Edison NJ Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Thousands of nursing home residents are victims of abuse and neglect each year. Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. Neglect can include failure to provide adequate food, water, or medical care and remove hazards or provide a safe environment.

Abuse and neglect can have devastating consequences for victims. Injuries and illnesses can range from cuts and bruises to bedsores, malnutrition, and even death. Victims often suffer tremendous physical and emotional pain and may require extensive medical treatment.

Are you or a loved one victims of nursing home abuse or neglect? You might be entitled to financial compensation. The affiliate New Jersey personal injury attorneys can help you file a claim against the responsible party and seek the damages you deserve.

Contact our Edison, NJ, nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) to schedule a free consultation.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), nursing home abuse and neglect are widespread problems. The following are some of the statistics associated with this issue:

• Every year, nearly 2 million older Americans are victims of abuse or neglect.
• More than 1 in 10 elders who live in nursing homes experience abuse.
• Up to 40% of residents in long-term care facilities suffer from malnutrition or dehydration.
• Nearly 60% of patients with dementia in nursing homes wander off at least once a year.

The consequences of abuse and neglect in nursing homes can devastate victims.

In addition to physical injuries, nursing home abuse victims may suffer from emotional trauma, depression, and anxiety. They may also have difficulty trusting others and may be reluctant to seek help in the future.

Many mistakes can be made when administering medication, which is why New Jersey state inspectors look for problems in nursing homes when the staff fails to follow protocols.

Should an error rate exceed five percent in the New Jersey facility, the staff must improve their process and ensure patients aren't experiencing any adverse effects from their injections or pills being given incorrectly.

A nursing home medication error can be an incorrect decision when prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications to nursing home residents. Common signs of mistakes could include administering the wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong time, wrong patient, or wrong route of administration.

Medication errors in nursing homes can also occur when there is a breakdown in communication between healthcare professionals and patients.

Medication mistakes can have severe consequences for nursing home residents, including injury, illness, and wrongful death. Sometimes, patients may experience allergic reactions to medications or suffer complications from incorrect dosages.

Nursing home patients may also experience long-term health problems due to medication errors.

State inspectors often investigate medication errors, review the incident report, and interview staff members involved in the medication administration. The inspector may also check the nursing home patient's medical records to determine what role the medication error played in the patient's illness or injury.

Any family member with a loved one in an Edison, NJ nursing home who is the victim of neglect or mistreatment can file a civil lawsuit for compensation. The first step is to contact an experienced nursing home neglect attorney who can investigate the claim and help determine if you have a case.

If you decide to proceed with a lawsuit, your nursing home abuse attorney will file a complaint in court on your behalf. The complaint will detail the specific allegations of abuse or neglect and will name the defendants, which might include:

• The nursing home
• Nursing home employees
• Facility owner
• Visitor or friend
• Another family member
• Another patient

Your nursing home neglect lawyer will also collect evidence to support your claim, including medical records, eyewitness statements, and photographs. Data shows that approximately 95% of all civil cases in New Jersey are resolved through negotiated settlements.

The plaintiff’s New Jersey nursing home abuse attorney will conduct at least one settlement meeting with the defendants to determine if an adequate settlement arrangement can be reached. Multiple sessions may be required to reach an agreement. Otherwise, the case must be resolved in court.

If the case goes to trial, a jury will ultimately decide if the defendants are liable for the mistreatment or neglect and, if so, how much money you should be awarded in damages. These damages include medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.

Family members who suspect their loved ones are victims of mistreatment or neglect in nursing homes can take immediate legal action. The Middlesex County, NJ, personal injury attorneys at the Nursing Home Law Center are legal advocates holding nursing homes, medical professionals, and others financially accountable for damages.

Contact our Edison law offices at (800) 926-7565 to schedule a free case evaluation with an affiliate NJ personal injury attorney. We accept all New Jersey nursing home abuse and neglect cases on a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement ensures our clients don’t pay any upfront fees until their nursing home abuse attorney successfully resolves the case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

• American Psychological Association - Senior Citizens Abuse
• HRW: Apprehension Over Neglect in Long-Term Care Facilities
• NCBI: Older People Abuse in Nursing Homes