Blog | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

Inadequate Maintenance of Trucks Can Lead to More Truck Accidents

November 19, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Truck drivers and trucking companies often skip required inspections and maintenance to save time and money. While trucking companies may generate more revenue by delivering loads in a quicker, more efficient manner, it puts the lives of many innocent individuals at-risk.

Truck crash investigations have routinely shown problems with truck maintenance, such as:

Brake failure
Broken taillights
Defective air brakes
Defective couplings
Tire blowouts
Failure to install blind spot mirrors
Lake of reflective tape
And more

If trucking companies and truck drivers routinely ensured that tractor trailers were maintained and inspected, the above listed problems would be easily discoverable. If you have recently been injured due to the negligence of a truck driver, contact the truck accident attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group who will represent your injury claim and investigate if truck maintenance was performed under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) laws.

A study performed by FMCSA found that 27 percent of trailer trucks had brake safety issues and 3 percent experienced tire problems.

FMCSA Truck Maintenance Regulations

The FMCSA has comprehensive regulations for trucks in terms of inspection, repair, and maintenance that all drivers must abide by, such as:

“Every motor carrier shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles subject to its control.”
Parts and accessories must be in a safe, proper condition at all times.
Pushout windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights must be inspected every 90 days, at minimum.
Refrain from operating any large rig if it’s in a state that’s likely to cause an accident or breakdown; if so, you must mark the trailer with an “out of service” sticker.
Drivers must perform a “pre-trip” inspection to ensure its safe condition and the load is secure.
Review the last truck inspection report and sign off verifying any necessary repairs were completed.
Complete an inspection of the truck and prepare a written report that documents any defect or deficiency.

Contact the Dinizulu Law Group Today

The truck accident attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group are experienced and knowledgeable about trucking laws and accidents and investigate all of our cases thoroughly to determine what caused the accident. Call our office now at (312) 384-1920 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and begin the process of getting the compensation you deserve.

What to do If You Were Injured in an Uber Accident in Illinois

November 2, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Rideshare apps have grown exponentially over the past few years. Many riders use Uber or Lyft as their primary means of transportation. According to a report released by Forbes, in 2019 alone, there were more than 6.9 billion rides. Passengers that were injured in a rideshare accident, such as Uber or Lyft, are entitled to compensation for their injuries. The responsibility for any injuries or property damage is assigned to the at-fault driver who caused the accident.

Taking a Look at Uber’s Liability Coverage

Rideshare services have led to a 3% increase in overall car accident fatalities. Uber vehicles were involved in 97 fatal crashes between 2017 and 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A study by NHTSA findings reveal some disturbing statistics:

Nearly 1,000 daily car accident deaths are due to the increasing number of rideshare vehicles on the road.
Uber vehicles were involved in 97 fatal crashes between 2017 and 2018.
Those crashes led to 107 deaths.
21% of those crash victims were riders.
21% of those crash victims were drivers.
The remaining 58% of crash victims were third-party drivers or passengers.

Unlike taxi cabs, ride-share vehicles are not considered common carriers under the law, so they are not held to the same safety standards and financial liabilities.

State laws regulate ride-sharing services and may vary in different states. Depending on which state you live in, the law will look at state ride-share regulations, as well as who was at-fault for the accident. View Illinois Ridesharing Arrangements Act here.

Insurance Has an Impact on Injury Cases

Insurance plays a significant role in personal injury claims. If the Uber driver is at-fault, the passenger can file a personal injury claim for up to $1 million against Uber’s Liability Coverage. If another driver is at-fault, injury victims must rely on the driver’s bodily injury liability coverage with his/her own personal auto insurance provider. If the driver at-fault was uninsured or underinsured, injury victims may be able to file a claim against Uber’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. THis coverage may also apply if the accident was a hit and run.

Uber drivers are covered under four major insurance companies in the United States: Allstate, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive; however, this insurance will only pay out for injured when the Uber driver is logged into the Uber app at the time of the accident. This shows that the driver is fully on-duty and en route to pick up a passenger or delivering a passenger to designated location.

If the driver is logged into the app, bodily injury typically covers $100,000 per accident, $50,000 in bodily injury per person, and $25,000 in property damage per accident. If an Uber driver is en route to pick up a passenger or providing a trip, auto insurance limits are much higher. Specifically, they are: $1,000,000 third-party liability, $250,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury, and contingent comprehensive and collision to actual cash value of the car).

If the driver is not logged into the app, Uber will not assume liability for injuries and any accident claims filed against the company’s insurance policy will likely be denied. To collect compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, an Uber accident attorney can file a personal injury claim on your behalf to recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Filing a Claim: Drivers and Passengers

Since passengers are rarely at-fault for an accident, they are more likely to have a better chance of recovering compensation versus an Uber driver. Uber drivers may also be found partially at-fault for an accident, even if they were hit by another driver. Partial liability may be assigned to the Uber driver if the following conditions can be proven:

Distracted driving
Reckless driving
Speeding
Running a red light or stop sign
Disobeying traffic laws
Alcohol and/or drugs

Finding an Uber Accident Attorney in Illinois

If you were injured in a rideshare accident, the Uber accident attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group are here to help you navigate the aftermath of filing a personal injury claim. To learn about what legal action you can take to seek compensation for your injuries, call our office at (312) 384-1920 for a free consultation today.

Bicycle Hit and Run Accidents: What To Do

October 24, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Bicycle hit and run accidents often result in catastrophic injuries for the bicyclists involved. It can be challenging to recover compensation for this type of crash for the bicyclists injuries, property damages, among other losses.

More than 2,300 bicyclists were injured as a result of vehicle crashes in Illinois alone, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Unfortunately, 12 bicyclists fatally lost their lives due to the crash.

If you were involved in a bicycle hit and run crash, here are the steps that you should take:

Call 911 immediately
If you were involved in a hit and run bicycle accident, you need to call 911 immediately to report the incident. Relay as much information as you can about the driver including their physical description, a description of the vehicle, and the direction that the vehicle fled.
Do not pursue the driver
Under no circumstances should you pursue a hit and run driver, as this places you and others in more danger. People typically flee the scene when they are intoxicated or have a reason to run from law enforcement. Do not get involved with this.
Seek medical care
It’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if your injuries don’t seem severe, many signs and symptoms of bicycle accident injures don’t appear for days or hours later. It’s important to immediately seek medical care to establish a timeline of events.
Gather evidence
If possible, take photos of the scene of the accident of anything that seems relevant. This may include injuries, the damaged bicycle, debris lying around the scene, traffic and weather conditions, and more. If there were any witnesses to the crash, get their names and contact information before they leave the scene.
Examine your insurance documents
It’s important to take a look at your own auto insurance policy to examine the coverage you have. If you carry uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to receive compensation for your losses. Some insurance carriers offer a variety of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that can be used to cover medical bills in this type of situation.
Contact a personal injury attorney
You should contact an experienced Chicago bicycle accident and personal injury lawyer as soon as you’re able to. Our skilled attorneys will handle every aspect of your case, including investigation what happened, communicating with law enforcement officials investigating the crash, and handling insurance carriers.

Illinois Nursing Homes Residents Suffer from Facilities Understaffing Issues

October 17, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – An atmosphere of chronic understaffing doesn’t support nursing home residents safety – an issue that remains prominent throughout the United States. Illinois has struggled to provide clinical and support staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, making basic care of residents extremely challenging.

Understaffing in nursing homes across the nation is nothing new – especially in Illinois. A report by AARP in 2018 shows Illinois ranked as the worst state in the country for direct care hours. Illinois law requires, “minimum staffing ratios to be 3.8 hours of nursing and person care each day for a resident needing skilled care and 2.5 hours of nursing and personal care each day for a resident needing intermediate care,” (Section 300.1230).

There are some indicators you can look for that will tell you if a nursing home has serious staffing issues. For example, if call light are frequently unanswered, this is a red flag that there’s understaffing in the facility.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) cited and fined Aperion Care of Mascoutah for repeatedly not answering residents call lights. The administrator admitted he was aware that there was an issue with call lights not being answered timely. One resident admitted to using a bedpan when having to go to the bathroom because call lights go unanswered anywhere from 30 minutes up to an hour.

In December 2020, Illinois nursing homes were significantly understaffed in 165 facilities and affecting the care of more than 11,700 residents. Chicago nursing homes suffered a 19 percent shortage of nurses by December, and an additional 19 percent of aides.

Inadequate Staffing Levels Correlate to Low Quality Care

Without adequate staff and enough skilled nurses and aides, it’s nearly impossible to deliver the quality of care implemented by state and national laws. Understaffed nursing homes have increased reports of:

Bed sores/pressure ulcers
Falls and other fall-related injures
Dehydration
Malnutrition
Infections/spread of diseases

Look out for these signs if you or a loved one is a nursing home. Unfortunately, sexual abuse and physical abuse are also prone to increased instances due to the lack of oversight. It may mean that they are in danger and are vulnerable to speak up. It’s important to document any incidents, inform the administrator and/or call the police, and contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney.

Contact the Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at the Dinizulu Law Group

The skilled attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group understand how nursing homes can provide poor quality of care to residents and we are hear to fight for you and help you throughout the duration of the legal process. To learn about your legal options, call our office now at (312) 384-1920.

Personal Injury or Workers’ Comp: Which Type of Claim You Should File?

September 26, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – If you were injured in a work-related accident and it was due to another’s negligence, you may seek to recover damages through a personal injury claim or a workers’ compensation claim. The stakes are high when filing a personal injury claim in civil court since you must prove the negligent party was at-fault; however, compensation can be significantly more than what can be recovered through a workers’ compensation claim.

Types of Injury Claims in Illinois: Personal Injury vs. Workers’ Compensation

Illinois workers who are hurt on-the-job are entitled to recover damages through workers’ compensation insurance which is provided by their employer. Illinois workers are able to receive workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at-fault, but they may not collect benefits for pain and suffering.

If a third-party was involved and negligently caused your injuries, it’s best to consult with an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Both claims are based on different factors, but the biggest and most important difference is that personal injury claims are based on fault, while a workers’ compensation claim does not.

Collecting Damages

Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury claims can cover work-related injuries and accidents, as well as various types of injuries and trauma caused by car accidents, slip and fall accidents, sport-related injures, and more. A skilled personal injury lawyer will successfully secure compensation for medical expenses and future medical expenses, lost wages and future lost wages, pain and suffering, mental suffering and emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.

This is typically paid in one lump sum or settlement arrangements may be made.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

Workers’ compensation claims in Illinois can cover work-related injuries and illnesses, defined by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Workers compensation is a system of benefits that may pay for the medical cost of job-related injuries and diseases and starts from the moment a job begins.

How the Dinizulu Law Group Can Help You

If you or someone you love has been injured in a work-related accident that was due to another’s negligence, contact us now to discuss your legal rights and options. Our skilled attorneys understand this can be a stressful time and truly understand the importance of your case. To learn more about your options, please call us for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for more information.

What to do If You Were Injured as a Passenger in a Car Accident in Illinois

September 7, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – When a passenger is injured in a car accident, they have the legal right to pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim. If the plaintiff can accurately determine the negligent party was at-fault and prove their injuries were a result of the accident, these types of lawsuits can be successful. However, each case is different, and there may be complications. For example, there may be a complication if the passenger is related to the liable party.

Before you file a personal injury claim, it’s important to seek legal counsel from an experienced lawyer. At the Dinizulu Law Group, our attorneys in Illinois will review your case and thoroughly explain your legal options while we help you file a personal injury claim.

How Passenger Auto Accident Claims Work

Car accident injuries often lead to medical care that can sometimes be intensive. Victims will be left with expensive medical bills and may suffer other injury-related financial losses. Unfortunately, sometimes victims jobs are impacted because they can no longer perform their regular duties.

If you’ve been injured as a result of a car crash in Illinois, you’re able to file a claim against the liable driver’s insurance policy to recover your losses; however, under certain circumstances, an insurance company may not be able to provide financial damages if you are related to the negligent driver.

Liability coverage in Illinois provides for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

It’s important to hire a skilled personal injury attorney who can look at the further details of your case and determine if you will need to file a third-party insurance claim or other claims to recover damages that your injury warrants.

What If I Don’t Have the Funds to Pay for Immediate Medical Care?

Each driver carries a car insurance policy that contains coverage to pay for medical bills for those injured in an accident. However, if you have been in a car accident before, you know these claims can take some time to process and insurance companies may even make it difficult for you to get the funds you need.

If you need to pay for immediate medical care, you can use your health insurance policy to cover your medical treatment. Depending on the terms of the applicable auto insurance policy, you could possible make a medical payment claim. By speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer, they can review what insurance coverage may be available to cover your medical costs.

Do not delay treatment in medical care after being injured in a car accident. Immediately seek out medical care if you need it. By delaying treatment, you may face challenges connecting your injury to the accident which can negatively impact your personal injury claim.

What Can I Recover in a Passenger Injury Claim in Illinois?

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you pursue the following damages and expenses connected to your car accident case:

All past and future medical costs and expenses
Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Loss of affection and companionship
Costs for other services
Disability or loss of normal life
Disfigurement

It’s important to note that each personal injury case is different. By consulting with one of our skilled personal injury lawyers, we can help you understand exactly how we can help you recover fair compensation.

How the Dinizulu Law Group Can Help You!

Individuals who have been injured in a car accident that have legal representation generally receive a much higher payout versus those who do not. The skilled attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group have experience understanding what is fair compensation in a passenger injury claim.

Our attorneys will help you understand your legal options before making a passenger injure claim. Insurance companies will often offer quick settlements before you can fully understand your legal options to settle outside of court. At the end of the day, insurance companies are a business, too, and their adjusters are trying to save their company money – even if it means skimping policyholders and injured parties.

The attorneys at the Dinizulu Law group offer a free consultation where we will assess your short-term and long-term needs and assure to be by your side throughout the entire legal process. We ensure that we will take all of the necessary steps to locate a favorable outcome for you.

To learn more, contact our law firm now for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920.

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Filing an Insurance Claim

August 29, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Filing an insurance claim isn’t as open-and-shut as it may seem. Insurance companies have the upper hand in these types of situations, so it’s important you work with an experienced attorney so you can avoid making mistakes and protect your claim.

Filing an insurance claim doesn’t guarantee compensation for your injuries or losses. Many times, plaintiffs who file a claim have to fight to have their claim approved and even receive the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies want to make a profit, and by paying each claimant the full amount, they wouldn’t be able to make a profit. Knowing this, they wait for claimants to make a mistake, so they don’t have to pay full compensation, or any at all.

There are a few things you can do to significantly reduce your chances of being taken advantage of or mistreated. An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can help you avoid these mistakes.

Giving a Recorded Statement

After you file your personal injury claim, your case is assigned to an insurance adjuster. Within a few days, the insurance adjuster will call you. While they may seem happy and well-mannered, the bottom line is they still work for an insurance company which is working against you. They will ask you to give a recorded statement and may convince you that this is mandatory. It’s best to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can deal with them instead. You’re not required to provide one, but the insurance adjuster may try to trick you into one.

Signing Paperwork

Never sign any type of paperwork or documentation from the insurance company until you have reviewed this with a personal injury lawyer. You may think you know what you’re signing, but in reality, you may put your case in jeopardy. You could be:

Turning over your previous medical records
Signing away your rights to compensation
Agreeing to a low settlement

Not Consulting with an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

Insurance companies don’t want you to involve a lawyer and may even advise you that you don’t need one. This is because they know people who have been involved in personal injury accidents can be vulnerable and you will fall for their tactics to accept a low settlement. By not consulting with a personal injury attorney, you’re leaving the door open for insurance companies to take advantage of you. Even if you don’t think you need help, it’s always best to consult and get the opinion of legal counsel.

How the Dinizulu Law Group Can Help You

The skilled and well-versed personal injury lawyers of the Dinizulu Law Group know how frustrating and confusing it can be to deal with insurance companies. If you want to get the most out of your insurance claim, it’s essential to get legal advice and representation. To receive a no obligation, free consultation with the attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group, please call our office at (312) 384-1920.

Are Nursing Homes Liable for a Medication Error?

August 4, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Nursing homes have the responsibility to provide competent care to each resident, free of abuse and neglect. This includes staff members giving residents the correct medication and correct quantity at the right time. Failure to do so can worsen an individuals medical condition, and even avoid death. If you or your loved one has been a victim of a medication mistake a nursing home facility, you may be wondering what can be done about this – read on to learn more.

Elements of a Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit

Most medication errors fall under the category of “neglect.” Nursing home facilities are held to high standards when it comes to providing residents with proper and adequate medical care. Some residents arrive at nursing home facilities with pre-existing medical conditions that require them to be on medication. This may include medication to prevent blood clots, regulate blood pressure, or alleviate pain.

Nursing home neglect occurs when a nursing home fails to provide reasonable skilled medical care that can result in a patient’s injury or death.

Medication Errors That May Justify a Nursing Home Lawsuit

Some examples of medication errors that may lead to nursing home neglect lawsuit include:

Skipping medication doses
Mixing up residents’ medications
Over-administering medication, or giving too little
Not giving residents access to necessary medication
Incorrectly documenting medications
Failure to monitor a residents side effects or adverse reactions
Failing to account for resident allergies or drug interactions

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Medication mistakes can lead to new or existing medical concerns for nursing home residents. The resident may be left with painful side effects, or may need to seek immediate medical treatment. Unfortunately, medication mistakes are fatal. If you were a victim of medication error while in a nursing home, call the Dinizulu Law Group at 312-384-1920. Our team of experienced nursing home injury lawyers can help you pursue justice.

Product Recall: Cancer-Causing Sunscreens

July 27, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Johnson & Johnson announced on July 14, 2021 that it was recalling some of its aerosol sunscreen products after finding traces of benzene in them. Benzene is a known carcinogen that’s linked to blood cancers, like leukemia, depending on the length and level of exposure. If you used a sunscreen containing benzene and believe that your cancer may be related to it, the product liability attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group can help.

When consumers are harmed by a dangerous product, they have a right to pursue compensation from the negligent manufacturer or other defendant through a product liability case. Consumers can recover compensation for pain and suffering, loss of income, medical expenses, and other damages, if you have a skilled attorney.

Sunscreens That Have Been Recalled

The recall includes five Johnson and Johnson products, including Aveeno and Neutrogena. The sunscreens that have been recalled include:

Neutrogena® Beach Defense
Neutrogena® Cool Dry Sport
Neutrogena® Invisible Daily Defense
Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer
Aveno® Protect + Refresh

Why Were the Sunscreens Recalled?

Valisure, an independent lab and online pharmacy, filed a citizen petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after it allegedly found traces of benzene in various sunscreen products. Valisure tested several samples from various sunscreen products and found higher than acceptable concentration levels of benzene.

What is Benzene?

Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor and evaporates when it’s exposed to air, according to the American Cancer Society. Benzene is formed when manufacturing plastics, rubber, paint, and fossil fuel emissions.

Exposure to benzene can cause adverse health effects. According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, people who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours:

Drowsiness
Dizziness
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Headaches
Tremors
Confusion
Unconsciousness
Vomiting or irritation of the stomach
Death (at very high levels)

Benzene is associated with a range of acute and long-term adverse health effects, including cancer and anemia. Benzene is classified as “carcinogenic to humans,” according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, due to sufficient evidence showing that it causes acute myeloid leukemia and various other forms of leukemia.

Signs of leukemia may include:

Fever or chills
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Persistent fatigue or weakness
Frequent or severe infections
Easy bleeding or bruising
Tiny red skin spots
Swollen lymph nodes
Frequent nosebleeds

The Link Between Benzene and Cancer

Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans when they have been exposed to high-levels of benzene. The World Health Organization says that people who have experienced benzene poisoning show an increased risk of mortality from leukemia. Chronic exposure to benzene can reduce the production of red and white blood cells, B-cell proliferation, and T-cell proliferation.

Valisure reports that some of the sunscreen products that it tested contained levels of benzene that “significantly surpassed” 2 part per million . To put this into perspective, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends workers who are exposed to benzene to wear protective equipment at benzene concentrations of 0.1 part per million (ppm).

Do You Have a Claim for Compensation?

You may have a claim for compensation if you:

Have been diagnosed with blood cancer – You have a documented medical record that shows you have leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or other medical conditions associated with benzene exposure.
Can prove usage – You have unused bottles or receipts showing you purchased one of the affected products.
Have significant exposure – a one-time use of a product is likely not enough to establish benzene poisoning through the product. You must be able to show that you have used the product for several years. You may have medical records that support your long-term use of one of the recalled sunscreen products.
Are not a smoker – because smoking is associated with cancer, it is easier to establish something else caused the cancer if you are not a smoker.

How the Dinizulu Law Group Can Help

If you believe you were exposed to benzene through the use of sunscreen or another product that led to your cancer or leukemia, reach out to the attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group. Our diverse team and top litigators have the resources and skills to aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation at (312) 384-1920.

Illinois Increases Funding for Chicago Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

July 25, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Nursing home abuse and neglect are ever-present issue throughout the industry, but especially in Chicago and throughout Illinois, and the state government has made efforts to provide a variety of resources for victims and their families. One resource is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, which provides a variety of services to those living in a nursing home or similar facility. Governor J.B. Pritzker has recently announced an increase in funding for the Chicago region of the program. The goal is to ensure that it is adequately staffed to meet residents’ needs.

What Does the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Do?

The Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) is a resident-directed advocacy program that protects and improves the quality of life for residents in various long-term care settings. Ombudsmen work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about changes at the local, state, and national levels to improve overall care.

Regional branches of the program have been established throughout Illinois to support residents of different counties, and the services they provide are offered at no cost.

Some of the services the program offers include:

Information and education regarding the rights of nursing home residents
Information about facility options for those in need of long-term care
Support for nursing home residents to help them advocate their own needs and interests
Advocacy for the rights and well-being of nursing home residents at the state and national level

The LTCOP also investigates complaints from residents, family members, nursing home staff, and other parties regarding the possible instances of abuse and neglect. If an investigation is conducted, it can result in appropriate consequences for the facility and protection from future abuse and neglect for the resident.

The recent announcement of an increase in funding for the Chicago regional program will hopefully mean that more investigators will soon be available, and complaints can be addressed and resolved in a more timely manner.

Other Resources for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse

If you or a loved one is being abused or neglected in your long-term care facility, notifying your regional Ombudsman is just one of many ways you can get help. The Illinois Department of Public Health also operates a Nursing Home Complaint Hotline, that you can report abuse and neglect to at (800) 252-4343.

You can also work with a nursing home abuse attorney to better understand your legal rights and options for recovering compensation for economic and non-economic damages that you or your loved one has suffered.

How the Dinizulu Law Group Can Help You

There are people who can assist you in your struggles with nursing home abuse and neglect. At the Dinizulu Law Group, we represent those who want to hold a nursing home accountable for the harm they have caused, and help connect you with other resources that offer additional help. Contact our Cook County nursing home abuse lawyers for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920.