The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

In the legal community, slip and fall accidents are considered to be premises liability cases, an area of law that deals with the responsibility of property and business owners to provide a safe environment for individuals who come onto their properties and into their businesses.

If you are injured in a slip and fall accident you are required by law to prove either the owner of the property or business caused the hazardous condition to exist, or the owner knew about the hazardous condition and did nothing to correct it, or the owner should have reasonably known about the hazardous condition and failed to correct it.

Owner negligence can result in wet or unlevel floor hazards, snow and ice accumulations, potholes, missing or damaged handrails on steps or decking, broken sidewalks and inadequate lighting. Slip and fall accidents can cause permanent and severe injuries and some falls have proven to be fatal.

Our highly skilled Louisiana premises liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm are dedicated to obtaining justice for our clients who have been injured in a slip and fall accident, and are willing to use all our resources to make certain you get a fair and just settlement from those responsible for your injuries.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a slip and fall accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Defective drugs are responsible for serious injuries and deaths every year in the United States because the drug companies choose to place profits above the safety and well-being of the American consumer.

All prescription medications have some side-effects, but serious injury and death are not side-effects you expect from a prescription medication that is supposed to alleviate a medical condition. Defective drugs have caused heart attacks, strokes, kidney and liver failure, pulmonary dysfunction, blood clots and wrongful death.

Defective drugs have been found in all categories including medication for arthritis pain, cholesterol lowering drugs, sleeping pills, oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, diet drugs, some vaccines, and various other classifications of drugs.

If you or someone you care about has been impacted by a defective drug because a drug company has failed to deliver a safe product to the consumer, you are probably eligible for financial compensation for your injuries due to the drug manufacturer’s negligence.

The Cochran Firm has the expertise and knowledge and history of taking defective drug cases to a successful conclusion for their injured clients.

If you have been injured by a defective drug, or suffered the loss of a loved one from a defective drug, please contact the Metairie, Louisiana area office of The Cochran Firm today to learn what your options are and how you can hold those responsible accountable for your injuries and losses.

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Describing an alcohol or drug-related collision as an accident is really inaccurate because that impaired driver made a deliberate choice to drive under the influence and put other people's lives at risk. Driving drunk or under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs greatly increases the risk of a serious accident involving injuries and fatalities and everyone who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle knows that.

A driving under the influence (DUI) automobile accident is one of the most senseless tragedies that could have been totally avoided if only another choice had been made. A startling statistic states that a so-called "first time drunk driver" offender has actually driven drunk almost ninety times before being caught.

If you were injured by a drunk driver, you have the legal right to seek financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and punitive damages under Louisiana law from the drunk driver. If a loved one was killed by a drunk driver, our Louisiana DUI accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can protect your family's legal rights to a wrongful death claim.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area, and you have been victimized by a drunk driver, please contact The Cochran Firm today so you can have the benefit of our highly skilled lawyers working to ensure those responsible for your losses are held accountable.

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Many homeowners in Louisiana are abandoning their homes after reporting foul odors, health concerns like headaches, respiratory problems, nosebleeds and eye irritation, and the corrosion of wiring, copper pipes and appliances due to toxic defective Chinese drywall that was used in the construction of these homes.

The defective Chinese drywall has higher than normal levels of the hazardous substances strontium and sulfur. To make matters worse, some homeowner insurance companies are canceling the homeowners insurance on these homes citing a failure on the part of the homeowner to maintain the home in a livable condition. This is a classic “catch 22” situation.

Louisiana’s defective Chinese drywall problem has not yet peaked and shows signs of getting worse. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were responsible for thousands of homes being rebuilt with the defective Chinese drywall and now those same people whose homes were destroyed have become victims of a different kind of disaster. However, citizens of Louisiana are protected to some extent by a consumer protection law unique to Louisiana.

If you or a family member or friend suspects your home contains defective Chinese drywall, you need the help of The Cochran Firm, a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that is committed to holding the international companies responsible for this disaster accountable.

If you live in and around Metairie, Louisiana please contact The Cochran Firm today and learn how the law in Louisiana can assist you in your efforts to obtain justice and protect your legal rights in your fight against the manufacturers and distributors of defective Chinese drywall.

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The unexpected and frightening experience of being involved in an automobile accident can happen to even the most careful driver, so it would be very helpful if you had a plan of action in place to deal with the aftermath of such a stress and anxiety filled event.

If you are involved in an automobile accident it is vitally important to remain calm so you can think and react in a logical and reasonable way. If there are injuries involved, call 911 immediately and contact the police. Do not leave the scene of the accident until the police arrive and do not make any statements or sign anything regarding the accident without your own legal representation.

Dealing with the aftermath of an automobile accident that leaves you physically injured and psychologically and financially overwhelmed can be devastating and confusing. The experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm can assist you in coping with the process of recovering your losses and resuming your life when you feel hurt and unable to handle the stresses of the process alone.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in an automobile accident, and you find it difficult dealing with the stresses and legal issues of the aftermath, please contact the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today and allow their experienced attorneys to guide you through the legal process to obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

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Whether it is a dispute over a rent increase, a late rental payment, responsibility for repairs, the return of a security deposit or damage caused by a pet, both tenants and landlords have rights and responsibilities under the law.

Landlord-tenant disputes are a common occurrence and could be avoided if both tenant and landlord knew what their rights and responsibilities were. Tenants should pay their rent on time, exert care in the treatment of the property, dispose of trash properly and not take in additional occupants without the landlord's knowledge and permission. Landlords should maintain a habitable property, make and pay for repairs, not cut-off the tenant's utilities and not discriminate when it comes to renting the property for any reason.

The only way to avoid landlord-tenant disputes in the future is to put everything in writing so there is no question about your rights and responsibilities before you rent a property so each party is clear as to what is expected of them. The Cochran Firm has experienced attorneys who can advise you about your rights and responsibilities so you can come to an agreement that is satisfactory for all concerned.

We encourage you to contact the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today so one of our experienced landlord-tenant dispute lawyers can advise you of the best way to resolve your problem in a way that is agreeable to all concerned.

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Research reveals that the major cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other motorists to detect motorcycles in traffic.

Statistics prove that over 70% of collisions are a result of a motorist not having seen a motorcyclist. Other causative factors include bad road conditions, speeding, riding skills and experience levels, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report that speeding, aggressive driving and driver distractions by motorists are major factors in motorcycle accidents along with negligence on the part of the motorcycle rider.

When motorcyclists take the safety precaution of wearing personal protective gear, they lessen the risk of serious injury in case of an accident, but even cautious riders can have the misfortune to be involved in an accident.

Motorcycle accidents often result in life-threatening injuries such as spinal cord injuries, head injuries, amputations and even death. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident you may be eligible for financial compensation in the form of payment for your medical expenses, loss of present and future income, rehabilitation costs and other expenses related to your injuries.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana and you have suffered injuries from a motorcycle accident or know of someone who has, please contact the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to learn about what financial compensation you may be entitled to.

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Wrongful death is a legal term to describe a death that should not have happened. A wrongful death claim makes the assertion that someone has died because of the misconduct or negligence of an individual or individuals and that the survivors of the deceased are entitled to financial compensation because of that death.

A wrongful death can be the result of an automobile or truck accident, a criminal assault in a shopping mall parking lot, medical or surgical malpractice, a fall, nursing home abuse or a work-related injury all resulting in death.

A wrongful death claim is a very complex matter to prove, since evidence must be gathered to support the claim, possible witnesses must be interviewed and deposed and medical records, police reports and expert testimony must be obtained. An experienced wrongful death attorney will assist you in the process by protecting your legal rights and making certain justice is served.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area and someone you love has died because of the misconduct or negligence of another individual, please contact the experienced wrongful death lawyers at the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you to protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

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The third leading cause of death in the United States right after heart disease and cancer is medical malpractice. This statistic is mentioned in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in an article that reports that 250,000 Americans die each year because of medical malpractice and negligence.

Misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis were the leading allegations in lawsuits related to medical malpractice in cases of breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart attack and appendicitis. A misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis can cause a delay in treatment, the incorrect treatment, unnecessary surgery, in some cases life-altering disability and even death.

Compensation in the case of medical malpractice or negligence can include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, long term care costs, loss of income and loss of future earning potential, and in the case of a death, the survivors and heirs can be compensated for their losses also.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area, and you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, please contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to protect your legal rights and the rights of those you love.

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Construction sites are statistically very dangerous places. Thousands of construction workers are injured on the job in this country every year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates over one thousand construction workers suffer fatal injuries annually.

Some common causes for construction site accidents are inadequate safety procedures, negligence, defective machinery and equipment and violations of OSHA regulations. Injuries at a construction site can range from bruises and lacerations to broken bones, head and spinal injuries, severe burns, crush injuries, electrocution, loss of limbs, paralysis and death.

Falls are the most common causes of injuries at construction sites. Workers fall off scaffolding, ladders, roofs and down elevator shafts. Construction site safety is the responsibility of the owners of the property, contractors, architects and the manufacturers of the construction machinery and equipment. Although there are strict guidelines governing the workplace on a construction site, workers are seriously injured and killed every day. Construction site accidents involve complicated liability laws that an experienced attorney can explain to you.

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

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• Pain and Suffering
• Mental Anguish and Fear
• Disabling Injuries
• Necessary Medical Expenses
• Lost Time at Work
• Other Related Damages

• An Auto Accident
• Medical Malpractice
• A Defective Product
• Nursing Home Abuse

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Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for contracting mesothelioma. Asbestos is a mineral found in the environment. Workers handling asbestos are at the greatest risk for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers almost all of the internal organs of the human body. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs, the heart and the abdomen.

When dust is created by the handling of the asbestos fibers, it may be inhaled or swallowed and can then settle in the lungs or the stomach. This causes an irritation that may lead to the development of mesothelioma, though how this process occurs is not fully understood.
Even though manufacturers of asbestos have known of the dangers of exposure to asbestos, they still exposed their employees to these hazardous conditions. Millions of Americans have been exposed to the hazards of asbestos fiber contact.

There are almost three thousand new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed every year with men aged fifty to seventy being the age group most diagnosed.

If you are a resident of Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area and you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos or have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact the Metairie, Louisiana office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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Although truck accidents account for a smaller percentage of highway accidents than other motor vehicles, the destruction in a truck accident is usually catastrophic. Truck accidents are increasing on I-12 and I-10 as well as other roads in this area.

When a truck is involved in an accident, several questions come to mind. Was the truck maintained in good working order? Was the cargo load secured and loaded properly? Did it meet trucking industry standards and regulations? Was the driver properly trained to operate this particular vehicle? Was the truck driver impaired by drugs or alcohol while operating the truck? How many consecutive hours was the truck driver at the wheel before the accident?

Truck accident cases are challenging because they frequently involve a trucking company as an opponent. You should be compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and other expenses and the trucking company should be held responsible.

If you live in Metairie, Louisiana or the surrounding area and you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving a truck, please contact an experienced truck accident attorney at The Cochran Firm's Metairie office to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you today to learn about your legal rights and whether or not you are entitled to compensation for your losses.

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