If you, your spouse, your grandparent, or another family was injured in their retirement home, you need a Cypress nursing home abuse lawyer on your side. The talented personal injury attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP have the experience you need in this challenging moment. Our team has had great success in this arena, and we will work tirelessly to pursue the compensation your family deserves.
What Happens During a Cypress Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
Nursing home abuse cases can be complicated. They may require an attorney to present witnesses, call upon expert witnesses, present medical information, and describe the abuse that happened. Crucially, not every case involves the same factors.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
Here in Texas, nursing home residents have the right to live in a situation that is free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Abuse is classified as physical, verbal, emotional or sexual. If, for example, a victim is hiding the bruises on their arms by wearing long-sleeved sweaters, their family may suspect physical abuse. Neglect is the failure to act reasonably when caring for an older adult. To put a finer point on it, nursing home residents should be able to expect:
- Clean laundry
- Clean bedding
- Nutritional meals at regular times
- Adequate personal hygiene assistance
- Reliable medication distribution by professionals
- Reliable, quality medical care from licensed professionals
Sometimes, families notice that their loved ones are very hungry or that they are not getting the hygiene care they need.
Finally, exploitation of a senior by nursing home staff can be challenging to discover. Exploitation could happen, for instance, if nursing home staff demanded cash in exchange for meals or care. In more complex cases, nursing home staff may “punish” a senior by isolating them until the resident pays them, keeping them from social events or meal time with others.
What Kind of Evidence is Helpful to a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
Sometimes, the best evidence in a nursing home abuse lawsuit will come from the victim and their family. However, the court understands that elderly victims may struggle to communicate their abuse. Sometimes, this is due to a medical condition, but very often, it is because a victim feels threatened by nursing home staff or others.
When a family suspects their loved one is enduring abuse, neglect or exploitation, they should call a Cypress nursing home abuse lawyer right away. Families often pull their loved ones out of a bad situation and find other living arrangements. A call to law enforcement is also encouraged. Police officers are trained as expert witnesses and will take photos of bruises and write detailed reports that can help in a lawsuit later.
If a senior experiences abuse related to exploitation, bank records or financial statements will be helpful in court as they prove the financial abuse. Ultimately, many nursing home abuse cases are settled outside of court, and a talented elder neglect attorney will walk you through that process.
Call a Cypress Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Now to Learn More
We at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP look forward to earning your business with our diligence and attention to detail. If you or a family was mistreated at a retirement home, contact us today for a meeting with a skilled Cypress nursing home abuse lawyer. We have plenty of experience in this arena and will help your family get the compensation you are owed during this difficult time.
