There is no excuse for physical violence when it comes to facilitating the care and wellbeing of a nursing home resident. The nursing home experience should provide a sense of dignity and individuality, which is hard to maintain while suffering from physical abuse.
If your loved one shows signs of physical abuse in a nursing home, do not wait to protect their rights, health, and safety. You can work with a Savannah physical abuse lawyer to fight for justice and compensation. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to discuss your case for free with a team member.
Physical Abuse in Nursing Homes
Physical abuse and neglect come in many forms, so no two cases of physical abuse in a nursing home will look alike. Physical abuse is particularly harmful because it presents an immediate threat to your loved one’s health. The World Health Organization (WHO) spelled out many of the adverse side effects of elder abuse:
- Severe injuries
- Permanent disability
- Worsening of existing health conditions
- Anxiety
- Loneliness
The WHO also found that elder abuse victims were twice as likely to die as other seniors, while also costing Americans about $5.3 billion per year in medical costs for treating violent injuries in older adults.
The Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services, calls out several signs that a nursing home resident might have experienced physical abuse:
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- Unexplained injuries
- Improper use of restraints or medications
- Broken bones
- Bruises
- Severe burns
Behavioral changes such as irritability, depression, and anxiety can also indicate physical abuse, although they too are telltale signs and symptoms of cognitive decline and dementia. Being highly involved with your loved one’s care can help you determine a baseline for their normal behavior, allowing you to sense when something perhaps has gone wrong.
A Savannah physical abuse lawyer has the resources needed to investigate your loved one’s situation and gather the evidence you might need to pursue compensation for their injuries. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free case review with a member of our team.
Legal Options for Physical Nursing Home Abuse
When it comes time to make a legal claim against a nursing home for physical abuse, you will want to understand and consider all your options. Of course, a nursing home lawyer can walk you through all the information you need and your case’s potential scope. Elder abuse can also be criminal, with wrongdoers potentially liable for prison terms and hefty fines.
Physical Abuse and Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury lawsuits seek compensation for expenses directly related to the bodily injury suffered due to physical abuse. Expenses may include anything from prescription medication and the doctor’s visits to new medical equipment necessary to treat injuries.
You can also file a wrongful death case on behalf of a loved one who died at the hands of a physically abusive nursing home staff member. Your claim can cover all medical bills, funeral expenses, and expected income if you financially depended on your loved one. In Georgia, you have up to two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. A nursing home lawyer can help you determine when the statute of limitations started for your case and ensure that you submit before the deadline runs out.
Physical Abuse Breaks Nursing Home Contracts
Upon entering a nursing home living situation, the staff created a care plan with your loved one’s unique needs in mind. Generally, the rights of a nursing home resident include freedom from abuse. You and your loved one were entitled to good quality care from the nursing home from the first day they lived there.
Physical abuse is a blatant violation of any nursing home care plan. A nursing home resident who suffered physical abuse may also be a victim of poly victimization, which refers to individuals who experience several types of abuse.
A nursing home lawyer can explore whether the physical abuse your loved one suffered breaks your contract with the nursing home. In Georgia, breach of a written contract has a statute of limitations of up to six years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24).
Physical Abuse as Medical Malpractice
Georgia requires nursing homes to operate under the supervision and guidance of licensed medical professionals. If the nursing home unnecessarily prescribed pharmaceutical or physical restraints on your loved one, the medical professionals responsible for overseeing their care can be held accountable. An attorney can help you determine whether this type of physical abuse falls under medical malpractice.
For a free legal consultation with a Savannah Physical Abuse Lawyer serving Savannah, call (800) 794-0444
Work with a Savannah Physical Abuse Lawyer
The lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you build a case that protects and defends your loved one’s rights according to state and federal law. Caretakers who have a history of abuse charges or violations cannot work with most federally funded nursing home facilities again. When you seek justice for your loved one who suffered physical abuse, you prevent the future suffering of more nursing home residents at the hands of their abuser.
A Savannah physical abuse lawyer can investigate and explore the details of your case to bring your loved one’s abuser to justice. We may never fully understand the motivations of someone who commits elder abuse, and we cannot undo the physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by such actions.
However, we can hold liable parties accountable for harming others by pursuing fair compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, relocation costs, and other damages. You should not have to bear these costs alone. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to discuss your case for free with a team member.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
