Getting Nursing Home Abuse Legal Help
Nursing homes and other skilled nursing facilities should provide high-quality health care for vulnerable residents. Sadly, some care facilities betray the trust of older adults and their loved ones by allowing nursing home abuse to occur.
Cases of nursing home abuse or neglect can leave an older adult traumatized, permanently injured, or dead. If you or a family member suffered from nursing home abuse or neglect, it’s your right to seek nursing home abuse legal help.
With nursing home abuse legal help, you can:
- Get financial compensation to cover medical expenses or funeral costs
- Help ensure nursing home abuse residents are kept safe moving forward
- Hold abusers accountable for their wrongdoings
- Send a message that nursing home abuse is inexcusable
If you’re looking for nursing home abuse legal help, contact the Patient Advocates at Nursing Home Abuse Justice. Our team can connect you with a skilled nursing home abuse law firm if you qualify. Experienced nursing home lawyers can help you through the legal process so you can pursue compensation.
Get a free case review now to see if you are eligible for nursing home abuse legal help.
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
When you take legal action against a negligent nursing home, it’s important to work with a skilled attorney. Nursing home lawyers are personal injury attorneys who specialize in elder abuse cases. Because of their expertise, they are often better prepared than general lawyers to handle nursing home cases.
Nursing home abuse lawyers can work with you to build a strong legal case and will serve as your advocate within the court system.
Experienced attorneys can:
- Build a case showing how a nursing home and its staff violated the standard of care
- Note what documents may be needed to prove your case (such as medical records)
- See when and where your lawsuit needs to be filed
- Negotiate substantial financial settlements on your behalf
- Represent you in court if the lawsuit goes to trial
Depending on the facts of your case, our team can connect you with nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys that have successfully handled similar cases.
Call (800) 896-7040 right now to see if you can work with a nursing home abuse lawyer.
Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits
Filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit can hold a long-term care facility and on-staff caregivers accountable if they do not provide proper care. Through nursing home abuse lawsuits, a demand for financial compensation is made for the harm done to elderly residents.
You may be able to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit if you or a loved one:
- Experienced neglect, injury, or abuse while living at a nursing home
- Had to move from an assisted living facility due to abuse
- Need financial help to cover medical care costs after being abused
- Suffered long-term or permanent disabilities from the abuse
Compensation from a lawsuit can cover medical expenses caused by neglect or abuse.
Get a free case review now to see if you can get nursing home abuse legal help.
Statute of Limitations on Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits
Each state limits how much time you have to sue a nursing facility through laws called statutes of limitations. Although these laws vary by state, the average statute of limitations for nursing home abuse is 2-3 years.
If you miss the statute of limitations for your case, you will not be able to file a lawsuit or pursue nursing home abuse legal help.
Find peace of mind by connecting with a nursing home abuse law firm as soon as you suspect abuse has occurred. Lawyers at these firms understand the importance of acting within the statute of limitations. They can help you file your case in time.
Seeking Compensation With Nursing Home Abuse Legal Help
One of the reasons victims choose to seek nursing home abuse legal help is that it can lead to financial compensation.
Compensation from a successful lawsuit can help cover the costs of medical treatments and damages caused by neglect or abuse, including emotional pain and suffering.
The vast majority of nursing home abuse lawsuits are resolved through out-of-court settlements. In a successful nursing home abuse settlement, you will be awarded money, and the lawsuit will end.
Some notable settlements awarded through nursing home abuse legal help include:
- $6.75 million sexual abuse settlement
- $1 million awarded for a deadly bedsore
- $1 million to the family of a resident whose fall caused wrongful death
- $740,000 settlement for elder abuse and neglect
The case may go to trial if a settlement cannot be reached between your lawyers and the lawyers for the nursing home. This means the case will be taken to court, where a judge or jury will decide the outcome.
Both sides typically avoid trials because they add more time to the legal process. They are also usually riskier since there’s no way to guarantee whom a judge or jury will side with. In some cases, if you lose a trial, you might not get any compensation.
Nursing Home Abuse Law Firms
While there are thousands of law firms in the United States, not all of them are properly equipped to handle nursing home abuse cases. It is important to get nursing home abuse legal help from a firm that has secured compensation for others who suffered from nursing home negligence or abuse.
When seeking nursing home abuse legal help, look for a nursing home law firm with:
- A compassionate team that treats you like a person, not just a case
- A national network of attorneys who can file your case no matter where you live
- A proven track record of success
Top nursing home abuse law firms will work to build a strong case on your behalf and secure compensation in the shortest amount of time possible.
Get a free case review now to see if you qualify for nursing home abuse legal help.
How to Choose a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney or Law Firm
Choosing the right law firm is a big decision if you move forward with a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
No law firm can guarantee any particular outcome, and if it tries to make such claims, that is likely a red flag. However, an experienced nursing home abuse attorney is more likely to succeed.
Below, find several questions you can ask when seeking the best nursing home abuse legal help.
What is your record for successful cases?
A good record starts with wins and fair settlements, but you should also dive into the firm’s background. Find out if there are any complaints or misconduct charges on your state’s bar association website.
How do you develop relationships with clients?
The legal process can feel intimidating. The best nursing home law firms will make you feel comfortable and open to sharing sensitive information.
How much experience do you have handling nursing home abuse cases?
Experience helps a law firm anticipate the defense’s strategy and file paperwork in a timely manner. Ideally, the firm should have specific experience handling nursing home abuse cases.
What do you charge to provide nursing home abuse legal help?
Law firms should be upfront about the cost of their services, fees, and how payment is handled. If the terms are not fair, it may be best to walk away.
Can you provide references?
Do your own research. A law firm can claim it is the best at providing nursing home abuse legal help, but what do its clients say? References are invaluable for gauging a law firm’s trustworthiness.
Chat with our Patient Advocates now to see if you can get nursing home abuse legal help.
Nursing Home Abuse Laws
The elderly are among the most vulnerable members of our population. Therefore, they are given special protections under the law.
Both federal and state-specific nursing home abuse laws are designed to protect the well-being of the elderly population and prevent mistreatment.
“Residents in a Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified nursing home have certain rights and protections under federal and state law.”
—Medicare.gov
National Nursing Home Abuse Laws
Federal laws and programs establish how the elderly should be treated across the country.
U.S. senior citizens are protected by federal laws, including the:
- Elder Justice Act
- Nursing Home Reform Act
- Older Americans Act
- Violence Against Women Act
Some of these laws, such as the Nursing Home Reform Act, address issues like proper nutrition, levels of supervision, and accurate recordkeeping.
Other laws provide guidelines on background checks for nursing home staff members and legal resources for the elderly.
Additionally, federal law sets requirements to protect against understaffing. For example, Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes must provide 24-hour nursing home care by licensed providers.
Some states may implement federal requirements differently or even create higher standards to protect residents.
Nursing Home Abuse Laws by State
While nursing home abuse laws vary by state, most of the differences are split based on two criteria.
- What population is defined as older adults?
- What is the legal definition of abuse and neglect?
Generally, someone is a victim of elder abuse if they are an adult aged 60 or older who has suffered harm at the hands of another. This could be a caregiver, a loved one, or even a stranger.
When judging whether someone’s actions are abuse, states consider:
- How the elder was harmed
- If the abuser was in a “position of trust”
- The intent of the offender
- The severity of the victim’s injuries
States also determine whether neglect and elder abuse are treated as separate crimes.
An experienced legal team can help you understand how local and state laws affect your ability to receive nursing home abuse legal help. Get a free case review to see if you can connect with a nursing home law firm today.
Find Nursing Home Abuse Legal Help Near Me
Nursing Home Abuse Justice is passionate about getting victims the nursing home abuse legal help they need. We partner with a fully vetted national network of skilled nursing home abuse law firms with the experience to get the best results possible.
Our caring Patient Advocates are standing by 24/7 to listen to your story and help determine if you qualify for nursing home abuse legal help.
Don’t delay — connect with us today for a free legal case review.
FAQs About Nursing Home Abuse Legal Help
Who is eligible for nursing home abuse legal help?
Those who have suffered from neglect or abuse and their relatives may qualify for nursing home abuse legal help. Legal help is available for many types of nursing home abuse.
Past nursing home abuse lawsuits have been filed for:
- Emotional abuse
- Financial abuse (also called financial exploitation)
- Medical malpractice (like medication errors or lack of medical treatment)
- Nursing home neglect (bedsores, malnutrition)
- Physical abuse and injuries (bruises, broken bones)
- Sexual abuse (any form of unwanted intimate contact or sexual assault)
When should I get nursing home abuse legal help?
You should get nursing home abuse legal help as soon as you notice any warning signs of nursing home abuse.
Remember, statutes of limitations can prevent you from taking legal action after a certain amount of time has passed. Further, taking legal action right away can make it easier to build a case — as time passes, there may be less evidence available.
How much is my nursing home abuse case worth?
Nursing home abuse case values depend on several factors, including how severe the abuse was, your medical expenses, and other facts. Some past nursing home abuse lawsuits have resulted in millions of dollars for victims.
Speak with a nursing home abuse lawyer to learn how much your case might be worth.
Is taking legal action against nursing home abuse hard?
No. Taking legal action is relatively easy when you seek the best nursing home abuse legal help available. Nursing home abuse lawyers can guide you through the legal process and help you pursue compensation.
Can you sue for nursing home neglect?
Yes. You may be able to sue for nursing home neglect if it caused serious or deadly harm. Older people are especially vulnerable to neglect, as many have health problems that must be carefully monitored.
For example, a man filed a nursing home wrongful death lawsuit after his wife was swarmed by ants in a nursing home and died shortly thereafter. He claims that the nursing home was extremely neglectful and is responsible for his wife’s death.
