Nursing home abuse is a significant problem that can have severe or even fatal consequences for victims. According to data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in six adults over 60 has experienced abuse, and two in three nursing facility staff have reported committing abuse in a recent year.
If you believe your loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect, contact Dr Ted Injury Law for a free consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer in Gastonia, NC. Our team will help you explore your options for getting your loved one the care they need and seeking compensation for the harm they suffered.
Nursing Home Abuse in Gastonia, NC
Nursing home abuse can take many forms in Gastonia, NC, including physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. Residents can also suffer from nursing home neglect, which is slightly different from abuse in that it involves caretakers failing to meet the needs of residents in their care.
Understanding these common types of nursing home abuse can help you spot if your loved one is a victim:
- Physical Abuse – This involves caretakers using force against residents, including hitting, slapping, yanking, pushing, or improperly restraining them. If you notice your loved one has new and unexplained injuries, it may be a sign of physical abuse.
- Sexual Abuse – This involves any kind of non-consensual sexual contact, including inappropriate touching or sexual assault. Immobile or non-verbal residents may be at a higher risk of sexual abuse than others.
- Emotional Abuse – This involves caretakers intentionally causing residents emotional or psychological pain by yelling at, making fun of, threatening, or humiliating them. Signs of emotional abuse include depression and anxiety.
- Financial Abuse – This involves caretakers accessing and stealing funds from residents’ accounts, forging documents in residents’ names, or coercing residents to give them money or change their estate plans.
- Neglect – This involves caretakers failing to provide adequate care for a resident’s needs, such as not helping them bathe, get dressed, eat, or get out of bed. It can also involve failing to give residents the medications they need or leaving them in their rooms alone for extended periods.
Why Hiring a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Gastonia Is Crucial
Hiring a nursing home abuse lawyer in Gastonia, North Carolina, is crucial for your case because they will have the knowledge and experience necessary for holding the at-fault parties liable for the harm caused to your loved one.
These at-fault parties may include specific nursing home caretakers, other staff, and the nursing facility. The nursing facility and its insurer will likely have a robust team of lawyers defending their best interests. So, it’s crucial that you have a lawyer on your side to protect your and your loved one’s best interests, too.
If you don’t have a lawyer, the nursing facility’s insurance company will likely try to take advantage of you in several ways. It may intentionally delay your claim to try to get you to drop it. Or it may offer you a lowball settlement and try to sweep the allegations of abuse under the rug.
How a Gastonia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
A Gastonia nursing home abuse lawyer can help with your case in several key ways. The first is by investigating the alleged abuse and gathering evidence to support your claim. This evidence may include security camera footage, visible injury photographs, statements from your loved one and other eyewitnesses, your loved one’s medical records, and expert testimony.
Next, your lawyer will calculate your loved one’s damages. This includes their economic damages, which are compensation for losses with tangible value, like medical expenses. And it includes their non-economic damages, which are compensation for losses with intangible value, like physical pain, emotional distress, and permanent disability caused by the abuse.
Finally, your lawyer will negotiate with the nursing facility’s insurance company and seek a settlement that covers all of your loved one’s losses. If the insurance company doesn’t make a fair offer, your lawyer can proceed to take your case to trial and seek the maximum compensation.
Steps to Take if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you see signs of nursing home abuse, it’s essential that you take the following steps to protect your loved one’s well-being and strengthen your case against those who caused them harm:
- Contact the Authorities – If your loved one has serious injuries or you believe they are at imminent risk of harm, you must call the police and report the abuse. The police can help get your loved one somewhere safe and can begin investigating the abuse occurring in the nursing facility.
- Report the Abuse to the Facility – It’s important to report the abuse to the nursing facility management. The abuse could be the work of a single employee whom management can remove from the premises. When reporting the abuse, make sure to request that management files an official incident report and provides you with a copy.
- Document Evidence of the Abuse – Take photographs of your loved one’s visible injuries, keep notes of what they tell you about the care they’re receiving or not receiving in the facility, and speak to staff members and other residents to see if they have additional information.
- Seek Medical Attention for Your Loved One – If your loved one has injuries, help them seek the medical attention they need. When nursing home abuse occurs, the nursing staff or facility may not provide your loved one with adequate medical treatment, as that could reveal the extent of the abuse.
- Consult a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer – Before taking any further action, contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer. They can help you investigate the alleged abuse and take the proper steps to protect your loved one.
Contact Dr Ted Injury Law Today
If you suspect a loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact Dr Ted Injury Law for a free consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer in Gastonia, NC. During your consultation, we’ll review the quality of care your loved one is receiving and help you determine your best course of action for protecting their well-being and seeking compensation.
