When a loved one reaches a point where they can’t live alone, family members may resort to finding help in nursing homes. For anyone who takes their loved ones to a nursing home, they do so with the understanding that a nursing home is a safe place where they will be provided the care and assistance they need. Even though some facilities are just that, many nursing facilities are unsafe for residents. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), nursing home abuse and neglect is far more prevalent than most would acknowledge or imagine.
Nursing home abuse and neglect occur when a facility fails to act or acts intentionally in such a way that causes injuries to a resident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elderly abuse may be classified as follows:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Financial exploitation
If your loved one suffered injuries when living in a nursing home, they might be eligible for financial compensation. Even though there are many reasons as to why your loved one may suffer injuries, if you suspect that abuse and neglect caused your loved one’s injuries, you may have the right to file a claim against wrongful parties. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 and a Nashville nursing home injury lawyer will help you build your case.
Why Residents Suffer Nursing Home Injuries
Nursing home abuse contributes greatly to nursing home resident injuries. Whether physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, victims often suffer serious injuries, some of which can be fatal.
Neglect also accounts for some nursing home injuries. Neglect occurs when a nursing home fails to act in a manner that could prevent an injury. For instance, if a nursing home staff fails to monitor a resident or fails to respond to a potential threat of an injury, such would be regarded as neglect.
Accidents may as well contribute to nursing home injuries. The elderly are susceptible to slip and fall injuries due to their physical limitations inherent in aging. Fall accidents pose a serious threat of injury to nursing home residents. Victims of fall accidents may suffer debilitating injuries.
Examples of Nursing Home Injuries
Nursing home injuries vary greatly, but some are more common than others. Some of these include:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Sprains
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bedsores
- Infections
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
This list of injuries is by no means exhaustive; any injury that your loved one may suffer should receive prompt medical attention. Your loved one’s health should be a priority, and thereafter, you may consider taking legal action against the nursing home facility.
For a free legal consultation with a Nashville Nursing Home Injury Lawyers | Nursing Home Abuse | Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Lawyer serving Nashville, call (800) 842-6336
Our Legal Team Will Hold the Nursing Home Liable for Your Loved One’s Injuries
If your loved one suffered injuries in a nursing home as a result of the nursing home’s or an employee’s negligence, they might be held liable for any resulting damages. A Nashville nursing home injury lawyer may help you identify liable parties, file a nursing home claim against them, and pursue damages on your behalf. Recoverable damages include:
- Medical bills both for ongoing treatment and future treatment related to the accident
- Pain and Suffering
- Disfigurement and disability
Our legal team will work hard to establish grounds for filing a compensation claim. Some of the common causes of neglect and abuse in nursing homes that can be grounds for filing a claim include:
Negligent Hiring
Nursing homes owe a duty of care to residents to hire qualified staff with the right credentials for the position for which they are hired. Additionally, the nursing home must conduct a background check to uncover any record of abuse or violence on the prospective employee. Failure to hire qualified staff puts residents at risk of neglect and abuse. If your loved one suffered injuries as a result of negligent hiring, the nursing home might be held liable.
Understaffing
Understaffing means that at some point, some residents will be neglected when they have no one to attend to them. Resultantly, neglected residents are at risk of suffering injuries from falls, choking, burns, and other accidents.
Furthermore, when a nursing home maintains a low staff ratio, there will be more work for the staff members. This can be stressful for staff members and can make them lose the motivation to carry on their responsibilities. If your loved one suffered injuries as a result of understaffing, the nursing home might be held liable.
Inadequate Training
Nursing homes have a responsibility to train their employees on how to handle and care for nursing home residents. If there is a failure to do this, the facility may not provide the level of care that your loved one needs. For this reason, a nursing home may be held responsible for your loved one’s injuries arising from a lack of staff training.
Third-Party Responsibility Claim
Nursing homes must make the facility safe and free from hazards. If a third party, say a visitor, harms your loved one, the nursing home may be found liable for failing to provide security and to prevent such an accident from occurring.
Breach of Your Loved One’s Rights
All nursing home residents have a right to dignity, security, and privacy. If your loved one suffers injuries when a nursing home staff member violates their rights, the nursing home may be held liable.
Medication Errors
If your loved one suffered harm when a staff member failed to administer the right medication or dosage to them, the physician or nurse might be held accountable.
Nashville Nashville Nursing Home Injury Lawyers | Nursing Home Abuse | Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Will Fight for Your Loved One’s Rights
Filing a claim against a nursing home can be difficult. But, with a Nashville nursing home injury lawyer, you can fight for your loved one’s rights and the compensation they may be entitled to. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336 for a free case evaluation. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning that we don’t get paid unless we recover compensation for you.
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