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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What Type of Attorney Do You Call If You’re Injured in a Truck Accident?

A truck accident lawyer focuses on injury claims involving commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial vehicles. 

Truck accidents differ significantly from standard car crashes due to the size of the vehicles, the severity of injuries, and the number of parties involved. 

These cases require legal representation with experience in trucking regulations, corporate liability, and complex investigations.

Selecting the correct type of attorney after a truck crash can directly affect how evidence is
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When Is a Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice? What’s Included and Legal Standards Explained

Misdiagnosis medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider makes a diagnostic error that falls below accepted medical standards and directly causes harm to a patient. 

Diagnostic mistakes happen across many medical settings, but only certain errors meet the legal definition of malpractice.

Not every medical misdiagnosis leads to legal responsibility. Courts focus on whether the provider acted negligently and whether that negligence caused measurable injury. 

This article explains when a misdiagnosis qualifies as
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When Medical Care Goes Wrong in Duluth: How a Malpractice Attorney Can Help

Medical malpractice is a serious issue that can cause lasting physical, emotional, and financial harm. 

When healthcare professionals fail to meet the standard of care, patients may experience complications, worsened conditions, or even death. 

If you or a loved one has been affected by medical malpractice in Duluth, a medical malpractice attorney can help you understand your legal rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

What is Medical Malpractice?

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Why You Should Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Atlanta

Truck accidents in Atlanta are often far more complex than regular car accidents, involving larger vehicles, stricter regulations, and more severe consequences. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer in Atlanta is essential for navigating the complexities of both the legal system and the trucking industry. 

At Finch McCranie LLP, we offer dedicated legal representation to ensure that your rights are
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Why Trucking Accidents Are a Serious Issue and When to Contact an Attorney

Trucking accidents are a serious issue that can lead to catastrophic injuries, lengthy recoveries, and overwhelming financial burdens. 

Unlike typical vehicle accidents, trucking accidents often involve larger vehicles that cause more significant damage, both to property and people. 

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, understanding the severity of the situation and knowing when to contact an attorney can make all the difference in ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.

What
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After a Serious Truck Accident in Atlanta: When to Hire an Attorney

If you’ve been involved in a serious truck accident in Atlanta, it’s essential to consider hiring a truck accident lawyer in Atlanta. 

These accidents often involve complex legal issues, and navigating the aftermath without expert legal representation can lead to missed opportunities for full compensation. 

A skilled attorney can help ensure your rights are protected and that you receive the justice and financial support you deserve.

Why a Truck Accident is Different from
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Truck Rollover Accidents in Duluth: Causes, Risks, and Why an Attorney Can Help

Truck rollover accidents in Duluth GA represent some of the most devastating and legally complex motor vehicle collisions on Georgia roadways. 

When a large commercial truck tips onto its side or roof, the sheer weight and force involved can cause catastrophic injuries, multi-vehicle pileups, and life-altering consequences for everyone involved.

Duluth sees consistent commercial truck traffic due to its access to major highways, local distribution routes, and nearby industrial and commercial centers. 

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Patient Dissatisfied with  Rhinoplasty: when to contact a medical malpractice attorney

A rhinoplasty medical malpractice attorney is often consulted when post-surgical outcomes raise questions about professional standards rather than cosmetic preference.

Rhinoplasty is a complex surgical procedure that affects both appearance and breathing function, and while dissatisfaction alone does not establish malpractice, certain outcomes may signal medical negligence rather than aesthetic disappointment.

From a legal standpoint, cosmetic surgery is held to the same professional standards as any other medical procedure. 

When preventable errors, poor technique, or
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What Evidence Is Needed to Win a Medical Malpractice Negligence Case?

Evidence needed to win a medical malpractice negligence case determines whether a claim survives investigation, withstands defense challenges, and succeeds at trial. 

Medical malpractice cases are not won by pointing to a bad outcome or a patient’s belief that something went wrong. 

They are won by assembling precise, credible evidence that proves negligence caused measurable harm.

From a litigation standpoint, malpractice cases rise or fall on documentation, expert analysis, and the ability to
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Signed a Consent Form but the Surgery Went Wrong? Understanding Medical Malpractice

Signed a consent form medical malpractice issues often surface after a surgical procedure results in serious injury or loss of life. 

Families are frequently told that the outcome was an accepted risk, leaving them unsure whether legal action is even possible.

In personal injury and wrongful death cases, however, the presence of a consent form does not end the legal inquiry.

From an injury law perspective, the critical question is not whether a patient signed
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