Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

In An Accident While Traveling Out Of Town: What Law Controls?

We are often called by clients who have traveled through the Atlanta area only to be the unfortunate victim of a third party’s negligence. Calls usually come from those in car accidents or tractor-trailer collisions. Sometimes a slip and fall is involved or a defective product. These innocent persons sometimes are hospitalized following the incident in Georgia and then sent back to their home states for follow up treatment. When they reach out to an attorney the usually are being overwhelmed with medical
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Wrongful Death Cases: Who Has The Claim?

It is not unusual for our firm to be contacted by family members who are bereaved over the death of a close family relative. Oftentimes the individual is killed through the negligence of a third party and the family member simply wants to understand the law that pertains to the claim. Sometimes, however, family members can get in an argument among themselves as to who has the right to pursue the claim for the wrongful death. While Georgia, like many states, has a statutory scheme
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Structured Settlements In Serious Injury Cases

In any serious injury case involving permanent or lifetime injuries, careful consideration should be given to whether a structured settlement should be part of any settlement of such a case. A structured settlement agreement is a device whereby if the overall lump sum amount can be agreed upon, a certain percentage of it can be set aside and invested in an annuity that will pay benefits over the victim’s lifetime, usually on a monthly basis. Such benefits are extremely important for people who are disabled because it provides them a safety net and allows them to pay rent and other necessary living expenses as they grow older. Particularly in those cases where a victim is incapacitated and unable to work, a structured settlement agreement can provide a lifetime of revenue for necessary living expenses.
One of the main advantages of a structured settlement agreement is that the benefits are not taxable. As an example, if someone were to settle a personal injury case for $500,000.00 and allocate $200,000.00 for a structured settlement annuity, any benefits generated from the structured settlement annuity would be non-taxable. However, if the settling individual were to receive the entire amount in cash and then invested a portion of the money and made the same monthly interest, taxes would have to be paid on the interest earned, assuming that there was enough income otherwise generated to be subject to taxation.

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Hospital And Medical Liens: What Should A Victim Do?

In a serious injury case the victim is usually overwhelmed with medical expenses, lost wages, terrible pain and suffering, and a total disruption in their personal, family and home life. If they are fortunate enough to have good counsel and they are fortunate enough to get a good settlement from the third party responsible for inflicting the injuries upon them, it will not be uncommon for such a victim to have to deal with a host of medical lien issues. The most common medical liens
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Implantable Defibrillators Frequently Used In Inappropriate Cases

More than 20% of patients who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator — a high-tech device that produces electrical impulses to regulate heartbeats and prevent life-threatening arrhythmias — in recent years were not good candidates to receive the device, a new study suggests.
Researchers at Duke University looked at more than 111,000 patients who received ICD implants between 2006 and 2009. More than 25,000 of those patients did not meet evidence-based criteria for receiving the device, according to the study.
The risk of dying in the hospital
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Inhalers Recalled Due To Mislabeling

The Food and Drug Administration is also concerned that hospital, med-center and emergency patients may be given the higher dose, as correctly labeled outer packaging is generally discarded.
Health care providers seeing only the mislabeled bottle would be very likely to give the wrong dose, especially since the two solution strengths are distilled in equal sized bottles. The .05 mg/3 ml bottles look just like the 2.5 mg./ 3 ml bottles. Only the strength differs.
Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation is sold in single use dosage bottles,
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Subrogation Claims In Personal Injury Cases

In car accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, medical malpractice or other serious injury cases, in the event a settlement is reached, there is always the possibility of a subrogation claim being asserted by a third party against the settlement proceeds. Subrogation claims are usually claims held by insurance carriers that have paid medical benefits. The victim who was injured by the negligent truck driver, for example, may have incurred hundreds of thousands in medical bills for expensive surgery. If a third party health insurance carrier pays these
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Food-Borne Safety Bill Signed But in Trouble

Each year, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, 48 million people, that is one in six Americans, are sickened by food-borne illnesses. Of those, 180,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.
The first major overhaul of the nation’s food-safety infrastructure since 1938 was signed into law yesterday by President Obama.
The Food Safety Modernization Act moves the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) away from its early-20th-century role of responding to adulterated food to a more modern one of requiring companies
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Electric Adjustable Beds Singled Out For Dangers

Electric adjustable beds have been singled out for causing serious injuries and death. Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to Invacare Corp. for failing to report and address malfunctions with its electric beds, including electronics that allegedly caught on fire causing injury and death.
The FDA posted a warning letter to the Ohio-based company Tuesday morning. Invacare makes a variety of medical equipment, including wheelchairs, oxygen tanks and electric beds.
In its Dec. 15 warning letter, the FDA said the company
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Settlement Releases In Personal Injury Cases

Anytime a serious injury case is settled for a particular amount of money, the insurance company for the at fault third party involved will insist on a Release of all claims, not only against their insured responsible for the damages but also for the insurance company issuing the check on their behalf. This is standard as part of any serious injury or personal injury case whereby monies are paid as consideration for a settlement. In all such cases, counsel should be conferred with because the
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Why Personal Injury Settlements in Duluth Differ So Much Between Families

When two families experience similar accidents in Duluth — perhaps both involving a car collision or a tragic loss — it can be shocking to see how personal injury settlements differ dramatically. 

One family may receive what seems like full justice, while another struggles to cover even basic expenses.

At Finch McCranie LLP, we’ve spent decades helping families understand exactly why this happens. Settlement differences aren’t random. 

They’re based
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What If You Feel Fine After an Accident? Duluth Personal Injury Lawyers Warn What Comes Next

You step out of your car after an accident. Your hands are shaking, your heart’s racing—but strangely, you feel fine. 

No pain. No dizziness. No bleeding. You might even think, “I guess I got lucky.”

But according to leading Duluth Personal Injury Lawyers, that momentary calm can be deceiving. 

The body’s natural response to trauma often masks symptoms of serious injury. 

Adrenaline floods the system,
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Can Siblings File a Wrongful Death Claim in Atlanta? What Duluth Families Should Know

When a loved one dies because of another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct, the family may face difficult questions about who has the legal authority to take action.

For siblings in Duluth and Metro Atlanta, one question often arises: Can a brother or sister file a wrongful death claim in Atlanta?

Georgia law limits who may bring a claim, so a sibling’s eligibility depends on the surviving family members and whether the sibling has authority to represent the deceased person’s estate.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Georgia?

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Can a Duluth Wrongful Death Attorney Help if There’s No Police Report?

Losing someone you love is one of the hardest experiences a family can endure. 

When that loss happens because of another person’s negligence — a careless driver, a reckless company, or even a medical mistake — it becomes not just painful, but deeply unjust. 

Families want answers. 

They want accountability. 

And they often wonder: 

Can we still take legal action if there’s no
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Truck Accident Lawyer for Spine and Brain Injury Cases in Atlanta

Truck accidents are among the most dangerous types of crashes on the road.

When a semi-truck or 18-wheeler collides with a smaller vehicle, the impact can be devastating — often leading to serious or permanent injuries.

Two of the most life-changing outcomes after a truck crash are spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

These are not just medical emergencies — they are events that can change a person’s entire future.

If you or a loved one has suffered one of these
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How to Get Medical Help After a Truck Accident with No Insurance in Atlanta

A truck accident can turn your whole life upside down in just a few seconds.

You’re hurt, scared, and worried about what to do next.

But for many people, the biggest question isn’t just about recovery — it’s how to get medical help if you don’t have health insurance.

If you’ve been injured in a truck crash in Atlanta, Georgia, don’t panic.

You still have options. In fact, there are several ways to get the medical care you need and protect your right to compensation
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What Makes Truck Accident Lawsuits Different from Car Accidents in Atlanta?

Not all vehicle accidents are the same.

If you’ve ever seen the aftermath of a truck crash on I-75, I-285, or I-85 in Atlanta, you already know — a semi-truck accident can destroy multiple vehicles in seconds.

But beyond the physical damage, these cases are legally very different from car accidents.

When you’re hit by a commercial truck, the process for getting justice and compensation is far more complex.

That’s why working with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Atlanta can make all the
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What Happens If a Truck Accident Involves a Hazardous Material Spill in Atlanta?

Truck accidents are always serious, but when the truck is carrying hazardous materials, the danger multiplies instantly.

Fires, explosions, and toxic leaks can threaten entire neighborhoods — not just the people involved in the crash.

For victims, this type of accident is terrifying and confusing.

You may be wondering: Who’s responsible for the cleanup, who pays for the damage, and what happens to those injured or exposed?

If you’ve been affected by a hazmat or chemical truck accident in Atlanta, here’s what you need to
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Is a Georgia 18-Wheeler Accident Law Firm Worth Hiring After a Crash?

If you’ve been involved in a crash with an 18-wheeler or commercial truck, your life can change in seconds.

These massive vehicles often weigh up to 80,000 pounds — and when they collide with a passenger car, the results are almost always devastating.

In the aftermath, victims are left with hospital bills, lost wages, and endless phone calls from insurance companies.

So, it’s natural to wonder: Do I really need to hire a Georgia 18-wheeler accident law firm, or can I handle this on my
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18-Wheeler Wreck Lawsuits Explained by Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys

When an 18-wheeler collides with a smaller vehicle, the aftermath can be devastating.

The massive size and weight of these trucks make accidents catastrophic, often leaving victims with severe injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship.

Understanding how to navigate the complex process of an 18-wheeler wreck lawsuit is crucial — and that’s where the guidance of an experienced Truck Accident Lawyer becomes indispensable.

In this article, Atlanta’s top truck accident attorneys explain everything you need to know about 18-wheeler wreck lawsuits — from causes
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