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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How to Document Injuries After a Truck Accident for Maximum Compensation

Truck accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries, leaving victims in physical, emotional, and financial turmoil.

As seasoned trucking accident attorneys, we understand that the strength of your personal injury claim is only as strong as the documentation that supports it.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident, knowing how to thoroughly document your injuries can make a critical difference in the compensation you receive.

This article walks you through
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Wrongful Death Settlements vs. Trials: Which Is Better for Families?

Losing a loved one is devastating. When that death stems from another’s negligence or misconduct, families face not only grief—but also pressing legal decisions.

As wrongful death lawyers, our duty goes beyond legal advocacy; we guide families through recovery, accountability, and closure.

A central choice often emerges: should you pursue a settlement or proceed to trial?This is a detailed examination from the viewpoint of a wrongful-death lawyer.

Understanding Settlements and Trials

Settlements, are agreements
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How to Navigate Wrongful Death Claims When Multiple Parties Are Involved

Losing a loved one is always traumatic, but when multiple parties share responsibility, the legal path becomes exponentially more complex.

As wrongful death attorneys based in Atlanta with decades of experience, we’ve guided families through these multifaceted cases—ensuring that all negligent parties are held fully accountable for their actions.

What Exactly Is a Multi‑Party Wrongful Death Claim?

When someone passes away as a result of the careless, reckless, or deliberate actions of another party—even when multiple parties may
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What to Do Immediately After a Trucking Accident: Steps to Protect Yourself

A trucking accident is a terrifying experience. A commercial truck’s vast size and weight have the ability to cause fatalities, severe injuries, and catastrophic damage.

If you or a loved one is involved in such a crash, your first thoughts are likely to be about survival and safety.

But once the dust settles, your actions in the minutes, hours, and days following the accident can significantly impact your health, your rights, and your ability to recover compensation.
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Why So Many in Atlanta Trust Finch McCranie LLP After a Truck Accident

Introduction

Truck accidents are among the most devastating events that can occur on Georgia highways. 

From life-threatening injuries to long-term disabilities, these collisions often change lives in an instant. 

In such difficult times, finding a reliable and experienced legal advocate becomes not just important—but essential.

That’s where Finch McCranie LLP comes in.

For decades, Finch McCranie LLP has represented individuals and families affected by catastrophic truck accidents.

Their extensive background in trucking law,
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Common Injuries in Trucking Accidents and How to Get Compensation

When a car collides with an 18-wheeler or commercial truck, the results can be catastrophic.

As truck accident attorneys, we’ve seen how quickly life can change for victims and their families.

What seems like a routine day on the road can turn into a nightmare in a split second.

Truck crashes are not like typical car accidents. The size, weight, and speed of these massive vehicles make them uniquely dangerous.

And unfortunately,
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How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Springfield, Atlanta, one of the most urgent questions you need answered is: How long do I have to file a claim? Time is a critical factor in truck accident cases, not only for legal reasons, but also to ensure that vital evidence is preserved and your rights are protected.

 At Finch McCranie LLP, we’ve spent decades helping victims and families navigate these
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Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Medical Malpractice Case

When you or a loved one suffers harm due to a healthcare provider’s negligence, you have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim.

However, the road to justice isn’t straightforward.

Even with valid claims, too many victims make avoidable mistakes that can severely damage or even destroy their chances of receiving compensation.

At Finch McCranie LLP, we’ve seen firsthand how missteps can derail cases that otherwise had strong legal merit.

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Facing Wrongful Death Insurance Denial? Here’s What You Need to Do

The emotional toll is enormous when a loved one’s life is lost due to the negligence of another.

Families may encounter unforeseen financial and legal challenges on top of their grief.

One of the most painful situations is when the insurance company rejects the wrongful death claim.

Our experienced wrongful death lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP are aware of how cruel and painful these rejections can be, particularly when the evidence appears to
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Hidden Policy Clauses That May Void Your Wrongful Death Claim

Losing a loved one unexpectedly is heartbreaking.

Families often file wrongful death claims to obtain justice and financial security when the loss was caused by the negligence of another person.

However, many families happen to discover that an insurance policy they thought would cover them has hidden provisions that might cancel or significantly restrict their claim.

At Finch McCranie LLP, our wrongful death attorneys routinely help clients navigate these complicated policy
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