The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties in a way that does not cause harm to people who have legal access to that property. Negligence on the part of the property owner must be shown in order for him or her to be held legally responsible for injuries or damages sustained on the property. The Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm has premises liability attorneys on staff that have had great success in these types of cases in Houston and surrounding areas.

Some common types of accidents and injuries that come under the premises liability umbrella may include dog bites, slip and fall accidents, swimming pool or diving board injuries, exposure to hazardous or toxic substances, a fire in a hotel, or physical assaults caused by inadequate security at a mall. As a victim of an injury sustained on someone else's property you may have been lucky enough to escape with minor scrapes or abrasions or you may have suffered broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, severe burns or been left with life-changing disabilities.

The laws surrounding premises liability claims are complicated. The experienced premises liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the knowledge and skill to evaluate your claim quickly and efficiently and get you the financial compensation you need and deserve for the injuries you have suffered. With The Cochran Firm handling your claim, you can concentrate on getting physically and emotionally healed.

If you or someone you care about has been injured on someone else's property in the Houston, Texas area, please contact the experienced premises liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn how to proceed with your claim. We work on a contingency basis, which means we do not collect any money unless we win your case.

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Whether you're meeting friends after work or having a party at your house, you quite often have an opportunity to drink. Drinking to excess and then driving, however, can result in anything from a minor fender bender to jail time to death. Texas DUI law prohibits anyone over the age of 21 from driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of .08 percent, the nationwide standard. Drivers under the age of 21 are prohibited from driving with a BAC of .02 percent, and commercial drivers from driving with a BAC of .04 percent.

If you are arrested with a DUI in Houston, Texas and it is your first conviction, you are facing the following sentencing:

• Between 72 and 180 days in jail
• Between 180 days to 2 years in jail if a child under the age of 15 was in the vehicle
• Suspended driver license between 90 to 365 days
• A fine up to $2,000
• A fine up to $10,000 if a child under the age of 15 was in the vehicle
• A DUI surcharge of $1,000 per year for 3 years
• A DUI surcharge of $2,000 per year for 3 years if your BAC was .16 or higher
  

Sentencing for repeat convictions will cost you more jail time and higher fines. You have rights under the law if you have been convicted of a DUI in Houston, Texas. Please contact the experienced Houston DUI lawyers at the Cochran Firm for legal representation in your DUI case. You deserve to have your rights protected.

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It is not surprising that boating is a popular pastime enjoyed by many in Texas. Texas has hundreds of miles of coastline and more inland waterways than any other state. There are hundreds of thousands of registered boats in Texas, but unfortunately Texas also ranks in the top five in boating accident deaths.

Wearing a life jacket, keeping your boat in good repair and staying sober while operating your boat are important to the safe and enjoyable operation of your watercraft. If you do have a boating accident however, it is important to help any injured first, and report the accident to the proper authorities.

Boating accidents can also occur to those who work on and around boats and offshore rigs. Injuries sustained under these circumstances can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, crushing injuries and even death.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a boating accident in Houston or the surrounding area, the boating accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can investigate the circumstances of your accident to determine if you are eligible for financial compensation for your medical bills, property damage, loss of income and pain and suffering.

Please contact the experienced boating accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm today if you were injured in a boating accident in the Houston, Texas area so you can focus on healing while we fight for your legal rights.

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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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Many in the maritime industries say even though the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, fire and consequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has not yet spread to the South Texas coast, its effects are still being felt.

Seafood wholesalers, charter boat owners and other boat operators, as well as fuel and ice suppliers, have all been adversely affected by the oil spill. The fishing grounds traditionally worked by South Texas boats have been closed. Anyone who can prove they have suffered economic losses from this disastrous oil spill in the Gulf can file a lawsuit in a Texas district court that includes projected future losses as well as current losses.

The experienced and knowledgeable environmental and toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the resources available to make sure you are compensated for your economic losses as well as your pain and suffering, medical expenses related to the oil spill, emotional stress, loss of enjoyment of life and any other expenses incurred as a result of having to cope with the consequences of this environmental catastrophe.

If you live in the Houston, Texas area and you have questions and concerns regarding the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and how it has or will impact your future, please contact the experienced environmental toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm today and schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation to learn how you can proceed to protect your future and the futures of those you love.

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There are over 2.5 million rear end collisions nationwide annually, making rear end collisions the most common type of automobile accident. The bumper system on a car is an important safety feature that is capable of absorbing the force of a low speed collision, but at times the impact of the collision is absorbed by the occupants of the automobile instead.

A low speed, rear impact collision, although resulting in minor damage to the automobile, can result in serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle. Whiplash is the most common injury sustained in a low impact rear end collision and is the result of a sudden, violent, and involuntary back and forth motion of the neck. Whiplash is soft tissue trauma to the muscles and ligaments of the neck that results in pain, swelling, stiffness, headache, nausea, numbness and loss of balance.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a rear end collision car accident you should protect your legal rights by consulting with a rear end collision car accident lawyer who has experience in this field of law. You deserve to be financially compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages and possible loss of future income, due to the injury you have suffered because of someone else’s negligence.

Please contact the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today and learn how to obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to for the injuries suffered in a rear end collision.

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A traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a sudden, violent blow to the head during a car accident, a fall, a sport-related or job-related injury or a criminal assault. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause permanent disability or death and places young men aged fifteen to twenty-four years of age at the highest risk. Over fifty thousand people succumb to traumatic brain injuries every year in the United States.

Victims of severe traumatic brain injuries require emergency medical treatment and hospitalization, and may require months and years of long term medical care. The symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury include debilitating headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, extremity weakness, loss of coordination, paralysis, profound confusion and possible amnesia. In addition, the psychological effects of a traumatic brain injury can be deep and life-changing as well.

Individuals suffering traumatic brain injuries may require physical, emotional and financial support for an extended period with the costs spiraling into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm are well aware the victims of TBI need specialized legal representation to deal with the complex litigation involved surrounding a brain injured client.

Please contact the experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury in the Houston, Texas area to learn how our attorneys can help you get the financial compensation you need to secure your future care and treatment and quality of life.

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It has been common knowledge for decades that exposure to asbestos fibers caused meothelioma, a deadly cancer. Manufacturers knew asbestos was unsafe but continued to manufacture and sell asbestos products to consumers nevertheless.
Workers who may have been exposed to asbestos fibers include, but are not limited to miners, those employed in factories, insulation manufacturers, shipyard and construction workers, automobile mechanics, steel mill and oil refinery workers and workers in cement plants.

Now there are laws to protect victims from asbestos use and laws to hold manufacturers legally responsible for their negligent actions. Every day in court rooms across the United States the mesothelioma attorneys at The Cochran Firm defend the rights of victims of mesothelioma and hold asbestos manufacturers and employers legally accountable for the devastating damage they have caused people like you and your families.

Our goal is to make sure victims of mesothelioma and their families are fairly compensated for their pain and suffering and make certain the malicious companies that negligently put you at risk are held legally and morally accountable for their actions.

If you live in the Houston, Texas area and suspect you have been exposed to asbestos fibers or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact our experienced mesothelioma attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to learn about how to protect your legal rights and to obtain fair financial compensation for the damages you have endured.

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Did a defective vehicle cause serious injuries or result in death for your family member? Every year in Houston, car accidents claim the lives of hundreds of our citizens, and thousands are injured in car accidents caused by defective vehicles.

Many vehicles on our roads today are dangerous because of defects in their design, manufacture or maintenance. Many serious or deadly manufacturing or design defects can be avoided if car manufacturers and distributors would place the American consumer's safety ahead of their profit margins.

Vehicle manufacturers and distributors have a legal responsibility to make sure every vehicle they sell is safe to drive. When a defective vehicle is sold to an unsuspecting buyer, that vehicle becomes a deadly object.

The automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm will strive to achieve the best outcome for your unique case and hold those responsible for the defective vehicle legally liable for the financial compensation you deserve for the damages you have suffered.

If you are seriously injured or a loved one was killed due to a defective vehicle automobile accident in the Houston, Texas area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation to evaluate your case and determine whether you are entitled to financial compensation for your injuries or loss.

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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for safeguarding Americans against the dangers of defective pharmaceuticals but fails to do so in many instances, causing serious illnesses, disabilities, and deaths.

At times, drugs that have been approved to treat patients, even when taken as directed, have serious adverse side effects. People who have taken these dangerous drugs suffer blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, kidney, liver and lung damage and are often left with life-altering disabilities or fatal conditions.

In their efforts to rush new drugs into the hands of a population in need of remedies to alleviate pain and suffering, drug companies often ignore safe practices and fail to conduct adequate trials that may have exposed dangerous side effects, or may even choose to ignore the results of those trials in their quest for larger profits.

The experienced defective pharmaceutical attorneys at The Cochran Firm have the skill, knowledge, technical and medical resources, and persistence to fight for your rights against the giant pharmaceutical industry.

If you or someone you care about was injured by a defective pharmaceutical and you live in the Houston, Texas area, please contact the compassionate and determined attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to learn how to proceed to obtain justice and the financial compensation to which you are entitled for your injuries.

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

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

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

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

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Defective consumer products can run the gamut from car seatbelts that do not buckle correctly to defective medical devices, dangerous drugs and toys that cause choking hazards.

Defective consumer products frequently cause life-threatening injuries and wrongful deaths. Thousands of Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns and long-term debilitating medical conditions due to injuries suffered because of defective products. The laws of this country are designed to protect innocent consumers against the negligence that leads to defective consumer products being available to an unsuspecting public and causing it great harm.

Damages for pain and suffering, disabilities caused by injuries resulting from the use of defective consumer products, disfigurement, lost income, rehabilitation costs and future pain and suffering and lost earning power are available to the victim of a defective consumer product. In the event of a wrongful death, the survivors and beneficiaries are entitled to damages as well.

There is complex litigation involved in a defective consumer product lawsuit that the attorneys at The Cochran Firm understand and have the experience and knowledge to litigate successfully to get you the financial compensation you deserve.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed because of injuries suffered using a defective consumer product, please contact the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today where the experienced defective consumer product attorneys are committed to obtaining justice for you.

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A wrongful death claim is brought by the family of a deceased person who died due to the negligence, recklessness or intentional actions of another person. Wrongful death claims can be initiated by the parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren of the deceased.

Wrongful death claims are usually the result of a death due to medical malpractice, automobile or truck accidents, plane or train accidents, boat accidents, a death caused by the use of a defective product or pharmaceutical and nursing home abuse and neglect that results in death.

A wrongful death claim can be difficult to prove and evidence to support the claim must be discovered, witnesses must be interviewed and medical records, police reports and expert testimony must be obtained. The knowledgeable wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm are experts in protecting your legal rights and making certain justice is served.

Although no amount of money can compensate you for the loss of a loved one, the law does provide for financial compensation in cases of tragic loss. A wrongful death lawsuit does have a time limit for filing a claim and if the time limit expires, your legal rights to financial compensation are permanently lost.

If you live in the Houston, Texas area and you have lost a loved due to the negligence, recklessness or intentional actions of another, please contact the experienced wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you private consultation to evaluate your claim and learn whether you are entitled to financial compensation for your tragic loss.

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Police brutality refers to the excessive use of force, physical, verbal or psychological, by a police officer. In some instances, the use of excessive force is triggered by so-called "contempt of cop," a perceived disrespect and disregard for the authority of the police.

Police brutality is just one of various forms of police misconduct which may include false arrest, intimidation, racial profiling, political repression, surveillance abuse, sexual harassment, and police corruption.

Studies have shown most police brutality cases go unreported and undocumented. Police brutality is often associated with racial profiling, differences in religion, politics or socioeconomic status. Some police officers view certain sections of the population as generally deserving of punishment and certain sections of the population view the police as oppressors.

Although the use of force by the police is certainly warranted at times, there are instances when the police may step over the line and take advantage of their authority and cause undue harm to an undeserving victim. The very ones we depend on for protection from the criminals in our communities should never become the criminals themselves.

If you live in Houston, Texas and you or someone you know has been the victim of police brutality in the form of physical, verbal or psychological abuse, please contact the experienced police brutality personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights.

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The Houston, Texas Metropolitan Transit Authority has decided to fire any bus driver who is caught texting behind the wheel. The decision was made in July, after a bus driver in San Antonio caused an accident due to cell phone use. The driver was captured on a security camera looking at his cell phone for several seconds, then looking up to slam on the brakes, too late to prevent hitting two stopped cars in front of the bus. The Houston METRO had received over 300 complaints since January 2008 that drivers were using cell phones while driving. In addition, several recent crashes in transit systems have called attention to transit safety. A September 2008 train crash in Los Angeles and the June 22 Metro Crash in Washington, D.C. are two of the most familiar events.

As calls from environmentalists and city authorities ask people to leave their cars at home and rely on transit for transportation to and from work, transit authorities do need to step up measures to ensure that public buses and trains are safe for riders. The Houston METRO policy can be a guideline for other transit authorities. METRO employees are being forced to turn over their personal phone records when a complaint is received, and those records are being checked to see if texts were sent or calls made while the bus or train was in motion.

If you or a loved one has been hurt as a result of a transit crash, The Cochran Firm stands ready to help you. Please call or email the personal injury attorneys at our Houston office today.

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Motorcyclists are at a high risk of severe injury and death if they are involved in an accident simply because there is really nothing to protect them physically except their helmets and clothing from an impact with the pavement or another vehicle.

Some motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence and recklessness of other drivers on the highways and some motorcycle accidents are caused by the motorcycle operators that do not obey the rules of the road, drive while under the influence of alcohol and drugs and also practice reckless driving behaviors. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of causes of accidents or shortage of injuries and deaths related to these accidents.

A motorcycle accident can result in scrapes and bruises or massive head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and fatalities. The losses suffered in a motorcycle accident can be very high in terms of injuries, medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and the cost of long term care in the case of a permanent disability.

If you live in Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you or someone you love was severely injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to determine what compensation you are entitled to for your losses.

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When you have an automobile accident, you may need the services of an attorney. Every automobile accident is different when it comes to causes, fault and liability. This is a time when the assistance of an experienced automobile accident attorney may prove to be invaluable.

Insurance companies routinely deny or delay legitimate claims or just refuse to settle your claim fairly and honestly. An experienced automobile accident attorney will be on your side working for your best interests. The insurance company hopes your lack of expertise in dealing with the system will discourage you from getting the compensation you are entitled to.

There are over six million automobile accidents in this country every year with over three million injuries and over forty-five thousand deaths. The majority of automobile accidents are caused by drivers operating their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, driver fatigue and distractions, road rage, and hazardous weather or road conditions.

If you live in Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been injured or suffered a fatal injury in an automobile accident, please contact an experienced automobile accident attorney at the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to ensure your legal rights are protected and you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.

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