Arkansas Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Did your loved one suffer some sort of abuse while living in a nursing home? If so, do not hesitate to contact Law Offices of Gary Green to learn about your legal options for holding the negligent party accountable for their actions.

It’s upsetting to think that someone you trusted would harm an older adult. Nursing home staff is supposed to provide a certain standard of care to ensure that every patient receives the medical treatment and assistance they need. Unfortunately, some nursing homes take advantage of the elderly.

The statistics are staggering. An estimated five million older adults become victims of abuse every year. Sadly, that number is likely much higher because many people don’t report these incidents to the police. Nursing home residents are more vulnerable to different types of abuse because many are immobile, suffer from cognitive illnesses, or don’t have family or friends to advocate for them. Additionally, abuse victims might not come forward about what happened to them for fear of retaliation by their abuser.

At Law Offices of Gary Green, our Arkansas nursing home abuse attorneys can help you hold the at-fault facility or staff member liable. We can investigate your loved one’s case and try to recover the financial compensation necessary to pay for their medical treatment and compensate for the suffering they were forced to endure. You will not be alone in the fight for justice.

For a free consultation about legal options, call Law Offices of Gary Green at 888.442.7947 today.

Most Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Elder abuse is a caregiver’s intentional, negligent, or knowing act of causing harm or serious risk of harm to an older adult. Nursing home residents are more susceptible to bodily injury, psychological trauma, and death. Many can’t defend themselves against an attack, and others have trouble remembering what happened to them because of diseases, such as dementia. Unfortunately, the older population is more susceptible to certain forms of abuse because their attackers see them as easy targets.

The seven types of elder abuse are:

  • Physical abuse – The perpetrator uses physical force to cause their victim physical pain, bodily injury, or death.
  • Sexual abuse – This refers to engaging in sexual contact by using threats, coercion, or force.
  • Emotional abuse – A caregiver causes their victim mental or emotional pain by threatening, humiliating, verbally assaulting, or intimidating them.
  • Abandonment – Nurses and other staff members are responsible for providing their patients with daily care. Abandonment is the result of intentional desertion of the older adult.
  • Neglect – When a caregiver doesn’t meet a resident’s needs or fails to protect them from harm, that’s considered neglect.
  • Financial abuse – Financial abuse is also known as financial exploitation. It happens when a trusted individual uses an older adult’s assets, money, or personal property improperly, illegally, or without authorization.
  • Self-neglect – A nursing home patient might engage in acts of self-harm or endangerment when they can’t get their basic needs met or don’t understand the consequences of their actions.

If you believe your relative who resides in a nursing home was the victim of any form of abuse, it’s critical that you take immediate action to prevent them from further harm. Law Offices of Gary Green can assist you with getting them the medical care they need and investigating the incident to determine who was at fault.

Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Since older adults can’t protect themselves from violent or neglectful caregivers, it’s up to you to be their advocate and watch for warning signs. Some are easy to spot, such as visible injuries from physical abuse. However, others are a bit more difficult to notice. It’s crucial that you pay attention to any changes in your loved one’s mood, behavior, or health.

The most common warning signs of abuse are below.

Physical Abuse

  • Burns
  • Bruises
  • Broken bones
  • Dislocated joints
  • Tooth loss
  • Sudden behavioral changes
  • Fear of specific staff members

Sexual Abuse

  • Bruised inner thighs and genitals
  • Pelvic injuries
  • Emotional or social withdrawal
  • Stained, bloody, or torn underwear
  • Bleeding from the genitals or anus
  • Trouble sitting or walking

Emotional Abuse

  • Depression
  • Low self-esteem
  • Isolation from friends and family
  • Withdrawal from social activities
  • Mood swings
  • Difficulty sleeping

Abandonment

  • Poor hygiene
  • Dehydration
  • Malnourishment
  • Appearing confused or scared
  • Seeming depressed or lonely

Neglect

  • Bedsores
  • Unclean living conditions
  • Dehydration
  • Malnutrition
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Untreated injuries

Financial abuse

  • Missing personal property or cash
  • Lack of appropriate documentation of financial arrangements
  • Unexplained ATM withdrawals or account transfers
  • Forged signatures on a deed, will, or another legal document
  • Employees showing an unusual interest in their patient’s finances

Self-neglect

  • Dirty clothing
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Bedsores, infections, or rashes
  • Refusal to eat or take necessary medications
  • Poor sleeping habits
  • Reduced mobility

It’s your job to pay attention to the signs so you can keep your loved one safe. If they can’t speak for themselves, it will be up to you to seek appropriate action to get them the care they need and hold the at-fault caregiver liable for the harm they caused.

What to Do if Your Loved One Was the Victim of Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect abuse, you should remove your family member from the situation immediately. Arrange for them to go to a hospital for treatment and find them a safe place to stay until you resolve the issue.

You should also contact Law Offices of Gary Green for assistance. Insurance claims and lawsuits against businesses, such as nursing homes, can be complicated to handle. You’ll need an experienced legal team on your side to take on responsibility for the case.

You must avoid discussing your intent to seek legal action with the suspected abuser or facility. If they know about an impending case, they can begin preparing a solid defense or might destroy evidence.

Request copies of your loved one’s patient records and documentation from the treatment of their injuries. Evidence is essential in any nursing home abuse case. We can help you obtain the necessary evidence to show that the abuse occurred and who should be held responsible for the resulting injuries and expenses.

When you’re moving your relative out of the facility, try to take pictures of anything unusual, such as visible injuries, poor living conditions, or damage on the property. Sometimes, injuries are the result of poor maintenance and repairs. For example, a lack of handrails or hazards in the middle of the hallway can cause a patient’s fall.

How Law Offices of Gary Green Can Help

The Arkansas nursing home abuse attorneys of Law Offices of Gary Green have the experience and resources to investigate the abuse thoroughly. When you hire us, we will review all evidence we find to determine who caused your loved one’s injuries. The evidence we might need to collect includes:

  • Police/incident reports
  • Video surveillance footage
  • Pictures of the injuries and conditions at the nursing home
  • Bank statements and other financial documents
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Copies of your relative’s medical records
  • The facility’s maintenance and repair logs
  • Employment history, criminal records, and other documentation about the at-fault staff member

You can depend on our legal team to tirelessly work to try to achieve a positive outcome for your loved one. We know how devastating this has been for you and your family. We want to ensure that your loved one recovers so all of you can move forward with your lives.

Compensation You Can Pursue in an Insurance Claim

Nursing home facilities typically purchase and maintain liability insurance. You could file a claim for compensation that covers the losses your loved one suffered, such as:

  • Past and future hospital and medical expenses
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • The permanence/severity of the injury

You shouldn’t be responsible for any of the expenses incurred from the abuse. Law Offices of Gary Green can calculate the monetary value of your case and negotiate with the insurance company for the full and fair amount you and your family deserve. If the insurance company refuses to settle for an adequate amount or denies the claim, we could file a lawsuit and take them to court.

Deadline to File a Lawsuit in Arkansas

The specific timeframe you must follow to sue the nursing home or staff member for compensation is called a statute of limitations. Arkansas has a three-year statute of limitations. That means you must file your lawsuit within three years from the date of the injury if you want to hold the at-fault party liable. However, the three year statute of limitation applies only to general negligence. To be safe nursing home cases should be filed within the two year statute of limitation for medical negligence cases.

Contact Us

The Arkansas nursing home abuse attorneys of Law Offices of Gary Green will remain in your corner until the end to pursue the maximum compensation available. We believe people should be held accountable for their wrongdoing. Your loved one suffered a traumatic experience and should receive the medical care and assistance they need to live a happy and healthy life.

We take cases on contingency, so you won’t face the burden of upfront fees or costs. We won’t charge any legal fees unless we recover money for you. If we lose your case, you won’t owe us any money.

If your loved one suffered injuries from abuse at a nursing home and you want to discuss your legal options for holding the negligent party liable, call Law Offices of Gary Green immediately. We can review the facts of your case and determine whether we can represent you. Our legal team will fight hard to protect your loved one’s rights and get them on the road to recovery. Call us now at 888.442.7947 for a free consultation.

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