Placing a family member in a nursing home is a difficult decision for many people. Putting the responsibility for a beloved relative’s daily care and treatment on someone else requires a great deal of trust. Some nursing homes violate this trust. According to Georgia’s Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services, elder abuse is one of the most common yet unreported problems in our country.
If you are dealing with suspected elder abuse of your loved one, you could recover damages for your relative’s medical care, emotional distress, and more. While you can pursue damages on your own, you might not know how to proceed or which damages are available.
Our Valdosta nursing home abuse attorney with Bader Scott Injury Lawyers can guide you through the legal steps to protect your family member and recover financial compensation.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
O.C.G.A. § 30-5-3 defines elder abuse as the willful infliction of physical pain or injury, sexual abuse, mental anguish, unreasonable confinement, or willful deprivation of essential services to a person aged 65 or more.
Nursing home abuse is elder abuse committed by an employee in a nursing home. The nursing home may be liable and financially responsible for any abuse committed by an employee.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
People who are elderly may bruise or injure easily because of their age or preexisting medical conditions. It can be hard to know when to be concerned. You need to know what to look for to identify nursing home abuse. Here are some common signs of nursing home abuse:
- Physical symptoms such as unexplained wounds, bruises, cuts, broken bones, rope marks, sexually transmitted diseases, or clothing torn, bloody, or stained clothing
- Behavioral changes such as becoming upset, agitated, withdrawn, uncommunicative, or exhibiting other changes in behavior
- Direct reports from your relative of physical or emotional abuse, sexual assault, confinement, or deprivation of services by their caretakers
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Valdosta, call (404) 888-8888
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable to elder abuse because they require outside help for activities of daily living, medical care, and more. Residents may be uncomfortable reporting abuse by the people who are supposed to care for them or may fear repercussions from their caregivers if they do.
If you suspect your family member is a victim of nursing home abuse, you must advocate for their rights. You can report nursing home abuse by:
- Calling 9-1-1
- Filing a complaint online
- Reporting a complaint by calling (800) 878-6442
Valdosta Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Damages Available in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
Damages are intended to compensate for your loved one’s losses from abuse. No two cases are the same, so it’s hard to say how much a case is worth. In general, nursing home abuse cases that cause more severe injuries result in larger payouts.
Our lawyer will evaluate the details of your personal injury case and use evidence to estimate the value of your damages. You could recover damages for:
- Medical treatment such as emergency room visits, X-rays or other diagnostic imaging, surgeries, follow-up care, rehabilitative surgeries, and more
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and disability
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How Your Lawyer Can Help You with a Nursing Home Abuse Case
Advocating for a family member who has been abused in a nursing home can be very stressful. Seeking compensation from the abuser, coping with the emotional fallout, and seeking appropriate care for your loved one may feel like too much. Unless you have experience in this area, you may not know what to do or the types of damages available to you.
Our lawyer can take over all legal aspects of your case. This way, you can work on getting your loved one the right care. Here are some ways we can help:
Investigate Allegations of Abuse
Our lawyer will look into your case and gather evidence of potential abuse, such as:
- Pictures of your relative’s injuries
- Medical records
- Interviews with your relative, you, other family members, and nursing home staff
Estimate the Value of Your Damages
We will use these interviews and your relative’s medical bills and records to estimate how much your case is worth.
Negotiate a Settlement
We will file a claim with the nursing home’s insurance provider and negotiate a settlement that provides fair compensation.
File a Lawsuit
Both parties often prefer to settle out of court most of the time, as it is usually faster and easier. However, if the insurance provider will not agree to a reasonable settlement, we will seek compensation through litigation. Our lawyer will file a lawsuit against the nursing home and represent you in court.
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Promptly File Your Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit
No amount of money can compensate for the abuse your loved one endured. It can provide you and your family with a sense of justice, though. You only have a finite amount of time to seek damages for nursing home abuse. Our lawyer will ensure that you sue the at-fault party before time runs out.
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 sets the statute of limitations for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits at two years. You have two years from the day your loved one was injured or passed away to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Our lawyer serving Valdosta will evaluate the timeline of abuse to make sure you meet all legal deadlines.
We are Ready to Represent You in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
If your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse in Valdosta, you could recover financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. Our lawyer could secure damages from the at-fault party, as evidenced by the results of our past personal injury cases.
Call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today at (404) 888-8888 for a free case consultation. We work on contingency, so our firm collects no fees unless your lawyer wins your case.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form