We may be conditioned to shrug off bumps and bruises over the course of our lives, but you should not extend such a carefree attitude towards bruises you see on your elderly loved one. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), abuse of the elderly (referred to as elder abuse) happens on a global scale. Though it is true that the elderly may be more likely to bruise, do not dismiss your loved one’s bruises as harmless accidents. Ask your loved one how the bruises got there, and investigate further if you are not satisfied with the answers you receive.
Your loved one’s bruises may be caused by abuse or neglect, and your loved one may be worried about exposing such mistreatment out of fear or other concerns. If you suspect that bruises on your loved one may be caused by one form of mistreatment or another, you may want to consult a Berwyn bruises lawyer. Call our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Your Loved One May Hesitate to Speak Up
Do not assume that your loved one would report their experience with abuse or neglect to you without your prompting — this is often not the case. If your loved one is being abused, they may not speak up because:
- Their abuser tells them that their loved one will not believe them.
- Their abuser tells them that telling anyone about the abuse will result in more severe abuse.
- Your loved one does not understand that certain behaviors qualify as abuse, whether it is emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual.
- Your loved one may be ashamed about their abuse, and feel unjustifiably embarrassed to tell you about it.
- Your loved one may incorrectly believe that there is nothing that can be done to stop the abuse, such as moving them to a new home or having the abuser fired and prosecuted.
There are countless reasons why your loved one may stay silent about abuse. Isolation that can both contribute to and result from elder abuse may lead to hopelessness and despair that makes your loved one reporting the abuse even less likely.
For these reasons, it is important that you obtain thorough answers about any bruises that you see on your loved one, and ensure that they are not being abused. You may be surprised at their response.
Abuse And Neglect Are Not Uncommon in Elderly Living Communities
For many family members of nursing home residents, there is no way to be aware of the danger lurking in a nursing home until it is too late. If your loved one was victimized by a nursing home staff, act now and seek legal help.
There are several ways that a nurse, doctor, care staffer, other employees, or a fellow resident in a nursing home could abuse or neglect your loved one. These include:
- Grabbing your loved one in a way that causes pain, regardless of whether it causes bruising.
- Speaking to your loved one in a manner that is degrading, humiliating, or meant to incite anger, fear, or sadness.
- Taking actions that humiliate or degrade your loved one.
- Acting in a way likely to cause physical injury to your loved one, such as tripping them, pushing them, hitting them, burning them, or scratching them.
- Failing to assist your loved one in going to the restroom, bathing, eating, drinking, taking medications, or any other activity for which they require assistance.
- Administering medication in an improper way, such as going off of schedule or giving them too much or too little of any medication.
It is a terrible thought to consider that your loved one is experiencing abuse or neglect, but facing this possibility is the only way to ensure that your loved one is free from harm’s way now and in the future. If you see bruises or other possible signs of abuse or neglect, call protective services, law enforcement, and then a law firm that handles nursing home abuse. More specifically, call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
A Berwyn Bruises Lawyer is Your Guide Through This Tough Time
Just as your loved one needs you to defend them from possible mistreatment, you can lean on a Berwyn bruises lawyer to help you navigate the legal process, as well as any other steps that you may need to take to ensure your loved one’s safety.
A lawyer can assist you by:
- Relying on past experience to give you insight into the possible outcomes of your case.
- Explaining the steps you should take to protect your loved one from further harm while also beginning your loved one’s case for compensation.
- Identifying the defendants in your loved one’s case, initiating legal action, and getting in touch with counsel for the defense so that you are aware of any available settlement offers.
- Seeing your legal case for compensation through from start to finish.
- Defending you and your loved one’s rights throughout the legal process.
The goal of a Berwyn bruises attorney is to first protect your loved one, and then hold those who inflicted abuse or neglect, or allowed such mistreatment to happen, responsible for their negligence. If your Berwyn bruises lawyer is successful in this mission, your loved one may collect compensation for:
- Pain and suffering.
- The cost of the nursing home.
- Medical expenses related to mistreatment.
- Any theft of your loved one’s valuables or money.
For a free legal consultation with a Bruises Lawyer serving Berwyn, call (800) 794-0444
Call Our Team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
We will do whatever we can to seek justice for your loved one and protect them from any further harm. Call us today for a free consultation. You will pay no out-of-pocket or upfront expenses, as we only collect a fee if we win financial awards for your loved one.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
