Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
Many of us will have to make the difficult decision of having a loved one placed in a nursing home. When you finally make that choice, it’s understandable that you expect your loved one to be safe and well taken care of. There are trained employees and other medical professionals working at nursing homes who are supposed to make sure that your loved ones are kept healthy and safe.
Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect occurs far too often, and this can lead to the death of a loved one. Families can hold negligent parties accountable with the help of skilled Atlanta wrongful death attorneys. Contact us today if you believe your loved one’s death was a result of nursing home abuse or neglect so we can help you hold the responsible party accountable. Contact an Atlanta nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer at Williams Oinonen LLC for a consultation by filling out our online form or calling (404) 654-0288.
A Lawyer Can Help You Hold Nursing Homes Accountable
It can be very difficult to prove that your loved one passed away due to the neglect or abuse that they suffered at a nursing home. Many cases go unreported and unpunished, and the facilities may even lie to you about the cause of death. However, if you’re suspicious, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. They can subpoena documents, forcing the nursing home to turn over medical records and other treatment and health-related papers. An experienced lawyer can help you get to the bottom of what really happened, and ensure that you and your family get all of the correct information, and damages if warranted.
Causes of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse is completely preventable with well-trained and caring staff members. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some common cause of nursing home abuse & neglect include:
- Lack of staff
- Poorly trained staff
- Poor supervision
- Individual patient risk factors
- Caregiver risk factors
Understaffed nursing homes pose a huge threat to the wellbeing of the patients because they are unable to give each patient the right level of care. A low ratio of caregivers to patients can cause your loved one’s needs to be neglected altogether while they are caring for other patients. If it is suspected that there are any issues with your loved one’s caregiver, it is best to act immediately to prevent any serious harm.
Common Signs of Abuse and Neglect
In order to know if your loved one passed away as a result of neglect or abuse, it’s important to know what to look for, as the abuse can sometimes be subtle and almost always takes place behind closed doors. Some of the most common signs of neglect and abuse include the following:
- Bedsores
- Dehydration
- Infections
- Eloping or wandering from the facility
- Sudden changes in behavior, such as significantly fewer phone calls, or requests for no visits
- Falls
- Fractures, broken bones, or other injuries that cannot be easily explained
- Heavy medication or sedation
- Malnutrition/weight loss
If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your loved one before they passed away, contact an attorney right away to investigate if their death was due to negligence or abuse.
Many nursing home death cases are solved with a settlement rather than a trial because it’s easier and less expensive for the nursing home facility. It’s also much less damaging to their reputation. If they can settle and keep the incident private, fewer people will be aware of what happened. You should never settle for less than what you truly deserve, and it’s possible that part of what you deserve is for the world to know what happened.
Wrongful Death in Nursing Homes
In Georgia, when a loved one dies in a nursing home as a result of abuse or neglect, a wrongful death claim can be filed. Part of a successful wrongful death claim will include proving that the nursing home was reckless, negligent, or intentionally acted in a manner that caused a patient’s death. Typically, you have 2 years from the death of your loved one to file a lawsuit. Compensation received can vary from case to case, but can include repayment for all funeral expenses, encouragement to the nursing home to reform their unsafe practices, and hold the nursing home financially responsible for the death.
Let Our Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers Help You
Losing a loved one because of nursing home abuse or neglect is absolutely unacceptable and unforgivable. You should never have to deal with this. Unfortunately, the reality is that it does occur. The attorneys at Williams Oinonen LLC have years of experience handling these types of cases and can help you get the justice you deserve. When you hire us, we know how important this is to you. We treat all of our clients the same way we’d want our own family members to be treated. As a boutique law firm, you will always get the attention of our team of lawyers, and you will never be in the dark about the status of your case.
Contact an Atlanta nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer at Williams Oinonen LLC today for a consultation by filling out our online form or calling (404) 654-0288.