Were you or your loved one a victim of nursing home abuse in Friendswood, TX? The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to help you fight for justice. Nursing home abuse victims often suffer devastating losses. An experienced Friendswood nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight to recover money for medical bills, pain, trauma, and more.
Since our founding, our team has recovered over $500 million in settlements and verdicts for our injured clients. If you’re struggling with the aftermath of abuse or neglect, count on our Friendswood nursing home abuse attorneys to put over 58 years of combined legal experience to work for you.
You don’t have to handle the fight for compensation alone. Call our law offices in Friendswood, Texas, at (281) 992-8633 to schedule a free consultation today.
Why Call The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Friendswood
Deciding to place a loved one into nursing care isn’t easy. You have to trust that the facility will provide compassionate and competent care. Discovering that they’ve violated that trust is devastating.
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you hold them accountable. Our skilled Friendswood personal injury attorneys have been listed among the “Top 100” Super Lawyers nine times. We’ve also been recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocates–and our founding attorney is double-board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specializations.
Our Friendswood nursing home abuse lawyers are ready to protect your best interests by:
- Handling a thorough investigation and analyzing all available evidence
- Monitoring investigations and actions by state enforcement agencies
- Working with experts in medicine, psychology, and other specialties to fully understand the extent of the harm
- Negotiate for the maximum compensation possible from the nursing home and insurance companies
- Take your case to court if necessary to get justice
It’s important to take legal action quickly. Call our Friendswood personal injury lawyers today to learn more about how we can fight for your family in Friendswood, TX.
Statistics on Nursing Home Abuse
Two-thirds of all nursing home staff members admit to committing some type of abuse, according to the World Health Organization. In Texas, ombudsmen investigated over 6,700 cases of abuse in nursing facilities and 1,339 complaints in assisted living facilities.
What Counts as Nursing Home Abuse in Texas?
Nursing home residents are vulnerable to many different types of abuse. Some types of abuse are more easily recognizable than others.
At The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of abuse cases, including those where the victim has suffered:
- Physical abuse, including hitting, kicking, improper use of restraints, shoving, pushing, etc.
- Nursing home neglect, where caregivers neglect residents’ basic needs by failing to provide adequate food, water, medications, assistance, or sanitary conditions
- Emotional or psychological abuse involving name-calling, belittling, humiliation, threats, coercion, and even forced isolation
- Sexual abuse, including rape, assault, unwanted sexual contact, forcing a resident to watch sexual contact, taking nude photographs
- Financial abuse, which can include theft, identity theft, forging a patient’s signatures, coercing a resident into changing a will or beneficiary designation
- Nursing home negligence, which is a passive form of neglect that typically occurs when the nursing home is understaffed and cannot provide an acceptable level of care
Nursing home abuse is never acceptable, regardless of the form it takes. If you suspect your loved one has been a victim, you can report the abuse to the Texas Department of State Health Services or the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
How Do I Know Whether My Loved One Has Been a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse isn’t always easy to spot. It can be even more difficult to detect abuse if the victim is incapable of effectively communicating. Some victims even hide signs of abuse because they’re ashamed and humiliated.
While many different signs can be indicators of abuse, some common signs include:
- Bruises, fractures, and other unexplained physical injuries
- Marks around the ankles or wrists, signaling improper restraint
- Regressive behaviors, such as self-hugging, rocking, and crying
- Fear of speaking around caregivers
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone with a loved one
- Missing property and unexplained financial transactions
- Unexplained personality changes, such as becoming withdrawn or depressed
- Changes in hygiene
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unsanitary conditions in the nursing home
- Changes to legal documents, including wills and retirement accounts
If something doesn’t seem right, bring it to the attention of someone in charge. Making sure your loved one is in a safe environment is always a top priority.
What Is My Friendswood Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
Nursing home abuse can generate both criminal and civil liability. The person who actually committed the abuse can face criminal penalties. You also have the right to pursue compensation in civil court.
Your settlement or verdict must account for all current and expected future losses. As the victim of nursing home abuse, you might not have any idea what those losses might entail. Insurance companies know that, and they often try to take advantage of it.
Our lawyers in Friendswood evaluate many different variables when assessing your case value, including:
- Medical treatment costs and other financial costs, including ongoing medical care
- The cost and inconvenience of relocating to a safe nursing facility
- The long-term impact on the victim’s physical health and emotional wellbeing
- Whether you have lost income to care for your loved one
- The nature of the perpetrator’s actions and the nursing home’s response
- Damage to your loved one’s quality of life and ability to enjoy life
The more severe and lasting the damage, the more your case is likely to be worth. We can offer more details in a free case review. Contact us today to learn more about your potential case value.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Texas?
Both economic damages and non-economic damages are available to victims of abuse.
Damages in a nursing home abuse case often include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Relocation costs
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation and PT
- Mental health counseling
- Restitution for theft and financial exploitation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Reduced life expectancy
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Scarring
- Damage to relationships
Courts can also award punitive damages as punishment. Punitive damages are reserved for cases like yours, which involve intentional wrongdoing. They’re meant to both punish and deter future abuse.
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur?
It can be difficult to imagine why nursing home abuse would ever occur. Nursing care is extremely expensive. Nursing homes are subject to regulations and oversight. Still, nursing home abuse and neglect happen all the time.
Some common reasons include:
- Failure to perform proper background checks when screening employees
- Failure to adequately supervise employees
- Understaffing
- Poor facility management
- Failure to implement policies and procedures designed to prevent abuse
- Medical malpractice
It’s also possible that the nursing home has been cutting corners to maximize its own profits.
How Do I Win Compensation if My Loved One Was a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse in Texas?
You can, of course, sue the person who committed the abuse for damages. Under state personal injury laws, people are liable for injuries caused by both intentional wrongdoing and neglect.
The nursing home can also be held liable. As the perpetrator’s employer, they’re responsible for actions of employees under Texas vicarious liability laws. The nursing home can also be held liable for their own negligence. Negligent hiring practices, failure to supervise and violation of state safety regulations can all form the basis for a lawsuit.
Generally, you’ll have to prove four elements:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty by providing inadequate care, intentionally harming the patient, or otherwise
- The breach of duty allowed the nursing home abuse or neglect to occur
- Your family suffered damages as a result
Even if the abuse is clear, locating evidence to prove your case isn’t always as simple as it may seem. Our lawyers will conduct our own investigation, collecting any evidence to prove your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas has a two-year statute of limitations in most personal injury cases. After two years pass, the victim loses their right to sue for damages.
We always recommend calling a lawyer as soon as possible. A different deadline could apply in your case. We can help you understand the rules so you don’t lose your right to hold the nursing home accountable.
Contact a Trusted Friendswood Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation
Your family has been through a terrible trauma. You deserve justice–and you shouldn’t have to handle the financial fallout alone. Call The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers at (281) 992-8633 for a free consultation with an experienced Friendswood nursing home abuse lawyer today.
