Aiken County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Do you suspect your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse in Aiken County, SC? Your family may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, relocation costs, and your pain and suffering. An experienced Aiken County nursing home abuse lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.

With over 71 years of combined experience, you can trust us to stand up and protect your best interests. Over the years, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for families like yours.

Don’t hesitate to take legal action if your family member or loved one has been a victim of abuse. Contact our law offices in Aiken County, South Carolina, to schedule a free consultation today (803) 226-9089.

How Hawk Law Group Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Aiken County 

How Hawk Law Group Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Aiken County

Discovering that your loved one has been abused can be devastating. An experienced Aiken County personal injury lawyer can help you hold the people responsible accountable.

Our lawyers have received recognition as “Super Lawyers”, “Rising Stars” and “Top Lawyers”, among other top legal directories such as Justia, and more.

When you hire Hawk Law Group, you’ll have a lawyer to:

  • Investigate and gather evidence to prove your case
  • Determine who is responsible for the abuse
  • Calculate the fair value of your injury claim
  • Hire experts and specialists to support your case
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf
  • Fight to protect your interests in court if necessary

Our lawyers have recovered some of the highest settlements and verdicts in the area–including one $30 million verdict. We’re well-equipped to fight for your family.

Your loved one’s abuser may be facing criminal charges. Let our Aiken County personal injury attorneys help you recover the money you need to move on with your life. Just call our team to explore your legal options today.

How Common Is Nursing Home Abuse in Aiken County?

Approximately 2.5 million people live in long-term care settings. Unfortunately, these are typically the individuals who are the most vulnerable to abuse.

One World Health Organization (WHO) survey found that among nursing home residents at least 60 years of age, one in every six experienced some type of abuse. Surprisingly, two-thirds of employees in assisted living facilities admitted to committing abuse in the past year.

As many as five million vulnerable older Americans are abused every year. The cost of that abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion.

What Is My Aiken County Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?

The value of your nursing home abuse case depends on the circumstances and the nature of the harm you have suffered. Cases involving more serious and long-term injuries tend to result in higher settlements and verdicts.

Some factors that our attorneys in Aiken County will consider when calculating your case value include:

  • Whether the abuse caused permanent damage or a long-term impairment
  • The cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and relocation costs
  • Damage to your loved one’s quality of life
  • The suffering and distress caused by the abuse
  • The nature of the abuse

Are you wondering how much your personal injury case is worth? Call our Aiken nursing home abuse lawyers to learn more about this area of law today.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse?

Victims of nursing home abuse are often entitled to recover compensation for:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • The cost of relocating to a safe nursing facility
  • Your lost wages while you help your loved one
  • Psychological counseling
  • Restitution in cases involving financial abuse
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Disfigurement or scarring
  • Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
  • Loss of consortium

Every case is different. Our lawyers have the resources to help you prove the damages caused by the abuse. Call our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation today.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can happen in many different ways. While physical violence is a problem, any type of abuse can have serious long-term consequences for the victim.

At Hawk Law Group, our lawyers in Aiken County handle all types of nursing home abuse cases, including those involving:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse can involve any type of violent behavior. It may involve outright punching, slapping, hitting, or kicking. Handling the vulnerable nursing home resident in a rough or aggressive manner can also cause serious physical injury.

Psychological and Emotional Abuse

Psychological and emotional abuse is the intentional infliction of distress or pain through verbal acts. Emotional abuse can take the form of humiliation, bullying, harassment, demeaning behavior, and even intentional forced isolation.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, emotional abuse is a widespread problem in nursing homes. Around 23% of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) admitted to insulting or swearing at a patient.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse in nursing settings often goes unreported. Patients who suffer from cognitive disabilities, such as dementia, are particularly vulnerable. The perpetrator of the abuse may be a nursing home employee or even another resident.

Financial Exploitation

Not all victims of abuse suffer physical injuries. Financial abuse occurs when someone in the nursing facility takes advantage of the vulnerable resident’s finances.

Financial abuse could include:

  • Opening credit cards in the resident’s name
  • Stealing personal information
  • Using the resident’s credit cards for personal purchases
  • Convincing the resident to change a will or beneficiary designations on financial accounts

Financial abuse can create serious long-term problems. If your loved one has been exploited, take action right away by calling our Aiken County nursing home abuse attorneys at Hawk Law Group.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abandonment

Nursing home neglect can be active or passive. Some nursing home employees are simply overworked and unable to provide the level of care needed. Others actively neglect their duties and allow residents to suffer by withholding food, water, or medications.

Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse 

Many victims of nursing home abuse and neglect do not report the abuse. There are various reasons why that’s the case. Some victims are too humiliated and ashamed to admit they have been abused. Others may suffer from memory disorders, and either don’t remember whether they have reported the abuse or are unable to understand that they’re being abused.

That makes it important to watch for the signs and symptoms of abuse. Those signs will depend on the type of abuse or neglect that is taking place.

Some of the most common symptoms of nursing home abuse include:

  • Unexplained bruises, fractures, or injuries
  • Behavioral changes, including becoming withdrawn or non-communicative
  • Fear of speaking around nursing home staff 
  • Bed sores or infections
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Poor hygiene
  • Dehydration 
  • Unsanitary living conditions
  • Staff that refuses to leave you alone with your loved one
  • Unexplained financial transactions
  • Changes to the victim’s estate plan
  • Bruising or injuries around the genitals
  • Overmedication 
  • Abrasions on the ankles or wrists
  • New medical conditions or untreated conditions

If you observe any of these signs, it’s important to take action to stop the abuse. You can report suspected nursing home abuse in South Carolina online or by calling a toll-free hotline.

Long-Term Consequences of Nursing Home Abuse

Some of the most common long-term consequences of nursing home abuse include:

  • Development of new medical conditions, often because of dehydration, malnutrition, or failure to provide proper medical care and medications
  • Infections
  • Broken bones and other injuries
  • Bedsores and pressure ulcers
  • Severe depression, PTSD, and other mental health disorders
  • A reduced life expectancy
  • Financial losses
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Abuse in a long-term care facility can change your loved one’s life forever. If your family is struggling in the wake of abuse, contact our lawyers for a free case review today. We’ll do everything we can to hold the responsible parties accountable.

What Are the Common Causes of Nursing Home Abuse in Aiken, South Carolina?

Some of the most common causes of nursing home abuse include:

  • Failure to conduct proper background checks
  • Failure to train and supervise staff members
  • Hiring unqualified employees
  • Understaffing
  • Failure to provide sanitary living conditions 
  • Outdated medical equipment
  • Failure to call a doctor or transfer the resident to a hospital when called for
  • Medical malpractice
  • Failure to adequately monitor nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other cognitive disabilities
  • Failure to provide adequate security to protect residents from criminal acts

Remember, even if the nursing home employee committed abuse, a negligent nursing home might ultimately be held liable for your damages. As employers, nursing homes have a duty to provide safe and sanitary living conditions.

How Long Do I Have To File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in South Carolina?

The statute of limitations in South Carolina is three years. If you don’t file a personal injury lawsuit within three years, you lose your right to sue for damages.

Depending on the facts, you could have more or less time to act.

Contact an Aiken County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you or a family member were a victim of nursing home abuse, call an Aiken County nursing home abuse lawyer for legal advice today. At Hawk Law Group, we offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to reach out today.

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