West Palm Beach Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

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It’s devastating to learn that a nursing home violated your trust by harming your loved one. A West Palm Beach nursing home abuse lawyer can help your family get justice in the form of full financial compensation.

Our personal injury lawyers at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers offer a free consultation so that you can learn about your legal rights. If you’re ready to take action, contact our West Palm Beach law office near you by calling at (561)-556-7873 to schedule your 100% free case review.

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How A Respected West Palm Beach Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help

Perpetrators of nursing home abuse can be held criminally liable for their actions in Florida. Your family also has the right to hold nursing homes financially accountable for abuse and neglect.

But it can be hard to find proof that your loved one is being abused. Victims of nursing home abuse often hesitate to report an abusive caregiver.

They might not even tell their children or closest friends. Nursing homes will also try to cover up the abuse. You can expect that the suspected abusers will do everything they can to deny their role.

The at-fault parties have the tools to escape liability. Older Americans are more susceptible to slip and fall and get hurt. Some nursing home residents suffer from mental conditions that can make it hard to speak up. You need our experienced West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys in your corner to stop them from getting away with it.

When you hire Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, you can rest assured that our lawyers will:

Report the abuse to all appropriate authorities and help you get your loved one out of the dangerous situation
Launch a full investigation to identify every party who played a role in your loved one’s abuse
Investigate the nursing home to uncover any history of health or safety violations
Interview nursing home employees, residents, and your loved one’s medical team
Hire specialists and experts who can testify to the true cost of the abuse
Negotiate with the insurance company to get the most compensation possible
Advocate for justice in civil court if necessary

Victims of nursing home abuse have already suffered physically and mentally. As a family member or close friend, you’ve also suffered serious emotional trauma. You shouldn’t have to add financial suffering to the list. Let our experienced personal injury lawyers fight to get justice for your family.

Nursing Home Abuse is Shockingly Common

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in six people aged 60 and older reported some type of abuse that took place in a community setting last year. Shockingly, research suggests that 64.2% of staff members admitted to some type of elder abuse in the past year.

Nursing Home Abuse Comes in Many Shapes and Sizes

Nursing home abuse can impact residents physically, emotionally, and financially. The following are the most common forms of nursing home abuse in South Florida.

Physical Abuse and Sexual Abuse

Physical and sexual abuse are serious issues in Florida nursing homes. Nursing home residents are often weaker and unable to fight back.

They might also suffer mental disabilities that make it difficult for them to understand what’s happening.

Physical abuse can include:

Sexual assault
Hitting, slapping, or punching
Kicking
Burning
Improper use of restraints
Inappropriate use of medications
Withholding food or water

Even slight bruising and lacerations in an older adult can lead to serious physical consequences. From an emotional standpoint, physical abuse can be devastating to an adult who can’t fight back.

It’s important to remember that your loved one might not tell you they’re being hurt. They might even try to hide the signs of abuse. That’s why it’s always important to communicate and keep an eye out for any signs of abuse.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Our older adults can be more emotionally vulnerable when they’re placed in a nursing home or long-term care facility. Emotional abuse can include:

Isolating the victim
Ridicule and threats
Humiliation
Harassment
Verbal abuse
Trying to confuse or agitate the victim
Withholding food or water

The signs of emotional abuse and neglect can be subtle. Your loved one may appear withdrawn or display sudden behavioral changes. They might suffer from depression and experience unexplained weight loss.

The impact of emotional abuse can be every bit as devastating as physical or sexual abuse. If your loved one has suffered at the hands of an emotionally abusive caregiver, call Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers for help today.

Financial Abuse

Financial predators often view nursing home residents as easy targets. Many are cut off from regular contact with their loved ones. Some have diminished mental capacities.

Senior citizens can also have significant financial resources. Caregivers in assisted living facilities might try to take advantage by:

Forging signatures
Using your loved one’s credit cards or checks
Asking for money
Stealing money
Gaining improper access to financial accounts
Convincing your loved one to give them power of attorney

The long-term impact of financial abuse can be significant for your entire family. Your loved one might not have trouble paying for medical care–and could even have a hard time funding their nursing home care.

If you notice any unusual financial transactions or missing property, please contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney for help right away.

What is Nursing Home Neglect?

General neglect can cause physical and emotional harm. Nursing home neglect is either an outright refusal or a simple failure to provide necessary care. Staff members might withhold food, water, and needed medications. Immobile residents can be left to suffer bed sores, blood clots, and other complications.

If you notice unsanitary conditions, unexplained falls, bed sores or a general lack of supervision when you visit, it’s possible that your loved one may have been neglected.

Remember, neglect can be intentional or unintentional. Some nursing homes are understaffed. That’s still a form of negligence.

What Types of Actions Amount to Nursing Home Abuse in Florida?

Physical abuse is probably the most easily detectable type of nursing home abuse. Slapping, hitting and kicking are all actions that can leave a visible mark. Nursing homes have a duty of care that includes preventing all types of abuse and neglect, however.

The most common types of nursing home abuse and neglect involve:

Negligent training and supervision of nursing home caregivers
Failure to conduct proper background checks on employees
Unsanitary conditions
Failure to adequately supervise residents who require assistance with mobility
Failure to supervise patients who suffer from conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Failure to put procedures into place to protect your loved one’s safety
Understaffing
Failure to provide needed medical treatment
Failure to properly supervise third parties who are invited into the nursing home

If you aren’t sure whether a nursing home may be liable for damages, don’t hesitate to get legal advice. Your consultation at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers is always free, so there’s no risk in learning more about your rights.

Common Injuries Caused By Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home residents are susceptible to any type of accident and injury. However, some of the most common injuries caused by nursing home abuse or neglect include:

Bed sores
Malnutrition
Dehydration
Bruises
Lacerations
Marks from the use of restraints around the ankles and wrists
Broken bones
Fall injuries
Infection
Sexually transmitted diseases
Signs of sexual abuse, including injuries to the upper thighs and genitals
Wrongful death

Not all nursing home injuries are caused by neglect. Accidents do happen even when the facility is providing appropriate care. In this type of situation, however, it’s always important to follow up and make sure your loved one is being treated properly.

Take Action If You Believe a Loved One is Suffering From Nursing Home Abuse in West Palm Beach, FL

It can be difficult to know where to turn if you think a loved one has been abused in a nursing home. It’s important to quickly take steps to protect them from further harm. You might remove them from the nursing home entirely. It’s also important to get legal help quickly. We can help you report the abuse to the authorities.

Our lawyers will also make sure to file your injury claim before the Florida statute of limitations expires. You generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages related to nursing home abuse.

Can I Sue for Financial Compensation if a Loved One Was Abused in a Nursing Home?

You have the right to hold the responsible party both criminally and civilly liable. Our lawyers will fight to win fair compensation for your family’s losses, including money for:

All medical bills, including the cost of future medical care
Hospitalization
Corrective procedures
Medications
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
PTSD
Anxiety and depression
Financial restitution
The cost of moving to a new nursing home
Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive damages for intentional acts of abuse

At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, our attorneys will do everything we can to get the most money possible for your family.

Call a Trusted West Palm Beach Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer For Help Today

We all deserve to be safe and respected. At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we’re passionate about holding nursing homes fully accountable for abuse. If you have questions about our practice areas and how we can help, call for a free consultation with a trusted West Palm Beach nursing home abuse lawyer today. We’re here to help clients in Palm Beach County and across South Florida.