Discovering signs of nursing home abuse can be a harrowing experience, especially when it involves someone you love deeply. You might feel overwhelmed, angry, and unsure of where to turn for help. If you suspect a loved one has experienced abuse, a Catonsville nursing home abuse lawyer can explain your legal options.
At Jenner Law, we understand the challenges you face. Our firm has over 70 years of combined experience addressing and resolving matters involving nursing home abuse and neglect. Call us today for a free consultation with a Catonsville personal injury lawyer.
How Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Serving Catonsville Can Help
At Jenner Law, our mission is to stand up for the vulnerable and to ensure that those responsible for nursing home abuse or neglect are held accountable. With decades of legal experience, our team of dedicated lawyers understands how to handle these challenging cases and protect the rights of your loved one.
We believe in a personalized approach, recognizing that each client’s situation is unique. From gathering evidence to representing you in court, we handle every step with the utmost care and professionalism.
Our nursing home abuse injury attorneys in Catonsville work tirelessly to:
- Investigate claims thoroughly, using expert witnesses and medical professionals
- Handle all legal documentation and communication with representatives for the nursing homes
- Fight to secure the best possible outcome for your family
When you work with our knowledgeable legal team, your needs and the well-being of your loved one are our top priorities. You can trust us to provide not just legal representation, but a partnership you can count on.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer call,
(888) 585-2188
You Don’t Pay Us Anything Upfront for Our Help
Understanding the financial strain legal actions can impose, our lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not owe us anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
We do not charge a fee to retain our services, nor do we bill clients at an hourly rate. Instead, our fee is assessed as a fixed percentage of the compensation you recover. If we are unable to get you money for your losses, we don‘t get paid.
Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind during the legal process, not an additional financial burden. We are committed to securing justice for your loved one without upfront costs or hidden fees.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases We Handle in Catonsville
Nursing home abuse and neglect are serious issues that can manifest in various forms, each potentially devastating to the well-being of a resident.
Understanding the types of abuse and neglect can help in identifying and preventing further harm. There are several common types of nursing home abuse and neglect cases we handle at our firm. Our team will review your case and the harm your loved one sustained to determine the type of abuse and the best approach to building a strong case.
Physical Abuse in Care Facilities
Physical abuse in care facilities includes any unnecessary physical contact that causes harm. Common signs of physical abuse can include:
- Punching
- Hitting or slapping
- Shoving
- Shaking
- Pinching
- Kicking
- Burning
- Force-feeding
Using unnecessary physical or chemical restraints is also physical abuse.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse By Nursing Home Employees
Emotional abuse happens when a caregiver purposely causes emotional harm. Examples of psychological abuse include screaming, harassing, threatening, intimidating, insulting, and humiliating. Purposefully isolating the resident is also an example of emotional and mental abuse.
Sexual Abuse By Assisted Living Facility Staff
Sexual abuse includes any non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly resident. This can involve physical sex acts, but also activities such as showing an elderly person pornographic material, forcing the person to watch sex acts, or forcing the elder to undress.
Financial Abuse of Elderly Residents
Nursing home residents are especially at risk of financial abuse. This abuse can take many forms, and it can be difficult to protect your loved one against predatory tactics.
Monitoring your loved one’s finances can help alert you to any unusual financial losses that may indicate financial abuse.
Neglect Due to Understaffing or Indifference of Care Home Employees
Neglect involves failing to follow the nursing home process for providing necessary care to residents. This includes assessing a resident’s risks for injury, care planning for those risks, implementing the interventions in the care plan, and then monitoring the success of the interventions.
Nursing homes are required to put an appropriate care plan in place for each resident and to follow that care plan. Failing to follow the standard process or otherwise providing inadequate supervision is a form of neglect. Neglect can be just as harmful to a person in need of care as direct physical abuse.
Signs of neglect include:
- Fall injuries
- Unintended weight loss
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Development of pressure sores
- Deterioration of pressure wounds
- Infections
If you believe your loved one is suffering neglect or being abused, get help from an experienced nursing home abuse attorney in Catonsville as soon as possible.
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Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Identifying signs of elder abuse is the first step toward protecting your loved one. When visiting your loved one, you should be on the lookout for:
- Unexplained injuries or frequent trips to the emergency room
- Frequent injuries (even if the nursing home gives you reasons for the injuries, this could indicate neglect)
- Sudden weight loss or signs of malnutrition
- Fearfulness or a sudden change in behavior
- Fear of a specific caregiver
- A caregiver’s refusal to leave you alone with your loved one
- Poor personal hygiene or unsanitary living conditions
- Bedsores
- Unexplained withdrawals from financial accounts
- Unexpected updates to a will or power of attorney
Our lawyers and paralegals can help review the evidence and identify signs of abuse. We are trauma and cognitive interview trained at the Center of Hope.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Compensation You Can Pursue in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
If your loved one was abused while in an assisted living facility, you may be able to pursue a wide range of compensatory damages from the liable party under Maryland law. Our experienced legal team can help you pursue compensation in a personal injury claim to cover:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Permanent disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In addition to compensatory damages, punitive damages may also be available in extreme cases. You can only pursue punitive damages in cases involving gross negligence or intentional harm.
Available Damages After the Death of a Loved One
If the abuse your loved one suffered resulted in their death, you can pursue additional damages, including funeral and burial costs through a wrongful death claim.
What to Do If You Think Your Loved One Is Being Abused
If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from abuse, take immediate action:
- Speak with your loved one. Trust your gut, even if they deny anything is happening. Some residents are afraid to speak up; others, like residents with dementia, may not remember the abuse.
- Document any signs or incidents of abuse.
- Report your concerns to the nursing home administration.
- Gather any medical records or evidence related to the abuse.
- Speak to witnesses who might have seen the abuse.
- Call 911 if your loved one is in immediate danger.
- Look into getting your loved one transferred to a new facility.
- File a complaint with Maryland’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
- Contact a nursing home abuse attorney.
By acting quickly, you can help end the abuse before any more harm can come to your loved one. Furthermore, taking swift action can help position your personal injury attorney to build a strong case backed by concrete evidence and recover the financial compensation you deserve.
How Long You Have to Take Action for Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland
Time is critical in cases of nursing home negligence and abuse. Each state has specific statutes of limitations that dictate how long you have to file a lawsuit.
In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date you discover the abuse to take legal action, per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101. It is imperative to consult with an attorney from our law firm as soon as possible to ensure your case is filed within these time limits.
If you miss the filing deadline, you could find yourself out of options for pursuing compensation and justice. Contacting an attorney early also puts them in the best position to gather supporting evidence before it can become lost or corrupted.
Use Caution When Dealing With Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters will go to great lengths to protect the insurance company’s bottom line. Adjusters are taught a wide range of tactics that help them deny or devalue valid claims.
If you give a statement or agree to a settlement offer before hiring an attorney, you might face problems. You could lose options to get the compensation you need.
Before any interaction with an insurer, you should secure experienced legal guidance. Your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance adjuster and fight to get you and your loved one fair compensation from the liable party.
Our Catonsville Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Are Standing By
At Jenner Law, we are dedicated to supporting families affected by nursing home abuse. We understand the emotional and legal challenges involved in these cases. Since founding our firm, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Our attorneys are here to ensure that your loved one is protected and that justice is served. Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a member of our team and discuss your case.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form