Finding out that your loved one suffered from abuse in their Miami Beach nursing home can break your heart. Research by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) suggests that elder abuse is common. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that seniors most at risk of abuse have disabilities or limited cognitive functioning.
Abuse of vulnerable seniors in a nursing home is an egregious crime. Your elderly loved one deserves justice and could potentially receive compensation for their medical bills and other damages. The Miami Beach nursing home abuse lawyers at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, could help. Call 800-959-1444 today for a free review of your case with a team member.
Injuries from Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse can take many forms: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and general neglect. Since there are several types of nursing home abuse, injuries can vary, and they may be hard to detect. Sometimes, your loved one cannot tell you what happened if they have cognitive impairments, or they might not want to talk about what happened to them because of embarrassment.
It is essential to observe your loved one if you suspect abuse. Some signs of nursing home abuse can include:
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Rapid and unexplained weight loss
- Injuries from falls
- Unexplained fractures, dislocations, and sprains
- Medication errors
- Stained or torn clothing
- Soiled bedsheets
- Neglect of personal hygiene
- New or worsening bedsores
- Depression or anxiety
- Fear around caregivers
- Withdrawal
- Bruises and other restraint marks
- Sexually transmitted diseases and infections
- Bruising and bleeding in the genital area
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Miami Beach, call 800-712-9119
Reporting Abuse
If your loved one suffered from abuse in their Miami Beach nursing home, you would want to take immediate action to ensure their safety. You will also want to collect as much evidence as possible if you decide to hold the nursing home to account for their negligent action. You might want to take these steps if you suspect your loved experienced abuse at their nursing home.
Ensuring the Safety of Your Loved One
Your priority is always your loved one’s safety. If you see any signs of abuse on their body, or they tell you about their mistreatment, you will want to get medical help as soon as possible. You should report any incidents to the nursing home—and possibly also to law enforcement. You may wish to remove your loved one from the home for their safety.
How to Report Abuse
Submitting a nursing home abuse report can become important evidence for you if you decide to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit. Reporting abuse can also potentially help save other vulnerable seniors in a facility. In Florida, you can report any nursing home abuse to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
Collecting Evidence
Dealing with nursing home abuse can feel stressful and overwhelming. However, you must collect any evidence as soon as you can. This evidence can include:
- Photographs of injuries
- Witness statements
- Medical reports
- Torn or stained clothes
You should also collect medical bills and receipts for out-of-pocket costs connected with your loved one’s nursing home abuse injuries. You might want to keep detailed records in a journal. Make sure to keep all the evidence safely in a folder or binder for easy access.
Contact a Nursing Home Lawyer
As soon as your loved one is safe, you might want to speak to a Miami Beach nursing home abuse lawyer for advice. What you do in the hours and days after uncovering abuse can be important if you plan to file a claim against a nursing home.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can protect your loved one’s rights and advise you on your next steps. Our nursing home lawyers can also help you gather the necessary evidence and do research to build your case. Call us today to get started.
Miami Beach Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me 800-712-9119
Act as Soon as Possible
If your loved one suffers from abuse, you will want to act quickly. It is easier to collect evidence and statements while the incident is still fresh in witnesses’ minds. Letting too much time pass can allow a nursing home to cover up any discrepancies or dispose of evidence.
Also, consider that Florida Statutes 95.11 generally requires you to file a personal injury lawsuit within four years of the injury and a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of your loved one’s death. Not filing legal action in time could potentially bar you from receiving any compensation.
It can emotionally drain you to have a lawsuit hanging over your head. Quickly acting could help you and your loved one receive compensation quicker, move on with your lives, and recover from a stressful and upsetting time.
Click to contact our Miami Beach Personal Injury Lawyers today
We Can Fight for You
You do not have to struggle with taking on a nursing home by yourself. Proving an abuse claim can be hard, challenging work. However, we know the applicable laws and can help you hold a nursing home to account for your loved one’s injuries and expenses.
There can be many ways in which a negligent nursing home could allow abuse to occur. The facility might have hired staff without checking their background or qualifications. They may put profits before the well-being and health of their residents by not hiring enough staff.
While the nursing home’s responsibility for the abuse might seem obvious to you, to receive compensation, you will have to present hard evidence in a court of law. A Miami Beach nursing home abuse lawyer can gather the evidence to prove negligence and help you with all aspects of filing a lawsuit.
We will fight for your loved one’s rights and compensation. You do not need to worry about any attorney’s fees or other upfront costs. We only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk for you.
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our team members so you can weigh your legal options. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at 800-959-1444 to find out how we could help you get justice for your loved one.
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