Senior nursing home residents might experience a wide range of injuries. Sometimes an accident just happens, but in other instances, a vulnerable adult may be a victim of abuse or neglect.
If you notice bruises on your loved one’s body, you are right to be concerned. An employee may have told you that an accident caused the bruises. Your family member may have told you the same thing, but you might have a gut feeling that something is not right.
A Jacksonville bruises lawyer may be able to sort things out. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm investigates cases involving abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities across the United States and helps victims and their families seek justice.
Call us today at (800) 842-6336 to discuss your concerns with a member of our staff and to learn more about how we might be able to assist you.
How Seniors in Nursing Homes May Get Bruises
Elderly people are much more likely to fall than younger individuals for many reasons. As people get older, their eyesight changes, making it harder to see hazards, such as a loose rug or an object on the floor.
Older individuals may also have problems with balance and coordination. In addition, many older adults have arthritis, which can make it difficult to move, and osteoporosis can weaken bones and increase the risk of falling.
Residents in nursing homes typically take multiple medications that treat various ailments. Some medicines cause people to feel dizzy, lightheaded, or tired, increasing the risk of falling.
Some older people have medical conditions that make them more susceptible to bruising. Patients might take some medications to treat some health issues that cause them to bruise easily.
However, there is the possibility that nursing home victims can be victims of abuse. The problem is widespread, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.
For example, staff members who feel frustrated or overwhelmed may hit, slap, or push patients. Workers may also withhold assistance with critical needs, such as using the bathroom. If an elderly patient calls for help several times, but those requests are ignored, he or she may try to walk to the bathroom without assistance, fall, and suffer an injury.
Neglect is another common problem in long-term care facilities. Workers who are stressed out may not provide residents with the quality of care they deserve. They may intentionally cut corners and ignore requests for aid, or they may do their best but still provide inadequate care because the facility is short-staffed, or staff members did not receive proper training.
What to Do if Your Family Member Has Been Abused or Neglected
It can be difficult to figure out exactly why an older person in a nursing home has bruises. So many factors can come into play. Accidents do happen, and sometimes, no one has committed abuse or acted negligently. It is an unfortunate reality, however, that nursing home abuse and neglect occur frequently. If your loved one has unexplained bruises, you naturally want to get to the bottom of it.
You have most likely asked nursing home staff and your relative what happened. Employees may have given you an explanation that you felt was inadequate, or different people could have given you different accounts.
Your family member may have told you that there was an accident, but you might not be sure if that is the whole story. You may have felt that your loved one was holding something back. If your family member has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, they might not remember what happened or give a clear explanation.
A Jacksonville bruises lawyer might be able to get to the bottom of it. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has handled numerous cases involving abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities. While we know that not all injuries are due to mistreatment, we also know workers sometimes make excuses or intimidate victims to stop them from coming forward.
Our team can speak with your family member (if they can communicate). We can also interview others who may be able to provide information, such as fellow residents and staff members. We can review nursing home documents to find out if an employee filed a report on the injuries, what type of treatment (if any) your family member received, whether the source of the bruises was investigated, and what conclusion was reached.
If you are ready to get started, we are ready to help you. Call us today to schedule a free consultation where we can discuss the specifics of your situation. We can guide you through the legal process and help you map out your next steps.
For a free legal consultation with a Jacksonville Bruises Lawyer serving Jacksonville, call (800) 794-0444
How a Jacksonville Bruises Lawyer May Be Able to Seek Justice for Your Family
If we uncover evidence that your loved one was abused or neglected, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to take legal action against the facility. We could file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your loved one’s medical bills and noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering.
When people learn that a family member has endured abuse or neglect in a nursing home, they often want to file a lawsuit but worry about legal fees. Concerns about cost should not stop you from pursuing justice for your loved one.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm operates on contingency. That means we will not charge you any money upfront to represent your family in a personal injury case. We collect a fee only if we negotiate a settlement on behalf of your loved one or prevail at trial.
The law limits the time victims of personal injuries must take legal action. In Florida, plaintiffs must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the incident date or within two years from when the incident was, or should have been, discovered.
Victims have no more than four years to sue, according to Florida Statutes §429.296.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you gather evidence that can help your case. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can get to work for you. Call us today at (800) 842-6336 to schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our team.
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