Granger Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing homes should be safe places for seniors, but, unfortunately, many patients suffer abuse from staff members or others, entitling them to compensation for their many losses, both tangible and intangible.

When our lawyers handle nursing home abuse cases for victims, we must review their negative experiences with these facilities so that we can initiate claims. Knowing if victims reported abuse, if anyone witnessed their abuse, and the kind of abuse they were subjected to is also crucial. This can help us identify relevant and important evidence, such as eyewitnesses to interview and previous investigations or reports to obtain. We can then tally all recoverable damages, beginning with victims’ medical expenses and ending with their lost wages. All expenses stemming from abuse should be covered, including costs associated with relocating victims to different nursing homes for their safety and emotional recovery.

For help with your case from Wruck Paupore, call our nursing home abuse lawyers at (219) 322-1166.

Handling Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Granger

When handling nursing home abuse cases in Granger, we will begin by carefully reviewing victims’ claims, understanding the abuse they suffered, who may have witnessed it, and who partook in it. We will then collect all relevant evidence during an investigation while also tallying the victim’s damages so they know their due compensation.

Reviewing the Case

Our attorneys will start by reviewing the case and pinpointing the type of abuse the victim endured. Mistreatment and institutional abuse in senior living facilities can vary. Some victims might experience financial abuse, where staff members steal their valuable jewelry or directly from their bank accounts. Others are subjected to physical and sexual abuse, suffering serious injuries and long-term psychological trauma. Victims’ specific experiences will dictate their damages, so this is a crucial aspect of case preparation.

As is determining when the abuse began, where it typically occurred in the nursing home, and who personally abused the victim. These individuals are typically staff members but could be fellow residents or others visiting the facility. Next, we must know if the victim reported the abuse, whether to the nursing home or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in Indiana. This will help us determine which reports and records we must obtain in our investigation. Such documents may contain new information that can help our nursing home abuse lawyers and provide more context to the facility’s general practices or how it previously addressed inquiries from investigators.

We must also ascertain the victims’ exact injuries from abuse, which could be significant. Fractures, internal injuries, and bed sores are common and require different types of medical treatment that our attorneys can help ensure victims receive for their health and their claims’ success.

Collecting Relevant Evidence

The next step is to collect all relevant evidence as quickly as possible. Knowing about anyone in the facility who witnessed the victim being abused or mistreated is important so that we can interview them. Their statements and testimony can be invaluable, as can information from victims’ close friends and family. They can testify to a victim’s general demeanor during the period of abuse, and if they appeared progressively depressed or withdrawn.

Pictures are also useful, particularly photos of the victim’s visible injuries or their unhygienic living quarters, which can be a sign of serious neglect. Loved ones can take photos if they have concerns during a visit before raising them to the facility. If family or friends reported suspicions of abuse in the past and their concerns were not addressed, tell our lawyers, as this information may be relevant.

We will also get all relevant medical records, including any from the nursing home. These can show a patient’s sudden decline in health, often a sign of abuse, as well as prescriptions they should have been taking that were withheld by their abuser. In addition to reviewing previous medical records, we may encourage victims to get evaluated by new physicians to confirm their injuries or illuminate a history of improper injuries from abuse.

Nursing homes may have security cameras in hallways or other common areas. Victims can tell our lawyers if they recall being mistreated in such locations, and we can subpoena video footage that could strengthen their claims.

Tallying Damages

Victims typically incur damages before contacting our attorneys about their cases, so we can look back at their recent losses when starting to calculate deserved recoveries. Most economic damages will come from medical expenses, relocation to safer facilities, and rehabilitative care. Victims may need support from mental health professionals when emotionally recovering from their experiences, and compensation claims can help cover those costs.

There are also non-economic damages to consider, which may have the greatest impact on victims. Being abused by trusted nursing home staff members can be very distressing. In addition to sustaining physical injuries, victims could be intentionally isolated from their friends and family during periods of abuse, further exasperating their difficulties.

To better assess a victim’s non-economic damages, we may have mental health professionals evaluate them. Not only can this provide a much-needed outlet for victims, but it can also lead to valuable testimony from experts, who can explain the intricacies of victims’ mental anguish and emotional distress from abuse.

Knowing a case’s value from the onset is vital. Otherwise, victims could likely underestimate their damages, accepting offers from liable parties that fail to compensate them or cover upcoming costs appropriately. For example, many seniors who suffer physical abuse need additional care to heal from their injuries fully. Physical therapy might take longer, and some injuries may be permanent, requiring long-term assistance. We will consider damages incurred to date and anticipated damages when calculating what victims deserve so they and their families know their claims’ worth.

Call Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Granger Today

Get a free case evaluation from Wruck Paupore by calling our nursing home abuse lawyers at (219) 322-1166.