When you make the difficult decision to place your loved ones in a nursing home, you expect that they will be safe and receive the medical and personal attention that they need. You want them to have the best care possible under the circumstances. Unfortunately, as a Fort Worth bruises lawyer can tell you, nursing residents may suffer abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them.
Understaffing and high staff turnover rates are only two of the factors that can result in nursing home residents suffering harm. If your loved one constantly has unexplained bruises, he or she may have become a victim of abuse. In this situation, you can seek legal advice from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to understand your rights and legal remedies.
Call (800) 842-6336 today and learn more about the services that we can offer you concerning your potential nursing home abuse claim.
Elder Abuse and Bruises in Nursing Home Residents
The National Center of Elder Abuse (NCEA) reports that if the population of individuals who are over the age of 65 continues to rise at the expected rate, there will be almost 75 million seniors by the year 2050. With increased life expectancies and advances in medical treatment, the need for nursing facilities for seniors also will continue to rise.
Along with this increase comes a heightened propensity for elder abuse to occur in nursing homes. Although some cases of elder abuse do come to light, researchers suspect that many more cases of elder abuse go unreported.
Bruising is not uncommon in older Americans. According to the Mayo Clinic, as skin ages, it thins and loses some of the fatty layers that protects blood vessels, which leads to more discoloration. Furthermore, seniors who take aspirin, anticoagulant medications, antiplatelet agents, and even some antibiotics may have blood clotting difficulties. In these situations, bruising can be more severe.
However, unexplained bruising in nursing home residents also can be a sign of abuse. For instance, low staffing levels can lead to unattended or neglected nursing home residents may fall or have other accidents that result in bruising. Staff members may handle residents too roughly or improperly, which can lead to bruises. Improper use of restraints by staff also can cause bruising in nursing home residents.
Although bruises may seem like a relatively minor injury for nursing home residents, they can indicate or be a precursor to more severe abuse. Especially if nursing home residents are unable to explain how bruises occurred or are reluctant to discuss the topic, abuse may be present. If you suspect that a loved one is being abused while residing in a nursing home, you can contact
a Fort Worth bruises lawyer for advice about your legal options.
Nursing Home Liability for Abuse of Residents
Nursing homes that employ staff members are liable or financially responsible for the acts of their employees, even if their actions are negligent, careless, or reckless. As a result, if nursing home staff members neglect or abuse residents so that they suffer bruising or other injuries, the nursing home is responsible.
Likewise, a nursing home has a duty to maintain a secure home to protect residents from harm. Many nursing homes allow third-party contractors, such as housekeeping staff, food service workers, or delivery persons, to enter the facility and have access to residents. If the residents suffer harm from these third parties, the nursing home could be liable for failing to take adequate measures to protect the residents from injury.
Nursing homes also have a duty to screen prospective employees to ensure the safety of their residents. Similarly, they must adequately train workers and maintain sufficient staff members so that residents receive proper care. These facilities also must maintain systems of checks and balances that allow them to promptly identify abuse if it is occurring. As a result, a nursing home likely will have liability for any injuries that occur to a resident while in its care.
For a free legal consultation with a Bruises Lawyer serving Fort Worth, call (800) 794-0444
Statutes of Limitations in Nursing Home Abuse Claims
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003 places a time limit on the filing of nursing home abuse claims arising from negligence. This deadline or statute of limitations prevents injury victims from suing responsible parties many years after an incident has occurred. As a result, victims of nursing home abuse have only two years from the date that their injuries occurred to file their claims against the nursing home or other potentially responsible parties.
Failing to file your claim within the relevant statute of limitations can prevent you from obtaining any compensation for the injuries to your loved one. Furthermore, your family will be unable to hold the nursing home accountable for the injuries that they allowed to occur. Therefore, injury victims should not hesitate to get legal advice about their situation, as the time for taking any legal action is quite limited.
Fort Worth Bruises Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Get Legal Help Today
When receiving care in a nursing home facility, your family member has the right to not only receive quality care but also to be free from physical abuse and neglect. If your loved one exhibits unexplained bruising or other signs of abuse, your family may have a legal claim for compensation against the nursing home. A Fort Worth bruises lawyer can investigate your situation and help you determine whether you have a valid cause of action on behalf of your loved one. Together, you can work to hold the nursing home accountable for its negligent actions in allowing your loved one to suffer injuries.
We feel strongly about helping seek justice for nursing home residents who have suffered abuse in the nursing homes who were supposed to care for them. You need not worry about paying any legal fees upfront. We will provide you with legal representation in your claim without any out-of-pocket fees paid by you. Instead, we will receive our fees only when your family receives compensation for your losses.
Call (800) 842-6336 and begin working with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to hold negligent nursing homes responsible for allowing their residents to suffer injuries.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
