Bella Vista, AR Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

People who live in nursing homes often require extensive care. Unfortunately, the people they trust to help them sometimes turn against them, and nursing home abuse may occur. If you believe your loved one was abused in their nursing home facility, call the police and contact a lawyer immediately.

Your loved one’s medical records may help us prove new and old injuries caused by abuse. An attorney can help you sue the person or people who perpetrated the abuse and their employer, the nursing home. In some cases, other nursing home residents might be responsible for abuse. Damages may be quite high, especially if your loved one was severely hurt, and you should speak to an attorney right away.

Ask our nursing home abuse attorneys for a free case assessment by calling our team at (479) 316-0438.

How Can I Prove My Loved One Experienced Abuse in a Nursing Home in Bella Vista, AR?

Before your loved one can get justice in the courtroom for the abuse they experienced, we must gather sufficient evidence to meet our burden of proof.

Medical Records

If your loved one was injured by the abuse, take them to a doctor right away. They should be evaluated for new and old injuries that may be consistent with abuse. These medical records may be crucial in proving your claims in court.

Testimony

Testimony from your loved one about the abuse may also be crucial. Our nursing home abuse lawyers should also talk to other residents and employees at the nursing home, as they may also testify if they have first-hand knowledge about the abuse.

Nursing Home Records

Certain records the nursing home maintains regarding residents and employees may shed light on the abuse. These records may establish how much access the abuser had to your loved one and how they exploited their position to commit the abuse.

Who Should I Sue for Nursing Home Abuse?

Those responsible are not always known from the start of the case. Our nursing home abuse attorneys may investigate your case and help determine who should be held responsible.

Specific Staff Members

Many instances of abuse involve members of nursing home staff. Nurses, orderlies, and even maintenance staff may have access to your loved one or their private residence. We should talk to your loved one and examine the evidence to determine if any staff members are implicated in the abuse.

The Nursing Home Facility

The nursing home itself can and should be included in your lawsuit. Even if those in charge of the nursing home were unaware of the abuse, they may still be held liable for their employees’ actions. In many cases, plaintiffs realize that nursing home administrators either failed to prevent abuse or actively tried to cover it up.

Other Nursing Home Residents

In some cases, other nursing home residents are implicated in the abuse. Not all residents are peaceful, and they may have anger issues or be otherwise prone to violence. If we have evidence indicating that another resident abused your loved one, we may sue them and the nursing home for failing to prevent or address the abuse.

What Damages Can My Loved One Claim in a Lawsuit for Nursing Home Abuse?

Damages in a nursing home abuse lawsuit may represent substantial financial compensation. Your lawyer should help you evaluate your loved one’s damages and secure as much compensation as possible.

Cost of Medical Care

Your loved one may need intense medical care after experiencing abuse. Unfortunately, medical care is rarely cheap, and you may claim the high costs of treatment as part of the lawsuit. Your loved one may also claim the cost of future treatment if their injuries require long-term care beyond the end of the case.

Costs of Finding a New Long-Term Care Facility

You likely want to move your loved one to a new nursing home, and this may be a costly endeavor. Other nursing homes in the area may be more expensive. Alternatively, you might not have other nursing home options and instead must pay for in-home care. These costs should be claimed as part of the lawsuit against the nursing home.

Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Damages

Abuse victims of any kind, including unreported home abuse victims, often experience severe physical pain and psychological distress. Your loved one might live with deep emotional scars for a long time, possibly for the rest of their lives. While these damages are subjective, they may warrant substantial compensation.

FAQs About Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits in Bella Vista, AR

How Do I Gather Evidence of Nursing Home Abuse?

Evidence may come from your loved one’s medical records, their testimony or statements, and certain records or evidence we need from the nursing home. If we believe the nursing home is in control of important evidence, like employee records or security camera footage, we can obtain it through the discovery phase of the civil trial.

Can I Place a Security Camera in My Loved One’s Room in a Nursing Home?

Possibly. Nursing home residents typically have a private room or apartment that they may treat as their home. As such, they may place a private security camera in their room, provided any roommates are aware of the camera and consent. Check state and local regulations with a lawyer before installing a security camera in your loved one’s private room.

What Are Common Symptoms of Abuse in a Nursing Home?

Common symptoms of abuse include physical injuries that have no explanation or were not reported. Families often realize abuse after discovering old injuries that did not heal or healed badly. You should also be concerned if there is a sudden decline in your loved one’s health or a change in their personality.

How Do I Know My Loved One’s Injuries Are from Abuse and Not Accidents?

The nursing home may argue that your loved one’s injuries are from minor accidents, not abuse. You should talk to your loved one about it. They might disclose that they were abused. You should also have them checked by a doctor who may confirm whether the injuries are consistent with abuse.

Will a Nursing Home Face Criminal Charges for Abuse?

Possibly. Abuse is often a criminal offense, and nursing home staff members or administrators who are deemed responsible for the abuse may be criminally charged. Whether charges are assessed depends on the result of a criminal investigation by the police.

Who Should I Sue if My Loved One is Abused in a Nursing Home?

You should sue those directly responsible for the abuse, such as staff members or administrators. You should also sue their employer, the nursing home. Your attorney can help you determine how many people or entities may share responsibility for the abuse.

Get Legal Help from Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Bella Vista, AR

Ask our nursing home abuse attorneys for a free case assessment by calling our team at (479) 316-0438.