Nursing homes in Prince George’s County, MD, have a duty to protect residents and prevent abuse from occurring. When they fail, they can be held legally responsible for the victim’s damages. An experienced Prince George’s County nursing home abuse lawyer at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover compensation.
Our attorneys have over 125 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’ve already recovered more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts. If you suspect your loved one has been abused in a nursing facility, contact our law offices in Prince George’s County, Maryland, at (301) 936-0011 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Prince George’s County?
It takes an incredible amount of trust to place a loved one in a nursing home. Learning that your loved one has been abused rather than protected in Prince George’s County, MD, can feel unbearable.
Our Prince George’s County nursing home abuse attorneys at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for compensation. We have extensive experience handling nursing home abuse cases. We can help you take legal action against the abusive party, the nursing facility, and any other parties who share legal responsibility.
Count on our top-rated Prince George’s County personal injury lawyers to:
- Launch a detailed investigation
- Evaluate any existing government evaluations
- Collect evidence to support your claim
- Help you document and establish the value of your damages
- Work with experts when they can strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the nursing home’s insurance company for a full settlement
We offer free case reviews so you can get the legal information you deserve. Contact us today to arrange a time to discuss your case.
We Handle All Types of Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Prince George’s County
It’s important to realize that many different types of nursing home abuse exist. Physical abuse is by no means the only type of abuse that can give your family the right to pursue compensation.
Our attorneys handle many different types of nursing home abuse claims, including:
- Physical abuse, or any action that causes physical harm
- Psychological and emotional abuse, including humiliation, name-calling, belittling, coercion, threatening, forced isolation, and any infliction of mental trauma
- Sexual abuse, including rape, sodomy, sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact or commentary
- Financial exploitation, whether via outright theft, coercion, identity theft, or using a resident’s credit cards or checking accounts without their permission
- Active neglect, where a caregiver intentionally neglects to provide the basic care that a resident needs
- Passive neglect, where a caregiver unfortunately neglects a resident’s need for assistance due to understaffing or a lack of funds
Regardless of the form, nursing home abuse should never be tolerated. Your loved one has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
How Do I Know Whether My Loved One Has Really Been a Victim of Abuse?
Victims of nursing home abuse often fail to report the abuse. That often leaves loved ones wondering what’s going on when changes occur.
It’s important to pay attention to any changes, including:
- Frequent or unexplained injuries, including scrapes, broken bones or bruising
- Bed sores
- Changes in hygiene
- Personality changes
- Becoming withdrawn and uninterested in the activities they previously enjoyed
- Fear of speaking around a caregiver
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone to visit
- Appearing depressed or lethargic
- Unexplained or unusual financial transactions
- Regressive behaviors, including self-hugging, rocking, thumb-sucking
- Sudden weight loss
Nursing homes are incredibly expensive. You may have waited months to even get a spot in the facility. Suspicions of abuse can put you in a difficult position–because many people don’t want to “make a scene” and later discover that nothing was wrong.
If you suspect your loved one is being abused, start taking notes immediately. Document your observations in writing after your visits–and visit as often as possible. You can also file a complaint with the Department of Health or local ombudsman.
Contact our Prince George’s County nursing home abuse attorneys; we’ll help however we can.
What is My Prince George’s County Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
Too many people mistakenly accept the first offer the insurance company makes. It’s understandable that you’re overwhelmed–and you may have been dealing with suspicions of abuse for some time now. Taking a lowball deal also lets the insurance company off the hook. The best way to get a fair deal is to hire an experienced attorney to handle the insurance negotiations.
Your lawyer will carefully evaluate the facts when assessing your case value, considering the following issues:
- What types of harm has your loved one experienced?
- How has your loved one’s mental health been impacted?
- How long did the abuse persist?
- What expenses have you incurred due to the abuse?
- Have you lost income in order to care for your loved one?
There’s no standard case value. One common thread does exist: even the most sympathetic insurance adjuster is unlikely to hand over a fair settlement without a fight. We know that you may be feeling worn down and just want the ordeal to be over. We also know that fighting for the full compensation you deserve is the best way to hold the nursing home accountable.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Prince George’s County?
You can recover damages to cover any losses caused by the abuse and neglect, including economic damages such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Your lost wages if you missed work to care for your loved one
- The cost of in-home assistance while waiting for admission to a new facility
- Reimbursement for penalties for breaking a residency lease agreement with the nursing home
- Mental health treatment
- Property damage and restitution where financial abuse occurred
You or your loved one might also be entitled to non-economic damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Reduced life expectancy
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
Additional damages could be available depending on your unique situation.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer To Handle a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Maryland?
There are no up-front fees to hire our injury law firm. We know this is a tough time. Many clients incur steep penalties for breaking their contract with the nursing home in an effort to keep their loved ones safe. We work on a contingency fee basis. You only pay if we win compensation in your case. Once your case is resolved, we’ll take a pre-agreed-upon percentage.
Victims of Nursing Home Abuse Often Suffer Significant Long-Term Injuries
The damages you recover are directly tied to the types of harm your loved one has suffered. Common examples include:
- Physical injuries
- Worsened medical conditions
- Development of new medical conditions, whether due to malnutrition, dehydration, or general neglect
- Brain injuries
- Adverse drug interactions
- Bed sores and infections
- Blood clots
- Severe depression
- Fear and anxiety disorders
- Financial instability
- Wrongful death
The longer the abuse is allowed to persist, the more severe the damage is likely to become.
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur in Prince George’s County?
There’s no justifiable excuse for nursing home abuse. That said, nursing home abuse occurs again and again for many of the same reasons, including:
- Improper training and supervision of employees
- Understaffing
- Failing to hire qualified caregivers
- Overworked caregivers
- Negligent hiring procedures and failure to screen caregivers thoroughly
- Inadequate facility maintenance
- Inadequate safety procedures and protocols
- Overcrowding and underfunding of nursing homes
- Mismanagement and fraud
Most of the time, it’s the nursing home that will ultimately be responsible for allowing the abuse to occur.
How Do I Prove Liability in a Maryland Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Like any medical provider, nursing homes are required to provide a certain level of care. Nursing home residents always have the right to be free from physical and mental abuse. To prove you deserve compensation, you must offer proof that:
- Your loved one was a nursing home resident and so was owed a duty of care
- The nursing home breached its duty by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent abuse
- Your loved one was abused in some manner
- That abuse caused your family to suffer damages
Finding evidence to support your claim can be challenging. Our lawyers are here to build your case while you take care of your family.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit Based on Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland?
You have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland. The three-year clock typically starts on the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered, the abuse. Acting sooner rather than later is always advisable. The longer you wait, the greater the risk that your right to compensation will be challenged.
Contact a Trusted Prince George’s County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you suspect your loved one has been abused in a nursing home in Prince George’s County, MD, you can turn to Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for assistance. Call today for a free consultation with a Prince George’s County nursing home abuse lawyer.