Nursing home facilities provide invaluable services to families struggling to find the emotional and financial resources to care for aging loved ones. Offering round-the-clock care, compassionate staff, and an opportunity for socialization and increased quality of life, most of these facilities strive to be a home away from home. Still, physical abuse is not uncommon. According to Texas Health and Human Services (HHS), physical abuse and violent injuries to elders result in $5.3 billion in associated medical costs. If your loved one is one of the many victims of elder abuse, act as their advocate, and fight for their rights.
The Fort Worth physical abuse lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm bring compassionate and caring legal counsel to every case. Call (800) 842-6336 to schedule a risk-free consultation today. We will review your case, explain your legal options, and attempt to guide you on the most effective next steps to take.
Signs of Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes
Texas Health and Human Services defines abuse as “the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment” that results in physical harm or mental anguish. As a direct result of their reliance on their providers for every daily need, their advanced age, and mental confusion, your loved one might not be able to report abuse as it happens.
Because you are family, it is your job to remain aware of the signs of abuse, intervene immediately, and act as your loved one’s advocate in unjust situations. However, you do not have to face nursing home abusers alone. A Fort Worth physical abuse lawyer can help you fight for justice.
Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse Include:
- Unexplained physical injuries, including bedsores, bruises, broken bones, lacerations, and more
- Continued and persistent mismanagement of medication, including overmedicating, refusal to provide required medications, polypharmacy, and more
- Sudden refusal to allow visitors to the facility without reasonable explanation
Physical abuse does more than result in a one-time injury. It can be the cause of persistent pain that diminishes your loved one’s quality of life, trouble sleeping and eating, increased risk of premature death, and learned helplessness. Your loved one deserves to be protected.
A personal injury lawyer can help. Contact the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to schedule a consultation with a Fort Worth physical abuse lawyer.
Nursing Home Resident Rights
Texas Administrative Code §19.403 spells out a number of rights for residents and their families. The code lays out the legal responsibilities of staff members and facility owners. From being compelled to ensure a safe and compassionate living environment to being mandated to report any incident of abuse immediately, nursing homes in Texas are held to strict legal standards.
If a nursing home fails to provide this care, the administrators may be held liable for compensating victims and families for damages that include:
- Medical: Medical visits and hospitalizations required to treat current and future injuries and any associated infections and illnesses may be covered.
- Emotional: Pain and suffering that includes any and all aspects of emotional distress may be covered. This can include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, fear, and hopelessness. Any associated expenses relating to counseling and psychiatric medications can be included in this umbrella.
- Funeral and Burial: In instances where physical abuse results in a fatality, a wrongful death claim can entitle families to financial compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, lost wages, and more.
If you believe your loved one is suffering abuse, your first step should be to discuss the matter with their case manager. Under Texas Administrative Code §19.602, any nursing home owner or employee is legally required to report any and all signs of abuse immediately. Furthermore, owners and employees of these facilities are legally required to investigate all claims of abuse. If your loved one’s case manager fails to act quickly and aggressively, a Fort Worth physical abuse lawyer can help you hold them responsible for their lack of action.
For a free legal consultation with a Physical Abuse Lawyer serving Fort Worth, call (800) 842-6336
Consult a Fort Worth Physical Abuse Lawyer
Advocating for your loved one can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and complicated. Your job is to care for your family members. A nursing home abuse lawyer’s job is to ensure everyone’s rights are being protected, and seek fair compensation when that is not the case.
If you believe your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, a nursing home abuse lawyer could help by:
- Reviewing your case, evaluating the evidence, and advising you on the viability of a personal injury or wrongful death claim
- Communicating with nursing home case managers, staff, and owners
- Gathering evidence including medical records, eyewitness accounts, and more
- Filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim on your behalf and litigating in court if necessary to fight for a fair and robust settlement offer
The personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm have resolved more than 10,000 cases nationwide. Our team of Fort Worth physical abuse lawyers could work with you to fight for the rights of your loved one and your family.
Call our team at (800) 842-6336 to schedule a free consultation. We will offer advice on your next steps and walk you through the process from start to finish. Don’t settle for less than your loved one deserves. Let Pintas & Mullins Law Firm act as your advocate and ally.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
