Headlines...

Headlines for the last several days have centered around the idea of the police state.

Arizona's immigration law, which allows police officers to stop anyone they deem to potentially be an immigrant...

Chicago Alderman proposing that the National Guard become a part of the policing strategy as it relates to the increased violence in Chicago neighborhoods...

Red light cameras monitoring intersections...

What does this say about our society? What does this say about our future?

Too far...

Every day, each of us finds ourselves in situations where another person says or does something that goes too far. It's almost as if people don't know how to "edit" themselves, feeling free to say and/or do anything they want. In many ways, this forum, the online forum is responsible for this denigration in values and etiquette. People tend to think that what they say online, stays online, it makes them invisible and that there are no repercussions. That thought process is quickly changing.

In the last week, month or year, has there been an instance where someone has gone too far?

What motivates you?

We all make choices that impact our lives and the lives of others. Our decision making is often a result of the values we were brought up with, who we looked up to, and our own barometer of what was right and wrong. As children, the demarcation between right and wrong was very clearly drawn. As adults, we often learn that these lines aren't so clear - a lot of grey area exists. It's that grey area that causes consternation and forces us to question our motivations.

What would motivate you to seek legal counsel? Is it the desire to right a wrong? Or is it the need to exact some form of retribution? Revenge?

Would you or wouldn't you?

You often hear about how litigious our society is, that we don't deal with problems head on anymore. But what you don't often hear is the fact that society has changed in such a way that oftentimes, seeking the support of a lawyer is necessary. Much of that has to do with the fact that today, people are the underdogs and we fight for the underdog.

If faced with a situation where you felt that you were harmed or injured as a result of someone's (in)action, would you seek legal counsel? If yes, why? If no, why not?

A safe assumption?

For many of us, getting behind the wheels of our cars is something that we do every day, many times a day. Our assumption is that the vehicles are safe to drive. The problems with Toyota cars, a maker with a pretty solid reputation, takes us all by surprise. Do you own or drive a Toyota? If so, was your vehicle one of the ones recalled? Share your experience.

Fire Safety

At least seven people died in an early morning fire that tore through a Cicero, Illinois apartment building on Monday, spreading to nearby buildings and rendering families homeless in one of the deadliest residential fires in the Chicago area since 2006.

Sometimes, when these fires occur, failure to place smoke alarms or failure to comply with fire codes lead to deadly injury. How do you keep your home safe? Have you or a family member been affected by a fire?

Texting while driving continued...

Last week, I talked about the recent passage of Illinois law that banned texting while driving. This phenomenon has created a maelstrom of controversy. Many state that it's common sense that one shouldn't text and drive, and that this law serves to further emphasize the importance of halting this behavior. Others agree, though think it was unnecessary to take the extra step of involving the legal system. Still others have made it their personal mission to do all that they can to make people understand that texting while driving is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than driving while drunk.

What about you? What is your stance? What will you do from this point forward to address the issue of texting while driving?

Post your comments to this blog here or visit one of Dinizulu Law Group's other social networking sites to weigh in on the topic.

Visit http://twitter.com/dinizululaw

Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dinizulu-Law-Group-Ltd/267915740736

The Ban of Text Messaging While Driving

Illinois has passed a new law banning text messaging while driving in Illinois that went into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

What are your thoughts on the new law? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Would you like to share a personal experience about someone who was texting while driving? Weigh in on this important topic today!

Snow and Ice

Removing snow and ice promptly from roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots is more than a neighborly courtesy. Some communities have ordinances requiring property owners to remove freshly fallen snow within hours. In some cases, failure to do so can result in fines.

For property owners and pedestrians, the consequences of failing to remove snow and ice can be far worse. In one case, a woman slipped and fell on ice in an apartment complex parking lot and broke her ankle. She subsequently died two months later from a blood clot resulting from the fractured ankle. She was survived by three minor and three grown children. Her estate's lawyer successfully sued the property's owner for failing to clear the snow that later turned to ice from the parking lot.

Have you been faced with a similar situation? If so, how did you handle it?

Weighing in on health care reform

Recently, a lot of attention has been given to talk about the need for health care reform. While President Obama is working closely with Congress to introduce legislation that will overhaul the existing health care system to make coverage available for all Americans, Republicans and other tort reformers are arguing that there is a need for a federal cap on malpractice awards as the remedy for our health care system.

Even though sound research clearly shows the legal system does not drive health care costs, inaccurate information about medical malpractice continues to plague honest debate about reforming America’s health care system. Health care reform is about making sure that every American has access to quality, low-cost health care, not about limiting the legal rights of innocent patients harmed by medical negligence.

Medical malpractice is a tiny percentage of health care costs – less the 1 1/2 percent of overall spending – according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Restricting patients’ legal rights would have little to no effect on premiums or health care costs. Medical malpractice suits are less than one percent of the entire civil caseload, and have been declining for nearly a decade. The GAO and CBO have found no evidence of so-called “defensive medicine,” but instead determined that doctors run additional tests to generate more income or help diagnose patients.

Given that estimations of the cost of malpractice litigation is roughly on 2 percent of overall health care spending, economists don’t agree that tort reform (even in the most radical sense) would not significantly cut the costs associated with what Americans spend on health care. Studies show that malpractice lawsuits have the least impact on health care spending, with the aging population, advances in medical technology and an increase in those suffering from chronic conditions being the major causes for the trend in increased spending.

At DLG, know that there is no dollar amount that can replace the loss of life or remove the tragedy associated with injury. Our attorneys aggressively seek settlements and verdicts that remedy actual damages – medical bills, loss of wages, and the like while keeping in mind the pain and suffering aspect for the victims. Malpractice lawsuits will continue to be necessary until health care providers implement measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their patients as their first obligation to, “do no harm.”

A Note from Yao

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the law and helping people. I became a lawyer and founded the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. to be an advocate for those in the community who would otherwise not understand their legal rights and therefore, probably never seek the advice of an attorney. Over the course of my career, I have represented victims involved in all types of injuries, but one thing that I've noticed is that the victims and their families invariably face uncertain futures. Confusion, despair, grief and financial difficulty are all too common, making their injuries even more stressful and the road to recovery difficult to navigate. Our attorneys and staff are compassionate, knowledgeable and trained to respond to each clients individual needs. That's our commitment.

Our attorneys are skilled and often handle complex cases wherein our clients have received substantial verdicts and settlements. If trust, integrity and results matter to you like they do to us, call DLG when you or your loved one is in need. Let us be there for you.