Walnut Creek Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
It can be difficult to imagine your elderly loved one suffering from a crime as heinous as abuse or neglect while in the care of a nursing home. Yet statistics show that thousands of nursing home residents in the United States suffer from abuse at the hands of nursing home staff members each year.
If you have reason to believe that your loved one is being abused or mistreated at a nursing home, don’t hesitate to contact Milanfar Law Firm, PC. Our attorneys can guide your family through a Walnut Creek nursing home abuse lawsuit to demand justice and fair financial compensation for this unspeakable crime.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse refers to an individual intentionally harming a senior citizen that resides in a nursing home.
Harm can refer to bodily injuries (physical abuse), as well as mental, psychological, and emotional damage. Nursing home abuse can be inflicted by a staff member at the nursing home, such as a caregiver or nurse. It can also come from other residents or visitors – even the victim’s own family members, in some cases. The four main types of nursing home abuse are:
- Physical. Physical abuse refers to intentionally physically injuring a senior citizen, such as with hits, slaps, kicks, burns, or by pushing a senior down. It can also refer to withholding food and water from a victim, causing malnourishment or dehydration. Physical abuse can also include bedsores, pressure ulcers, weight loss over medication, failure to bathe, or failure to administer medication.
- Emotional. Emotional abuse is any action or behavior inflicted against a victim that causes nonphysical trauma, such as emotional distress, mental anguish, or psychological harm. It can be committed using verbal abuse, isolation, restraints, or other means.
- Sexual. Sexual abuse is the crime of sexually assaulting a nursing home resident. The elderly are vulnerable to sexual abuse due to physical weaknesses, mental incapacity, medications, and the imbalance of power between a victim and perpetrator.
- Financial. Financial abuse or exploitation is when a nursing home employee defrauds, scams, or threatens a victim into giving the perpetrator money or assets. It may be combined with physical or emotional abuse.
Nursing home abuse can lead to outward signs that may allow the victim’s family to notice that something is amiss, such as frequent or unexplained injuries, depression or anxiety, withdrawal from favorite activities, an overall decline in physical or mental health, or sexually transmitted diseases. If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from abuse or neglect at a nursing home in Walnut Creek, you have the right to take legal action.
Filing a Lawsuit for Devastating Nursing Home Abuse in California
Report your suspicions of nursing home abuse to law enforcement right away. If it is an emergency, remove your loved one from the care of the nursing home and take him or her to a safe place. Notify the nursing home of what’s happening as well. Get your loved one medical care, if necessary. Gather information about the incident, such as statements from your loved one and any witnesses as well as medical records. Then, consult with an attorney about how to file a lawsuit.
In California, an injured nursing home abuse victim or a family member can file a civil claim in pursuit of financial compensation. A civil lawsuit can hold a nursing home liable (financially and legally responsible) for abusing, neglecting, or mistreating an elderly resident. It is up to the filing party, however, to prove the grounds for the lawsuit. Proving your case can be easier with assistance from an attorney.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With a Walnut Creek Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
At Milanfar Law Firm, PC, we have dedicated our practice to helping victims who have been injured by the negligent or intentional acts of others. We can take on your nursing home abuse lawsuit to pursue justice and maximum financial compensation on your behalf. Our lawyers can help you go up against any nursing home in Walnut Creek to demand results. Request a free case evaluation today at (925) 433-6003 or by contacting us online.