Dinizulu Law Group | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

Cars Have Gotten Safer. Have Trucks?

November 3, 2017/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has reported that over the past few decades cars have gotten safer and fatalities have gone down. This trend can be linked to advances in safety features, such as airbags, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes, among other technical advances.

While this same technology is also available for trucks and trailers, the trucking industry hasn’t implemented such safety equipment. In United States, only about 3% of the Class 8 trucks—the heaviest ones which includes most tractor-trailers—are equipped with any collision-avoidance technology. In Europe, most such heavy trucks are sold with this technology.

These large trucks are disproportionately involved in fatal accidents. According to the New York Times, these heavy trucks are involved in 1 out of 8 of all fatal accidents and 25% of all fatalities in construction-zone accidents.

The trucking industry claims the cost of these safety technologies hurt their bottom line. The trucking industry, through its chief trade group, the American Trucking Association, continues to lobby Congress against safety laws, claiming expenditures on safety technology will raise rates for shippers and consumers.

But what the trucking industry has failed to notice is that stronger safety measures prevent higher insurance rates and also prevent millions of dollars from being spent in resolving injury claims. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimates $99 billion to be the annual cost to the economy for truck and large vehicle crashes.

Many of these expenditures can be avoided if Congress were to pass a common-sense safety bill that addresses the concerns of car drivers, truck drivers, and creates a trucking industry that is safer and more profitable in the long run.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we are safety advocates. Those who injure others through their careless actions must be held accountable for their wrongdoing. That is why our team of truck accident lawyers in Chicago has your back. With over 50 years of combined experience, we know the strategies the defense will use to discredit your injuries. But we bring commitment and expertise to each case and help you get results. Set up a free initial consultation with one of our truck accident attorneys in Chicago. Call 1 (312) 384-1920 or 1 (800) 693-1LAW, or reach us by email.

Are Accidents More Likely to Occur on Halloween Night?

October 30, 2017/in Blog, Personal injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

With the end of October quickly approaching, there is one thing that sits on the minds of many, and that is Halloween. Halloween is a time for children and their families to transform into someone they idolize or even something creepy and walk through their neighborhoods collecting candy and enjoying each other’s company. With so many trick-or-treaters expected to be out this Halloween, it is important that we don’t forget about the real dangers that lurk on the roadways. Come Monday night, Chicago streets are going to be filled with eager children trick-or-treating, but that isn’t all.

Does Sexual Harassment Occur in Nursing Homes?

October 23, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse/by Yao Dinizulu

There are more nursing home residents who are unable to speak, move, and defend themselves, and these individuals are more vunerable to mistreatment, neglect, and sexual abuse during their stay in a nursing home facility.

How Serious Are Bed Sores For Nursing Home Residents?

October 20, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

For our aging loved ones, bed sores can be a serious and even deadly affliction. Also known as decubitus ulcers or pressure sores, bedsores can range in severity from superficial skin wounds to deep ulcers that expose bone. As though deep skin ulcers were not a severe enough issue, the Mayo Clinic describes complications that may arise from bed sores including:

Sepsis – a life threatening condition that may result in organ failure
Cellulitis – an infection of soft tissues causing pain, redness and swelling
Bone and Joint Infections – an infection that resides deep in the bones resulting in reduced limb function
Squamous Cell Carcinoma – a cancer that results from wounds that will not heal

In addition to the terrible pain and debilitating wounds, each bed sore complication described above can result in death. It is oftentimes difficult for elderly individuals to heal effectively, thus preventing bed sores can be a life or death matter.

Are Bed Sores Preventable?

As the name implies, pressure sores are caused by pressure on the skin. This pressure ultimately reduces blood flow resulting in a breakdown of the tissue. In addition to sustained pressure on the skin, friction and shear can be contributing factors as well. For example, a nursing home resident in an adjustable bed that tilts up or down may experience shear as the bed adjust against their body weight. If a nursing home caretaker handles an individual too roughly, the friction may be enough to damage skin that is already frail.

Data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 11% of residents in nursing homes may have bed sores. Sometimes bedsores occur in nursing home residents despite good efforts, but there are still measures a nursing home care taker should follow to prevent bed sores. For example, encouraging the proper movement in residents with limited mobility is crucial to preventing bed sores. If an individual is bedridden or wheelchair bound, the patient must be repositioned every couple of hours.

What To Do If Your Loved One Develops Bedsores While in a Nursing Home?

While we hope that our aging or disabled loved ones would be treated properly in a nursing home, we know that oftentimes this is not the case. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail their residents and let them fall victim to neglect or abuse, resulting in bedsores or far worse outcomes. As skilled nursing home neglect attorneys in Chicago, the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. knows what the standard of care is for Illinois nursing homes. With over 50 years of combined experience, our nursing home abuse lawyers hold caregivers accountable for the injuries they have caused their residents.

Contact us by email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW to schedule a free consultation. Our nursing home abuse attorneys can build a case that brings justice and compensation for your injured loved ones.

I Think My Loved One is Being Abused or Neglected in a Nursing Home. Who Can Help Me?

October 16, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

While the state of Illinois requires that its professionals report nursing home abuse and/or neglect, not always do they take the necessary measures to do so. Unfortunately, many cases of elder abuse go unnoticed and unaddressed. However, you have the power with the right Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer to make a difference in your family member’s life.

What Does Nursing Home Neglect Look Like?

October 12, 2017/in Blog, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

If your loved one is in a nursing home in Chicago, IL, you probably visit them regularly to check in, and spend quality time with them and stay on top of their living conditions, right? While things may appear to be going well, it is important to be aware of what’s going on under the surface.

Illinois Has Been Recognized with the Most Cases of Nursing Home Abuse Incidents

September 27, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse, nursing home neglect/by Yao Dinizulu

The issue of elder abuse and nursing home mistreatment and neglect is on the rise and is expected to continue to increase in the coming years. In a recent government audit, it was revealed that one in four cases of possible sexual and physical abuse against nursing home patients apparently went unreported to police” [Source: wqad.com]. Although Medicare is required by law to enforce a federal law that requires facilities to notify law enforcement of the abuse, 38 of the 134 cases investigated showed no contact with law enforcement was made as the hospital records indicated no such report in their records.

When May a Bruise Be a Sign of Neglect?

September 27, 2017/in Blog, Elder abuse/by Yao Dinizulu

Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious matter and it is vital you become aware of how to recognize when a loved is being harmed.

I Was Assaulted While Celebrating My Engagement

September 18, 2017/in Blog, Civil rights law/by Yao Dinizulu

Pamela Dixon was celebrating her engagement in a public park when suddenly she was assaulted by the park’s security guard. Left injured and confused, she didn’t know what to do. When she contacted the employer of the security guard about the assault, it was as if the incident didn’t happen, and that she didn’t matter.

Pamela wanted justice and wanted the truth to be told. She trusted her friend Attorney Yao Dinizulu to get her the results she deserved. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. investigated and uncovered that this security guard had a pattern of violent behavior. Yet scenario after scenario, she wasn’t terminated.

Before this case, Pamela had also never given a deposition. A deposition is something that’s intimidating for many clients because they have to give a sworn and recorded statement to the opposing counsel who are trying to catch the client say something they can later use against them in the course of trial. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. helped Pamela understand the types of questions that would be asked during a deposition, and prepared her thoroughly for the challenge ahead.

As a result, Pam was able to receive compensation for her pain suffering, medical bills, and most importantly get a closure to the emotional distress that this incident caused. She didn’t want others to go through what she had gone through. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. helped Pamela tell her story and seek justice. That meant something.

Hate crime and violent lashing out has sadly gotten increasingly common. However, there are laws to remedy these wrongs and punish those who violate our nation’s laws. If you believe your civil rights have been infringed upon, contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW or by email. We are here to help. You will also find other stories like Pam’s and more discussions on civil rights and other legal topics on our media page.

Client’s Powerful Testimonial: I Was Hit By A Improperly Loaded Truck on the Highway

September 15, 2017/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

Fletcher McQueen was injured when a driver of a improperly loaded trailer truck carrying a Bobcat skid steer, lost control and crashed into Fletcher’s SUV. Fletcher was hurt, unable to work, and didn’t know who to turn to. Another attorney who Fletcher had known highly recommended Yao Dinizulu and the DLG law firm.

There were days when Fletcher went to bed in severe pain, not knowing what would happen and if he would ever be able to work again and support his family. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. was able to take Fletcher’s case to trial. The jury ruled in favor of Fletcher with a verdict resulting in over one hundred thousand dollars for his pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills. The next day, the jury reached an additional verdict of $1 million dollars for punitive damages.

Fletcher testifies how the attorneys and staff of the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. kept him and his family informed about the latest developments in his case. Fletcher always felt there was clear communication coming from the attorneys, paralegals, and the firm’s legal assistants. Fletcher felt prepared and knew what was expected at trial and during his sworn statement.

The trial verdict helped Fletcher and his family move forward after what was a very difficult chapter in their lives. Fletcher felt like he was finally able to get his life back.

No one who is injured and suffering due to the fault of others should feel like they are alone. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW, or by email. We are truck accident attorneys in Chicago that are here to help.