If you or a loved one were a victim of nursing home abuse in Evans, GA, you may be entitled to hold the responsible parties accountable. Nursing homes are required to provide a safe living environment. When they don’t, an Evans nursing home abuse lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our lawyers have over 71 years of experience between us. Over the years, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our injured clients and their families.
Nursing home residents often suffer from conditions that make it difficult to report abuse. If you have questions about this area of law, Contact our law offices in Evans, Georgia at (706) 863-6500 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Evans, GA
Victims of nursing home abuse pay a steep price. Often, fighting for financial compensation is the only way to get justice. If you don’t know where to turn for help, our experienced Evans personal injury attorneys at Hawk Law Group are here for you.
Over the years, our lawyers have helped clients win some of the largest verdicts in the area, including one $30 million verdict. We’d be proud to use our experience to stand up for your family.
Hiring us means you’ll have a skilled advocate to:
- Conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the abuse
- Help your family find a safe nursing facility and stop the abuse
- Gather evidence to prove who is liable for your damages
- Assess your case value
- Hire experts and specialists to strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies
When a trusted nursing home violates your trust, our Evans personal injury lawyers are here to help you fight for fair compensation. We’re ready to get started, so contact our team to schedule your free consultation today.
What is My Evans Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
Victims of nursing home abuse can file a civil claim for compensation. Like any other personal injury victim, it’s important to know how much your case is worth before beginning insurance negotiations.
The value of your case depends on:
- The types of injuries your loved one sustained
- The financial losses involved, including the cost of medical treatment and moving to a safe environment
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- Damage to the victim’s mental well-being and quality of life
No two cases are exactly the same. Our Evans nursing home abuse attorneys can help you determine what your case is really worth. Just call our law firm for a free case evaluation today.
What Types of Damages Are Available To Victims of Nursing Home Abuse?
Victims of nursing home abuse are entitled to pursue compensation for the same types of damages available to car accident victims.
Depending on the facts, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- The cost of transferring your loved one to a new nursing facility
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Damages for wrongful death
Punitive damages may also be available. Many nursing home abuse cases involve intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence. In these cases, the courts are much more likely to award damages to punish the at-fault party.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
There are several different forms of abuse, including:
- Physical abuse, which is any type of action that could cause the victim physical harm
- Emotional abuse, which can include humiliation, name-calling, insulting, belittling, and even forced isolation
- Sexual abuse, including rape and any other type of non-consensual sexual act (including situations where the victim is incapable of giving consent)
- Financial abuse or improper use of the victim’s money or property (including stealing, forging checks, and other types of financial exploitation)
- Neglect or abandonment, where the nursing home fails to provide adequate care
At Hawk Law Group, our lawyers in Evans handle all types of nursing home abuse cases. If you suspect your loved one suffered abuse or neglect, call our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation today. We’ll take legal action and do everything possible to protect your loved one and hold the at-fault parties liable.
Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse
It’s important to pay close attention to the details if your loved one is a resident in an assisted living facility. The signs of nursing home abuse can vary widely–and they aren’t always obvious.
The National Center on Elder Abuse has identified some of the most common signs that your loved one has been abused. Those signs will depend on the type of abuse involved.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Some of the most common signs of physical abuse include:
- Unexplained injuries, including bruises, fractures, black eyes, and lacerations
- Signs of restraint, including marks on the wrists and ankles
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Caregivers refusing to leave you alone with your loved one
- Tests that demonstrate over or under-medication
The victim may also report hitting, slapping, kicking, and other forms of physical abuse.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse can be devastating for your proud and strong loved one. However, it can also be difficult for the victim to report the abuse.
Some of the most common signs to watch for include:
- Becoming withdrawn, non-communicative, or non-responsive
- Rocking, thumb-sucking, and other regressive behaviors
- Becoming agitated or upset
Many victims of emotional abuse are embarrassed or humiliated to the point where they are unable to report the abuse.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Signs that your loved one may be a victim of sexual abuse include:
- Pelvic injuries
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Bloody or torn underwear
Sexual abuse can be especially difficult to detect in residents who suffer from memory disorders. The victim may not realize they are being abused. In other cases, they may think that they have reported the abuse when they really have not.
Signs of Financial Abuse
Some of the most common signs of financial abuse include:
- Unusual financial transactions, including withdrawing large sums of money
- Changes to beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance
- Opening new credit cards without explanation
- Unexplained changes to the victim’s will
- The disappearance of money or valuable possessions
Our lawyers in Evans know how to help you prove your case. We’ll work tirelessly to locate the evidence you need to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect or abandonment can be as dangerous as outright abuse.
If you notice any of the following signs, it’s possible that your loved one is being neglected:
- Bed sores
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Unexplained weight loss
- Untreated health conditions or infections
- Unsanitary conditions
- Changes in your loved one’s personal hygiene
Sometimes neglect occurs because nursing homes are understaffed. In other cases, nursing home employees may actively neglect residents.
Long-Term Consequences of Nursing Home Abuse
Victims of nursing home abuse can experience long-term physical, emotional, and financial losses.
Some examples of the long-term consequences of nursing home abuse include:
- Worsened medical conditions
- Ancillary medical conditions caused by malnutrition, dehydration, or failure to provide proper medications
- Broken bones and physical injuries
- Severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Reduced life expectancy
- Infections
- Financial insecurity
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Vulnerable nursing home residents are particularly susceptible to the most serious losses.
What Causes Nursing Home Abuse in Evans, Georgia?
There is no justification or excuse for nursing home abuse. However, some factors tend to increase the risk of abuse in long-term care facilities.
These factors include:
- Failure to properly screen nursing home employees
- Failure to conduct background checks
- Failure to train and supervise staff
- Unqualified employees
- Understaffing
- Failure to invest resources to ensure sanitary living conditions
- Failure to hire certified nursing assistants
- Lack of proper medical equipment
- Medical malpractice
- Failure to properly monitor nursing home residents
- Negligent security, which can allow criminal acts to occur on the premises
Often, the nursing home can be held liable for the actions of nursing home employees and staff. As employers, nursing homes are financially liable for negligent or wrongful acts committed by employees under Georgia state law.
How Long Do I Have To File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Georgia?
You have only two years to file a lawsuit under the statute of limitations in Georgia. That two-year clock starts to run on the date you discover the abuse or reasonably should have discovered the abuse. However, you may have less time to file an insurance claim.
It’s also possible that you could have additional time if the abuser is facing criminal charges. In these cases, the two-year clock is paused until the criminal case is resolved.
Contact an Evans Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a family member were a victim of nursing home abuse, our lawyers at Hawk Law Group are here to help you fight for justice. Call our law firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Evans nursing home abuse lawyer.
