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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Missed the Wrongful Death Claim Time Limit? Here’s What You Can Still Do

Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is deeply traumatic.

For a specific amount of time, Georgia law permits surviving family members to file a wrongful death claim One essential legal deadline is the statute of restrictions.

You can destroy your right to fight for justice if you miss it. You can lose your right to seek justice if you miss it.

At Finch McCranie LLP, many clients come to us worried they’ve waited too
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Why Hiring a Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer Is Crucial After a Delivery Crash

Introduction

Delivery trucks are everywhere—thanks to e-commerce, gig work, and next-day delivery expectations. 

With more commercial vehicles crowding city streets and rural roads alike, the risk of serious accidents has escalated. 

These aren’t simple fender benders. Delivery truck crashes often involve devastating injuries, destroyed property, and complex legal entanglements. 

Victims may face corporate insurance providers, legal teams, and massive trucking companies determined to avoid liability. 

If you’ve
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How a Truck Accident Can Affect Your Life for Years—Unless You Take Action

A truck accident isn’t just a momentary incident—its aftermath can ripple through your life for years. Here’s what you should know:

  • Truck accidents often result in long-term physical injuries and emotional trauma.
  • Victims frequently face disruptions to work, finances, and relationships.
  • Without legal action, many suffer in silence with mounting bills and lost opportunities.
  • Truck accident lawyers can help secure justice and
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Truck Accident Case: Impact, Recovery, and Lawyer

Truck accidents are devastating, both physically and emotionally. 

They bring life to a halt and create a maze of medical, legal, and insurance-related challenges. 

This article offers a clear roadmap through the chaos—focusing on the impact of the accident, the recovery process, and how the right truck accident attorney can make all the difference.

You’ll learn what steps to take after a crash, what legal pitfalls to avoid, and how a leading truck accident law firm like
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Should You Hire a Local Medical Malpractice Lawyer?

When you’re dealing with the pain, stress, and confusion of a medical error, hiring the right legal help can make all the difference.

But one of the first questions you might face is: Should you hire a local medical malpractice lawyer? The short answer is—yes, and here’s why.

A local medical malpractice lawyer offers more than just legal representation—they bring proximity, familiarity with your local healthcare providers, and crucial knowledge of your state’s legal system.

These benefits often lead to a more responsive, more personalized,
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Malpractice in Atlanta Georgia | Medical Law, Liability & Claims

Introduction

Medical care is built on trust. When you see a doctor or visit a hospital in Atlanta, you expect to receive competent, ethical treatment. 

But what happens when that trust is broken? 

Medical errors can lead to long-term suffering, disability, or even loss of life. 

In such cases, a medical malpractice lawyer plays a vital role in seeking justice.

This article explores what defines malpractice, the types of claims, and how malpractice
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How Much Compensation Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Get You?

When you suffer harm due to medical negligence, your life can change in an instant. 

From unexpected surgeries to long-term rehabilitation, the consequences can be devastating. 

In such situations, seeking legal representation becomes essential—not just for justice, but to ensure you receive fair compensation. 

One of the first questions many victims ask is: how much compensation can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer get you?

Understanding the scope of damages, how
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How Do I Know If I Have a Medical Malpractice Case?

When we turn to healthcare professionals, we expect compassion, professionalism, and a high standard of care. 

Unfortunately, that isn’t always what we receive. 

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted standards of practice, leading to harm, injury, or death. 

But how do you know if your experience qualifies as a medical malpractice case? 

Understanding the legal, medical, and procedural aspects is key.

In
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Common Types of Wrongful Death Cases and How Lawyers Handle Them

Losing someone we love is very hard, especially if their death could have been prevented.

A wrongful death happens when someone dies because another person or a company was careless or did something wrong.

In these sad cases, the family of the person who died can go to a lawyer for help.

Let’s learn more about what wrongful death means, the common types of cases, and how lawyers help families during these tough times.

What
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How Federal Trucking Regulations Impact Your Injury Case

Introduction

When you’re hurt in a truck accident, the road to justice can be overwhelming.

But did you know that federal trucking regulations could play a major role in your injury claim? These rules were designed to keep everyone safe on the road—and when they’re broken, it can mean serious consequences for the trucking companies involved.