Finding unexplainable bruises on your loved one should concern you. They could potentially point to abuse, particularly if the bruising is extensive and recurring. While there can be many innocent explanations for bruises on your loved one, you still need to pay close attention. If the nursing home staff cannot explain the bruises conclusively, you have the right to demand answers and explanations. After all, bruising could signify physical abuse.
A San Antonio bruises lawyer can help you uncover nursing home mistreatment and egregious abuse. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation with a team member by calling (800) 842-6336.
Older Adults Are More Susceptible to Bruising
As the Mayo Clinic explains, older adults may experience easy bruising due to several factors. Medicines such as blood thinners, certain painkillers, and even herbal remedies can cause an older person to bruise more easily. As we age, our skin becomes thinner, and our blood vessels are more fragile, which contributes to easy bruising.
However, if the bruising resulted from physical abuse, you might spot other signs of your loved one’s mistreatment.
Other Physical Injuries
Physical abuse and violence may cause other, more serious injuries in addition to bruising, including fractures, dislocations, dental injuries, cuts, and burns.
Mental Changes
Physical abuse can cause marked character changes in the elderly, such as anxiety, fearfulness, and a wish to withdraw from social activities. You should always take any abrupt character changes seriously.
Unfortunately, your loved one may not have the ability to communicate what happened to them. You will have to remain vigilant and, in some cases, do some detective work. You might wish to visit the home unannounced or step up the frequency of your visits. If you detect any severe injuries that could have come from abuse, you should make immediate plans to move your loved one and keep them safe from suffering any further harm.
Reporting Nursing Home Abuse
The National Council On Aging (NCOA) states that although as many as one in 10 elderly adults suffers from abuse, authorities receive reports in only one in 14 cases.
If you suspect nursing home abuse, you should prioritize making your loved one safe from suffering any further harm. You should make reporting the abuse one of your first steps, not only to nursing home management but also to local authorities.
In San Antonio, you can contact the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman to report nursing home abuse. You could also contact law enforcement and file a police report, especially if your loved one is in immediate danger.
For a free legal consultation with a Bruises Lawyer serving San Antonio, call (800) 842-6336
You Could Receive Compensation
Once the initial shock and upset has settled, you might wonder how to hold your family member’s abuser responsible for the unlawful and egregious mistreatment. If you have incurred expenses such as medical bills, costs for medical devices, or moving expenses to another facility, you could potentially recover damages in a personal injury lawsuit. Some other types of compensation you could recover include:
- Medical transportation costs
- Physical or psychological therapy bills
- Awards for physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Awards for loss of quality of life
If your loved one died because of the abuse, you could recover in a wrongful death case:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of emotional support
You could also receive other types of compensation when holding the nursing home accountable for its failures. If the nursing home was reckless or grossly negligent, you could recover punitive damages in addition to compensation.
You could consult a San Antonio bruises lawyer to learn more about your options for pursuing compensation and justice. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to learn more.
San Antonio Bruises Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Statutes of Limitations in Texas
If you seek justice and compensation for your loved one, you must act fast as you have limited time for filing a personal injury or wrongful death case. As per Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003, you generally have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Time begins ticking on the day of injury or the date when your loved one died.
Consider also that you will find it much easier to collect any evidence while the abuse case is still fresh in witnesses’ minds, and the nursing home does not have time to let any pivotal evidence “disappear.” Acting quickly could help a nursing home abuse lawyer build your case against a negligent facility.
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We Can Fight for Your Loved One’s Rights
Realizing that your loved one suffered physical abuse in the very place that should have kept them safe and comfortable can feel infuriating. You may think that you are powerless trying to stand up against a nursing home and its team of lawyers. However, this is not the case. We owe it to our senior citizens to stand up for their rights, and the laws are on our side.
Federal and state laws govern how nursing homes operate, and your loved one has the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. A San Antonio bruises lawyer knows nursing home laws and regulations and holds nursing homes liable for their failures. They can help you with your claim in several ways.
Investigating the Nursing Home
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can thoroughly investigate the nursing home to determine whether it cut corners with staffing and security. We might also uncover another form of negligence that contributed to your loved one suffering from physical abuse.
Providing Expert Witnesses
If your case requires an expert opinion—for example, explaining your loved one’s injuries and signs of abuse—we can find witnesses to provide it.
Negotiations with Defendants
In many cases, personal injury or wrongful death cases do not go to trial. Instead, the parties resolve the case with an out-of-court settlement. However, the negotiation process can be challenging. A nursing home abuse attorney knows how to fight for your loved one’s best interests and recover an adequate settlement.
Representing You in Court
If your case goes to trial, you’ll have a professional by your side who can represent you in a court of law.
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Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Help
You could consult a San Antonio bruises lawyer to determine whether you have grounds for suing a nursing home for abuse and neglect when your loved one suffers unexplained bruises. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 842-6336 for help with your potential claim.
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