Since 1982, Merkel & Cocke, P.A. has offered thorough, aggressive legal representation on behalf of clients throughout Mississippi. As one of the largest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firms in the state, we consider it our duty and our honor to serve the people of our communities, and to uphold their rights in court. Our reputation is such that other law firms turn to us when they need legal counsel, and our business has grown through the years because of the referrals of these attorneys, who trust us with their needs and the needs of their clients. We are the firm you can trust when there are challenges ahead. To schedule a free consultation, please complete our contact form.
Posts by Merkel & Cocke, P.A.
Medical Malpractice and Never Events
According to a 2016 New York Daily News story, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has tripled the number of legal settlements it’s made since 2011 due to medical error and faulty construction projects. Yearly payments of $338 million were made by the VA in 2015 alone. Medical providers who fail to follow standard medical…
Read MoreLogging Truck and Strawberry Truck Collide in Marshall County
A recent WREG news story reported that the two trucks collided at the intersection of Cayce Road and Highway 302. The accident happened around 8:45 in the morning. The victim, Brooks Brownlee, was driving the strawberry truck. Brownlee Farms said it would be closing its farm in nearby Red Banks. Mr. Brownlee was a beloved…
Read MoreWhy Do You Need a Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
Hardworking people affected by life-changing injuries and illnesses, which can lead to partial, total, temporary, or permanent disabilities, can receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, they should not handle their cases alone. Instead, they should have workers’ compensation attorneys assist them. But why? The truth is, filing a claim for benefits can be a challenge –…
Read MoreInnovative Care for Serious, Life-Threatening Burn Injuries
When a person has sustained a severe burn injury whether in a house fire, in a motor vehicle crash, or because of an industrial accident, they often require specialized care for their wounds. Throughout the United States, the health care system has developed a series of regional burn centers that can provide that care. Patients…
Read MoreHospitals are Not the Only Place You May Contract Sepsis
Many people consider hospitals and major medical centers breeding grounds for infections; a place where superbugs flourish just waiting to claim their victims. In particular, medical treatment requiring invasive surgery can enhance the risk of infection to patients. On the other hand, our homes and workplaces are generally supposed to be free from this type…
Read MoreCar Accidents Still the Leading Cause of Injury in Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department of Health tells us that the mortality rate in MS was 82 out of 10,000 – higher than the national average of 62 out of 10,000 – based on data accessed in 2014. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent data, however, doesn’t paint a much rosier picture. We…
Read MoreWhat Are Workers’ Compensation Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits?
Eligible workers who are injured on the job may receive workers’ compensation benefits during the time they cannot work. The employer’s insurance company also pays their medical bills – hospitals, doctors, therapists, medications, and other medical costs. Mississippi workers are eligible for these payments, without the need to prove fault, if their injuries are due…
Read MoreWhat Are the Requirements for Bringing a Medical Malpractice Claim against the Veterans Administration?
Our military personnel have the right to expect that the medical treatment they receive will be just as competent as the care civilians receive in private hospitals. When the VA hospitals, doctors, and medical staff make mistakes that cost veterans their lives or cause physical harm, the victims have the right to file medical malpractice…
Read MoreMississippi Leads the Country in Distracted Driving Collisions
Distracted driving is dangerous; we all know this. There are billboards and radio ads warning against it. There is research and data that supports it. We have written about the dangers ourselves, and represented clients who have sustained horrific injuries as a result of it. Yet every day, people are dying as a result of…
Read MoreMedical Malpractice Claims for Hospital Infections
Hospitals are supposed to be safe, but sometimes they pose dangers of their own. The possibility that a hospital patient may die due to an infection he or she developed at a medical facility is well known. These types of infections are called healthcare-associated infections (sometimes hospital-acquired infections). Hospitals should be prepared to: Identify the…
Read More