The elderly deserve to be treated with the utmost care. If your loved one has been injured in one or more ways because of an accident in a nursing home, then they may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. You could also find that conditions in your loved one’s nursing home are less than acceptable, and negligent or abusive care may have contributed to the accident that your loved one suffered. A Miami nursing home accident lawyer may be able to help you determine whether a lawsuit is necessary based on the circumstances your loved one has been through.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 for additional information about our responsive legal care.
Your Loved One May Be a Victim
The World Health Organization (WHO) paints an alarming picture of how poorly the elderly can be treated in communal settings. It explains that:
- As many as one in every six elderly individuals was mistreated in a nursing home-like setting in the previous year
- Two in three staff members at nursing homes and other communal living settings admitted to perpetrating some form of abuse in the year prior to being surveyed
- The rate of elder abuse is predicted to rise as the global elderly population is set to grow in the near future
These findings may be difficult to comprehend, as nobody wants to consider that their loved one could be mistreated in a nursing home. You may have personally vetted the facility where your loved one suffered an accident. Even if you previously believed their facility was safe, it is important that you consider the possibility that the nursing home where your loved one is living or previously lived is not caring for them properly.
As you find out more about the accident your loved one suffered, you may also gather information about the general state of care in their nursing home. You may consider several factors when evaluating a nursing home, including the number of staff on hand. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) notes that understaffing is a common problem in nursing homes across America.
You may also keep an eye on your loved one, paying special attention to possible signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Possible Signs of Elder Mistreatment
If you notice changes in your loved one that concern you, then it could indicate that they have been neglected, abused, or otherwise mistreated. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) provides a list of mistreatment symptoms that you may want to keep an eye out for, including:
- Sudden changes in your loved one’s patterns of behavior
- Signs of physical trauma, such as bruising, cuts, or burns
- Symptoms of anxiety, such as weight loss, shaking, apparent nervousness, and recoiling from your touch
- Bedsores, which may indicate they are not being bathed or moved regularly
- A messy appearance
- Indications of poor hygiene
- Changes in your loved one’s finances without valid explanation
- Bleeding or bruising around their genitals
- Infection
- Dehydration
- One or more accidents
- Serious injuries such as broken bones
You may not have to spot these signs on your own, as your loved one may tell you explicitly that they are being mistreated, or may provide hints to the same effect. Any form of mistreatment of your loved one could be reason for you to contact the team for a Miami nursing home accident lawyer. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 for details about how we may go the extra mile in seeking justice for your loved one.
A Lawyer May Be Able To Lead Your Case
Finding out that your loved one was subjected to neglect, abuse, or other forms of mistreatment can cause a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. You may be concerned with getting your loved one out of the home where they were mistreated and into a safe location. This is an appropriate response, as your loved one’s safety should be of the utmost concern.
Your lawyer may be able to help ensure that your loved one does not suffer further harm. They may also lead any lawsuit that you choose to bring on behalf of your loved one. Some of the steps that your lawyer may take in fighting for your loved one are:
- Identifying each of the parties who have liability for mistreatment of your loved one
- Filing your lawsuit
- Determining what losses your loved one has suffered, and what the dollar value of those losses is
- Drafting and filing all paperwork required to complete your lawsuit
- Handling all lawsuit-related correspondence
- Documenting your loved one’s injuries
- Hiring any necessary experts to help with your lawsuit
- Negotiating a pre-trial settlement
- Completing a trial
A lawsuit may generally culminate in either a settlement or trial. If your lawyer is able to negotiate a suitable settlement before trial, then no trial will be necessary. If they are not able to secure a settlement containing the amount of compensation that your loved one deserves, then your lawyer will be prepared to complete a trial.
Potential Compensation for Your Loved One
Every instance of elder mistreatment is unique, and your lawyer must be familiar with your loved one’s case to provide specifics about the damages they may be entitled to. With this said, some possible forms of awards in a nursing home mistreatment case may include coverage for:
- The cost of your loved one’s stay at the nursing home where they were mistreated
- The cost of medical treatment that can be linked to one or more instances of mistreatment
- Pain and suffering your loved one has endured
- The cost of your loved one being relocated to a safe location
Your loved one may be entitled to additional losses, and speaking with the team for a lawyer may give you a clearer picture of the types of awards you may collect.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
A Miami nursing home accident lawyer may be able to fight for the awards that your loved one deserves, and help ensure that they are not affected further by subpar care. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 for a free consultation.
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