If you discovered that your loved one was a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Arizona, you must move quickly to help them. In cases where a staff member or physician at the nursing home caused the injury, you may need to report a nursing home injury to the police and file a complaint to the state.
You may also consider hiring a nursing home abuse lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, as our attorneys also serve various communities throughout Arizona. Our legal team can help you fight for compensation for your loved one’s nursing home injury and get the justice they deserve.
Nursing Home Abuse Victims Can Recover the Damages They Suffered
Filing a civil action lawsuit is separate from reporting any criminal activity that may have occurred at the nursing home facility to your loved one. Regardless of whether the facility or liable individual(s) who caused your loved one’s injuries are convicted of a crime, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to hold them accountable for the damages they caused.
A nursing home injury lawyer from our legal team in Arizona can review your case to determine the extent of damages suffered and calculate their values. You may be able to receive awards to cover losses, such as:
- Medical care costs to treat your loved one’s injuries
- Property damage or theft
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Psychological trauma or mental damage
- Emotional distress
- Loss of income if you had to take your loved one to doctor’s appointments to treat their nursing home injuries or become their caretaker unexpectedly
- Reduced earning potential if you were forced to forgo job opportunities to take care of your loved one
- Costs of living at the nursing home where your loved one was abused
Damage Awards Related to Wrongful Death
If your loved one passed away from their nursing home injuries, you might qualify to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit on their behalf, especially if they were your dependent. If not, another surviving spouse, family member, or personal representative can file on their behalf.
Our legal team will review your case to identify who can file for compensation. You may pursue compensatory awards to recover:
- Funeral service costs
- Burial service or cremation costs
- Emotional losses, such as loss of love, guidance, and companionship from your loved one
- Pain and suffering felt by your loved one and their surviving family members
Our Legal Team Can Identify the Filing Deadline for Your Case
Civil action lawsuits have a separate statute of limitations based on the type of case you file. The statute of limitations serves as a legal deadline for filing your lawsuit, which you must obey, or your case will be dismissed. Should that happen, you will not be able to compel the at-fault or liable party to compensate you or your loved one for the damages you suffered.
Our team will review your case to determine its filing deadline and help you take measures to file your case on time. It is better to act sooner than later, even while negotiating a settlement with an insurance company, as we use filing a lawsuit as leverage to stronghold the opposing side.
The following are the statutory deadlines for different types of cases your situation might fall under:
For Cases Involving Nursing Home Negligence or Abuse
Ariz. Rev. Stat. §12-542 dictates that plaintiffs have two years from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered to file a personal injury lawsuit.
For Cases Involving Medical Malpractice
The same statute dictates that plaintiffs have two years from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, with some exceptions. Minors have until two years after their 18th birthday to file suit.
For Cases Involving a Loved One’s Wrongful Death
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 also governs wrongful death lawsuits and dictates that plaintiffs have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit for their loved one’s injuries.
We Can Manage Your Nursing Home Abuse Case for You
Working with a nursing home abuse lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can have its benefits. We have legal teams across the United States to help victims of nursing home abuse fight for the justice they deserve, especially in a confusing and tumultuous time of their lives.
If you have never handled a legal case before, we offer our services to help you build your case. We also work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront and won’t be expected to pay attorney’s fees unless we win your case. That means we have every incentive to work hard to have your case succeed.
Some of our legal services include:
- Identifying who may liable for your loved one’s abuse or neglect, which might include the nursing home staff, physicians, cleaning services, facility owners, or residents
- Collecting evidence to support your claims on the kind of abuse your loved one suffered and who caused it or let it happen
- Handling administrative tasks to move your case forward, such as filing paperwork or communicating with other involved parties
- Representing you when negotiating a settlement for your case or presenting your case in court
Different Kinds of Abuse Can Qualify for a Nursing Home Abuse Case
Many different types of injuries may occur in Arizona at a nursing home. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) categorizes the different types of nursing home abuse and neglect that people aged 65 and older can suffer as:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves any form of bodily injury. Some examples of physical abuse include:
- Pinching
- Tightening restraints to an excessive degree
- Hitting or shoving, which can lead to bruising
- Burning the victim’s skin, such as with cigarettes
- Choking
Mental Abuse
Mental or emotional abuse can go undetected for a long time, as it does not leave behind physical marks. You may suspect mental abuse if your loved one:
- Becomes socially withdrawn
- Develops low self-esteem
- Becomes depressed
- Engages in emotional outbursts
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can involve sexual assault to a victim, but it can also involve sexual exposure, like forcing a victim to watch pornography. Look out for signs of sexual abuse in your loved one, such as:
- Contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- Rapid weight loss
- Depression
- Bouts of crying
- Not wanting to be touched
- Bruising around their pelvic area
Neglect
Neglect occurs when residents do not receive an adequate level of care. In some cases, nursing home employees fail to feed patients properly. They may also ignore patient hygiene and basic medical treatment.
Get Help from a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer from Our Team In Arizona
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you build a case if you believe your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse. Contact us at (800) 842-6336 to discuss your case in a free consultation. We don’t shy away from taking on tough cases.
Our nursing home injury lawyers in Arizona handle cases like yours. Allow us to investigate your case and help you hold the negligent or abusive parties responsible for their actions.