and delivery and more. If such medical malpractice or medical negligence results in an injury or death, you have a case against the healthcare professionals and the healthcare facility involved.

Medical malpractice laws are designed to protect your right to pursue financial compensation if you are injured as a result of medical negligence or medical malpractice. However, medical malpractice lawsuits are complex and require the skill and medical and legal knowledge of an experienced medical malpractice attorney such as those at The Cochran Firm who can help determine whether you have a legitimate claim.

If you have suffered an injury or wrongful death due to medical malpractice or negligence you are eligible for financial compensation for your medical expenses, loss of current and future income and living expenses, pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish, disfigurement, the loss of enjoyment of life and funeral and burial expenses in the case of a wrongful death.

If you or someone you love was the victim of medical malpractice or negligence in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to learn how to proceed with your claim to get the financial compensation you need and deserve.

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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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When a healthcare provider fails in their obligation to provide adequate medical care and treatment during labor and delivery, the unfortunate and tragic results may be a serious birth injury. While some birth injuries are minor, the majority can affect the baby's quality of life forever.

Children with birth injuries struggle with developmental delays, motor skill impairment and more. An injury at birth can mean multiple surgeries, a lifetime of attendant care, recurring medical conditions and problems and an adversely effected quality of life. Birth injuries can be responsible for cerebral palsy, brachial plexus palsy, premature delivery, brain injuries and microcephaly.

If you believe your healthcare provider was responsible for causing a birth injury during your labor and delivery, the experienced birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you recover damages for your losses. You could be eligible to recover financial compensation for your child's pain and suffering, decreased quality of life, medical expenses, future medical needs, and other financial hardships associated with birth injuries. Most families cannot cope with the high medical costs of caring for a child injured at birth, which can run into the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

If you live in the Dothan, Alabama area and your child was injured at birth, please contact the experienced birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your child's future and give you peace of mind for what lies ahead.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised concerns that the popular weight loss drugs, Xenical and Alli containing orlistat, may cause serious liver damage.

Xenical is a prescription medication that contains 120 mg. of orlistat and Alli is an over-the-counter medication that contains 60 mg. of orlistat. Both Xenical and Alli are to be used with a reduced calorie, low-fat diet to produce weight loss.

Xenical is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals and Alli is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and together they have generated almost $200 million in sales.

Reports of serious liver damage have surfaced with the use of orlistat including liver failure, with symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, brown urine, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and light-colored stools.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with liver failure, liver damage, liver inflammation, lesions on the liver or hepatitis after taking the potentially defective drugs Xenical or Alli, you should consult an attorney as you may be entitled to financial compensation for the damage you have suffered.

If you live in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have taken Xenical or Alli, even if you are not having symptoms at the present time, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn all you can about this disturbing situation and speak with an experienced defective pharmaceutical attorney, at no cost to you.

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Surgical errors are responsible for a very high number of deaths in hospitals across the United States annually. A surgical error can occur when a surgeon or other member of the surgical team fails to provide an acceptable standard of care for their patients resulting in injury or death.

Statistics reveal that one-half of all medical malpractice lawsuits filed in this country involve surgical procedures. These allegations of surgical malpractice involve pre-operative procedures, surgical procedures and post-surgery recovery care and treatment. Every poor outcome in a surgical procedure should not be considered surgical error, however, because there are risks involved with all surgical procedures.

When the wrong surgical procedure is performed, surgery is performed on the wrong limb or body part, medical instruments are left inside your body, or brain damage occurs due to anesthesia mistakes, that has to be considered surgical malpractice or error and outside the realm of acceptable risk.

The surgical malpractice attorneys at The Cochran Firm want to ensure you receive fair financial compensation for the injuries suffered in the case of surgical error for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and loss of possible future earning potential for yourself and your loved ones.

If you live in Dothan, Alabama and have been a victim of surgical error, please contact the highly skilled and experienced surgical error attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that strikes the mesothelium, a thin layer of cells lining the internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease and affects the pleural lining of the lungs and accounts for over 70% of diagnosed cases. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart while peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal tissues. Exposure to asbestos is a major risk factor for this disease.

Some warning signs of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, wheezing or hoarseness, weight loss, abdominal swelling, anemia and fatigue and difficulty swallowing. Asbestos is found in many work environments and workers often bring it home to their families on their clothes, shoes and bodies, causing secondary contamination and exposure to the asbestos fibers.

Workers who may encounter exposure to asbestos fibers include those working in mines, factories, shipyards, railroads, construction sites, steel mills, power plants, oil refineries, chemical and cement plants and our nations’ schools.

If you are employed in an asbestos risk-related environment the mesothelioma attorneys at The Cochran Firm would like to talk to you if you have questions and concerns regarding this disease. Our attorneys are dedicated to obtaining fair and just financial compensation for our clients and will work quickly and effectively to do so.

Please contact the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today if you suspect you are a victim of exposure to asbestos or have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

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Every year over sixty-five thousand people succumb to kidney failure. Dialysis acts as an artificial kidney, sustaining life for many Americans who would die without the treatments. However, there are thousands of documented incidents of kidney dialysis errors every year in the United States.

Hundreds of thousands of people must undergo kidney dialysis to stay alive, but these treatments are not without risk. Serious injuries and deaths have occurred unnecessarily because of medical negligence during kidney dialysis treatments.

Kidney dialysis errors typically involve medication errors, patient falls, vascular access-related incidents, dialyzer errors, excess loss of blood or prolonged bleeding, dialysis machine leaks, malfunctioning machine alarms, failure to clear cleaning solutions from dialysis machines, failure to properly monitor blood pressure and other vital signs and bloodstream infections due to contaminated lines or machinery.

If you or someone you know is presently receiving kidney dialysis and you have concerns about the quality of care you are receiving you should consult The Cochran Firm where an attorney with experience in kidney dialysis medical malpractice will evaluate your concerns and explain what options are available to you.

If you are a resident of the Dothan, Alabama area and you or someone you care about is experiencing a problem with kidney dialysis treatments, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential, no cost to you consultation with an experienced kidney dialysis error attorney to protect your legal rights and get the legal representation you deserve.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Over three million Americans are injured in automobile accidents every year in the United States with injuries ranging from minor scrapes and bruises to life-altering, life-threatening and fatal injuries.

Typically, injuries sustained in an automobile accident are obvious, but another serious injury with possible life-long consequences is not so obvious to the casual observer and that is a so-called whiplash injury.

A whiplash injury occurs when the occupant of an automobile absorbs the energy produced from the impact of a collision that causes the head and neck to snap forwards and backwards in a whipping motion. This whipping motion results in trauma to the joints, discs, ligaments, muscles and nerves in that area.

Symptoms of a whiplash injury include headache, searing or aching pain, soreness, tenderness, swelling, muscle spasms, dizziness, loss of motion and nausea and often are not present immediately after the accident, but become apparent after 24 to 48 hours. If left untreated whiplash can lead to a long period of disability with symptoms lasting for weeks or months.

If you live in the Dothan, Alabama area and have been injured in an automobile accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to learn how to proceed with a claim to recover damages for the injuries you have sustained.

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Property and business owners have a legal obligation to provide safe premises for customers, renters, and guests. If owners of businesses and properties ignore that legal obligation, innocent people can be seriously injured or killed and many others are put at risk.

Premises liability laws are in place to make certain property and business owners are held accountable when serious injuries or a fatality occurs as a result of their negligence. Some examples of premises liability negligence include negligent and inadequate security at a shopping mall or office building, construction site accidents, amusement park or theme park accidents, resort pool drowning and slip and fall accidents in restaurants or other businesses.

Premises liability cases allow payment of damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses and may also financially compensate survivors in the event of a death caused by injuries sustained as a result of hazardous premises conditions.

If you have reason to believe a negligent property or business owner was responsible for injuries you or someone you love suffered, please contact the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation at no cost to you with an experienced premises liability attorney so you can be advised on how to proceed to protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

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Toxic torts are legal cases that refer to injuries caused by the exposure to toxic substances because of the negligence of chemical manufacturers, distributors or users of toxic chemicals. In a toxic tort, the people who were injured by exposure to the toxic substance are the plaintiffs and the people whose negligence caused the exposure and injuries are the defendants.

Some toxic substances involved in recent toxic tort cases include asbestos, pesticides, toxic waste products, paints, benzene and fertilizers. These toxic substances are found in the environment, home and workplace.

Diseases that can occur after exposure to toxic substances include, but are not limited to mesothelioma, silicosis, leukemia, lung diseases, aplastic anemia and Hodgkins disease.

Despite the difficulty of proving responsibility in a toxic tort case, the effort may gain you compensation for your pain and suffering, disabilities, medical expenses, emotional stress, loss of enjoyment of life or the death of a loved one. Proving responsibility can also result in protection for your community by forcing the polluters to stop their damaging activities and punishing them with large monetary losses.

If you know or suspect a toxic exposure in your environment, home or workplace has caused serious injury to you or someone you know, please contact the experienced toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Dothan, Alabama today.

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

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

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

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

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

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Statistics for motorcycle accidents are shocking. One third of all motorcyclists killed were speeding, one half of all motorcyclists killed had consumed alcohol or drugs, and one out of four was driving with an invalid license. The greatest increase in fatal accidents was in the 50 year old and over age group.

The risks for motorcycle riders are many. There are road hazards such as potholes, oil slicks, puddles, debris and uneven pavement to contend with. Motorcycles are a smaller visual target and more likely to be unseen by other vehicles on the road, especially in inclement weather.

There are many contributory factors involved in motorcycle accidents, such as driver inexperience, road hazards, weather conditions and defective equipment. Sometimes dangerous or aggressive driving behaviors are at fault such as a failure to yield, failure to change lanes properly, failure to observe a safe distance, passing on the shoulder and weaving in and out of car lanes.

If you reside in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a motorcycle, please contact the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn all about your legal rights.

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It is almost impossible for the American consumer to know if they have been sold a defective tire or bought a car with defective tires. The public depends on the integrity of tire manufacturers and retailers to provide well-made, safe tires for their families to ride on. However, defective tires are responsible for thousands of accidents, injuries and fatalities nationwide. Although millions of tires have been recalled, untold millions of defective tires are still being used throughout the country.

A tire failure is one of the most frightening things that can happen to a driver at highway speeds. Tire tread separation at highway speeds often causes the vehicle to rollover. Rollover crashes normally crush the occupants of the vehicle causing devastating injuries and deaths.

In the recent past, tire manufacturers have been found legally responsible for losses from automobile accidents caused by defective tires. Millions of dollars in compensation have been paid to victims and their families for injuries and deaths sustained in accidents caused by defective tires.

If you live in Dothan, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been the victim of an automobile accident caused by a defective tire, please contact the Dothan, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced defective tire attorney at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

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