Hitchcock Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Choosing a nursing home, either for yourself or a loved one, is a major decision. Unfortunately, around 10 percent of nursing homes across the United States have been cited with neglect or abuse. If you or a loved one have suffered abuse in a nursing home, you need a Hitchcock nursing home abuse lawyer to help you file a claim for compensation. It is crucial to work with an experienced personal injury attorney in this important moment.

Filing a Nursing Home Abuse Claim: What You Need to Know

In most cases, the injured party will need to file a personal injury claim for themselves, with the help of a lawyer. However, you can file a claim on behalf of an injured loved one if your loved one signed over power of attorney to you, either in general or for this specific incident, or if your loved one died as a result of the abuse.

The Statute of Limitations

A nursing home abuse claim in Hitchcock needs to be filed as soon as possible. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the incident, or two years from the date the damage was discovered, to file a claim for compensation for those damages.

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect abuse in a nursing home, you can report it to the nursing home director. You can also seek support from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Reporting abuse promptly allows the state to investigate those claims and protects other residents.

Compensation in Nursing Home Abuse Claims

A nursing home abuse claim cannot undo the damage done to a loved one due to the nursing home’s negligent or harmful actions. However, it can provide much-needed financial assistance that makes it easier for a loved one to recover after the incident. Compensation can include:

• Medical costs: The cost of any medical bills your loved one has to pay as a result of the nursing home’s negligence or abuse.
• Pain and suffering: Nursing home abuse can cause substantial suffering, for which many victims can recover financial compensation.
• Moving costs: If the nursing home abuse victim has to move to a  new facility because of abuse, you can claim compensation for those moving costs and for any additional costs associated with the new facility.

While a lawyer cannot guarantee the compensation you will ultimately recover, they can present you with a breakdown of the damages you can claim and the compensation you should expect.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can include several distinct types of injury, al of which can be addressed in a lawsuit:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect

In addition, some nursing homes or facility workers may financially abuse residents, keeping them cut off from their resources. A Hitchcock lawyer could explain how this is also grounds for a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can prove difficult to identify. Some seniors will show obvious signs, including clear signs of injuries, dehydration, or malnutrition. Others may withdraw from friends and family members or show signs of fear when interacting with a specific staff member. You may also notice that a senior loved one suffers frequent injuries, that the nursing home seems to lose track of them, or that medical conditions that were previously managed are no longer under control. Keeping an eye out for those signs of abuse can help you act fast.

Contact a Hitchcock Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

If you or a loved one suffered abuse at a care facility, having a Hitchcock nursing home abuse lawyer on your side makes it much easier to determine the compensation you deserve, pursue a claim, and hold the nursing home accountable. Contact Schechter, Shaffer, & Harris, Accident and Injury Attorneys, today for a free consultation.