Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

When people place their loved ones in nursing homes, they expect for them to be taken care of. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Some nursing home staff members may abuse or neglect residents, leaving them with physical and mental injuries. If you believe that your family member has suffered harm in a nursing home, you may want to call a lawyer as soon as possible.

Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid in a nursing home abuse case.

Confronting the People Who Are Abusing Your Loved One

If you have just discovered that your family member is being mistreated in a nursing home, you have the right to feel angry and upset. You may be tempted to confront the abusers and give them a piece of your mind. However, you should avoid doing this. If the abusers hear that you may be pursuing a lawsuit, they may leave town or try to destroy evidence.

Waiting Too Long to Take Action

If you suspect that your loved one has suffered abuse in a nursing home, it is important to take quick action. You only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. In California, the statute of limitations to bring a nursing home lawsuit is two years.

Not Getting Your Loved One Immediate Medical Care

If you think that your family member has suffered injuries in a nursing home, the professionals may advise you to get him or her immediate medical care. A doctor should properly diagnose your loved one’s injuries and recommend a treatment plan. If you delay medical treatment, your family member’s injuries could worsen. It may also be more difficult to prove nursing home abuse without prompt medical care.

Failing to Gather Evidence

A nursing home abuse case is only as strong as its evidence. As such, you should collect as much evidence as you can before it gets destroyed. For example, if your loved one is being neglected and the nursing home has unsanitary conditions, like dirty floors or unclean bathrooms, you should take photos of those conditions immediately. The more evidence you have, the better.

Signing an Arbitration Agreement

Nursing homes often want to settle disagreements quickly and ask people to sign arbitration agreements. This isn’t something that you should do. Arbitrators often favor nursing homes, so your family member may not be getting a fair deal.

Not Hiring a Lawyer

Nursing home abuse cases can be quite complex. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to hire an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer. A lawyer knows the true value of your loved one’s case and will handle the negotiation process with the insurance company. He or she will not let your family member get taken advantage of by the insurance company.

If you want to file a nursing home abuse claim, you should schedule an appointment with a reputable lawyer today to talk about your case in detail.