Nursing home maltreatment has become an unfortunately common reality in Midwest City and the rest of the United States. Senior citizens in nursing homes are often treated so badly by the staff at their home that it rises to the level of actionable neglect and abuse. A resident who is harmed by such treatment may want to consider seeking financial restitution. While civil compensation cannot erase the traumatizing experience, it could help hold abusive or negligent staff accountable.
A Midwest City nursing home abuse lawyer could help explain your potential legal options for recovering the compensation you may need to overcome the abuse you or your loved one suffered. Schedule an appointment with a dedicated personal injury attorney to start assessing legal strategies that may be effective for your case.
Defining and Detecting Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse occurs when the treatment and the care that nursing home residents receive declines in quality to the point that it causes them significant physical and mental harm. While many nursing home abuse situations involve injuries that develop slowly, like bed sores, infections, malnourishment, or improper medical care, there are instances where residents suffer serious and sudden injuries such as broken bones, bruises, and open wounds.
One of the most frustrating aspects of nursing home abuse is that it is often difficult to detect. The people who suffer nursing home abuse are nearly always senior citizens, many of whom are unable to reiterate their ordeals to family members or do not want their loved ones to be bothered by their uncomfortable conditions.
Alternatively, some elderly individuals do not have close relatives looking out for them. Coupled with the fact that many nursing homes try to cover up instances of abuse, many terrible situations are never detected, leaving innocent residents vulnerable to incurring severe injuries.
This is why it may be essential for anyone who sees any potential sign of nursing home abuse to reach out to a skilled nursing home maltreatment lawyer in Midwest City for help. Even if a subsequent investigation turns up nothing, it could deter a nursing home from treating their residents poorly in the future.
The Legal Standard of Care
The Nursing Home Reform Act is a federal law that applies to nursing homes in Midwest City and around the country. This Act gives nursing home residents rights that are often used in personal injury lawsuits to establish the standard of care that nursing homes must provide for their residents. Establishing this standard of care is often a huge part of any lawsuit that aims to secure compensation for an injured resident.
In addition to establishing the standard of care for nursing homes, the Nursing Home Reform Act generally penalizes offending nursing homes for violating the Act’s requirements. As a result, personal injury lawsuits for nursing home abuse could lead to federal and state investigations into the conditions at the home in question. This can often provide leverage that a dedicated lawyer in Midwest City could use to a plaintiff’s advantage.
Reach Out to a Midwest City Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one fell victim to nursing home abuse, retaining an attorney’s help could significantly improve your ability to file an effective lawsuit against negligent parties that may have contributed to the abuse. Not only could receiving compensation for your injuries play a significant role in the recovery process, but it can also go a long way towards ensuring that nursing home abuse does not continue at that facility.
A Midwest City nursing home abuse lawyer could help if you suspect a loved one has suffered neglect or abuse. Call today to schedule an initial meeting and discuss your legal options.