The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Although the majority of babies are born during joyous, routine and uneventful labors and deliveries, not all newborns are so lucky. Tragically, a mismanaged labor and delivery can result in permanent injuries and life-long disabilities such as brain damage and shattered bones. The Cochran Firm's Memphis, Tennessee birth injury attorneys have experience in these difficult cases, and we are here for you if your child was harmed due to medical error.

An unnecessary birth injury can be the result of a healthcare provider’s failure to recognize and treat a mother's high blood pressure, the failure to respond to fetal distress, oxygen deprivation, the failure to perform a C-section in a timely manner and injuries to the baby caused by forceps and vacuum extraction deliveries among other causes.

The physical, emotional, and financial toll experienced by the parents, siblings and extended family members when a baby is injured at birth can be overwhelming. The costs of providing specialized medical care, rehabilitative therapies, special educational needs, and nursing care for a special needs child are not easily absorbed by most families. At the same time, having to adjust your expectations and dreams for your child while providing support and caring concern can be helped by not having the burden of worrying about how to finance the future of your birth injured child.

The experienced birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm have made a heartfelt commitment to ensure families get the maximum financial compensation they need to secure the future of their birth injured child so the family can better cope with their physical and emotional healing free of financial concerns.

If you live in the Memphis, Tennessee area and your child was injured at birth, please contact the experienced birth injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm today. We offer no-cost, no-obligation, confidential consultations, and we work on a contingency basis, which means we collect no money unless you receive a settlement or positive verdict and award.

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A recent explosion caused a fire at the Kilgore Flares Co. causing six people to suffer personal injuries near Memphis, Tennessee. Three of the six people were listed in critical condition. The cause of the explosion is still unknown. Authorities have ruled out terrorism, however.

Kilgore Flares Co. manufactures and supplies red decoy flares to the military designed to act as a decoy for the threat of guided missiles. During the explosion, sparks and debris were thrown through the air by the fire and ignited the clothing of the three critically injured people. These three victims were airlifted to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee where their personal injuries are being treated. The additional three victims are in good condition and were taken to West Tennessee Health Care.

Unfortunately, work related accidents do happen and can cause the personal injury or wrongful death of employees. It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that the working conditions of every employee are safe and hazard free. The employer is at fault for any injuries suffered if an employee is harmed while performing his or her job.

If you have suffered a personal injury or if you have lost a loved one due to an accident on the job in Memphis, Tennessee, please contact the Memphis personal injury lawyers at the Cochran Firm today to schedule a consultation about your personal injury case.

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Tennessee law requires a criminal background investigation for all nursing home staff, but staffing shortages and budget issues have meant that nursing home abuse and neglect is still a danger in nursing homes across the state.

In nursing homes throughout the state of Tennessee, the factors that contribute to the abuse and neglect of residents of nursing homes include unqualified and inadequately trained staff, staff with a history of violent behavior, understaffing, isolation of the residents, and the reluctance of the residents to report any abuse out of fear of retaliation.

Specific indicators of nursing home abuse and neglect are bedsores and skin ulcers, chronic infections, medication dispensing errors, broken bones, sexual abuse, financial exploitation of the resident and the failure to provide adequate water, food and personal services.

Even though state resources try to address nursing home abuse and neglect, a Tennessee nursing home abuse lawyer at The Cochran Firm can advise and guide you as you seek monetary compensation for the pain and suffering your elderly loved one may have endured.

If you live in the Memphis, Tennessee area and someone you love has suffered nursing home abuse and neglect, please contact the nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to make certain this abuse stops and your loved one gets the financial compensation they deserve for what they have suffered.

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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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Drug companies that place profits over the lives of the American consumer deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law and made to pay for their greed that destroys innocent lives and causes immeasurable pain and suffering.

More often than we would like to believe, drug companies are well aware that their drugs can cause adverse side-effects that can be life-threatening but choose to delay corrective action or take part in a cover-up to minimize financial losses.

Drugs that have been involved in defective or dangerous drug recalls in the past have included oral contraceptives, arthritis medications, cholesterol-lowering drugs, diet drugs, anti-depressants, and vaccines that have been known to cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, lung and liver damage and deaths.

If you or someone you love has been injured or died as a result of taking a defective or dangerous drug, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for the injuries you or your loved one has suffered because of a drug company's negligence and greed. The experienced defective drug attorneys at The Cochran Firm have a long history of bringing justice and recovering financial compensation to the victims of callous drug companies whose only concern is their bottom line.

Please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with our defective drug attorneys and learn how you can be financially compensated for your injuries and the losses you have suffered.

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People are exposed to toxic chemicals or materials in many ways, including chemical spills, discharges from landfills, leaking underground storage tanks, and pollution from industrial facilities. A toxic tort refers to a certain kind of personal injury that happens as a consequence of exposure to toxic chemicals or materials.

Cancer is one disease that afflicts workers who are exposed to hazardous chemicals and materials without proper protective equipment or appropriate warnings. Workplace substances known to cause cancer include benzene, beryllium, vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene and ethylene oxide.

Exposure to hazardous materials may cause bronchiolitis/obliterans (popcorn worker’s lung), hormonal and sexual dysfunctions, occupational asthma and stillbirths and miscarriages.

The companies that manufacture and sell these substances have an obligation to make certain workers are aware of the dangers involved and can protect themselves, or they should be held financially responsible for their employees who are harmed by exposure to these substances. Compensation for your pain and suffering, disability, medical expenses, emotional stress, loss of enjoyment of life or the death of a loved one is an entitlement in the case of a toxic tort.

If you or someone you care about was harmed by exposure to a toxic chemical or substance, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Defective tires are responsible for thousands of traffic accidents, injuries and deaths every year in the United States. Recent recalls of defective tires have involved several tire manufacturers including Firestone, Cooper, Goodyear, Dunlop and Continental General, among others.

Defective tires can cause tread separation, belt adhesion failures, blowouts and tire or rim explosions. Some tires are manufactured with inherent problems like poor adhesion or lack of adhesion which both lead to tread or belt separation. Other tires are manufactured properly, but are warehoused too long causing chemical aging that leads to blowouts and tread or belt separation as well.

The aftermath of a motor vehicle accident caused by a defective tire can be painful and expensive. Extensive personal injuries and the ensuing medical and psychological costs may be able to be recovered to some extent. The experienced defective tire attorneys at The Cochran Firm will help you recover your lost income, pay your medical expenses, attempt to reimburse you for your pain and suffering and give you the legal guidance needed to secure your future and the futures of those you love.

If you live in the Memphis, Tennessee area and you have experienced the devastating outcome of an accident caused by defective tires, please contact the experienced defective tire attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal rights and secure the financial compensation you deserve.

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If you have been injured in an accident involving a defective vehicle, you may have reason to file a product liability claim in addition to an automobile accident claim. Car accidents involving defective vehicles are responsible for over 42,000 deaths every year in the United States.

The recent Toyota Motor Corporation recalls of their defective vehicles has given rise to a new awareness of just how vulnerable the American consumer is to the dangers of driving a defective vehicle. A list of Toyota recalled vehicles includes many of the 2004 to 2010 models of the RAV4, Corollla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, Prius, Tacoma and the Lexus ES 350, Lexus IS 250 and Lexus IS 350.

The Cochran Firm has expert and experienced attorneys in the field of defective vehicles handling our client’s automobile accident claims quickly and efficiently. We have the legal resources necessary to litigate these complicated claims and prove these accidents were caused by defective recalled vehicles and not driver error or negligence.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an automobile accident involving a defective vehicle, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and have our expert defective vehicle attorneys evaluate your case and help you get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Medical malpractice occurs when a negligent act by a doctor or other professional healthcare provider results in injury or death to a patient.

If you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one to medical malpractice you may be entitled to damages that include financial compensation for medical and hospital bills, the cost of prescription drugs, nursing care, physical therapy, medical equipment such as a wheelchair, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish and any future medical treatment and therapy you need as a result of your injuries.

In the case of a wrongful death due to medical malpractice the survivors are entitled to damages for funeral and burial costs and their pain and suffering caused by the loss of their loved one in addition to the loss of their financial and emotional support.

Medical malpractice laws are designed to ensure a patient’s rights are protected to pursue financial compensation if they are injured as a result of negligence in a medical environment. Families left to deal with the consequences of medical malpractice need a dedicated, experienced professional legal team to stand on their behalf who are not intimidated by big hospitals and big insurance companies.

The Cochran Firm has medical malpractice attorneys with years of experience and superior negotiating skills and employs the best experts in the field to prove medical malpractice in their pursuit of justice for their clients.

If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, please contact The Cochran Firm in Memphis, Tennessee today to get expert legal advice and representation in your pursuit of justice.

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

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

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

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

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

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Property owners are obligated by law to provide safe premises for guests, customers and renters. If the owners of properties or businesses fail in their legal obligation to keep people safe on their property, innocent people may be seriously injured or killed.

Premises liability laws hold property owners legally liable when serious injuries or deaths occur due to their negligence. A "slip and fall" accident is an example of what can happen as a result of a hazardous condition on someone else's property. A hazardous condition may be caused by pooling water, ice, snow, poor lighting, a hole or crack in the pavement, a torn carpet or oily substance left on the floor.

Slip and fall accidents account for over 16,000 wrongful deaths each year in people aged 65 or older. Almost 2,000,000 elderly people are treated annually in emergency rooms across the United States for fall-related injuries with over 1,000,000 actual admissions to hospitals for those injuries.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else's property, you are eligible for financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses incurred as a result of your fall.

If you live in the Memphis, Tennessee area and you believe a negligent property owner was responsible for your injuries suffered in a slip and fall accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to proceed to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Over one thousand deaths can be attributed to defective pharmaceuticals in the past decade. Over twenty million people have taken a medication that was recalled. Billions of dollars are paid to patients injured, or surviving family members of patients killed, due to the side effects of a defective pharmaceutical.

Defective pharmaceuticals can cause birth defects, heart attacks, strokes, liver and kidney failure and death. The list of defective pharmaceuticals grows every day and makes one anxious and afraid to take even the most necessary life sustaining medications.

A pharmaceutical company that fails to properly research and assess a medications' risk or side effects before releasing the medication to the public, is liable for damages incurred even if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug for distribution.

The attorneys at The Cochran Firm believe pharmaceutical companies that place profits about peoples' lives should be held financially accountable for their negligence and the destruction of innocent peoples' lives.

If your life or the life of someone you love has been changed forever simply by taking a prescribed medication, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal rights and the rights of those you love and obtain the financial compensation you deserve for the injuries you have suffered.

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The legal term, wrongful death, refers to a death caused by the negligence or the wrongful actions of another, and further states that the death entitles the deceased's survivors to financial compensation for their loss.

A common example of a wrongful death is one caused by an automobile accident. Other examples of wrongful deaths are a death due to medical malpractice or negligence, a death caused by a defective drug or defective consumer product, a construction site accident, a boating accident or a death as the result of criminal assault.

The survivors of the victim of a wrongful death are entitled to financial compensation for medical, funeral and burial expenses, the victim's pain and suffering prior to death, loss of financial support for the survivors, loss of future earning potential of the victim and the pain and suffering endured by the survivors due to their loss.

The laws governing wrongful death lawsuits are complex and the statute of limitations varies state to state. The Cochran Firm has a great deal of experience in the field of wrongful death lawsuits with highly skilled attorneys and experts ready to assist you in your efforts to gain justice for your loved one.

If someone you love has died because of the negligence or actions of another, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to discuss the course of action you need to take to ensure your legal rights are protected.

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Truck accidents that involve tractor trailers, semi-trucks, or freight carriers like log trucks, automobile transporters, and gasoline tanker trucks almost always cause catastrophic damage when involved in a crash. When these huge trucks crash, they can spill hazardous substances, cause multi-vehicle involvement and reduce passenger vehicles to scrap heaps.

On any given day there are over three million trucks on the highways nationwide. Many businesses in the United States rely on the trucking industry and their ability to move commodities from coast to coast efficiently and relatively inexpensively. Truck drivers are professionals whose own lives depend on safe driving practices, but sometimes the trucking company does not always put safety first, but puts profit over safety.

Speeding to meet deadlines, driving hours without rest and using drugs to stay alert while behind the wheel contribute to many accidents involving trucks. If you are involved in an accident with a truck, you really have the entire trucking company for an adversary. It is very important that you be represented by an experienced truck accident attorney who is skilled in combating the team of lawyers working for the trucking company against you.

You should be financially compensated for all your medical expenses, loss of present and future income, your pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your involvement in the truck accident.

If you have had an accident involving a truck and feel overwhelmed by the trucking companies efforts to prevent you from getting the financial compensation you deserve, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today.

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The National Safety Council has released a study that concludes talking and texting on a cell phone while driving has become one of the most dangerous behaviors exhibited by the driving public.

Drivers using cell phones have exhibited the same dangerous behaviors as drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs and are responsible for many automobile accidents. Drivers using cell phones drive slowly, weave erratically, are slow to apply brakes and slow to regain speed after braking, and they are involved in rear-end collisions at a much higher rate than other drivers. A survey by a national insurance group reported that over 80% of drivers admit cell phone use while driving.

The magnitude of drivers using cell phones represents a danger to all of us on our nation's roadways. Many states are now in the process of considering legislation to restrict the use of cell phones while driving.

Studies prove cell phone use while driving does not save time, but may cost you your life or the life of a loved one. If you must make or take a call while in your automobile, pull off the road to a safe place to complete your call. You may avoid a trip to the hospital or worse.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by a cell phone using driver, please contact an experienced automobile accident attorney at the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

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Surgical medical malpractice is responsible for many deaths in this country every year. Surgical medical malpractice is the failure of a surgeon to provide an adequate standard of care and treatment to a patient which results in injury or death.

Surgeons are implicated in over 50% of all medical malpractice allegations in the United States each year. These allegations involve pre-operative procedures, actual surgical procedures and post-surgery recovery care. Surgery is a risky undertaking at best, but surgery below the accepted standard of care and treatment is not risk, it is surgical malpractice.

Surgical procedures commonly involved in surgical malpractice lawsuits include, but are not limited to, cosmetic surgical procedures, LASIK eye surgery, gastric bypass surgery and back and orthopedic surgery.

Compensation for cases of surgical medical malpractice can include damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of current income, loss of future earning potential, rehabilitation costs, long term care expenses and loss of quality of life. If the surgical medical malpractice results in a death, the family, heirs, beneficiaries and dependents of the deceased may also be eligible for compensation.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or died due to surgical medical malpractice, please contact an experienced surgical medical malpractice attorney at the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

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There are over 5200 motorcycle fatalities every year in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says a motorcyclist is eight times more likely to be injured and thirty-seven times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than those involved in car accidents.

The failure of other motor vehicle drivers to actually see a motorcycle on the road is said to be a major cause of accidents involving motorcycles with intersections being the most common place for motorcycle accidents to occur.

Motorcyclists can suffer catastrophic injuries from direct impact with another vehicle or with the pavement. Injuries range from scrapes and bruises to massive head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, severe burns, traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs and death.

Losses suffered in a motorcycle accident can be high. Serious injuries result in high medical bills, lost wages and possible permanent disability. You may be able to be compensated for your losses, and in the event of a fatality, the survivors may also be entitled to compensation.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Memphis, Tennessee office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to protect your legal rights.

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Nursing home residents are guaranteed specific rights under the law. First and foremost they have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and they have the right to exist in a safe and clean environment.

The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform states that nursing homes are failing to provide a safe environment for the elderly citizens in their care. These older adults suffer from bedsores, malnutrition, dehydration, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. They suffer humiliation and are denied the dignity every human being deserves when they are at their most vulnerable.

These nursing home residents are often unable or unwilling to communicate the abuse they suffer to visiting family members, fearing retaliation from their abusers. For this reason, nursing home abuse and neglect is often underreported. Almost one million residents of nursing homes are victims of abuse annually. Signs of neglect and abuse may include chronic infections, heavily medicated behavior, unexplained wounds or sores, and poor personal hygiene.

If you suspect someone you love has been the victim of nursing home abuse and neglect and you are a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, you should contact The Cochran Firm’s Memphis office to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you today to learn about your legal rights.

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A class action defective product lawsuit was filed in Memphis, Tennessee against the manufacturer of the denture cream Fixodent on March 10, 2009. Fixodent is one of the most popular denture creams and is used by approximately 35 million Americans.

The lawsuit claims that the high level of zinc contained in Fixodent is not properly indicated on the warning label and there is not an appropriate warning about the dangers of too much Zinc intake. A healthy, balanced diet needs a small amount of zinc. However, normal daily use of this denture cream has been known to cause an abnormal amount of Zinc to be absorbed by the gums and ingested through the mouth. High levels of zinc ingested in the body may cause:

• Decrease in copper levels
• Zinc poisoning
• Neuropathy
• Neurological problems

Any of these conditions may leave the user permanently disabled and the user may need the aid of a walker or a wheelchair.

Defective Products Affecting You

Serious personal injuries may be caused by many types of defective products:

• Defective automobiles
• Defective medical devices
• Defective drugs
• Defective consumer products

Any defective product may potentially cause you harm. When a serious injury occurs, the parties responsible for these defective products must be held accountable and give you the compensation you deserve. Our defective product attorneys can help.

A defective product may cause you or a loved one undue pain and suffering. If you live in the Memphis area and need legal advice, please contact our Defective Product Lawyers at our Memphis office for a confidential consultation.

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A birth injury can be prevented with good obstetrical and neonatal care. A birth injury results from something that went wrong during labor and delivery. Prolonged or difficult labor (dystocia) can lead to a birth injury. Dystocia causes oxygen deprivation to the fetus. Cerebral palsy is a chronic medical condition resulting from damage to the brain of the baby during the birthing process.

Studies reveal eight to ten birth injuries occur for every one thousand live births in the United States because of medical negligence and malpractice. Factors involved in some birth injury cases are failure to perform a C section in a timely fashion, abnormal position of fetus, breathing problems, prolapsed umbilical cord, umbilical cord wrapped around neck of baby, fetal distress and premature labor. The use of forceps and vacuum extractor increase the risk of injuries to the baby also.

Birth injury can be responsible for a wide range of conditions from mild to severe. Minor bruising to actual brain damage can occur. In the case of brain damage, the financial burden of caring for a brain damaged child can be devastating.

If you live in Memphis, Tennessee or the surrounding area and your child was injured at birth, please contact an experienced birth injury attorney at The Cochran Firm's Memphis office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

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