legal resources necessary to hold negligent facilities accountable.
Clifton NJ Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing homes are where the disabled and elderly receive proper care when their families cannot provide it for them. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes are safe, and many residents suffer abuse and neglect from the people that are supposed to be caring for them.
Did you or a loved one suffer abuse in a nursing facility? At Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, our affiliate personal injury attorneys can help your family hold responsible parties accountable and recover financial compensation for your damages.
Contact our Clifton, NJ nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565 for a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with your lawyer will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?Nursing facility abuse is a single or repeated act that causes physical, psychological, or financial harm to a resident. It can result from negligence, carelessness, or malicious intent of workers, visitors, or other residents.
Types and Common Signs of Nursing Home AbuseNursing facility abuse can take many forms, including:
Physical AbuseIt involves deliberately using force against a nursing home resident, causing injury, pain, or impairment. It includes but is not limited to actions such as slapping, striking, kicking, burning, and pinching. Signs include:
- Broken bones
- Unexplained injuries (e.g., cuts, burns, bruises)
- Restraint or grip marks
- Fearfulness
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
It involves verbal and non-verbal acts that cause psychological harm to a resident. These acts may include verbal abuse, humiliation, gaslighting, and geographical or social isolation. Signs include:
- Unusual changes in behavior or personality
- Depression or anxiety
- Fearfulness
- Being extremely withdrawn
- Loss of enjoyment in usual activities
It is any non-consensual sexual contact with a resident, including those who cannot give valid consent (e.g., a mentally disabled person). It may include verbal sexual harassment, unwanted touching, explicit photography, sodomy, coerced nudity, and rape.
Signs include:
- Reluctance or refusal to be touched
- Unexplained bruises around the breasts or genitals
- Genital infections
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
Financial abuse is the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of a resident’s personal property, including money and assets. Signs include:
- Sudden bank account changes
- Unexplained transactions on debit or credit cards
- Missing belongings
- Sudden changes in financial habits
Neglect occurs when nursing homes fail to provide food, medication, personal hygiene, clothing, and medical care, creating or increasing the risk of harm to a resident. Signs include:
- Poor hygiene
- Bed sores
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Rapid weight loss
- Untreated medical conditions
- Unsafe or unsanitary living conditions
- Inadequate clothing for the weather
- Lack of medical aids
- Medication errors
A victim of abuse or neglect may suffer the following consequences:
- Severe injuries
- Untreated medical conditions
- Psychological trauma
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Monetary losses
- Loss of quality of life
- Reduced family or social ties
- Wrongful death
Residents in nursing homes with the following issues are more likely to suffer abuse and neglect:
- Underqualified and Improperly Trained Staff: Staff with inadequate qualifications and training may be more likely to commit negligence, medical malpractice, and abuse, creating a potentially dangerous environment for residents.
- Understaffing: Nursing homes that experience chronic staffing shortages may not be able to provide proper supervision and medical care to all residents.
- Poor Management: Staff members are more likely to provide substandard care if management is disorganized, irresponsible, and reactive instead of proactive.
- Underreporting : Although it is required by law, only a small percentage of cases are reported to the authorities. Consequently, many issues remain unresolved, and negligent nursing homes continue to operate despite violations.
Report known or suspected neglect or abuse to the Clifton Police Department. Call 911 if you think your loved one or another resident is in immediate danger.
You can also file a formal complaint to the following agencies in New Jersey:
- Adult Protective Services
- Department of Health and Senior Services
- Division of Aging and Community Services
- Long Term Care Ombudsman
Negligent nursing homes may lose their licenses, certifications, and government funding if found guilty of non-compliance with state or federal regulations. In addition, perpetrators may face criminal charges from the police.
After alerting the authorities and removing your loved one from the facility, contact an attorney to discuss your legal options.
Filing a Clifton Nursing Home Abuse ClaimA nursing home facility that fails to protect its residents from harm may be liable for damages caused by staff members, visitors, or fellow residents.
Take immediate action if you or a loved one suffered maltreatment in a Clifton nursing facility. With the help of our lawyers, you can pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim.
The Role of Clifton Nursing Home Abuse LawyersFiling a successful claim requires the skills and expertise of an experienced lawyer. Our lawyers can help you:
- Establish the liability of at-fault parties
- File your claim within the statute of limitations
- Collect evidence to support your claim
- Negotiate settlement values
- Consult with medical experts
- Report your case to the proper authorities
- File your lawsuit in civil court, if necessary
Your nursing home abuse lawyer will discuss these responsibilities further during your initial consultation.
Liable PartiesOur lawyers can help you identify who is responsible for abusing or neglecting your loved one. Perpetrators may include:
- Staff members
- Visitors
- Other facility residents
- Nursing facility administrators
During the discovery phase of your case, your lawyer will help you gather relevant proof, such as:
- Photos of injuries sustained
- Medical records
- Incident and police reports
- Witness accounts from staff members, visitors, or other patients
- Expert testimony
- An autopsy report, in case of wrongful death
With the help of your Clifton nursing home abuse lawyer, you could recover fair compensation for the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Disability
- Loss of quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
- Punitive damages
Your Clifton nursing home abuse lawyer will estimate the potential value of your settlement based on your damages during your initial consultation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Clifton Nursing Home Abuse LawyerNursing homes are supposed to be places where the disabled and elderly can receive proper care and attention. Unfortunately, the situation in some nursing homes is not always ideal.
Were you or a loved one a victim of nursing facility abuse? If so, the best lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC can help you take legal action for the injustices your family has suffered. Our attorneys work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for all of our clients and, in the process, punish negligent nursing homes to the fullest extent of the law.
Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565, or use the contact form for a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with your lawyers will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.
Our law firm handles all accepted cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay for our legal services unless we win your case.
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