Nursing home abuse is a heinous crime. It can cause serious injuries to an elderly victim, both physically and emotionally. At Hall Law P.A., our legal team understands that it can take a long time to heal from nursing home abuse. Our St. Cloud nursing home abuse attorneys are here to help in any way we can. If your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact us today for a free consultation.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is an intentional type of harm to the elderly residents at a nursing home or another type of long-term care facility. It can include four main types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional and financial. Although families put their trust in nursing homes in St. Cloud, many facilities have employees that intentionally harm residents. Other nursing homes neglect their residents by failing to meet the required standards of care in cleanliness, safety, sanitation and resident wellbeing. In either situation, the elderly resident can suffer serious consequences.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse often describes misconduct by the facility’s staff members. Those hired to care for nursing home residents may sexually assault, physically abuse, verbally assault or financially exploit the very people they are supposed to care for. Sadly, many nursing home abuse survivors do not come forward or report abuse. Instead, it is up to their family members to watch for red flags. Common red flags may include:
- Unusual or unexplained physical injuries
- Frequent trips to the ER
- Broken bones or dislocations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fall injuries
- Slap or bite marks
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Withdrawal or depression
- Fear, shame, guilt or anxiety
- Sudden mental health declines
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Unkempt appearance
- Malnutrition
- Bedsores
These are common examples of health and wellness issues related to nursing home abuse and neglect. Keep a close eye on your loved one and visit as often as possible. This can allow you to notice the difference between what your loved one is usually like and what he or she is like after abuse. If a staff member of the nursing home is guilty of abusing your loved one, the nursing home itself could be vicariously liable for damages.
What Is a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in St. Cloud? Do You Have a Claim?
Liability refers to legal responsibility for someone else’s injuries and related losses. In Minnesota, to recover financial compensation for losses, an injured victim (plaintiff) will need to prove that the other party (defendant) is liable, using clear and convincing evidence. Proving liability means establishing a duty of care owed, a breach of this duty and causation for the injuries in question. In other words, the plaintiff or attorney would need to prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a certain standard of care, and did not meet that standard, causing the injury. If a plaintiff successfully proves liability, he or she can receive compensation.
How Can a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Help?
A nursing home abuse lawyer at Hall Law P.A. can help you file a claim in St. Cloud by investigating your loved one’s injuries, obtaining any available evidence of nursing home abuse or neglect, collecting medical records, and filing the claims paperwork on your family member’s behalf. From there, we can ensure fair results for your case by negotiating with the nursing home’s insurance company for you. We use aggressive negotiation strategies and prepare every case as if it will go to trial. That way, if the legal matter does require a trial to resolve, we are ready to go to court to stand up for what is right.
Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in St. Cloud Today
No family should ever have to deal with the terrible crime of nursing home abuse or resident neglect. If you believe your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in St. Cloud, do not hesitate to contact Hall Law P.A. We will do what it takes to fight for justice on behalf of your elderly loved one. Call (800) 292-1979 or contact us online today for a free case review.