No legal rights in DR

Porfirio · #1 09-08-2005, 09:06 AM

Get hit by a car in the DR, and absolutely little if any recourse. Two cases in point. First, a large trailer cab parked illegally on a public street for days with no lights or indication of danger was run into by a car. The driver was killed, leaving a wife & 4 children. After consulting several lawyers who wanted an exhorbitant down payment the wife paid one of the lawyers, who after 6 months accomplished nothing. No award, just money lost on a dishonest lawyer.
Second, A 17 year old collge student was walking across a street near her school with a green light indicating OK to proceed across the street. One of DR´s infamous taxis drives through the red light facing him, and strikes the girl who has had three surgeries on her shoulder, and a metal rod inserted by the Physicians. she must undergo physical therapy two times each week, and her family must pay for the treatments. No monetary award, no attempt to compensate for her pain or suffering let alone a partial disability for life.

Conchman · #2 09-08-2005, 09:49 AM

If you wanna live in an environment where everybody sues everybody for anything, just move to the United States.

A monetary reward is not gonna bring those people back to life - or help the girl since the taxi driver probably has no money anyway.

Dominicanscotti · #3 09-08-2005, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conchman

If you wanna live in an environment where everybody sues everybody for anything, just move to the United States.

A monetary reward is not gonna bring those people back to life - or help the girl since the taxi driver probably has no money anyway.

Hell yeah, I would rather live here than have a half a chance at an honest Judicial system like in the US.

Living here is much better than the US even though you get a better shake in Court here only if you are well connected or understand whom to pay off!

This is NOT a matter of "is it better to live in the DR or US". It is a matter of honesty and corruption this person is talking about which from an outsiders point of view SUCKS! I hope you never hit a cab driver, then you will see the reverse side of this same coin. You will pay DEARLY!

bienvenido · #4 09-08-2005, 12:00 PM

I believe that we should be very careful when we compare two societies such as the DR and USA. I beleive that most people would agree with me that not matter how bad it looks the legal system in the USA is much better than ours. To say that one rather live in DR because in the USA "everybody demands everbody" do not justify the type of traffic violation we experience on the streets of DR. In my opinion, s good to know that you can go to court and demand somebody for 10.00 US dollars. It will tell me that my right are protect it and I don´t have to take the law into my own hands.

I believe that everyone know that driving in DR is dangerous. I personally pray to God to save me from having a traffic accidents in DR. If I loose my my vehicle, am f... big times. I probably wind up again in the cold streets of New Yorks. People, It is hard to replace your vehicle or have someone pay for the damages in DR. We have to do better when it comes to traffic accidents and the law in general. Let me share with you a true story about car accidents in the USA. Several years ago, I went to Orlando, Florida. On my way back to Miami, I stopped at an intersection to make a right onto main road when I heard a bang! Two cars collided and one of them destroyed the front fender and radiator of my Toyota. Suddently, and within minutes, I herd the sounds of siren. The police and the fire department showed up. Two hours later I was driving a brand new Pontiac back to Miami. This it the type of traffic law and protection that we need, otherwise, we are lost. I want to protect this piece of land and its citizen. She is the only thing we have left.

Hector

HOWMAR · #5 09-08-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bienvenido

I believe that we should be very careful when we compare two societies such as the DR and USA......
..... Let me share with you a true story about car accidents in the USA. Several years ago, I went to Orlando, Florida. On my way back to Miami, I stopped at an intersection to make a right onto main road when I heard a bang! Two cars collided and one of them destroyed the front fender and radiator of my Toyota. Suddently, and within minutes, I herd the sounds of siren. The police and the fire department showed up. Two hours later I was driving a brand new Pontiac back to Miami. This it the type of traffic law and protection that we need, otherwise, we are lost. I want to protect this piece of land and its citizen. She is the only thing we have left.

Hector

Were you driving a rental that was replaced? The insurance and legal systems of the US are indeed better than those of the DR, but let's be realistic. An insurance claim settled in 2 hours? And you got a new car when the damage to your old car was a fender and a radiator?

RHM · #6 09-08-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conchman

If you wanna live in an environment where everybody sues everybody for anything, just move to the United States.

A monetary reward is not gonna bring those people back to life - or help the girl since the taxi driver probably has no money anyway.

Come on, Conchman. Yes, some people in the US are "law suit crazy" but I would much prefer that than to have no recourse whatsoever. People here get SCREWED constantly.

Monetary rewards do not bring people back to life or erase an accident but they do compensate people at least somewhat for their losses.

Scandall

nycuban · #7 09-08-2005, 06:23 PM

Come on. Honestly speaking here we must say that Dominican Republic is a beautiful place to live in the sense of climate, freedom, i mean its beautiful to wake up in the morning and the sun is out, you feel refreshed.. its great. But to compare the judicial system of the DR with the US is really sick.

I have lived on and off several times in the Dominican Republic and the judicial system is the worse. I once tried to resolve a problem with my apartment and it took me 3 years and 4,000 dollars later and NOTHING. The lawyers are a bunch of thieves, everything take 3 times as long. 80% of all of them can be bought. Its horrible. I mean come on, be realistic.. the US has SMALL CLAIMS COURT, The better business bureau, CHILD SUPPORT, FAMILY COURT.. all kinds of stuff and lawsuits.. NO COMPARISON.

I LOVE DR but hey, the truth their judicial system SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris · #8 09-08-2005, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandall

Monetary rewards do not bring people back to life or erase an accident but they do compensate people at least somewhat for their losses.

Scandall

Where is it written that when I have lost something / someone, I am entitled... This is a very US centric way of thinking about things. People win, people lose. If you take your argument a few steps further, should I lose an aged parent, I could sue the medical establishment for not having done enough to make us immortal.

RHM · #9 09-08-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Where is it written that when I have lost something / someone, I am entitled... This is a very US centric way of thinking about things. People win, people lose. If you take your argument a few steps further, should I lose an aged parent, I could sue the medical establishment for not having done enough to make us immortal.

Gimme a break. I am the last person with a sense of "entitlement" and even so the concept is not uniquely American. However, VICTIMS are entitled to restitution.

You say that some win and some lose. Does that mean that I can come to your house, kick your ***, break your things and we should just chaulk you up as a "loser".

People certainly do take things too far but the above cases are pretty clear.

I hope nothing bad ever happens to you.

Scandall

EDITED TO INCLUDE: Man, you got me fired up on this one. "US Centric"? You have not a clue. Do a little research and see what happens in Europe when someone is caused a loss by another through their negligence or malice.

It's not about entitlement. It's about the rule of law. If we went with your philosophy we should just abolish all law and let people either be "winners" and "losers". A good court system usually filters out the suits that are rediculous.

Chris · #10 09-08-2005, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandall

Gimme a break. I am the last person with a sense of "entitlement" and even so the concept is not uniquely American. However, VICTIMS are entitled to restitution.

You say that some win and some lose. Does that mean that I can come to your house, kick your ***, break your things and we should just chaulk you up as a "loser".

People certainly do take things too far but the above cases are pretty clear.

I hope nothing bad ever happens to you.

Scandall

Why be nasty? I can debate the argument but your last sentence simply puts that little twist into it, and it makes me lose all interest. I'm off to dinner...