Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Miami
Putting a loved one into a nursing home is a stressful decision to make. But, in many cases, it is the only viable option available to families. If you've found yourself in this scenario, you're likely asking yourself a lot of high-stakes questions. Will my loved one be happy in this place? Are they doing to be able to enjoy the activities and hobbies that they loved doing at home? How often should I be visiting to make sure that they are doing alright? The answers to these questions typically remain somewhat unclear.
Choosing a nursing home for your loved one often involves investing a certain amount of trust in the facility and its employees. And understandably, putting any amount of trust into something that you do not have direct control over is scary. This fear is compounded by the fact that there are many examples in which things just don't turn out the way that they should. Sometimes, the employees are overworked and understaffed, which unfortunately may result in the mistreatment of the facility's residents. Abuse may manifest as a lack of basic hygienic care or outbursts of staff aggression that result in injury or death. The possibilities make our heads spin.
Miami Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
If your loved one falls victim to nursing home abuse, just know that there are legal avenues that you can take to rectify this wrong. These cases are often complex, so you'll want to contact an experienced legal team, such as The Ward Law Group. We offer our legal services to both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities. Don't let your language get in the way of securing justice for your family member. Contact us today!
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse Claims That We Settle
It is estimated that as many as 5 million elderly people become the victims of nursing home abuse annually. Unfortunately, this number only reflects the cases that are reported-the actual number is likely much higher than that. To make things more difficult, these cases are extremely hard to detect.
Abuse comes in many forms. That being said, certain types of abuse are more common than others. Here are some of the most commonly cited examples:
Physical Abuse: This situation describes any instance in which an employee of the facility inflicts bodily harm to the victim.
Neglect: This form of abuse is especially common in facilities in which stress is high and understaffing runs rampant. If the victim does not have basic necessities met, such as medicine, hygiene, food, and so on, then it falls under this category.
Financial Abuse: This form of abuse is the most commonly reported. Financial abuse ranges from outright stealing of possessions and money to coercing residents into signing exploitative legal documents.
These may be the most common forms of nursing home abuse, but this is not an exhaustive list. Other types of nursing home abuse may include:
- Abandonment
- Resident-on-resident abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Self-neglect
- Failure to supervise
- Unlawful restraint
- Forced exercise or labor
- Withholding water, food, or care as punishment
A lot of times, there is a lack of proper evidence to prove that the abuse is really going on. That is why you are going to want an experienced legal team behind you every step of the way. Don't hesitate, contact The Ward Law Group today!
Types of Nursing Home Abuse Injuries & Compensation
Abuse is a relatively broad subject, so naturally, the list of possible injuries are endless. What makes things worse is that these injuries are happening to the elderly. Even the application of minor force can result in a major injury for elderly victims. That being said, common forms of harm that are linked with nursing home abuse are as follows:
- Bruising & Lacerations
- Malnutrition
- Internal Bleeding
- Broken Bones
- Bedsores
- Sudden Hair Loss
- Rope Marks & Burns
- Depression & Anxiety
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Infections
- Wrongful Death
When your loved one suffers from nursing home abuse, it is important to seek the help of an experienced legal team. These cases are often hard to handle and you definitely do not want to tread these waters alone. With the right group of attorneys, you and your family may be able to receive the following forms of compensation:
Medical Expenses: This covers trips to the hospital, treatment, emergency procedures, therapy, and more.
Material Damages: If your loved one has had their possessions stolen or destroyed, they may be able to receive financial reparation for these damages.
Pain & Suffering: Though hard to quantify, sometimes clients are able to receive reparations for emotional distress or psychological trauma.
Lost Wages: Most nursing home residents do not work, but some clients are younger only require temporary medical care. If the abuse affects their ability to return to work, the court may award compensation for this fact.
Punitive Damages: In some cases in which egregious offenses are enacted, normal forms of compensation are not enough to punish the defendant. Basically, the judge uses this form of compensation if they feel like the defendant's actions were especially heinous.
The Ward Law Group Wants to Represent You
In addition to serving English-speaking personal injury victims, The Ward Law Group is passionate about providing bilingual legal services to the Spanish-speaking community. Don't let language become an additional barrier to getting the compensation you deserve for your claim. Contact our team of legal advisors at the Ward Law Group today!
Gregory Ward and Jany Martínez-Ward have recovered millions of dollars in personal injury compensation for car accident victims. They were recognized for a top 5 verdict in Florida in 2021. They obtained more than $2,000,000 in compensation for the victim of a truck accident. Don't leave the fate of your settlement to chance. Contact The Ward Law Group today to secure your legal rights and hire reputable insurance companies.
Maximizing Your Claim: Immediate Steps to Take After a Nursing Home Abuse Incident
Nursing home abuse is not easy to detect. You are going to need to be highly observant to pick up on some of the common signs. That being said, there are some general trends to watch out for. For example, many victims of nursing home abuse exhibit visible signs such as bedsores, sudden weight or hair loss, unexplained financial activity on banking statements, and more. If you begin to notice some of these signs, make sure to document everything by taking photographs of the resident's conditions or injuries. Additionally, if the situation constitutes a medical emergency, you will need to make sure that your loved one receives medical attention immediately. To report an incident, file a complaint with the state agency that oversees the nursing home in question and they will begin an official investigation.
Another key step is to remove your loved one from the offending facility as soon as possible. This will later be useful in your claim, as it shows the gravity of your concerns and it removes your loved one from their unsafe environment. This step is especially important if the nursing home in question does not take your concerns seriously.
At this point, you are going to want to contact an experienced legal team. It is important to note that there is a statute of limitations for opening a nursing home abuse claim. This varies by state, of course, but generally, the period is 2 years. If you do not make a claim during this timeframe, then your loved one may not be able to receive compensation for damages.
Contact a Miami Nursing Home Abuse Attorney For Help!
Nursing home abuse cases are already a complicated business, but getting the most out of your claim proves to be even more difficult. For that, you are going to want to contact an experienced team of attorneys, such as The Ward Law Group. It doesn't help the fact that insurance company adjusters will always be at odds with you when it comes to receiving the compensation that your loved one deserves.
The Ward Law Group is passionate about making sure that all of their clients walk away satisfied. In many instances, our clientele is pleasantly surprised to learn just how many forms of compensation for which they are eligible. And remember, we serve both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities Don't let your primary speaking language get in the way of establishing a claim. Contact The Ward Law Group today!