Whenever people operate vehicles, machines, or appliances that burn fuel in an enclosed space or with improper ventilation, it may create a hidden danger: carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (“CO”) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, while more than 20,000 Americans visit the emergency room, with more than 4,000 hospitalized.

CO is found in fumes when you burn fuels like charcoal, coal, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, oil, propane, or wood. Thus, CO is produced when people use cars, trucks, small engines, portable generators, camp stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, space heaters, and furnaces that burn these fuels. CO can build up, and when people or animals breathe it, it displaces the oxygen in their blood, leading to poisoning. The most common symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. These symptoms may be subtle and may seem “flu-like.” And since people cannot detect CO with their senses, victims are often unaware of the cause of their illness. But breathing a lot of CO can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die without realizing they are experiencing symptoms. Exposure can also cause long-term damage to the brain and respiratory system, as well as miscarriage. If you suspect that you or someone else is suffering from CO poisoning, get to fresh air and seek immediate medical attention.

Injuries and deaths from CO poisoning may be caused by a defective product that releases dangerous levels of CO. CO poisoning may also result from someone else’s failure to act reasonably or under the circumstances or in disregard of known hazards. For example, a landlord, hotel operator, or other business or premises owner may fail to properly maintain a furnace or the venting ductwork on their property, thereby allowing CO to seep into areas where people live, sleep, or work. They may also fail to install or maintain CO detectors mandated by regulation or that are otherwise reasonably required. Likewise, companies installing, repairing, or maintaining furnaces or working on boats, RVs, and other vehicles may create or fail to detect leaks in exhaust and venting systems.

In these kinds of circumstances, the law allows victims and their families to seek damages as just compensation and to punish the wrongdoer. Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law has solid experience representing victims of CO poisoning and has obtained substantial recoveries on their behalf. If you or someone you know has suffered a severe injury or death from CO poisoning, contact our office for a free consultation and assessment of your case. You can do so by phone, email, letter, or in person.However, there are laws establishing how soon a victim of wrongdoing must file suit in court after suffering harm. Thus, delay can dramatically affect whether a lawsuit can be filed. All discussions with our lawyers and staff remain strictly confidential — even if you do not hire us to handle your case. Call us for a free consultation at (205) 328-5050, or toll-free at (888) 906-3955, or fill out a contact form today.

On May 22, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (“SBC”) released a 288-page report by Guidepost Solutions, detailing the results of its independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse within SBC-affiliated churches.

In the report, Guidepost described how the SBC Executive Committee stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over the last two decades. The report further detailed how two former SBC staff members maintained a secret list of reports accusing Baptist ministers of sexual abuse, with no indication that any action was taken to ensure that those ministers were not in positions of power at SBC churches. On May 27, 2022, the Executive Committee published an additional, 205-page list containing more than 700 entries from sex abuse cases that largely span from 2000 to 2019. At least 35 of those entries identify accused sexual abusers with ties to Alabama.

These recent publications have revealed that there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of instances of alleged sexual assault and abuse by clergy and other personnel working for churches affiliated with the SBC, including churches in Alabama. The SBC is the largest protestant denomination in the United States, with approximately 14 million members nationwide. It is also the largest denomination of any kind in Alabama, with almost one million of Alabama’s 4.8 million people have belonged to one of the approximately 3,200 churches within the state affiliated with the SBC in 2015.

Now is the time for victims to come forward to seek justice for the sexual abuse they have suffered. Much of that abuse likely could have been prevented if the SBC Executive Committee had acted on reports and complaints made to them and local SBC-affiliated churches had exhibited greater awareness and diligence to protect their membership. The most important thing to know is that, in order to pursue a claim, you need to act quickly. Coming forward is a difficult decision to make, but the delay can dramatically affect whether a lawsuit can be filed. There are laws establishing how soon a victim of wrongdoing must file suit in court after suffering an injury, although such time limits may be extended in certain circumstances, including when the victim has suffered sexual abuse or other injuries when they were still a minor.It takes courage for survivors to come forward, and, as with all of our cases, Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law are here for our clients every step. If you want to reach out for a free consultation of your case, you decide the way you want to communicate, whether in person, by phone, or by letter. You may also remain anonymous while we discuss your case. Everything you say to our attorneys and staff is privileged under the law. All discussions remain strictly confidential — even if you do not hire us to handle your case. Call us for a free consultation at (205) 328-5050, or toll-free at (888) 906-3955, or fill out a contact form today.

POSTED BY GLENDA COCHRAN ASSOCIATES ATTORNEYS AT LAW || 8-AUG-2022

On Friday morning, July 29th, a large oil tank exploded at an oil well storage facility in Flora, Mississippi, in Madison County. According to media reports, the property is owned by W.S. Red Hancock Inc., and workers were doing maintenance when the tank exploded, “creating a firebomb.” Six workers were caught in the explosion, suffering severe burns and injuries. Two were airlifted from the scene, while the others were taken to the hospital by ambulance. It is unclear at this time what caused the accident, but state and federal authorities are investigating.

CAN I SUE FOR DAMAGES IF I’VE RECEIVED A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PAYOUT?

In these kinds of explosion incidents, workers and bystanders can be killed or suffer severe burns and injuries that forever alter their lives and those of their loved ones. When a worker dies or is injured at work, the employer is liable under state workers’ compensation laws to pay the worker’s medical bills and certain other compensation, regardless of who was at fault. However, while workers’ compensation provides a virtually assured remedy, it is limited. For example, workers’ compensation does not include damages for pain, suffering, or lost enjoyment of life. It also doesn’t allow damages to punish and deter wrongful conduct. Injured workers are permitted to sue for broader, compensatory, and punitive damages from parties other than the employer. Third-party claims cover the wrongful conduct of other parties who could be the sole or contributing cause of an explosion or other workplace accident. For example, the injured employee may seek to recover damages against the owner of the premises where the employee was sent to work, the manufacturer of a defective product, or a contractor that improperly installed, maintained, or used equipment involved in the explosion.

CALL GLENDA COCHRAN ASSOCIATES FOR THIRD-PARTY LAWSUITS

In these “third-party” lawsuits, determining the precise cause of the explosion and the parties at fault are critical, complex matters that the injured employee is required to prove. Navigating these issues to get the full recovery to which a worker may be entitled takes experienced attorneys who have previously handled these kinds of explosion cases. Glenda Cochran Associates has done so many times, including cases involving pipelines, storage tanks, valves, gasoline, oil, natural gas, and propane.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an explosion accident, contact Glenda Cochran Associates today for a free consultation.

Alabama State Bar, Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.2 (e), requires the following language in all attorney communications: No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.