Was your family member or loved one a victim of nursing home abuse in Thomson, GA? You may be entitled to compensation from the abuser, the nursing home, and anyone who allowed the abuse to occur. An experienced Thomson nursing home abuse lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Collectively, our lawyers have over 71 years of experience fighting for injured clients in the CSRA. Over the years, we’ve helped accident victims recover tens of millions of dollars for their injuries.
To learn more about getting legal representation and how we can protect your loved one, contact our law offices in Thomson, Georgia to schedule a free consultation today at (706)-361-0350.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Thomson, GA
It can be overwhelming to learn that a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse. Many victims and families don’t know where to turn for help. An experienced Thomson personal injury attorney can help you fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.
At Hawk Law Group, we’ve been helping injured clients get justice for decades. In fact, we’ve dedicated our entire practice to personal injury law.
When you hire our team of attorneys to fight for you, you can trust us to:
- Conduct an investigation into the allegations of abuse
- Gather evidence and determine who is financially responsible
- Take steps to keep your loved one safe
- Hire experts and specialists who can establish how much your case is worth
- Negotiate with the insurance companies and defense lawyers on your behalf
The perpetrator of the abuse may ultimately be held responsible in criminal court. Even if a criminal case is successful, you or your loved one may deserve compensation. To learn more about this practice area, call a Thomson personal injury lawyer today.
How Common is Nursing Home Abuse in Thomson?
Nursing home abuse is unfortunately common. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, one in every six people aged 60 and older experience some type of abuse. Shockingly, two out of every three employees in long-term care facilities admitted to committing some type of abuse in the past year.
What is My Thomson Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case will depend on many different factors. It’s impossible to provide an accurate estimate before we understand the facts of your case.
Important factors include:
- The nature of the harm involved
- The type of abuse and the nature of the defendant’s actions
- How the abuse will impact the victim’s future
- The cost of medical treatment and other out-of-pocket expenses
- Damage to the victim’s quality of life and emotional well-being
Putting a dollar value on these types of cases can be tricky. Many of the losses sustained by victims of abuse are non-financial. We’ll often bring in experts in various specialties to help us translate those losses into dollars and cents.
What Types of Damages Are Available To Victims of Nursing Home Abuse?
Examples of the types of damages you may be entitled to receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages while you help your loved one relocate
- The cost of relocating to a new facility
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Counseling
- Restitution in cases involving financial exploitation
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Damages for wrongful death
The abuser may also be liable for paying punitive damages. Courts typically award punitive damages to punish the defendant for intentional acts or gross negligence.
We Handle All Types of Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Thomson, GA
While physical abuse in nursing homes is common, nursing home abuse is not always physical. It’s important to understand that any type of abuse can severely harm the victim.
At Hawk Law Group, we handle all types of nursing home abuse cases in Thomson, including those involving:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is any type of physical action that could harm the victim. Nursing home residents can sustain serious injuries when they’re hit, slapped, kicked, or even pushed. In other physical abuse cases, nursing home staff members may physically restrain the victim without justification.
Vulnerable and elderly nursing home residents are particularly susceptible to sustaining severe injuries when physically abused.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse occurs when someone intentionally inflicts emotional pain, distress, or mental anguish on the victim. Staff members may engage in behavior designed to humiliate, intimidate, shame, or embarrass the victim. In some cases, intentional isolation can amount to emotional abuse.
Sexual Abuse
As difficult as it may be to imagine, nursing home residents are often vulnerable to sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is any non-consensual sexual act. It’s also important to remember that nursing home residents who suffer from certain memory disorders or mental disabilities may be incapable of giving consent.
Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation is any improper or illegal use of a nursing home resident’s financial assets or property.
Financial exploitation may involve:
- Forging the resident’s signature
- Theft of valuable personal property
- Identity theft, including opening credit cards in the resident’s name
- Convincing the resident to change a will or account beneficiaries
- Cashing the resident’s checks without permission
Financial abuse creates a risk of financial insecurity. Residents who have been the victim of financial abuse may also become unable to pay for ongoing care in an assisted living facility.
Nursing Home Neglect
Sometimes neglect can be as damaging as outright abuse. Nursing home neglect can take many forms, including:
- Withholding food and water
- Failure to provide proper medications
- Failure to call a doctor when needed
- Failure to properly supervise residents
Nursing home neglect can be active when a nursing home employee purposely ignores residents. It can also be passive when the nursing home simply doesn’t have enough staff or resources to provide adequate care.
Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Because many residents cannot or do not report abuse, it’s important to pay close attention to signs that your loved one may be a victim of abuse.
Some key signs of nursing home abuse include:
- Unexplained injuries, including broken bones, bruises, and lacerations
- Frequent fall injuries
- Changes in behavior or personality, including becoming withdrawn or non-communicative
- Poor hygiene
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unsanitary conditions
- Unusual and unexplained financial transactions or changes to estate plans
- Pelvic injuries and bruising around the genitals
- Fear of speaking around staff members
- Staff members who refuse to leave you alone with your loved one
- Signs of physical restraint, including marks around the ankles and wrists
- Bed sores
Do you suspect someone you love is being abused or neglected? Contact our law firm in Thomson to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer who can help you fight for justice.
Long-Term Consequences of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse often takes a harsh toll on the victim.
Some of the long-term consequences of nursing home abuse include:
- Physical injuries that don’t properly heal
- New medical conditions that develop due to lack of proper care
- Worsened underlying conditions
- Severe depression
- Fear and anxiety
- Reduced life expectancy
- Bedsores and infections
- Financial losses and long-term financial insecurity
- Wrongful death of a loved one
You deserve to hold the responsible parties accountable for all of the harm caused by the abuse. Our lawyers are here to help you fight for every dollar you deserve. Just call for a free consultation today.
What Causes Nursing Home Abuse in Thomson, Georgia?
Nursing home abuse happens for many different reasons. Often, it occurs when nursing homes cut corners and fail to properly conduct background checks and screen employees. As employers, nursing homes themselves can be held liable for damages when their employees commit abuse or nursing home neglect.
Some of the most common causes of nursing home abuse include:
- Failure to supervise employees
- Untrained workers
- Lack of proper employee screening procedures
- Understaffed nursing homes
- Failure to provide sanitary conditions
- Outdated medical equipment
- Medical malpractice
- Failure to provide adequate security on the premises
None of these rationales are excuses. If your loved one has been abused, it’s important to take steps to stop the abuse immediately. You can report the abuse to the Georgia Department of Community Health or call 911. Once your loved one is safe, call a Thomson nursing home abuse attorney to explore your legal options.
How Long Do I Have To File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Georgia?
Under Georgia law, you typically have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The clock starts to run on the date you become aware of the abuse.
Different deadlines may apply depending on the facts of your case and the type of abuse involved. You can learn more about preserving your legal rights by calling for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer today.
Contact a Thomson Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Is your loved one struggling with abuse in an assisted living facility? Contact Hawk Law Group today. An experienced Thomson nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
