Your loved one’s nursing home should be doing everything it can to prevent residents from being injured. Accidents can happen, but if they are frequently happening, or you notice the regular occurrence of injuries and illnesses, the nursing home could be subjecting your loved one to abuse or neglect.
You might want to speak with an Austin nursing home injury lawyer if your loved one has suffered from:
● Wounds and soft tissue injuries – These injuries happen when the skin is burned, cut, broken, or bruised. Contusions, or bruises, are often the result of blunt force trauma, like a kick, blow, or fall. All of these injuries can indicate physical abuse.
● Head injuries – According to the Columbia University Department of Neurology, head injuries are among the leading causes of disability and death in adults. Head injuries include concussions, skull fractures, and brain bleeds. Violence is one of the most common causes of brain injuries. They also can be caused by falls.
● Bone breaks and fractures – Bones can be broken and shattered by excessive force or falls. The Endocrine Society found that broken bones can increase an older adult’s mortality risk for up to 10 years.
● Pressure ulcers – People with limited mobility may develop pressure ulcers (bedsores) if they are not repositioned often enough by their caregivers. Bedsores are painful, and if not treated, can develop into a more serious infection. They also are a sign of nursing home neglect.
● Infections – Certain types of infections are common amongst the elderly. These include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and contagious illnesses like influenza. If not treated, infections can develop into a deadly medical condition called sepsis. Failure to prevent and treat infections is another sign of neglect.
● Medication errors – Medication errors can cause injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Nursing home residents may be at high risk of a medication error because they often take multiple medications.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you with a nursing home abuse lawsuit if your family member has suffered from these or any other injuries while in nursing home care. To find out more about how you can take legal action on behalf of your loved one, call our team today at (800) 842-6336.
Not All Signs of Abuse Are Physical
While injuries may be an obvious sign of abuse and neglect, other things may signal your loved one is a victim. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), abuse can also manifest mentally and emotionally. Seniors who are being abused physically, sexually, or psychologically may show signs of trauma and depression.
If you get a bad feeling about the nursing home and its staff when you visit your loved one, trust that feeling. You know if something does not seem right. If the nursing seems understaffed or the staff does not seem friendly and competent, it could be a red flag that there are problems. Pay attention if your loved one seems afraid of a staff member or expresses dislike for an employee. Examine the conditions of the facility. If it is not clean and tidy, it could be cause for concern.
Compensation for Your Loved One
Money cannot take away the suffering your loved one and your family have gone through. But, it is right and fair that the people who injured your loved one should compensate them for the harm they have inflicted. You and your family member should not have to pay for damages you did not cause.
An Austin nursing home injury lawyer can help you fight for awards to cover your loved one’s expenses, including past medical bills and bills for future care related to their injuries. You may also receive awards to help move your loved one into a new nursing home. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to get started.
Physical pain is not the only way your loved one has suffered. You can seek damages for the stress and anxiety caused by their abuse. In addition to these awards, which compensate your family member, you can also seek punitive damages meant to punish the nursing home. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.001 allows punitive damages when the defendant has acted with extreme negligence, malice, or has committed fraud.
If your loved one’s injuries resulted in their death, you can seek all of the aforementioned damages in their name. You can seek additional awards for your pain and suffering.
Under the statute of limitations, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003, you have two years to bring your case to civil court. This time limit applies to both claims of personal injury and wrongful death. Contact an attorney as soon as possible so they can begin readying your case. Your lawyer will:
● Interview your loved one about their injuries, if possible.
● Interview other nursing home residents and staff members about the abuse they may have experienced or witnessed.
● Seek out medical experts who can testify that your loved one’s injuries are due to abuse or neglect.
● Collect medical records, nursing home injury and accident reports, bills, and other official documents.
● Help you report the abuse to the police and the Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities (DADS), which licenses and regulates nursing homes and investigates abuse claims.
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Injury Lawyer serving Austin, call (800) 842-6336
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Represent You
Do not let the people who hurt your loved one get away with abuse. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to help you fight for the justice and financial compensation your family deserves. Our nationwide firm will partner with an Austin nursing home injury lawyer to bring you personalized, local representation.
We want our services to be both convenient and cost-effective for you. We can travel to meet with you and we don’t collect a fee upfront. Any payment we receive will come from your settlement. If your case does not settle in your favor, we do not get paid. To find out more about how working with a lawyer can benefit you, call (800) 842-6336 to take advantage of a free consultation.
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