The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

As the population of the United States grows older, the needs of vulnerable elderly people increase. Likewise, the instances of abuse and neglect in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are increasing. More and more aging citizens are finding themselves the victims of verbal, emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse in nursing care facilities that have been entrusted with their care by unsuspecting families. The New Orleans, Louisiana Cochran Firm nursing home abuse attorneys will fight to get you and your family the compensation you deserve if your loved one was harmed or died due to negligent or abusive care in a nursing home.
Common signs of negligence and abuse in nursing care facilities include:

• Poor personal care involving bathing, toileting and feeding
• Signs of chronic sores and infections
• Unexplained bruising
• The heavy use of medication to sedate
• Signs of depression, anxiety and agitation in the resident

Financial exploitation of the elderly takes many forms and can involve stealing personal possessions, withholding or misusing the resident’s money or property, and promises of personal care in exchange for money or possessions.

The nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at The Cochran Firm are dedicated to exposing incidents of abuse and neglect in nursing homes throughout Louisiana and will work diligently to make sure those responsible for any abuses are held legally and financially accountable.

If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana or the surrounding area and you suspect your loved one is suffering abuse and neglect in a nursing home, please contact the experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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A 42-year-old man drove his vehicle onto the train tracks and stopped. A passenger Amtrak train immediately hit the vehicle causing a train accident in New Orleans. Amazingly, the man was not killed. However, police officers did have good reason to arrest the man for a DUI because the driver had a strong odor of alcohol, displayed slurred speech and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot

The man was arrested and sent to University Hospital in New Orleans to have his blood alcohol level (BAC) checked. The man’s BAC level was reported as 0.18 percent. The legal BAC limit to drive is 0.08 percent. Charges include:

• Driving while intoxicated
• Disobeying the train crossing signal
• Driving without liability insurance

The train accident did not result in the personal injury of anyone on the train. The man, however, suffered a head wound.

The New Orleans train accident attorneys at the Cochran Firm have experience helping victims of train accidents get the compensation they are entitled to. Possible compensation includes:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Wrongful death
• Prescriptions
• Physical therapy
• Hospital bills
• At home care
• Other medical bills
  

Train accidents can occur for several reasons other than people stopping their vehicles on the tracks. Trains to collide with each other on occasion and they can hit a defect in a rail that sends cars off the tracks completely. Whether trains collide with each other or a vehicle, they can result in serious injuries and death.

If you or a loved one has suffered a injuries due to a train accident in New Orleans, please contact the Cochran Firm for a case evaluation.

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A wrongful death lawsuit attempts to provide financial compensation to the dependents of a person killed as a result of someone else’s misconduct or negligence. As an example, wrongful death claims can take place because of an automobile accident, medical malpractice, workplace accidents or the use of a defective product.

According to Louisiana state law, dependents and immediate family members, such as parents, spouses and children may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and resulting catastrophic fire and oil spill is a perfect example of wrongful deaths in the workplace.

If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions or negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation for funeral and burial expenses, medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of wages, loss of companionship and other losses caused by the tragic death of your loved one.

The Louisiana wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm will advise and guide you with caring compassion and the respect you deserve while doing everything legally possible to hold those responsible for your loss accountable under the law. We have the experience and knowledge to maximize your financial compensation so you will not face an uncertain future without the support of your loved one.

If you live in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and you have suffered the loss of someone you love due to a wrongful death, please contact the experienced wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm today.

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

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

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

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

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

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On April 20, 2010 while the Deepwater Horizon oil rig was deep-water drilling in the fragile ecosystem off the coast of Louisiana, an explosion and catastrophic fire resulted in the death of eleven workers, injuries to many others, the sinking of the oil rig and the release of a massive oil spill that continues almost two months later. This oil spill is considered to be the most devastating environmental disaster in history.

It is estimated the oil spill will result in $2.5 billion in losses to the fishing industry and over $3 billion in losses to the tourism industry with untold damage done to the fragile ecosystem along the coast that is being fouled by the oil spill. The oil spill also represents a serious threat to the health of the residents of Louisiana as oil contamination has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. British Petroleum, the principal developer of this oil field is the responsible party for this disastrous event.

The environmental and toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm have many years of experience in handling cases that deal with damages caused by the exposure to toxic substances due to the negligence of oil companies and others involved in dealing with toxic chemicals and substances. A toxic tort refers to a specific kind of personal injury that occurs as a result of exposure to toxic materials such as an oil spill. The scope of this oil spill and the effect it will have on the livelihoods and health of the residents of Louisiana for decades to come is overwhelming.

If you are a Gulf Coast resident and have been affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill financially, physically or emotionally, please contact the environmental and toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to learn what you can do to help yourself cope with the devastating results of this disaster.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing safety information regarding adverse liver-related problems with the use of orlistat, which is marketed in the United States as Xenical, manufactured by Roche and Alli from GlaxoSmithKline. Xenical is available by prescription only while Alli is available over-the-counter.

There have been over thirty reports of serious liver damage and six cases of liver failure in patients using orlistat. The most common side effects reported were jaundice, weakness and abdominal pain. Other symptoms noted were nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, itching, loss of appetite and brown urine. Patients have been advised to consult with their healthcare professionals if they are experiencing any of these symptoms with their use of orlistat.

Xenical and Alli have generated nearly $200 million in sales since 1999. Millions of people have taken Xenical and Alli believing the two were safe products that would help them lose unwanted weight, but are now finding out they may have been exposed to serious and perhaps life-threatening liver damage by these potentially defective weight loss drugs.

If you believe you or someone you care about has suffered liver damage from the use of Xenical or Alli, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injury, medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Please contact the New Orleans office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights.

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), millions of Americans are involved in automobile accidents every year in the United States and these automobile accidents are the leading cause of catastrophic injuries and death for those aged three to thirty-three. Those sixty-five and older are another high risk group for injuries and deaths caused by automobile accidents.

The most common causes of automobile accidents involved driver error, mechanical failure, hazardous road conditions and dangerous weather conditions. Driver error encompasses driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, including prescription medications, speeding, texting and cell phone use while driving, and aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating. Mechanical failures have been the focus of millions of recalled vehicles recently and have included malfunctioning gas pedals, brakes, defective tires and electronic systems.

The experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm employ experts in the forensic sciences and medicine when litigating accident claims for our clients, along with accident reconstruction specialists to ensure our clients have the best legal representation possible to prove liability and maximize financial compensation.

If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana or the surrounding area and have been involved in an automobile accident, please contact the experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to learn how to proceed with your claim and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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The incidence of surgeons leaving foreign bodies inside patients after surgery happens more frequently than you would imagine and has serious consequences, often leading to additional surgeries and even wrongful death.

Surgical teams have left surgical sponges, pins, blades, clips, gauze, cotton and other medical equipment and instruments inside surgical sites because of carelessness and negligence. The retained foreign bodies can cause damage to tissues, blood vessels and organs and cause life-threatening surgical site infections that can lead to permanent disability or death.

The surgical team, including the surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses and healthcare facility can be held legally liable for medical malpractice and negligence if a preventable injury from a retained foreign body occurs. The Cochran Firm has medical malpractice attorneys with the knowledge and expertise to investigate and evaluate instances of retained foreign bodies and they will work meticulously to obtain the financial compensation their client deserves for their pain and suffering due to the negligence of others.

If you live in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and you have suffered unnecessarily due to a retained foreign body after your surgery, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn what you can do to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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No one should be above the law, especially those we entrust with the authority to serve and protect our communities. New Orleans and other cities in Louisiana have a reputation for police misconduct, the use of excessive force and wrongful arrests. After years of turning a blind eye to police abuse and misconduct, lawmakers and the general public will no longer tolerate the excesses of an abusive police force.

Although the use of reasonable force by police officers in the execution of their duties to protect and defend is warranted, there have been documented cases of police misconduct in some instances. Many people have been injured by police misconduct and brutality due to improper training, poor screening of those seeking jobs on the police force and inadequate supervision of police officers.

Police misconduct can take many forms including sexual harassment, physical abuse, the use of excessive force, improper use of restraints resulting in serious injury or death, intimidation and corruption.

The attorneys at The Cochran Firm aggressively pursue financial compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering and any other physical and emotional damages incurred as a result of police misconduct and have been at the forefront of civil rights advocacy for years.

If you live in the New Orleans, Louisiana area and you or someone you love has been the victim of police misconduct, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect you rights and learn how to proceed with your case.

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Kidney dialysis treatments replace the function of the kidney which serves as your body's filtration system. The kidney dialysis treatment removes waste products and excess fluids from your bloodstream while maintaining the correct chemical balance of your blood.

Twenty million people over the age of twenty suffer from chronic kidney disease. Several hundred thousand people must undergo kidney dialysis treatments every year to stay alive. Unfortunately, kidney dialysis treatments themselves are not without risk to victims of chronic kidney disease.

There are thousands of incidents of errors in kidney dialysis treatments every day in the United States. Errors in kidney dialysis treatments may include medication errors, vascular access-related injuries, excess or prolonged blood loss, inadequate cleaning and filtering of dialysis machines, failure to properly monitor patient vital signs and patient falls.

If you or someone you love is presently undergoing kidney dialysis treatments and you have questions regarding the level of care you are receiving you should consult an attorney with experience in kidney dialysis errors like the attorneys with The Cochran Firm who are well-versed in kidney dialysis care and treatment and incidents of malpractice in that field.

If you are a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana or the surrounding area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal right to high quality medical care and treatment.

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When innocent consumers are injured or killed due to the use of a defective or dangerous consumer product, the parties responsible must be held legally accountable.

Defective or dangerous consumer products cause catastrophic injuries or the wrongful death of thousands of innocent consumers throughout the United States annually. Defective consumer products do not discriminate, they injure all equally, and no one is safe. Unsuspecting consumers are killed or suffer burns, brain injuries, paralysis, amputations or long-term debilitating illnesses as a result of defective and dangerous products.

The list of defective consumer products is endless and encompasses food products, toothpaste, toys, household appliances, tools, cars, seatbelts, airbags, cribs, strollers, pet foods, tires, smoke detectors, drugs, medical devices and almost any category of product on the market today. It would be easier to list consumer products that have not been designated at some time as defective.

Injuries from defective consumer products can have long lasting physical, emotional and financial effects on the victims and their families. The attorneys at The Cochran Firm work together as a team so clients have the benefit of the skill and knowledge of many highly trained attorneys, paralegals and investigators working together to protect their legal rights and ensuring those responsible are held fully accountable.

Please contact the New Orleans, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you love has been harmed by a defective consumer product.

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America relies on trucks to move important products across the country on a daily basis; consequently, it is no surprise to find there are over 3,000,000 trucks traveling our roadways at any given time. This reliance on trucks and truckers increases the likelihood you will be involved in an accident with a truck. Over 150,000 trucks were involved in an accident in a one year time span with over 5,000 fatalities. Most injuries and deaths in truck accidents involved the non-commercial driver and occupants of the other vehicle involved.

When sharing the road with a big truck it is important to keep a safe distance, take extra precautions in hazardous driving conditions, such as those present during heavy rain and high winds, and expect the unexpected. A passenger vehicle is no match in a confrontation with a truck.

If you do have the misfortune to be involved in an accident with a truck it is very important to have expert legal representation to ensure you are compensated financially for any injuries suffered as a result of the accident. The trucking company is your adversary in this instance and they will do everything legally possible to minimize their responsibility. It is important to protect your legal rights and the legal rights of your loved ones at the outset.

If you or someone you care about was injured or killed in a truck accident, please contact The Cochran Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana today.

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Exposure to asbestos fiber in the workplace is a major factor in the incidence of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of cells that lines the internal organs of the human body.

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and accounts for 70% of the diagnosed cases of the disease. The dust created from working with the asbestos fiber settles in the lungs and abdomen if inhaled or swallowed. The irritation caused by the dust to these organs is thought to lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Workers who may encounter asbestos fiber on the job are widespread throughout the workforce and may be found in mining operations, factories, ship building installations, insulating manufacturing, construction sites, automobile repair, steel mills, oil refineries and cement plants. The risk of contracting mesothelioma increases when you are exposed to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time.

If you or someone you know has been employed in one of these fields and has been experiencing chest or back pain, coughing, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain or difficulty breathing, you may be experiencing the symptoms of exposure to asbestos fiber and mesothelioma.

By contacting the experienced mesothelioma attorneys at the New Orleans, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today you can discuss your legal rights and learn whether you are entitled to financial compensation.

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Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs is a major cause of automobile accidents. Legally obtained prescription medications must also be included in this category of driving under the influence because prescription medications can also affect your ability to safely operate an automobile.

Commonly used intoxicants that impair the ability to drive and are a major cause of automobile accidents include, but are not limited to, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and prescription medications such as Vicodin, Percocet, Valium, and Xanax. These substances affect motor skills, impair and distort vision and slow normal reaction times.

The crime committed most frequently in this country is driving under the influence. An American is injured every two minutes or killed every thirty minutes by an impaired driver.

When you become the victim of an impaired driver, not only is the driver responsible for your injuries and losses, but the party or entity that supplied the alcohol in the case of a drunk driver, may also be held liable. This is referred to in legal terminology as "dram shop liability."

If you live in New Orleans, Louisiana and you or someone you care about was injured or killed by an impaired driver, please contact the experienced DUI accident attorneys at the New Orleans, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you, to learn about your legal rights in this matter, and how you can obtain the compensation you deserve.

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