The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Low speed rear end collisions usually result in minor damage to the vehicles involved, but can still result in serious bodily injury to the occupants. There are over two and one-half million rear end collisions reported annually across the United States making them the most frequent type of car accident.

Modern automobile design has improved the safety of cars involved in this type of collision so that the bumper systems usually absorb most of the force of a low speed impact, but there are times when the human bodies in the automobile absorb most of the impact instead. The result in some rear end collisions is that the occupants of the automobile may suffer a "whiplash" injury, which is caused by a sudden, violent, involuntary whipping back and forth motion of the head and neck.

Whiplash injuries consist of trauma to the soft tissues of the muscles and ligaments of the neck and can result in intense pain, swelling, stiffness, headache, nausea, numbness of the extremities and dizziness. The symptoms of a whiplash injury are not always present immediately after the collision, but may present themselves twenty-four to forty-eight hours later. Failure to seek medical attention for this type of injury can lead to months and years of debilitating pain and disability.

The automobile accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm have many years of experience in handling rear end collision car accidents and feel you deserve to be financially compensated for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income and any other costs incurred due to your injuries.

Please contact the rear end collision attorneys at The Cochran Firm today if you were injured in an accident in the Tuskegee, Alabama area today to protect your legal rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.

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Defective or poorly designed and manufactured medical devices and instruments cause serious injuries and deaths every year in the United States. Some of these defective medical devices are recalled, while others are not and remain available for future damaging uses.

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for testing and approving every medical device and instrument for safety and effectiveness, the FDA has shown it is unable to test all medical devices and instruments. Recently, problems have surfaced with implantable cardiac defibrillators and cardiac pacemakers. The list of dangerous medical devices and instruments includes, but is not limited to, dialysis filters, hip replacement joints, stents, insulin pumps, knee joint implants and surgical staples.

Cases involving defective medical devices and instruments are complex and costly to litigate, so you need an experienced, competent medical product liability attorney with The Cochran Firm to evaluate and determine whether you have been a victim of a defective medical device or instrument without delay to stay within the strict time limits that govern the medical product liability laws.

If you are a resident of Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been the victim of a defective medical device or instrument, please contact The Cochran Firm today and learn how to protect your legal rights and get the financial compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.

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Nowhere is it more evident how many elderly Americans are dependent on others for their daily basic needs than in a nursing home or assisted living center environment. Residents of nursing homes and assisted living centers are among the most vulnerable in society, but they are guaranteed certain rights under the law.

Many nursing homes and assisted living centers do a good job of providing care for older adults that need assistance on a daily basis, but many older adults are finding themselves victims of emotional, verbal, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their overworked and undertrained caretakers.

Common signs of abuse and neglect in a nursing home or assisted living center are poor personal hygiene, chronic sores and infections, unexplained wounds and bruises, the significant use of behavior-altering medication, and indiscriminate use of physical restraints. Financial exploitation of a vulnerable elderly resident of a nursing home takes many forms and may include a caregiver who steals money or possessions, forges signatures or inserts themselves into the resident’s finances without the resident’s knowledge or permission.

If you suspect your elderly family member or a friend is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm without delay to protect their legal rights and hold those responsible legally accountable for their actions.

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According to Alabama premises liability laws, property owners can be held legally responsible for an injury caused by dangerous conditions that exist on their premises. All property owners must take appropriate action to prevent accidents from occurring on their properties.

One of the most common accidents is a trip, slip and fall accident on an icy or wet walkway, a broken stairway or a slippery floor. Slipping, tripping and falling on a wet surface or broken pavement or hurtling down a flight of broken steps can cause serious injuries. Poor lighting in a parking garage or the lack of security in a hotel hallway can lead to a physical or sexual assault that results in massive trauma or wrongful death.

The experienced Alabama premises liability attorneys at The Cochran Firm can determine whether property owner liability was a factor in your accident or assault and help you recover financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income, your pain and suffering and other costs due to your injury. Your case will be handled by our experienced premises liability attorneys who will work conscientiously to ensure your get the financial compensation and personal attention you deserve.

If you live in the Tuskegee, Alabama area and you or someone you care about was injured or assaulted on someone else's property, please contact The Cochran Firm today to learn what you can do to recover the losses you have suffered due to your injuries.

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Pedestrians practice a healthy, "green" and necessary pursuit in walking to get from point A to point B, but it can also be a dangerous pursuit.

Pedestrian accidents in which walkers are struck by a car, truck, bus or motorcycle often lead to serious injuries and deaths. Over 5,000 pedestrians are killed and over 64,000 are injured every year in the United States. The human body is no match for the massive forces involved in being struck by any type of motor vehicle. The injuries sustained in such an accident may include brain and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paralysis and may often prove fatal.

Accidents involving pedestrians often occur between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. when darkness and the consumption of alcohol become a factor. The additions of speeding and distractions while driving further increase the possibility of a pedestrian being hit. A pedestrian has an obligation to take reasonable care for their own safety or they may be accused of contributory negligence in the event of an accident if they ignored a "Don't Walk" sign, failed to use a designated crosswalk or darted out in front of a vehicle between parked cars.

If you live in the Tuskegee, Alabama area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and get the advice of the experienced attorneys there on how to proceed with a claim against the responsible parties.

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Defective Chinese drywall has the ability to contaminate your home to the point it has to be demolished because of the toxic gases it releases into your environment.

Health officials are concerned that the defective Chinese drywall gases are especially dangerous to the very young and elderly population. These health concerns have caused families in Alabama and other states across the country to leave their homes, the very place they should feel safe and secure. Residents in homes built with the defective Chinese drywall have reported breathing problems, coughing, nose bleeds, nausea, and eye, throat and sinus irritation.

Homeowners are seeking damages to have all defective Chinese drywall removed and replaced with quality mold resistant drywall, the removal of all damaged property and the replacement of the same high quality household appliances, HVAC, electrical wiring and other building materials and personal property damaged by the release of the toxic gases in the defective Chinese drywall.

Many builders and developers of homes built with the defective Chinese drywall are either filing for bankruptcy or going out of business so it is important to file a claim against these entities without delay to protect your legal rights.

If you live in the Tuskegee, Alabama area and you have been a victim of the defective Chinese drywall epidemic sweeping the country, please contact The Cochran Firm today to protect your legal rights and learn how to proceed with your claim to get the financial compensation you deserve.

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Defectively manufactured pharmaceuticals can cause serious injuries or death. The manufacturer and anyone else connected with the making or distribution of the defective drug can be held legally responsible and made to pay damages. Although most drugs do have some side effects, defective drugs cause life-threatening conditions that at times have fatal outcomes.

Drugs that have been included in the list of defective pharmaceuticals involve arthritis medication, cholesterol lowering drugs, diet drugs, oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, vaccines and the list continues to grow. Even when taken as directed these defective drugs are responsible for heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, pulmonary dysfunction and liver damage and death.

Pharmaceutical companies that place profit above safety and people’s lives should be held accountable for their negligence and the lasting effects they have on innocent victim’s lives. Why should taking a prescribed medication mean taking a risk with your life?

If you have been injured by a defective pharmaceutical, the manufacturer may have failed in its’ obligation to deliver a safe product to the public and you may be eligible for financial compensation because of the damage you have suffered.

Please contact the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a no cost to you confidential consultation with an experienced defective pharmaceutical attorney who can advise you on how to proceed to obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

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The actual incidence of surgeons mistakenly leaving foreign bodies inside the patient is unknown, but estimates are as frequently as one out of every one hundred patients to one out of every five thousand patients. Whatever the true number, it happens too frequently and is a serious problem.

Surgical teams have been known to leave surgical sponges, pins, blades, clips, gauze, cotton and other medical instruments in the patient’s body due to outright recklessness and negligence. When left in the human body retained foreign bodies damage tissues, blood vessels and organs and can cause life-threatening infections and damage that can in turn lead to life-long disability or even death.

The physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists and the entire surgical team can be held liable for medical malpractice and negligence if this type of preventable occurrence takes place. Many times this situation goes unresolved for a period of time while the patient's condition continues to deteriorate for what appears to be unknown reasons.

If you or someone you love has been injured or died because of a foreign body left in the surgical site, or even if you only suspect this is what happened, please contact the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney at no cost to you to help you decide what course of action you should take to hold the responsible parties legally liable.

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Wrongful death is a legal term used to describe the death of a human being as a result of a negligent act, such as being killed by a drunk driver or during a criminal assault. A wrongful death becomes the basis for a lawsuit against the individual who caused the death on behalf of the family or beneficiaries who have lost the comfort and support of the deceased.

In this way, a child would be entitled to compensation for the loss of a father and a wife could be eligible to recover damages for a lifetime of anticipated financial support.

The loss of a loved one is a devastating loss, because nothing can replace that loss. Money is the one tangible measurement the legal system can use to gauge what has been lost to you.

The legal issues surrounding wrongful death claims allow legal action only for a limited period of time. An experienced wrongful death attorney can answer any questions you may have concerning time limits for legal action.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have lost your loved one due to the actions of another person, please contact the experienced and highly qualified wrongful death attorneys at the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you, to discover how to obtain the financial compensation you are entitled to under the law for your loss.

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The best time to learn what to do after a car accident is before it happens. A car accident is a frightening, stressful and totally unexpected event. Car accidents can happen to anyone, even the most cautious drivers can be involved in an accident through no fault of their own. If you are prepared to deal with the aftermath of an accident, whether it is a fender bender or an accident with injuries, it will allow you to cope with the consequences calmly and efficiently.

If you ever have the misfortune to be involved in a car accident you should remain as calm as possible, check for injuries and call 911. If It is possible, move your vehicle to a safer place off the road, out of the traffic, but do not leave the scene of the accident before police arrive. Notify your insurance company and try to obtain as much information from the other driver involved and any witnesses. Do not make any statements to anyone about the accident before consulting an experienced car accident attorney.

Dealing with the consequences of a car accident are sometimes more stressful than the accident itself. A car accident may leave you physically, emotionally and legally challenged.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about has been involved in a car accident, please contact an experienced car accident attorney at the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to obtain justice for you and your loved ones and get you the compensation you are entitled to.

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There are over 3,000,000 trucks on our roads nationwide. Many industries rely on trucking to make a living. Trucks transport food, building supplies, business equipment and hundreds of products daily in a timely and efficient manner all over the country.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to so many trucks on the roadways in the form of accidents. Statistics estimate over 144,000 trucks were involved in accidents last year with over 4900 of those accidents causing fatalities. A revealing statistic states that in over 80% of truck accidents the truck driver was at fault, but the other driver suffered the fatality.

When you share the road with a truck it is safer to keep a good distance between you and the truck, take extra care in hazardous driving conditions, and expect the unexpected. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include speeding, driver fatigue, tire failure and reckless driving.

If you are ever involved in an accident with a truck, you should be fully compensated for your losses such as, medical expenses, lost income, lost future earning potential and pain and suffering.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have been involved in an accident with a truck, please contact the Tuskegee, Alabama office of The Cochran Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

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When a consumer product is defective and causes an injury or a death, the manufacturer or distributor can be held liable for damages.

Some of the most common instances of defective consumer product injuries and deaths recently have involved automobiles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and tires. However, there are defective consumer products in many other areas. There are dangerous and defective toys, seat belts, appliances, power tools and products we use every day in our daily lives.

The injuries sustained with these defective consumer products range from minor bruises to life-threatening injuries and even death. You can be compensated for medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of future earning potential, pain and suffering and any other losses you incurred as a result of your injuries due to the use of the defective consumer product. In the case of a death, the survivors may be entitled to compensation also.

Defective consumer product liability law is very complex and it is very important that you consult an experienced attorney to ensure your claim will be handled competently and quickly.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you have suffered an injury due to a defective consumer product, you should contact the Tuskegee, Alabama 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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Most motor vehicle accident insurance claims can usually be handled on your own. Some home insurance claims and minor personal injury claims may also be settled without attorneys getting involved. Most of these claims involve a few phone calls and a visit from an insurance adjuster. However, there are times when a lawyer's services and helpful and necessary.

You may need a personal injury lawyer because of complex laws involved in your claim or the severity of your injuries may mean you are entitled to greater compensation than normal, or because an insurance company refuses to settle your claim fairly and honestly.

Some vehicle accidents result in serious and permanently disabling injuries. The amount of your compensation is determined by the seriousness your injuries, the amount of your medical bills and the length of time it takes for you to recover. It is important to have a lawyer handle your claim and be certain you receive the highest compensation available to you. In the case of a medical malpractice lawsuit, the complex issues involved definitely require the services of an attorney.

When an insurance company refuses to pay your claim regardless of the kind of injury or amount of medical bills involved, you will benefit from the efforts of a lawyer to get you a fair settlement.

If you live in Tuskegee, Alabama or the surrounding area and you need the services of a personal injury attorney, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the Cochran Firm's Tuskegee office today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you to learn about your legal rights.

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