Nursing home abuse is a serious problem. If you or a loved one were a victim of nursing home abuse in Charles County, MD, you may deserve significant compensation. An experienced Charles County nursing home abuse lawyer at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Our attorneys have 125 years of experience handling complicated personal injury law matters. Our dedicated approach has helped injury victims and their families recover over $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts.
Now, our compassionate and trusted team is here to help your family fight for justice. Contact our law offices in Charles County, Maryland, at (301) 932-9997 to learn more about your legal options today. There’s never any charge for your initial consultation.
Why Call Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers to Help Your Family With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Charles County
If you suspect your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, our experienced Charles County personal injury attorneys can help.
At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience handling nursing home abuse claims. We’ll work closely with your family at every turn as we fight for the maximum compensation possible. We can help you identify all parties who share legal responsibility–and demand accountability.
When you hire us, you’ll benefit from a legal team who will:
- Locate evidence to prove the abuse occurred
- Work with trusted experts as we build the strongest legal claim possible
- Assess your damages and determine how much compensation you deserve
- Stand up to the insurance companies and demand a full settlement
- Prepare to take your case to trial if necessary to get a fair compensation award
Our Charles County personal injury lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of injury victims and their families. You can count on us to go the extra mile as we fight for justice. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call our law firm for a free case review today.
How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is a more widespread problem than many people realize. Unfortunately, those entrusted with caring for vulnerable or elderly adults often abuse their power.
Roughly 10% of people over the age of 65 experience some type of abuse. The problem is even more serious in community settings. Based on one study, two out of every three caregivers who were interviewed admitted to committing some type of abuse. One in six nursing home residents surveyed experienced some type of abuse.
What Qualifies as Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home residents in Maryland have the right to be free from all types of physical and mental abuse. Unfortunately, abuse in nursing homes can take many forms. A caregiver commits abuse any time their actions cause a resident to suffer some type of harm. That harm can be physical, emotional, or even financial.
Our Charles County nursing home abuse attorneys handle all types of claims involving abuse and neglect, including:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves any infliction of physical pain or impairment. Hitting, kicking, slapping, and punching are all obvious forms of physical abuse. Improper use of restraints and ignoring a resident’s medical needs can also constitute physical abuse.
Mental Abuse
Emotional abuse occurs when a caregiver intentionally does something to cause a resident mental abuse. Name-calling, belittling, threatening, coercion, and intimidation can all constitute mental abuse. Isolating a resident or restricting their access to certain freedoms, such as the use of the phone, can also amount to abuse.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse includes any non-consensual interaction of a sexual nature. Sexual abuse can include rape, unwanted touching, coerced nudity, or forcing a resident to watch sexual acts.
Financial Abuse
A caregiver commits financial abuse when they manipulate a nursing home resident or their situation for financial gain. Financial abuse can involve identity theft, forgery, theft of personal belongings, and even coercing a resident to change a will or beneficiary designation to benefit the caregiver.
Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect in a nursing setting can be active or passive. A caregiver neglects a resident any time they fail to provide proper care. That can include neglecting a resident’s medical needs, failing to provide adequate food, water or assistance and failure to provide sanitary living conditions.
Some caregivers actively ignore a resident’s needs. Others neglect residents only because the nursing facility is understaffed or underfunded. Neither type of neglect is acceptable–and both can severely harm the victim.
What Are Some Signs That My Loved One Has Been a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home residents may lack the capacity to report–or even recognize–the abuse they have experienced. Many are simply too ashamed to admit they’re being abused.
As the victim’s loved one, here are some signs that something isn’t right:
- Sudden changes in weight or hygiene
- Unexplained injuries, bruising or marks
- Becoming withdrawn, depressed, and/or non-commutative
- Fear of speaking around a caregiver
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone with your loved one
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Infections or bed sores
- Losing interest in previously-enjoyed activities
- Fearfulness when you’re about to leave after a visit
There are many different ways to formally report nursing home abuse in Maryland. It’s also important to take steps to stop the abuse immediately–whether by moving your loved one to a safe facility or ensuring the abusive caregiver is removed.
What Is My Charles County Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
The value of your case will depend on:
- The nature of the harm involved
- Whether the abuse has caused any long-term injury
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- The victim’s mental suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
- The financial costs incurred because of the abuse
- How long the abuse lasted
Most likely, you’ll be dealing with the nursing home’s insurance company. They may offer a fast settlement to avoid negative publicity and prevent you from seeking legal advice. A fast settlement is rarely a fair settlement. Consulting an experienced attorney is the best way to learn how much you really deserve.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Charles County?
Like any personal injury victim, you can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Some possible examples of damages in a nursing home abuse case include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Relocation costs
- In-home assistance
- Property damage and restitution in cases involving financial exploitation
- Lost wages if you missed work to care for your loved one
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement
Recovering the full compensation you deserve can be critical to your loved one’s future. To learn more about the compensation you may deserve, call our law firm for a free consultation today.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Maryland?
Our law firm operates entirely on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee arrangement allows you to secure quality legal representation without upfront costs. Instead, you pay a portion of your final settlement or verdict.
Victims of Nursing Home Abuse Often Suffer Life-Changing Injuries
The consequences of nursing home abuse can be devastating, both for a vulnerable nursing home resident and their families.
Abuse can lead to:
- Worsened medical conditions
- Severe depression and mental suffering
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal injuries
- Respiratory diseases and pneumonia
- Infections
- Blood clots and stroke
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Financial abuse can also create financial instability in the victim’s life for years to come. As the victim, we’re prepared to help you fight for every available dollar.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Maryland?
Nursing home abuse is an intentional tort. The perpetrator may be held responsible in both civil and criminal court.
Nursing homes themselves can also be held financially responsible for the acts of their employees. Often, nursing home abuse and neglect are allowed to happen because of the nursing home’s negligence.
Nursing homes have a duty to ensure that residents are not subject to abuse. When they ignore that duty, they can be held financially accountable for the resulting harm.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Based on Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland?
The statute of limitations in Maryland is three years. You have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. In cases involving nursing home abuse, the three-year clock typically starts to run on the date the abuse occurs.
Contact a Trusted Charles County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
An experienced Charles County nursing home abuse attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Our team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to help you fight for every dollar. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.