The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

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.

Labels: Houston

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.

Labels: Houston

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.

Labels: Houston

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.

Labels: Houston

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.

Labels: Houston

Houston area water destinations have become more crowded and consequently more dangerous. Negligence and carelessness cause accidents, drownings and property damage. Boating while intoxicated, collisions involving boats, swimmers and docks and illegal operation of a boat by a minor are only some of the causes of boating accidents.

Thousands of people are injured or killed annually in boating accidents. Falling overboard and drowning is the number one cause of death in boating accidents. A boating accident with injuries or death usually involves speeding, alcohol consumption and an inexperienced driver, a perfect combination for disaster. Alcohol consumption was involved in over 50% of all boating accidents last year and 85% of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.

Some safety precautions to be followed in an effort to lessen the chances of injury while on the water would include life jackets for all on board, not using excessive speed and prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on board.

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

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Over 10,000 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries every year, most with catastrophic consequences. Almost a quarter of a million people in the United States live out their lives with the lasting effects of a spinal cord injury. The financial burden to these Americans for continuing care can total hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The emotional and mental costs are unfathomable. A spinal cord injury is a life altering event.

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the major causes of spinal cord injuries in this country. Falls are a common cause in those 45 years of age and older. Sports injuries are responsible for many spinal cord injuries with the sport of diving being the one involved most commonly.

At present, there is no way to reverse the affects of a spinal cord injury. Recent medical advances have improved the rehabilitation time involved with this injury. Researchers continue to try to develop new treatments that promote nerve cell regeneration or try to improve the function of the remaining nerves after a spinal cord injury.

If you are a resident of Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, you should contact the Houston, Texas office of The Cochran Firm to schedule a confidential consultation today to learn about your options in this matter.

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The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has stated that 250,000 people die each year in this country due to the consequences of medical malpractice.

The five diseases or medical conditions most involved in medical malpractice are breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart attack and appendicitis. Misdiagnosis was the lead allegation in these cases. Misdiagnosis causes an unnecessary delay in the proper treatment and could cause a poor outcome and even death. Medical malpractice may also involve unnecessary surgery, medication errors, errors committed by medical staff, and the contracting of life-threatening infections while hospitalized.

Medical malpractice may involve a hospital, a clinic, a physician or any other healthcare provider-patient relationship entity. However, not all less than perfect medical care is considered medical malpractice. Each allegation of medical malpractice must be investigated by an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Compensation in medical malpractice cases can include damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other losses. If the medical malpractice results in death, the family and heirs of the victim may also be eligible to receive compensation. Medical malpractice laws are there to protect you and your family.

If you live in Houston, Texas or the surrounding area and you suspect you or someone you care about has been the victim of medical malpractice, please contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at The Cochran Firm Houston office today and schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.

Labels: Houston

Mary and John Reutter had slowed down because of traffic on Interstate 35W in Burleson, Texas but didn't see what had not slowed down behind them. A tractor-trailer slammed into them, sending their 2002 Ford Mustang into the vehicle in front of them.

The Reutters suffered major injuries - and are still recovering two years after the June 16, 2006, crash - but they settled with the truck's owner, United Petroleum Transports, recently for $5.5 million.

The wreck left Mary Reutter's left arm paralyzed and cost about $500,000 in medical expenses, an attorney for the couple said. The Reutters moved to Michigan and have been trying to put the pieces of their lives back together. In addition to Mary Reutter's incapacitated left arm, she only has 40 percent mobility in her right arm, making it nearly impossible to take care of herself.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident anywhere in the United States, please contact The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today to schedule your initial consultation.

Labels: Dallas, Houston, main

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Four law professors, three of them from the University of Texas law school and one from the University of Illinois, released a study citing evidence that caps on non-economic damages medical malpractice cases are discriminatory in the state of Texas. Because of the caps, cases won by the plaintiff saw their damages reduced 47% of the time. It was found that the cases that had most of the damages reduced involved the unemployed, the elderly, and the deceased. It is believed this is so due to the groups do not have lost wages to “prop up” their claims.

If a jury found that there was enough evidence to show a medical professional acted in a negligent way, and the jury has determined what that plaintiff deserves in compensation, then one would think that all the money would get to them. However, 30 states have caps on medical malpractice claims, so it isn’t just Texas. But the study found that when there is a death involved in a Texas medical malpractice case, the elderly, unemployed, and the surviving children have their compensation limited to non-economic damages.

Fully compensating injured parties, especially those who have no other recourse, like the elderly, but especially the children, should be an important step and a concern of each and every state. If, as has been suggested in the study, and elsewhere, caps are keeping some attorneys from accepting medical malpractice cases from these groups, it can be argued that justice has not been served.

That being said, if you feel you have a medical malpractice case, please contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients across the country, and will gladly answer any questions you have concerning your claim.

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