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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Is Medical Malpractice a Criminal Act? What Atlanta Patients Should Know About Hospital Error Cases

Is medical malpractice a criminal act is a common question for Atlanta patients and families after a serious hospital error, surgical mistake, medication error, delayed diagnosis, or preventable injury. 

In most cases, medical malpractice is handled as a civil claim, not a criminal case. 

A civil medical malpractice claim focuses on whether a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and caused harm to the patient.

Some extreme cases may involve criminal investigation, but that is not the usual path for most medical malpractice lawsuit cases. 

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Delayed Cancer Diagnosis in Georgia: When Late Detection May Require a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Duluth

A medical malpractice lawyer in Duluth can help patients determine whether a delayed cancer diagnosis may involve medical negligence.

When cancer is not diagnosed as early as it reasonably should have been, the delay may affect treatment options, prognosis, medical expenses, quality of life, and long-term outcomes.

For some patients, delayed detection may lead to more aggressive treatment. For others, it may result in a worsened condition or a fatal outcome.

However, not every delayed cancer diagnosis is medical malpractice. Cancer can be difficult to diagnose, symptoms can resemble less serious conditions, and medical providers are not automatically liable because a disease was found late. 

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How Legal Support From a Wrongful Death Attorney Near Me in Duluth Helps Families After a Loss

A wrongful death attorney near me can give Duluth families local legal guidance after a preventable fatal loss.

When a loved one dies because of medical malpractice, a truck accident, unsafe property, a car crash, or another negligent act, families may be left dealing with grief, expenses, insurance calls, legal questions, and uncertainty about what comes next.

Legal support cannot remove the pain of the loss. However, it can give families direction when important decisions must be made.

A wrongful death lawyer near me in Duluth can explain who may have the right to bring a claim, what early steps may matter, how insurance companies may respond, and what information should be reviewed before any settlement decision is made.

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When Is Misdiagnosis Considered Medical Malpractice in Duluth, GA? What Patients Must Prove to Win a Claim

Patients can contact a misdiagnosis lawyer in Duluth to determine whether a wrong diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to diagnose may qualify as medical malpractice. 

Not every diagnostic mistake is legally actionable, and not every poor medical outcome means a doctor or hospital was negligent. 

However, when a provider fails to follow accepted medical standards and that failure causes serious harm, the patient may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim in Georgia law.

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Common Mistakes That Hurt Injury Claims

After an accident, many injured people focus on medical treatment, missed work, and repairing their lives.

During this stressful time, it is easy to make mistakes that may hurt a personal injury claim.

Insurance companies often look for ways to reduce compensation or deny claims.

Certain actions, delays, or statements may make it harder to prove what happened or show the full extent of the injuries.

Understanding common mistakes can help injured people protect their rights and avoid unnecessary problems.

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Personal Injury Settlement Process Explained

A personal injury claim may arise when someone is injured because of another person’s negligence.

These cases can involve car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall incidents, defective products, workplace injuries, dog bites, or other situations where someone fails to act safely.

After an injury, victims often face medical expenses, lost wages, pain, stress, and uncertainty about what happens next.

Understanding how the settlement process works can help injured people make informed decisions.

People
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What to Do After a Truck Accident in Atlanta

A truck accident in Atlanta can result in severe injuries, significant property damage, and long-term financial strain. Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, these accidents are often more dangerous than regular car accidents. After such an event, it’s essential to understand the immediate steps to take in order to protect your health, preserve evidence, and support any future personal injury claim.

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, taking the right steps
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What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Georgia Personal Injury Case?

After a serious accident, most people think first about medical bills. 

While medical expenses are often a major part of a claim, they are only one piece of the compensation that may be available in a Georgia personal injury case.

An injury can affect nearly every area of your life. You may miss work, struggle with ongoing pain, lose the ability to enjoy your normal activities, or face permanent physical limitations. 

In wrongful
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How Much Is a Personal Injury Case Worth in Georgia?

If you are wondering how much a personal injury case is worth in Georgia, the answer depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatment, the impact on your ability to work, and whether the other party was clearly at fault. 

No two cases are exactly alike, which means the value of a claim can vary significantly from one situation to another.

A minor injury claim involving a short recovery
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What to Expect from an 18-Wheeler Crash Lawyer in Habersham County

If you have taken part in an 18-wheeler accident in Habersham County, hiring Finch McCranie LLP ensures you have the best legal team fighting for your rights. 

With extensive experience handling 18-wheeler accidents, Finch McCranie LLP is committed to securing the compensation you deserve and navigating the complexities of your case.

How Finch McCranie LLP Handles 18-Wheeler Accident Cases in Habersham County

Finch McCranie LLP understands the devastating impact of 18-wheeler accidents. 

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