Archive for category: Uncategorized

CHICAGO, IL – Medical malpractice is a huge problem in the United States. Every July is recognized by The National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association (NMMAA) organizes and promotes National Medical Malpractice Awareness Month. The goal is the raise awareness around medical malpractice and to help end negligent acts of harm caused by medical negligence.

More than 250,000 lose their lives each year because of medical errors – nearly 10 percent of all annual deaths in the United States. More people die per year from medical errors than deaths cause by accidents, strokes, or Alzheimer’s according to John Hopkins School of Medicine.

The NMMAA believes the month of July provides support to the victims and their families who have lost loves ones due to medical negligence, as well as creating a great opportunity to educate the public on the seriousness of medical negligence and advocating for those who don’t have voice.

NMMAA: Advocating for Patients

The NMMAA is a non-partisan organization who’s goal is to promote changes that address the underlying causes of medical malpractice and is dedicated to ensuring those with less power are heard. The NMMAA is also committed to resolving the issue around unreported claims of medical negligence.

The NMMAA plans to address these problems through several initiatives and projects, including:

• The Medical Malpractice Right to Justice Project which aims to seek justice for those who have been stripped of their 7th amendment right to court after medical negligence, by bringing up old cases and showing inconsistencies in medical records and testimonies.
• Partnership with the Greater National Advocates: After being a victim of a serious medical error, it’s important for victims to work with medical professionals they trust. The NMMAA partners with Greater National Advocates and offers online access to their network of practitioners.
• Screening services: NMMAA works with lawyers and physicians around the country, and provides screening services and educational resources to those who are a victim of medical malpractice.

The Standard of Care

The medical “standard of care” is defined as the level and type of care that any reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have provided under the circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice.

How to Identify Medical Errors

When a healthcare provider violates the “standard of care,” they become liable for serious injuries which may include:

• Medication and anesthesia errors
• Failure to diagnose and misdiagnosis
• Surgical malpractice (i.e. contaminated tools, wrong-site surgeries)
• Laboratory and medical test failures
• Abuse and neglect of patients
• Premature discharge
• Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs)
• Preventable birth injuries
• Emergency room errors

If you suspect that medical malpractice may have played a role in your injuries, our legal team at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd is available and ready to hear your story to help determine if you have a medical malpractice claim. For more information on how we can help you with your claim, call our office now for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for more information.

CHICAGO, IL – A major issue with sexual abuse claims is the statute of limitations, or the legal amount of time you’re allowed to file a lawsuit. In many states, it prevents victims from coming forward unless they do within the time limit set by the state. Many victims of sexual abuse are unable to talk about abuse. Furthermore, they may not remember the abuse until the repressed memories play out in different aspects of life.

The statute of limitations on sexual abuse lawsuits creates a situation that is unfair and harsh to those who have already endured enough. Many states are now changing their laws to allow victims much more time to file sexual abuse lawsuits.

How Illinois has Addressed Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

In January 2020, prosecutors in Illinois no longer faced a time limit on bringing charges for major sex offenses, regardless of the alleged victim’s age.

The new law removed the statute of limitations on criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Previously, prosecutors had 10 years to bring charges if an offense was reported to law enforcement within three years after occurring.

For a state-by-state guide on the statute of limitations for sexual abuse lawsuits, please click here.

Other States Addressing Statute of Limitations Issues

By the end of 2019, there were 15 states that took some form of action towards victim advocacy and getting them a greater right to sue their offenders.

Victims of sexual assault can sue their abuser, but also the organization that employed or gave the means to the abuser to commit their crime. For example, if a victim happened to be at a bar and was sexually assaulted in a back alley, the victim could hold the establishment accountable.

Financial Impact on Organizations

For many organizations, changes in the law mean that they can face a grave financial crisis from the potential of liability. For example, the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church have a long history of sexual abuse. The new law means that they can be held liable for abuse that happened decades ago. Many organizations have been forced to declare bankruptcy in order to manage some of their liability while continuing to operate.

Reporting Sexual Abuse in Illinois

Any victim of sexual abuse should report this to local authorities, a healthcare provider, trusted social worker, or someone in authority. By law, they are required to act on claims of sexual abuse. Contact the experienced sexual abuse lawyers at Dinizulu Law Group today for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920.

CHICAGO, IL – After you’ve been injured in a fallen accident, there are important steps you need to take to seek recovery. Unfortunately, the mere fact you fell and injured yourself is not enough to win a case like this. You will need to prove someone’s negligence resulted in your injuries.

Types of Cases that Cause Risk of Slip

If you’re a customer shopping at a local grocery store on the weekend, the stores potential for liability begins the moment you pull your car into their parking lot. A few ways a business can be held liable include:

• You trip on an uneven surface on the sidewalk in front of the store.
• You slip on the wet floor that was recently mopped.
• There is something obstructing an aisle at the store that causes you to trip.

Private Property Owners Duty of Care

Even if you are on someone’s private property, they have a duty of care owed to you to keep their property in reasonable condition. Once the homeowner invites you onto their property, they are liable for any type of accident where they were negligent. They owe you the duty of keeping their property free of hazards.

Proving Landowner or Business Owners is Responsible for Your Injury

Just because you’ve been injured on someone else’s property doesn’t mean their automatically liable for your injuries. In order to qualify for any insurance or settlement money, you must prove that the other party was negligent in some ways. You must prove the following four things in a premise liability case:

1. The defendant owed the injured party the duty of care.
2. The defendant breached their duty of care by not acting reasonably as any property owner would in addressing hazardous conditions.
3. The plaintiff suffered some type of injury.
4. The defendant’s actions were the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.

Considerations for Your Fall Claim

There are considerations that will be made while determining your slip-and-fall case. For example, if the plaintiff slipped on ice right when it started snowing, this would be taken into consideration. It may not be unreasonable because the dangerous conditions only lasted a very short period of time.

Common Injuries from Fall Incidents

Many fall accident injuries can be severe and require a trip to the emergency room and hefty medical costs. Some injuries you may suffer from falling include:

• Broken bones
• Hip fracture
• Spinal cord injury
• Brain injury

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Illinois

If you think you have a personal injury case, the most important thing to do is preserve the scene and take as many pictures or videos as you can. We understand it can be difficult to do this, but try your best to document the scene as best as you can. If there are any witnesses, find the best way to get their contact information to discuss what they saw.

It’s important to contact a personal injury attorney in Illinois to prove you have been injured due to the negligence of the owner of a property. The personal injury attorneys of Dinizulu Law Group have the experience and resources to prove the property owners negligence resulted in your injuries. Call our office for a free consultation today at (312) 384-1920.

CHICAGO, IL – When placing your loved one in a nursing home, you must take a lot of information into consideration such as costs or specialized care. Nursing homes also have a long history of negligence claims against them across the nation. It’s important when choosing long-term care for your loved one that you pick the option that best suits their needs.

Finding a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for your loved one can be challenging, especially with the times we’re currently facing. There are many options, in addition to nursing homes, that may be better suited for your loved ones needs.

Assisted Living Facility

While nursing homes and assisted living facilities have similar features, they are not the same thing.

Assisted living facilities typically take much healthier, independent seniors who need assistance with general tasks of everyday life. On the other hand, nursing homes take care of individuals who are critical ill or need around-the-clock nursing care.

Assisted living facilities are a great option for independent, outgoing seniors who enjoy being part of a community. Most assisted living facilities have their own apartment or suites and can join others for dinner and group activities as they wish.

Depending on the size of the facility, most tend to house between 20 to upwards of 100 individuals.

The cost of assisted living care varies, although Illinois’ monthly average pans out to $4,170. Illinois monthly average is slightly smaller than the national average of $4,300 per month.

You can view Illinois’ assisted living/shared housing licensed directory here.

Home Care

Home care is among the most preferred option of aging adults; however, it’s not always the most affordable. On the other hand, it’s a great option for families who need specialized care for their loved one.

In-home care can be used for an array of services including transportation to and from medical appointments, help with hygiene, medication administration, and eating.

With home care, you’re able to choose services based on what the home care provider offers. If your loved one has a higher level of independence, this is a great option since they will still be provided the care they need, but not need to be monitored full-time as they would in a long-term setting.

The average cost of home care in the United States is roughly $4,290/per month. Illinois average cost of home care is more than the national average costing $4,481 per month. You may be able to get assistance for home care with Medicaid HCBS or Medicare PACE programs.

Adult Foster Care

Adult foster care programs are similar to boarding homes that offer specialized care options for residents. These homes typically house 1-5 other residents.

If you’re loved one is more introverted and enjoys a quieter space with a home-feel, this would be a great option. They will enjoy shared meals and common spaces, as well as activities together.

Adult foster care typically costs more than nursing homes or assisted living facilities. On average, families pay between $2,000-$4,000 a month. Medicaid may be able to help assist with costs.

Adult Day Care

Adult day care is another great option for caregivers who need a break every once in while. In addition, is a great option for seniors who will enjoy a stimulating environment that offers health services.

Using a pre-determined schedule or simply using adult day care when you need it makes this a great option for almost every family. The average cost of adult day care is $72 per day.

Medicare Programs

Medicare offers a few programs for long-term care alternatives to nursing home facilities.

Medicare PACE, or “Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly,” offers a combination of services to families considering alternatives to nursing homes.

Other home-based alternative care options include hospice, subsidized senior housing, Medicaid Home and Community Based Services.

The program cost varies depending on the program you choose. To view the full list of Medicare programs for long-term care, please click here.

Reasons to find Alternative Care

Research and studies have proven the negligent horror stories we’ve all heard within nursing home facilities. There is always a risk of abuse or neglect at these facilities where staff are overworked and understaffed which puts residents at a much higher risk of being a victim of abuse or neglect.

Nursing home can also be very expensive care options. The average cost of a private nursing home room is $8,000 per month. Most families cannot afford that type of care on top of their own expenses such as a rent or mortgage, food, etc.

Nursing home also don’t provide specialized care towards residents, such as treating residents that suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s. Caring for someone who suffers from one of these diseases requires 24 hour care that staff cannot provide.

CHICAGO, IL – If you’ve been in a car accident, you know how overwhelming it can be, especially if you were injured. Being stuck with medical bills, physical pain, and physical damage to your car can be unthinkable. Many people struggle to understanding what separates a small settlement from a large figure case.

Early Medical Treatment After a Car Accident

The best way to preserve your rights and ensure you’re not stuck with expensive medical bills is to seek medical treatment right way after an accident. While it may seem counterintuitive to incur medical bills while you’re to preserve your rights, insurance companies always try to find a way to argue that you weren’t actually hurt. Even if you sustained a minor injury, it’s important to seek medical treatment to have it documented.

Medical Records and Evidence

When seeking medical treatment, the more your physician documents, the better. If your case makes it to trial, it’s important for the jury to clearly understand that your injuries were sustained from the crash and how it’s impacted your life.

Disputed Liability

Some cases can be cut-and-dry. However, there are some that are far more complicated. For example, if a drunk driver doesn’t stop in time and rear-ends the back of your vehicle, this would likely be an uncontested case because it’s clear who’s at fault.

However, there could be different components that factor into your case. For example, suppose someone rear-ended you, but the driver who hit you claims you stopped short. Therefore, when a liability dispute is involved, it can reduce the value of your case. It’s best to tackle seeking medical treatment and taking statements early on to reduce the likelihood of a liability dispute.

Comparative Fault

Illinois follows a “comparative fault” rule when both parties are found to share blame for a car accident. However, the court will reduce your reward by the amount of fault you share, which is known as “pure comparative negligence.”

Your Own Credibility

While your criminal history, drug use, and other negative factors are irrelevant to the car crash, they still effect your credibility. Insurance companies have clever ways to diminish your value to a jury. The more believable and credible you are to your own injuries and the accident, the better.

Your Personal Injury

Your injuries are the most important factor in a personal injury claim. If a case doesn’t settle, a jury will need to understand the severity of your injuries and what they are ultimately worth. Your injuries are heavily considered when determining the value of a case since insurance companies are aware of injures and what they typically award.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Chicago, Illinois

An experienced personal injury attorney can alleviate some of the burden and stress off you while you recover from your accident. The personal injury attorneys of Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. have the resources and skills necessary to hold those accountable. Call our office today for a free, no obligation consultation at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for additional information.