Unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns on a nursing home patient may signal possible elder abuse. Trusting the care of your loved one to strangers is not easy. When doing so, you base your decision on the skills, credentials, and personalities of the nursing home staff.
Discovering the source of the bruise, cut, or burn is sometimes difficult due to your loved one’s inability to communicate or their fear of retaliation by staff. If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home by staff, report the abuse, remove your loved one from the home, and contact a firm that handles nursing home cases.
Our legal team can pursue justice on behalf of your loved one. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we offer free case evaluations from an Oak Park unexplained bruises, cuts, or burns lawyer and we work on a contingency-fee-basis. This means you owe us no money up front. Our firm only collects our fee if we secure compensation for you. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now.
Unexplained Marks on Your Elderly Loved One
Marks on your elderly loved one’s body can go unexplained for several reasons. For one, if your loved one is nonverbal, finding out what happened is difficult. If your loved one is able to communicate, chances are they may still remain silent when you ask about their marks.
Watching for Visual Clues
Sometimes elderly persons cannot verbally communicate, but you can learn how to communicate with a senior who can no longer speak. Two ways you can try to determine if the marks are a result of elder abuse include:
- Reaction to hearing.
- Reaction to touch.
How your loved one reacts when hearing a certain voice or upon you trying to touch them can alert you to red flags of possible abuse. Body language and facial expressions are often good indicators that something is wrong. Fear and shaking are only two ways a nursing home patient can exhibit warning signs that their marks aren’t so unexplained after all.
The Physical Dangers of Bruises, Scratches, and Burns
Nursing homes are breeding grounds for germs and placing elderly patients with weakened immune systems at risk for common infections in nursing homes and possible death.
Bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics are of special concern. The injury to your loved one can quickly develop into an infection that is difficult to treat.
Chances are that if staff harmed your loved one, they are not going to keep the injury clean or seek medical assistance. If your loved one developed an infection from an injury such as a scratch or burn, seek legal assistance without delay.
Insurance Companies
Nursing homes do not want reports of elder abuse to damage their reputation—or their profits. Legal and/or insurance representatives may contact you, seeking to settle any legal action out-of-court.
This is an attempt to make you and the case disappear. No business likes negative publicity and this is especially true for the nursing home industry.
Should an insurance company offer a settlement, and you decide to accept it, you cannot pursue civil action if something related to the case arises later.
Insurance companies offer settlements to protect the nursing home’s best interests and not yours or those of your loved one. If an insurance company representative contacts you, protect your best interests and decline to speak with them.
For a free legal consultation with a Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer serving Oak Park, call (800) 794-0444
A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
The effects of physical abuse on an elderly person goes far beyond the bruises, scratches, and burns. The emotional and psychological toll can leave them with depression and anxiety.
The elderly population is vulnerable and deserving of the best care possible. When someone physically harms an elderly person, they must be held accountable for their actions so that it never happens to another person.
Relocating your loved one and helping them through this difficult time is taxing on your everyday life. You may miss work while transporting them to medical appointments for their injuries, and if you live in another state, it is especially difficult. This disruption to your daily life and the stress, frustration, and anger you feel leaves you little time to deal with your case.
Attorneys that tackle nursing home litigation are invaluable during such a traumatic time. Elder abuse laws require a special approach when it comes to civil litigation, which is where an Oak Park unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer can make a difference. Sadly, some nursing home lawsuits are in fact, wrongful death claims.
Oak Park Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If you lost a close loved one due to unexplained bruises, scratches, and burns, let us help you. Depending upon your relationship with the decedent, you may be eligible for a wrongful death lawsuit. Types of possible compensation include funeral and burial costs, loss of income, and more. No amount of money can replace your loved one—it can, however, possibly compensate you for your loss of companionship and other damages.
Time is of the essence when it comes to filing a personal injury or wrongful death case. It is imperative to secure legal representation as soon as possible.
Click to contact our Unexplained Bruises or Cuts or Burns Lawyers today
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to Pursue Justice for Your Loved One in Need
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our legal team fights to protect the rights of the elderly. We can firmly hold nursing homes accountable when they fail to keep their residents safe from harm.
If you notice unexplained bruises, scratches, and burns on your loved one’s skin, take immediate action. Report the abuse, relocate your loved one, and call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now for a free case evaluation by an Oak Park unexplained bruises or cuts or burns lawyer. Should we proceed with litigation, we collect nothing unless we secure compensation for you. Don’t miss your opportunity for justice; Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
