If your family member has suffered abuse or neglect in a Columbus nursing home, you have legal options to pursue compensation. Contact the Law Office of Joe Durham at 229-210-6226 for a free consultation with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney in Columbus, GA, to discuss your nursing home abuse case today.
Our team of dedicated nursing home abuse lawyers in Columbus is committed to helping nursing home residents seek fair compensation. We specialize in handling cases involving emotional and psychological abuse, physical abuse, and financial abuse in assisted living facilities.
Under Georgia law, victims of nursing home neglect and abuse can seek compensation for medical expenses, psychological trauma, and the impact on their quality of life. As skilled, nursing home negligence and abuse lawyers, we ensure that your rights are protected and that nursing homes are held accountable.
It’s crucial to act swiftly in nursing home abuse cases in Columbus, GA. Georgia’s statute of limitations imposes deadlines for filing lawsuits. Secure your right to legal proceedings and financial compensation by consulting with our Columbus nursing home abuse attorney without delay.
Your Columbus personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Joe Durham will guide you through gathering medical records, filing police reports, and navigating the legal process to secure compensation for nursing home neglect or abuse. Contact us at 229-210-6226 for a dedicated approach to your case.
How Is a Nursing Home Abuse Case Handled?
At the Law Office of Joe Durham, we prioritize complete transparency between our nursing home abuse attorneys and clients in Columbus, GA. Our commitment extends to every aspect of nursing home abuse lawsuits, ensuring clear communication and understanding throughout the legal process.
If settlement offers in your nursing home abuse case are inadequate, Joe Durham’s team, experienced in nursing home abuse trials in Columbus, will take decisive action. We are prepared to advocate vigorously for the rights of nursing home neglect victims in court to secure fair compensation.
To strengthen your nursing home abuse lawsuit, our law office in Columbus works with medical experts to assess the causes of injuries and meticulously reviews medical records. We ensure unrestricted access to essential information, gather photographic evidence, and scrutinize security footage for proof of abuse. Here are some of the ways we can strengthen your nursing home abuse case:
- Work with medical experts to determine the causes of your elderly loved one’s injuries
- Review your loved one’s medical records
- Help ensure the nursing home does not restrict access to information relevant to the claim
- Gather photographic evidence and examine security videotape related to the abuse
- Review business records to determine the legality of the nursing home’s hiring practices
- Interview witnesses, if possible
- Interview other employees and residents of the nursing home
- Determine the cost of any non-economic damages connected to the nursing home abuse
“Our legal team conducts thorough investigations into the various nursing facility or home’s operations, including examining business records for hiring practices and interviewing witnesses, employees, and other residents. This approach helps us uncover the full extent of emotional abuse or physical abuse in nursing home facilities.”
They can assist you in seeking compensation for any losses you may have suffered as a result of the abuse.
In cases where a Columbus nursing home resident is accused of abuse, they may seek legal defense. It’s crucial for victims to have equally skilled nursing home abuse lawyers on their side. Our Columbus-based team assists in pursuing compensation for all damages, including non-economic losses, related to nursing home abuse.
What Are Examples of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, including physical abuse, nursing home neglect, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and emotional abuse. Our law office in Columbus, GA, is well-versed in handling cases involving these types of abuses, ensuring that nursing homes and healthcare facilities are held accountable for such abuse.
If your family member has experienced injury or harm due to abuse or negligence in a Columbus nursing home, it’s vital to seek legal recourse. Contact Joe Durham’s law office for a free consultation with a dedicated nursing home abuse attorney in Columbus, GA, who specializes in these cases, including those involving emotional or physical injuries
Domestic
This type of abuse, often involving emotional or verbal abuse, or financial exploitation, is usually inflicted by someone the elderly person trusts deeply, like a family member, spouse, close friend, or in-home caregiver. It’s a distressing breach of trust that can significantly impact the elderly person’s well-being.
Abuse of this nature can occur in various settings, not all nursing homes, including the elderly person’s own home or in assisted living facilities where they reside. It’s crucial to recognize the warning signs of such abuse, regardless of the location, to protect vulnerable seniors from harm.
Institutional
Elder abuse can frequently occur in institutional settings designed for older individuals, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare facilities. Sadly, it’s often the nursing home staff members or caregivers entrusted with the care and well-being of nursing home residents who are the perpetrators of this abuse, including physical abuse, emotional and mental abuse, and financial exploitation.
Self-Neglect
This pertains to situations of self-neglect among the elderly, a form of nursing home neglect where the individual jeopardizes their own health and safety. Common indicators include failing to maintain adequate nutrition, hydration, medication adherence, hygiene, or personal safety precautions. This should not be confused with the actions of mentally competent nursing home residents who consciously choose certain behaviors, even if potentially harmful to community health, as a matter of personal choice.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Financial Abuse of an Elderly Person?
Given the relatively low wages of many nursing home staff members and the availability of residents’ personal information in nursing homes, financial abuse of the elderly in nursing facilities is a prevalent issue. Studies show that 1 in 10 elder abuse cases in nursing homes involve financial exploitation. Our experienced nursing home neglect attorneys in Columbus, GA, identify warning signs of this abuse, including:
- Sudden, unexplained withdrawals or changes in bank accounts.
- The addition of new names to the victim’s bank accounts without clear reasoning.
- Unexpected alterations in wills or asset transfers.
- The unaccounted disappearance of funds, valuable items, or personal possessions.
If you suspect that a family member in a nursing home is experiencing financial or material abuse, it’s crucial to act quickly. Contact our dedicated nursing home abuse lawyers to initiate an investigation into any suspicious activities and pursue fair compensation for any losses incurred. Our nursing home lawyers team in Columbus is committed to safeguarding the rights and well-being of nursing home residents.
What Are the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
Not all signs of nursing home abuse are immediately visible, and they may not always have clear physical indicators. Therefore, regularly visiting your loved one and being vigilant for subtle signs as they emerge can help you stay informed about their well-being.
Some common signs of abuse to be mindful of include:
- Anxiety or fear of certain staff or situations
- Bedsores
- Missing items
- Emotional withdrawal
- Poor hygiene
- Excessive hunger
- Cuts or bruises
- A decline in physical health
- Listlessness
- Infections
If you have observed any of these signs or symptoms of harm on your loved one, it is crucial to contact the law offices of Joe Durham without delay. We are fully committed to assisting you in evaluating the specifics of your case and guiding you on the best course of action to protect your loved one’s rights.
Why Is Nursing Home Abuse So Prevalent?
The majority of the root causes of nursing home abuse can be attributed to facilities that are understaffed and mismanaged, with inadequate medical care and insufficient resources for adequate employee training.
These factors can lead to varying degrees of professional negligence. Additionally, due to the rising demand for qualified nursing home staff, there tends to be a higher turnover rate in these facilities.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Your Loved One is the Victim of a Nursing Home Neglect?
Although nursing homes are regulated by the Georgia Department of Community Health, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a qualified nursing home abuse lawyer when filing a claim. If your loved one is suffering from suspected nursing home abuse, and requires legal assistance, do not hesitate to contact our office.
Joe Durham has extensive experience in handling these types of cases, and we are dedicated to ensuring that your loved ones are content and comfortable while we work to investigate the matter.
In the event that you suspect abuse, it is important to document as much of the situation as possible. This can include taking pictures of any injuries or other visible signs of abuse. Our team can examine the evidence and provide you with our expert opinion.
If you suspect that one staff member at the nursing home is responsible for the abuse, it is likely that others on the staff may have also noticed suspicious behavior.
Contact the Joe Durham Law Firm for a Free Consultation!
Under Georgia state law, nursing homes and other elderly care facilities are required to fulfill their duties without exploitation, neglect, or abuse. If you suspect that your elderly loved one is experiencing abuse at such a health services facility, legal assistance is available.
Contact Joe Durham Jr. P.C. at 229-210-6226 to speak with our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in Columbus, GA who can analyze the case, provide expert advice, and offer support in obtaining compensation for the abuse.
