It’s tough to know what to do when you suspect your loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse. You trusted the facility to provide the best care possible, but instead, it seems like your worst fears may be coming true.
You may feel trepidation in bringing allegations of nursing home abuse forward. What if you’re wrong? But it’s important to speak up when you feel like something isn’t right, and our nursing home abuse lawyers in Sacramento can help.
Our team of Sacramento personal injury lawyers at J&Y Law has over 80 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of injured victims in California. Contact us today for a free consultation and tell us your nursing home abuse concerns.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?
If you believe you, your loved one, or any other older adult in a nursing home is a victim of abuse, don’t keep it to yourself. By speaking up, you can stop the abuse and help hold the abusers accountable for their actions.
Call 911
If you or another person is in immediate danger, call 911. This will dispatch the police to your location to address the situation. They may investigate further or make arrests. If nothing else, your statement will create an official record of your fear for your safety at the nursing home.
Contact an Attorney
If you or your loved one is not in immediate danger, it’s smart to contact a nursing home abuse attorney in Sacramento. An attorney can help you understand your options and make the right choices for protecting the victim and taking legal action.
Tell the Administrator
It’s important to express your concerns to the nursing home administrator. In California, skilled-nursing administrators are mandatory reporters, which means they are legally required to report allegations of elder abuse to the police or a county agency.
Contact the Ombudsman
Reach out to the appropriate ombudsman through the Sacramento Area 4 Agency on Aging. Ombudsmen are trained advocates for populations such as nursing home residents. The ombudsman can investigate your claim and report their findings to the authorities.
Document the Evidence
Keep records on everything, and make them as detailed as possible. Include things like the names of people you believe are involved, photos of unexplained injuries or bruises, or bank statements showing unusual activity.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Sacramento, call (877) 735-7035
Why Pursue a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
Alerting the authorities and the ombudsman to the abuse can put the gears in motion and ultimately hold abusers legally responsible for the misdeeds. Perpetrators can face fines and prison time, and culpable nursing homes can lose their licenses.
That’s a good thing, but it doesn’t help you recover your damages caused by the abuse. A Sacramento nursing home abuse lawyer can help you pursue civil charges to recover compensation for your hardships.
Aside from this obvious benefit, bringing a public lawsuit against a nursing home can shed light on a toxic culture and put an end to abuse that may have been persistent for years. With the help of your attorney, you can not only help your loved one but perhaps save others from abuse.
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How Much Is a Nursing Home Lawsuit Worth?
The amount you can recover will depend on the specifics of your case and the nature of the abuse. Our attorneys will calculate your damages and work toward a result that fully accounts for your losses.
Through a civil lawsuit, you or your loved one may be able to recover damages such as:
- The cost of medical care or therapy due to the abuse
- The expense of moving to a different facility to escape the abuse
- Non-economic damages such as mental anguish, pain, and suffering
- Economic losses due to theft or scams
A court may also consider punitive damages if it feels the nursing home or its employees showed a pattern of malice, oppression, or fraud. These damages are intended to punish the defendant and prevent them from behaving similarly in the future.
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How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
Your nursing home abuse lawyer has the knowledge and experience to get the justice your loved one deserves. Some of the ways we can help include:
- Explaining the applicable laws and your rights
- Investigating claims of abuse and uncovering all liable parties
- Assessing damages to arrive at a fair compensation amount
- Filing a civil lawsuit on your behalf
- Negotiating a fair settlement that fully accounts for your damages
- Representing you or your loved one in court
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Recognize the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse is often subtle, and abusers know how to cover their tracks. In some cases, the facility itself may engage in unethical and illegal practices in an attempt to avoid the consequences of an abuse scandal.
By understanding the signs of different kinds of abuse, you can act when your loved one needs help. Above all, listen to their concerns, and believe them if they say something isn’t right.
- Physical Abuse: Look for signs such as unexplained or frequent cuts, bruises, burns, and broken bones. The victim may also show fear of specific staff members.
- Emotional Abuse: The victim may appear withdrawn, avoid certain places or people, and exhibit behaviors that are out of character for their usual personality.
- Sexual Abuse: Watch for bruising around the genitals, torn or bloody underwear, unexplained infections, or a sudden fear of particular staff members.
- Neglect: Signs may include sudden weight loss, poor hygiene, untreated medical issues, bedsores, or being left alone for extended periods.
- Financial Abuse: Be alert to unusual activity in bank accounts, sudden changes to wills or other legal documents, or unusual relationships between staff and the resident.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Sacramento
There are few crimes more despicable than elder abuse, especially when it occurs in a nursing-home setting where older adults should feel safe and secure. If you believe it is happening to your loved one, don’t hesitate to take action.
People who engage in or allow nursing home abuse can face criminal charges, but you can also send a message and recover compensation through the civil court system. Our nursing home abuse attorneys in Sacramento can help you get the justice your loved one deserves.
Our team at J&Y Law is here to help you protect your family. Contact us today for a free consultation, and find out how we can help.
Call or text (877) 735-7035 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
