Nursing homes are supposed to be safe, comfortable places for our elderly loved ones, yet many nursing homes are understaffed, which reduces the quality of care and makes abuse or neglect more likely to occur. COVID-19 is also exacerbating the problem of understaffed nursing homes.
If your parent or spouse was injured or neglected because of inadequate staff in their nursing home, it may be time to seek help from a Newark understaffing lawyer. An attorney with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to protect you and your loved one’s legal rights and help you recover awards for medical care, pain and suffering, and even wrongful death.
Call (800) 842-6336 for a free, no-obligation case review with a member of our team.
How Understaffing Endangers Nursing Home Residents
There is ample research that properly staffed nursing homes can improve the quality of care and the quality of life, including a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). According to the study, “the impact of registered nurses (RNs) is particularly positive, but total nursing staff including licensed vocational nurses or licensed practical nurses (LVNs/LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) is also important.”
If proper staffing levels increase positive outcomes, then understaffing brings the potential for numerous adverse effects, including:
- Infection
- Malnourishment
- Dehydration
- Medication errors
- Emergency room visits and hospitalization
- Falls
- Abuse
- Neglect
A nursing home that is chronically understaffed may not be fulfilling its contractual obligation for proper care and may be held liable for resulting injuries, illnesses, and damages. A Newark understaffing attorney with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you identify negligence and pursue compensation on behalf of you and your loved one.
Warning Signs of Abuse and Neglect from Understaffing
Understaffing not only negatively impacts residents, but it also has adverse effects on nurses, aides, and assistants. Staff members are typically overworked, underpaid, and under-trained, or they may operate with little supervision.
This lack of staff and supervision increases the risk of nursing home abuse and neglect. It is usually a concerned family member who notices the signs of elder abuse, which may include:
- Unexplained cuts, bruises, burns, abrasions, or welts
- Weight loss
- Unkempt and unclean hair, clothing, and bedclothes
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers on bedridden residents, indicating that they are not being moved frequently enough
- Confusion and fear that is not typical or attributed to dementia or another medical condition
If you suspect abuse or neglect, act now. Do what you need to do to ensure the safety of your loved one, including calling 9-1-1 if you believe that the situation is life-threatening. If nursing home abuse or neglect due to understaffing has harmed your loved one, please call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to find out how we may be able to help you.
For a free legal consultation with a Understaffing Lawyer serving Newark, call (800) 842-6336
How a Newark Understaffing Lawyer May Help
New Jersey has rules and regulations for the care, supervision, safety, and well-being of nursing home residents, according to the state’s Division of Aging Services. When a nursing home violates these rules and causes injury to your loved one, you may want to have a strong legal advocate by your side. An understaffing lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will aim to gather evidence of neglect, valuate your damages, and pursue compensation and justice.
Gathering Evidence of Abuse or Neglect
Our legal team has the resources and staff to investigate the cause of your loved one’s suffering. We gather evidence of liability or wrongdoing that may include:
- Violations or penalties from the state’s Division of Aging Services or the federal government
- Photos or videos of conditions and circumstances that caused or contributed to your loved one’s injuries
- Proof of injuries such as medical tests, laboratory results, and doctors’ examination notes
- Witness statements, police reports (if applicable), and expert testimony from relevant sources
We may use this evidence to determine if the nursing home failed to uphold its duty of care because of understaffing.
Valuating Your Damages
Nursing home abuse and neglect is considered a personal injury. There are
required elements in any personal injury case:
- Establish that the nursing home owed your loved one a duty of care to take reasonable measures to prevent harm
- Show how the nursing home breached this duty of care by understaffing, causing your loved one to suffer physical and/or emotional injuries
- Determine the damages brought on by these injuries
A Newark understaffing attorney with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will aim to show how you and your loved one have suffered an economic and emotional loss.
Pursuing Compensation and Justice for You
Any nursing home that fails to prevent harm to residents because of understaffing should be held accountable. Our firm will seek the maximum amount of compensation on your behalf. A nursing home abuse lawyer will work for you on a contingency basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we are paid from a percentage of what we recover for you and your loved one.
Newark Understaffing Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Potential Awards for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Each case is different, but our legal team has recovered damages for other nursing home abuse and neglect clients that include:
- Ambulance and emergency medical treatment
- Hospital stays
- Relocation and moving expenses to another facility
- Prescriptions, medical equipment, or assistive devices
- Lifecare expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship or consortium, if your loved one passed away
Nursing homes must carry liability insurance. A lawyer with our firm would first seek compensation by filing a claim against this policy. We can also pursue awards in court if necessary.
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Call Today for a Free Case Review
Insufficient staff levels are a nationwide problem for America’s nursing homes. If your parent, spouse, or other family member was injured because of a lack of nursing home staff, it may be time to call the office of a Newark understaffing lawyer. You and your loved one deserve a strong legal fighter by your side.
For a free case review, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
