Those who abuse nursing home residents, the most vulnerable members of society, must be held accountable for their appalling actions. Nursing home residents usually lack the physical and/or cognitive resources to defend themselves from abuse or neglect, but a North Las Vegas personal Injury Lawyer can fight for them.
If you suspect your loved one is experiencing mistreatment, reach out to H&P Law for help.
Our team has 60+ years of combined experience. You can count on us to use that experience to help your loved one. A North Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyer from our firm will treat you and your loved one with dignity and use the full strength of our team’s resources to secure justice.
Understanding Nursing Home Abuse
Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed or underfunded or operate without proper oversight. Those who suffer most are the residents who may not get the care they need or are subjected to abuse from frustrated, overworked staff.
But even in the best facilities, residents can face mistreatment, and your first line of defense is to know the most common nursing home abuse and signs to watch out for.
Nursing home abuse can take many forms. Being informed and proactive in assessing your loved one’s well-being upon every visit is critical to their safety. Nursing home abuse can be:
- Physical: You may notice unexplained cuts, bruises, frequent cuts, or bruises that caregivers “explain away”
- Emotional: Your loved one’s demeanor may change, and they may seem more anxious, scared, or despondent than usual
- Sexual: Abusers can take advantage of residents’ vulnerability, forcing sexual acts on them or making them watch explicit videos or content
- Financial: Abusers may take items of value from your loved one’s room, or you may notice unexplained purchases, banking or credit card activity
- Neglect: Lack of personal hygiene or unwashed linens or clothes are indicators of neglect, as are depression and increased expressions of loneliness and weight loss
What to do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
It is natural to feel outrage and panic upon realizing–or strongly suspecting–nursing home abuse. But help is available. If your loved one is in immediate danger and or needs emergency care, call 911 first.
Connect with Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD). Connect with a Long Term Care (LTC) ombudsman.
Ombudsmen hear and investigate complaints registered on behalf of LTC residents and work to resolve the complaints–they do so confidentially, never revealing the name of the complainant without consent.
You should also document information supporting your suspicion. Take photos of your loved one’s injuries and make notes on their emotional state, hygiene, and living space conditions. Keep track of their finances, noting any unusual activity.
When to Contact an Attorney
After taking steps to ensure your loved one’s safety, reach out to a North nursing home abuse attorney in North Las Vegas from H&P Law. Ombudsman services can help correct the problems within the facility. Our team will fight to get your loved one justice on a personal level.
Nevada has a two-year statute of limitations for filing most personal injury claims, as per Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 11.190. Fast access to your case increases the chances of a favorable, timely resolution. We will have time to investigate fully, gather evidence while it is accessible, and file within the legal deadline.
How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in North Las Vegas Can Help
Nursing home abuse cases are particularly distressing for all involved. The victims suffer indignity and pain, and loved ones often feel guilty for not noticing what was happening sooner–even though the abuse is not their fault.
Your North Las Vegas nursing home abuse attorney will recognize the emotional intensity of the situation and handle your case with great care.
Our team will strengthen your understanding of personal injury cases so you know what to expect from us and from the process. We will answer your questions and respect your input. Once we take your case, we will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation to determine what types of abuse your loved one sustained and at whose hands. We will work to hold all negligent parties accountable
- Gather evidence to support your claim. We know what kinds of evidence are needed and have resources to access the information you might not be able to obtain on your own
- Value the losses sustained. We know the damages that can be recovered in a personal injury case and will account for every dollar your loved one deserves for their distress, financial losses, and injuries
- Send a settlement demand. We will not leave any damages unaccounted for and will demand full financial justice
Ways of Securing Compensation
After the other side receives the settlement demand, it will probably respond with a counteroffer–one lower than the demand. We will continue to negotiate for a fair settlement, presenting arguments and evidence of support. Many cases settle through negotiations, allowing victims to avoid a lengthy trial, and we will work toward this outcome.
That said, our North Las Vegas nursing home abuse law firm will not settle for less simply to avoid a trial. Our North Las Vegas nursing home abuse lawyers will be prepared to take your case to court if that is what it takes to see justice served.
Should negotiations prove unproductive, we will discuss your legal options with you and help you make the best decision for how to proceed with your case.
We are Here to Help You Get Justice
H&P Law has been advocating for injury victims for decades, and we are ready to get to work for you and your loved one. It is not fair for victims of abuse to have to pay the additional, extensive financial consequences of the injuries and suffering incurred by their mistreatment.
Our goals are to recover any financial losses your loved one experienced from their abuse, to restore their dignity and remind them their lives are valuable, and to make abusers pay for their actions.
