The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Victims of automobile accidents are confronted with medical bills, lost income and possible life-long disabilities as a result of their injuries. Injuries sustained in an automobile accident such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones or massive tissue trauma, have an impact on your quality of life that can never be returned to the way it was before you were injured. That is why recovering financial compensation for your injuries and losses is an important part of your healing process.

At times, a person's injuries are not always obvious immediately following a car accident. Head trauma or whip lash injuries often are asymptomatic for days following your accident. Do not agree to any settlement options before you see a doctor or talk to your attorney, and avoid discussions with insurance claims adjusters who will pressure you to agree to their conditions.

The experienced automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm are aware of every tactic used by insurance companies to avoid paying what is fair and reasonable in automobile accident cases. Our car accident attorneys will build your case on facts and evidence and recover the financial compensation you deserve.

If you live in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia area and you or someone you love was injured in an automobile accident, please contact the automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule a discussion of your case and get the financial compensation you deserve for the injuries you have suffered.

Labels: Norfolk

The American consumer trusts manufacturers to make and sell products that are safe and effective to use in our homes, schools, on the job and during leisure time activities. In an effort to increase profits some manufacturers have failed to meet our expectations and consumers have been severely harmed or killed as a consequence.

It is important to consult with an experienced defective consumer products attorney such as those at The Cochran Firm if you have been harmed by a defective consumer product. We work hard on behalf of our clients to protect your legal rights and obtain fair and just financial compensation for your injuries and losses. We will help you recover damages for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and any other costs related to expenses incurred as the result of the use of a defective consumer product.

We have a successful record of litigating cases involving defective automobiles and automobile parts like seatbelts, air bags, fuel systems, gas pedals, and defective tires. We have also handled cases involving dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, hazardous toys, cribs and strollers and almost every product that Americans assume is safe and harmless, but has caused them to be injured.

If you live in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia area and have suffered as a result of a defective consumer product, please contact The Cochran Firm today and trust our product liability attorneys to make our experience and knowledge work to get you the financial compensation you deserve for the losses you have endured.

Labels: Norfolk

A spinal cord injury is usually the result of a sudden blow to the spine during an automobile accident, a fall, a sports-related accident or a criminal assault that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae culminating in a catastrophic injury.

Emergency medical care and treatment and aggressive rehabilitation have attempted to minimize the lasting effects of spinal cord injuries, but an injury to the spinal cord remains a life-altering and life-threatening occurrence. In some instances of spinal cord injury where the damage is minimal, some basic motor and sensory functions remain, but the majority of spinal cord injuries cause paralysis below the level of the injury.

The physical, psychological and financial burdens forced on victims of spinal cord injuries are overwhelming. The cost of continuing medical care and treatment and rehabilitation can total hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. That is why it is important to retain the services of The Cochran Firm’s experienced and highly skilled spinal cord injury attorneys to evaluate your case as they are very familiar with the severity and permanence of the disability involved.

If you are a resident of the Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia area and you or someone you love has suffered a devastating spinal cord injury, please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation to learn how to proceed to obtain the financial compensation you need to improve your quality of life and secure the financial future of your loved ones.

Labels: Norfolk

Victims of truck accidents in Virginia find out fairly soon after the accident how difficult it is to receive fair and just treatment from the trucking company and its' multiple insurers.

If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, you probably suffered serious injuries and feel lucky to be alive. The last thing you should be doing on your own is fighting the trucking company and its' insurers for the financial compensation to which you are rightfully and legally entitled.

Trucking companies and their insurers do not want you aware of your legal options and will offer you the lowest financial compensation for your injuries possible, but the law allows recovery of present and future medical expenses, lost income, physical pain and suffering, mental and emotional anguish and other expenses incurred due to the truck accident.

In the state of Virginia, The Cochran Firm is ready to do everything to help you obtain justice and the financial compensation you deserve if you have been in an accident involving a truck, not what the trucking company will offer you.

Studies have revealed that 80% of all truck accidents are the fault of the truck driver with speeding, alcohol and drug use, reckless and aggressive driving behaviors, fatigue, cargo shifting or overloading and mechanical failure being some common causes.

If you have been the victim of an accident with a truck in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia area, please contact The Cochran Firm today for a consultation at no cost to you to evaluate your case and determine how to proceed to obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

Labels: Norfolk

Defective pharmaceuticals are responsible for causing serious harm and even death to thousands of trusting American consumers every day in the United States. With sales totaling hundreds of billions of dollars annually, recalled drugs are still in the news daily, because callous pharmaceutical executives make the decision to release a drug to the public knowing dangerous side effects exist. Taking a medication prescribed by your doctor should not be a life-threatening occurrence.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers routinely ignore the safety of consumers in a mad dash to get new drugs on the shelves while being guilty of inadequate testing and quality control procedures. A defective drug can cause heart attacks, kidney and liver damage, stroke and birth defects.

In the recent past drugs for arthritis pain, cholesterol lowering medications, oral contraceptives, diet drugs, anti-depressants and vaccines have been on the dangerous drugs list along with hundreds, if not thousands of others.

Defective drugs cause enormous pain and suffering for many and have been responsible for lawsuits and awards for damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

If you have been the victim of a defective drug, please contact the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today for a confidential evaluation of your case, at no cost to you, to take the first step towards justice and the financial compensation you deserve.

Labels: Norfolk

Defective Chinese drywall is plaguing homeowners in small towns and big cities across the United States. Thousands of homeowners across the country report they are sick because of defective Chinese drywall in their homes that causes headaches, nausea and vomiting and respiratory problems. Another aspect of the damage being done to homes nationwide is the corrosion of metals in these homes containing defective Chinese drywall including wiring, air conditioning units, household appliances and jewelry.

Millions of sheets of defective Chinese drywall were imported into the Unites States that appear to have been contaminated with an array of sulfur compounds that cause a foul "rotten egg" odor. Other reports blame calcium sulfate in the defective Chinese drywall, a radioactive substance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims prolonged exposure to calcium sulfate increases the risk of contracting lung cancer.

It is estimated that over five hundred million pounds of defective Chinese drywall entered this country between 2004 and 2008, enough to build over one hundred thousand homes. Thousands of lawsuits and complaints have been filed to date, with thousands more looming on the horizon.

If you or a family member has experienced breathing problems, headaches or nausea and vomiting and there has been the corroding of metals in your home and foul odors, your home may have been built with defective Chinese drywall.

Please contact the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights as a homeowner and learn what you can do if you have been harmed by defective Chinese drywall.

Labels: Norfolk

When a loved one is harmed by a healthcare provider you have put your faith and trust in, powerful feelings of betrayal and pain are understandable and reasonable. Medical malpractice is one of the leading killers of Americans every year. Medical malpractice or medical negligence is the failure of a healthcare provider to deliver an accepted standard of care.

The kinds of medical malpractice errors committed by negligent healthcare providers may include medication errors, surgical mishaps such as retained foreign bodies after surgery, failure to monitor a patient after surgery, anesthesia errors, mistakes in interpreting x-ray results or other diagnostic tests, failure to diagnose, obstetrical and kidney dialysis errors or any other instances when a healthcare provider violates good medical care practices causing serious injury or death.

Healthcare providers who inflict harm on their patients are legally responsible to financially compensate them for their pain and suffering. Though it is difficult to put a monetary value on pain and suffering, and to calculate the funds needed for medical bills, medications and the loss of current and future income due to injuries suffered as a result of medical malpractice, an experienced medical malpractice attorney is trained to investigate and evaluate the details of your case and make a fair and just calculation.

Please contact the Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today if you or someone you care about has been a victim of medical malpractice.

Labels: Norfolk

The dangers of cell phone use while driving are well documented, but that has not stopped the growth of this practice which is evident to everyone on the nation's roadways on a daily basis.

Most Americans ignore the dangers of this risky behavior and are increasingly guilty of using cell phones, navigational devices and even laptops to turn their vehicles into mobile offices, chat rooms and entertainment venues.

Distracted drivers are responsible for the majority of automobile accidents and are four times more likely to cause an accident than other drivers. The likelihood a distracted driver will have an accident equals that of a driver with a .08 percent blood alcohol level.

A major factor is the drivers misconception they are capable of multi-tasking at a greater level than is actually true. There are limits to how much the brain can actually process at one time. When something unexpected takes place when you are behind the wheel, the human mind cannot process the unexpected move in time to react safely.

Only five states ban hand-held cell phones and only fourteen states ban texting while driving. There is no question drivers using cell phones behind the wheel are putting themselves and you and your loved ones at risk.

If you have been the victim of a cell phone using driver and you live in the Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia area, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn how to protect your legal rights and obtain the financial compensation you may be entitled to.

Labels: Norfolk

Workplace exposure to asbestos fiber is a major contributing factor to contracting mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a fare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of cells lining the internal organs of the human body.

Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs accounts for 70% of the diagnosed cases of this disease. Mesothelioma also affects the tissues of the abdomen and heart. The dust created from the handling of the asbestos fiber can settle in the lungs and abdomen if inhaled or swallowed. The dust causes an irritation in these organs that is thought to lead to mesothelioma.

Some workers who may have encountered asbestos fibers on the job are those employed as miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, ship builders, construction workers, automobile mechanics, steel mill workers, oil refinery employees and cement plant workers.

If you have been employed in any of these fields and have been experiencing chest or back pain, coughing, an unexplained weight loss, fatigue and shortness of breath, abdominal pain or difficulty breathing, you may have been exposed to asbestos fiber.

If you live in the Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia area and suspect you have been exposed to asbestos fiber or have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney at the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about what your legal rights are in this matter and to obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

Labels: Norfolk

A motorcycle accident often results in catastrophic injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, loss of limbs, paralysis and death. If you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident it is very important to try and think clearly, act rationally and calmly.

For example, try to check for injuries, and see if you are in danger of being struck by other vehicles that cannot see the downed motorcycle. As soon as you can safely do so, try to remove yourself from further injury by getting out of the roadway. Then call 911 and/or the police so you can get any needed medical attention.

Do not leave the scene of the accident before police arrive, and do not talk to anyone about the accident without the advice of an attorney. Try to gather as much information from the other people involved in the accident such as names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information and any other pertinent information.

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents involve speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, road hazards, poor visibility and equipment defects. The failure of other drivers on the road to see a motorcycle on the road is reportedly a major contributing factor in motorcycle accidents.

If you live in Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia or the surrounding area and you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

Labels: Norfolk

A traumatic brain injury is a complex injury with varying symptoms and levels of disability connected to it. The impact on a victim of traumatic brain injury and their family is normally devastating. The consequences of a traumatic brain injury affect all aspects of a person's life, including one's personality. Traumatic brain injuries do not heal like other injuries. A broken leg will eventually heal and regain its previous function. The brain is a more complex organ and healing is a complicated process after a traumatic brain injury has occurred.

A traumatic brain injury usually happens as the result of an automobile accident, a fall, a job-related injury or a criminal assault when a sudden and violent blow to the head traumatizes the brain, nerve fibers and causes bleeding to occur.

A mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, often causes a headache and some temporary confusion while a severe traumatic brain injury can be fatal. The level of injury is not always immediately apparent to a casual bystander or the victim.

The treatment for a mild traumatic brain injury usually consists of over the counter pain medication and rest, while a severe traumatic brain injury requires emergency care and treatment at the beginning of a long road to a possible recovery.

If you live in the Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia area and you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

Labels: Norfolk

A Virginia mother brought her infant into the emergency room because the infant was lethargic, not eating, having bowel movement problems, and continuously vomiting a green substance.

The Emergency Room doctor did an ultrasound of the infant's stomach and an x-ray of her chest. Without finding the cause of the symptoms and without doing any other tests or exams, the doctor sent the mother and child home. This doctor failed to diagnose a bowel obstruction that resulted in the wrongful death of the infant.

Emergency room errors occur more often than many people realize and are a form of medical malpractice. This infant should have been treated with more care because of the severity of her symptoms. The ER doctor was responsible for calling in a specialist to help diagnose the possible causes of the symptoms.

Medical malpractice can result in the personal injury or the wrongful death of a patient. Doctors can be held liable if their negligent treatment of a patient results in serious injuries. Medical malpractice can take place in many ways including:

• The Failure to Diagnose Strokes, Cancer, or Other Illnesses
• Birth Injuries
• Surgical Mistakes
• Medication and Prescription Errors
• Emergency Room Errors

Please contact the Cochran Firm's Medical Malpractice Lawyers at the Portsmouth office if you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to medical malpractice or an emergency room error.

Labels: Norfolk

Thousands of Americans are injured or killed in boating accidents annually. Most of these injuries and deaths were caused by carelessness, recklessness, excessive speed and operator inexperience. Alcohol consumption was a factor in 50% of all boating accidents. Poor weather conditions had very little to do with causing boating accidents according to statistics.

Boaters fall overboard, boats capsize, boats collide with other boats, docks and floating debris. Falling overboard and drowning is the primary cause of death in boating accidents. Statistics reveal that 85% of the drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. It has also been shown that a boating accident with injuries or fatalities usually involves excessive speed, the consumption of alcohol and an inexperienced operator.

Some safety precautions to follow to ensure a pleasant experience on the water would include life jackets for all on board, never operating the boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not using excessive speed and watching out for floating debris at all times.

If you live in the Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia area and you have been injured in a boating accident, you should contact the Portsmouth, Virginia office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

Labels: Norfolk

A "slip and fall" accident is a term used to describe an accident which occurs when someone slips, trips and/or falls as a result of a hazardous condition on someone else's property. A hazardous condition could be caused by water, ice, snow, poor lighting, a hole or gap, a torn carpet, an oily substance or any substance or condition which causes a slip and fall.

Fall-related injuries are of great concern to older adults. Over 16,000 people age 65 or older die each year from fall-related injuries. Almost 2,000,000 senior citizens care treated in emergency care centers for fall-related injuries and almost half of that number have to be hospitalized.

If you slip and fall and are injured on someone else's property as a result of a hazardous condition, the property or business owner may be liable for your injuries. Consequently, if you are a property or business owner and someone is injured on your property, you may find yourself legally responsible for those injuries. The advice of an experienced premises liability attorney would be very helpful in either case.

If you live in Norfolk, Virginia or the surrounding area and you have been involved in a slip and fall accident with injuries, please contact an experienced slip and fall attorney at The Cochran Firm's Norfolk office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

Labels: Norfolk

Labels: Norfolk

Labels: Norfolk

Labels: Louisiana, Minneapolis, Norfolk, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Shreveport, St Louis, Tuskegee