If your loved one experienced sexual abuse in their Chicago nursing home, you may have the ability to take legal action on their behalf. Your case may qualify you to hold the nursing home administrators who failed to prevent the abuse liable and recover compensation to cover medical care costs, pain and suffering, and more.
Call the Chicago sexual abuse attorneys from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today. We will review your loved one’s case at no cost to your family, and possibly take on the case based on contingency fee, meaning we get paid only if you receive compensation.
Types of Sexual Assault
Sexual assault comprises many types of actions. All types, however, hold one thing in common: They happen against the victim’s will or without their consent. Sexual assault also covers actions that occur when an individual is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, disabled, or below the age of consent in the state where the assault transpired.
The National Institute of Justice lists the following activities as forms of sexual assault when they happen in the above circumstances:
- Intentionally touching the victim’s genitals, breasts, groin, or anus
- Exposing the victim to exhibitionisms
- Exposing the victim to pornography
- Voyeurism
- Publicly displaying images taken of the victim in a “private context” or without their knowledge
These actions may or may not involve the use of actual force, weapons, threats of force, intimidation, coercion, or pressure.
Rape
Although in some states, sexual assault stops short of attempted rape or rape, other states use the terms interchangeably, and still others consider rape to be a form of sexual assault. In a situation of rape, the victim suffers nonconsensual penetration (vaginal, anal, or oral), either by objects or the perpetrator’s body parts. This type of assault involves physical force or threats of physical harm. Alternatively, the victim is considered a minor or was incapacitated at the time of the assault.
Sexual Abuse in Chicago Nursing Homes
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) considers sexual abuse one of the seven types of elder abuse that frequently occurs in nursing homes. Seniors represent a vulnerable group of people in our society because their physical and cognitive impairments often immobilize them, making them prone to abuse by sexual predators. In 2016, the NCEA reported 819 cases of sexual abuse in nursing homes
The NCEA defines sexual abuse as any type of non-consensual sexual contact with a senior. When it comes to nursing home residents, some remain incapable of giving consent. Among those who can, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) prohibits a nursing home staff member or volunteer to make any sexual advances on the seniors in their care.
Sexual abuse can occur in many ways, some of which may not display obvious signs. Sexual abuse can include:
- Unwanted, inappropriate touching.
- Rape.
- Sodomy.
- Forced, unnecessary nudity.
- Sexually explicit photography.
- Exposing oneself to the senior.
- Other types of sexual assault or battery.
The victims of nursing home sexual abuse can suffer significant physical and emotional damages as a result. Injuries and illnesses may require hospitalization in some cases. In addition to the emotional trauma of sexual abuse in such an intimate setting as a nursing home, physical injuries may include:
- Severe bruising on the breasts.
- Bruising in the genital area.
- Unexplained tearing or bleeding from the vagina or anus.
- New symptoms related to a previously unknown sexually transmitted disease or genital infection.
- Other symptoms of abuse.
If your loved one suffered physical injuries or financial losses because they suffered as the victim of sexual abuse in their Chicago nursing home, an attorney from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help you build a case to hold the nursing home owner or administration accountable. They had a duty to protect your loved one, and they failed them.
We can review your loved one’s case for free. Call us.
For a free legal consultation with a Sexual Abuse Lawyer serving Chicago, call (800) 794-0444
Pursuing Compensation in a Chicago Sexual Abuse Case
Nursing home abuse cases centered on a sexual abuse claim require evidence that may prove difficult to demonstrate, but we do not shy away from tough cases. We know these abusers target vulnerable, elderly adults, and we work to hold them responsible when possible. We may work with medical experts, experts on nursing home abuse, and others to build a compelling civil case against the nursing home owner or administration.
We may recover compensation for your loved one, allowing you to ensure that they receive the necessary care to support their physical and emotional needs after an assault.
Deadlines for Taking Legal Action in a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Case
Deadlines apply for how long we can wait to file a civil lawsuit in a nursing home abuse case. We recommend calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm as soon as you recognize possible signs of nursing home sexual abuse, or as soon as you learn the abuse occurred.
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-201 in the Illinois Code of Civil Procedures, we have two years from the date of discovery to take legal action in a nursing home abuse case. After this deadline expires, your loved one could lose their right to file a lawsuit in their case.
Chicago Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Recoverable Awards in a Chicago Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Case
When we file a claim or lawsuit in a nursing home abuse case, we want to hold the nursing home accountable for their actions. However, we also want to ensure your loved one does not suffer any further damages as a result of their abuse and the injuries it caused. We believe the nursing home should pay for their medical care, relocation costs, and other expenses. Your family should not have to suffer a financial burden for sexual abuse inflicted on your loved one.
We may gather proof of your family’s related expenses and losses and seek awards that may relate to:
- Any medical bills related to the abuse.
- Mental health counseling after the abuse.
- Relocation expenses to ensure their safety in another facility.
- Other related expenses.
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish.
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Hire a Chicago Sexual Abuse Attorney for Your Nursing Home Abuse Case
If your family member suffered injuries as a result of sexual abuse in their Chicago nursing home, you may pursue compensation on their behalf. Our team may help you hold the nursing home owners or administrators responsible for the physical, emotional, and financial losses your loved one suffered.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our Chicago sexual abuse lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis. Your family will not need to pay anything out of pocket. We do not charge any upfront costs associated with this type of case. We only receive our attorney’s fees if we recover a settlement or court award in your case.
Call us for your complimentary consultation. We can explain your options and possibly take civil action on your loved one’s behalf.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
