Dinizulu Law Group | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

Protect Loved Ones from Nursing Home Neglect

September 11, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

Recognize Dehydration

Dehydration is a serious, potentially fatal risk that is faced by elderly residents of nursing facilities. In a recent study, 31% of residents in nursing homes who were examined were found to be dehydrated. This can be caused by medications and certain conditions such as diabetes, but is also a result of changes in the body that occur as people age. Luckily the early stages of dehydration are easy to treat, and by being aware of the symptoms dangerous medical problems can be avoided.

Mild to Moderate Dehydration

The symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration tend to be fairly innocuous individually, so it is important to take note if you notice several of them occurring at once. Loved ones may seem sleepy or irritable, complain of headaches, dizziness or cramping in their arms and legs. More specific symptoms are a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth and dry skin. Most importantly, as a person becomes dehydrated, his or her need to urinate disappears as the body tries to conserve liquids. If someone cannot remember the last time he or she urinated, chances are it was too long ago and more fluids are required. When a person who is dehydrated does pass urine, it will be of a dark color – the darker the color typically the more dehydrated the person is.

Severe Dehydration

As a person becomes progressively more dehydrated, additional symptoms begin to appear. The mucous membranes dry out and the patient begins to develop sunken eyes. Skin will also begin to lose its elasticity. In the last stages the patient can develop low blood pressure, fever, and a rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties. Serious, potentially fatal complications can occur from long-term or severe dehydration, including heat exhaustion or heatstroke, cerebral edema (swelling of the brain), seizures, kidney failure and comas.

Severe dehydration is an emergency. It is potentially lethal and requires immediate medical attention, especially in elderly and pediatric patients. If you suspect that you or a loved one is showing symptoms of severe dehydration, contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

Illinois Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Attorneys

If you or your loved one has suffered from dehydration while in a nursing home, you or your loved one could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your expenses, injuries, and suffering. The experienced and compassionate attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. will work with you to determine the best way to handle your nursing home abuse or neglect claim. Email us or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW to set up a free consultation with one of our experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys in Chicago.

Client’s Moving Testimonial About Her Mom’s Death in a Nursing Home

September 4, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

Sylvia’s mom had died suddenly and she and her family didn’t know what to do. The nursing home caring for Sylvia’s mom wasn’t giving Sylvia’s family any answers. The doctors treating Sylvia’s mom in her final days said that her mom had the highest levels of dehydration. Sylvia’s family didn’t know who to believe or who to turn to for answers.

A trusted friend recommended Sylvia The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. for the help she and her family needed in the aftermath of this devastating incident. The nursing home abuse attorneys of the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. proved in the court of law that the nursing home acted negligently and they should be held accountable for the harm they have caused.

While no amount of compensation will bring Sylvia’s mom back, Sylvia and her family were happy with the recovery results. They felt they had finally gotten justice for their mom and were able to move past this incident that had haunted them for so long.

The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. guided Sylvia and her family through the lengthy course of their case. Sylvia and her family always felt informed about the progress of their case. From the nursing home abuse attorneys to the legal assistants, the DLG team took the time and care to explain to Sylvia and her family what would happen. Now Sylvia says the findings of the case have brought their family closer together and given them all a peace of mind.

Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. by email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW if you believe you or a loved one is a victim to nursing home abuse. No one should have to go through this alone. We offer the help and expertise you may need.

Who Has The Power To Enforce Laws?

August 14, 2017/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Civil rights law, Court System, Elder abuse, Medical malpractice, Medical negligence, nursing home neglect, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Uncategorized, Workplace Discrimination, Workplace Injury, Wrongful death action/by Yao Dinizulu

When the United States established our institution of government through the Constitution the jury system was enshrined in that document. The 6^th and 7^th amendment were later added to the Constitution and protected the right to juries in criminal and civil cases.

But still more was needed to enforce this cherished right. African-Americans under federal law were given the right to serve on juries in 1875, but in practice many were openly and routinely removed from juries based on race until a US Supreme Court case in 1986 declared that conduct was prohibited by the constitution. Watch the video to learn more.

As late as 1942, only 28 states had laws that allowed women to serve as jurors, but these states also gave them the right to claim exemption based on their sex. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 gave women the right to serve on federal juries, but not until 1973 could women serve on juries in all fifty states.

The right to serve on jury is something people fought for and died for because this right is so important to the fabric of our laws. The primary purposes of civil tort law in America and here in Illinois as described by the Illinois Supreme Court is when someone has been wrongly injured by the acts of another the law is to:

to compensate the victims;
to reduce future wrong acts; and
to encourage careful conduct in the future to protect all of our citizens.

The jury enforces these laws through their collective verdict. By serving on juries, you are able to voice your opinion and influence the collective verdict. If you do not show up, you are allowing someone else to decide how the laws should be enforced. Therefore, someone else will have the power to determine the type of community you will live in. So remember, the juries’ verdict is how you enforce the laws of your community. That is why it’s so important to serve.

If you have questions about trial or your own serious injury, contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 312-384-1920 or by email. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys are known for their expertise and tough litigation. Schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury trial lawyers practicing throughout Illinois.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney to Assist with My Nursing Home Lawsuit in Chicago?

August 11, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse/by Yao Dinizulu

If you think your aging loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you may be considering a lawsuit. Although you can file the claim on your own, having a seasoned nursing home abuse attorney by your side will make the process far less stressful, and your nursing home lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes that would harm your claim.

What Are Punitive Damages?

July 21, 2017/in Blog, Car accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

When it comes to personal injury lawsuit in Illinois, there are two typical types of damages that can be given in a verdict: compensatory damages and punitive damages. The main purpose of compensatory damages is to try and make a victim whole. It’s to fix what can fixed or make up for what could not be fixed. An injured victim may be facing debilitating injuries and disability. In addition to these significant physical and emotional injuries, they may have lost wages, medical bills, and much more. Such injuries and costs fall under compensatory damages.

However, punitive damages are different. Punitive damages are meant to stop a wrong doer from continuing to do wrong. If a person or a business shows through their own actions that they are devaluing the sanctity of life and limb, Illinois law has offered the community a remedy that can be used to stop this dangerous conduct before it harms us all.

The dangerous conduct may have only harmed one person superficially, but this damage is intended to stop the wrong conduct before it worsens. Punitive damages are meant to be a deterrent to the defendant and other similar wrongdoers for their reckless behavior. Unfortunately, many wrongdoers are encouraged to rectify their conduct only through a punitive monetary verdict. It’s these punitive damages that force them to take preventative measures before they harm more people in our community.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we understand that even one injury is too many. During trial, we often seek punitive damages so our communities are safer and our citizens are protected from the reckless behavior of others. With over 60 years of combined experience, our Chicago personal injury attorneys are known for their expertise and tough litigation. Contact us by email or call us at 312-384-1920 to schedule a consultation with one of our personal injury trial attorneys practicing law throughout Illinois.

Evictions from Nursing Homes Have Doubled in Illinois

July 17, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse/by Yao Dinizulu

There are several legitimate reasons for evicting or discharging a resident from a nursing home or long-term care facility. For example, administrators might discharge a resident who recovered from serious injuries and no longer needs specialized care.

What is a Day In The Life Video?

July 10, 2017/in Blog, Medical malpractice, Medical negligence, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

In personal injury lawsuits for severely injured victims, a Day-in-the-Life Video is shown to the jury during trial to offer a visual account of the injured victim’s day-to-day challenges. It captures footage from the moment the injured person wakes up to the time they go to bed. It crunches what an entire day is for an injured person to a 15-30 min time frame that can be shown in court.

The Day-in-the-Life Video may show how the injured person gets out of bed. Is he or she able to do it alone? Does an assisted living professional need to be present? Can the person go to the bathroom or shower self-sufficiently? From the Day-in-the-Life Video the jury will be able to see the full extent of the victim’s injuries. They will see the injured person’s face, read their facial expressions, and hear their voice. This lets the jury know firsthand the emotional and physical challenges the victim is facing. Watch the video to learn more.

The Day-in-the-Life Video also captures footage of the injured person in their home, in what used to be a comfortable setting. In the aftermath of an injury, the setting of the home may have become extremely difficult to maneuver around in. A video can show how challenging it is to get to the kitchen. How long does it take to climb a set of stairs?

A Day-in-the-Life Video can also show the injured victim’s interactions with loved one. Has the quality of family life changed? Is the injured victim able to spend time with his kids or spouse. Answers to these questions can also be captured on tape and shown to the jury.

Remember, the jurors are everyday people from our community that are selected to uphold our justice system. A Day-in-the-Life Video is able to grab their attention and move them in ways that expert testimony or documents alone aren’t able to.

It requires a skilled and well-experienced personal injury lawyer to create a Day-in-the-Life video that’s accepted as admissible evidence in the courtroom. Without being admissible in court, the jury isn’t able to see the client’s Day in the Life Video. This can be a significant blow to the recovery amount the jury decides.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we have created many Day-in-the-Life Videos for severely injured clients and taken them to trial for successful verdicts. If you or your loved one is suffering from the fault of others, count on us to help. With over 60 years of combined experience, our Chicago personal injury attorneys are known for their expertise and tough litigation. Contact us by email or call us at 312-384-1920 to schedule a consultation with one of our personal injury trial attorneys practicing law throughout Illinois.

What Is A Life Care Plan?

July 10, 2017/in Blog, Medical malpractice, Medical negligence, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

For the severely injured, a Life Care Plan is a detailed assessment of the severely injured victim’s needs. It should take into account:

Current and future medical needs: Things like cost of medication, specialized furniture, assisted living professionals, rehabilitation expenses should be included in the life care plan.

Transportation needs: Would the injured victim need to have special equipment for traveling? Recreational opportunities also need to be factored into a life care plan.

Construction modifications to the home: Specialized medical equipment may require changes to the layout of the home. Perhaps an elevator lift is needed. These very large expenses need to be looked at very thoroughly to create a proper life care plan.

In an injury lawsuit for a severely injured victim, the Life Care Plan is instrumental in building your case. It can show to the jury the extent of a victim’s injuries, and the long-term cost of living with such life-changing injuries. When a Life Care Plan is led by a personal injury lawyer who is well-experienced in litigation and trial, the recovery results could ensure that the injured victim is able to live with dignity and financially independence. Watch the video to learn more.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., when our Chicago personal injury lawyers consult with a Life Care Planner, we collaborate with an entire team of medical and financial experts and ensure assessments by doctors, psychologists, counselors, and economists are all taken into account and factored into the Life Care Plan. We do this to ensure all of the injured victim’s needs are considered. This means including present and anticipated future needs into the life care plan. Is future medication included in the plan? Will the medication be supported across providers? The Life Care Plan needs to be a complete and comprehensive document.

Once created, the Life Care Plan is given to the jury so that the jury can fully understand you or your loved one’s needs and recognize your compensation claim as genuine. A skilled and well-experienced personal injury lawyer will help the life care planner get the testimony and documentation from the entire team of medical and financial experts that’s admissible in the court so that the jury may hear all parts of the life care plan.

Many personal injury lawyers don’t understand how important it is to be fully involved in the creation of the Life Care Plan, and as a result, your recovery suffers.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we pay close attention to the life care plan and present our clients’ complete needs in court. We have been thoroughly involved in many very complex life care plans and have advocated for our clients’ complete needs successfully. With over 60 years of combined experience, our Chicago personal injury attorneys are known for their expertise and tough litigation. Contact us by email or call us at 312-384-1920 to schedule a consultation with one of our personal injury trial attorneys practicing law throughout Illinois.

3 Facts to Know Before Your Loved One Enters a Nursing Home

June 26, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, more than 1,300,000 people receive care from nursing homes annually. This number is expected to rise because people over the age of 85 make up one of the fastest-growing populations. Unfortunately, the increasing demand for long-term care has coincided with a spike in the number of reports related to nursing home abuse and negligence.

Is My Loved One Ready to Move into a Nursing Home?

June 13, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse/by Yao Dinizulu

Moving your aging loved one into a nursing home may be one of the most difficult decisions you ever have to make. At the end of the day, though, you need to consider your relative’s best interests, as well as the extent of care your family will realistically be able to provide as your loved one ages.