Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Atlanta, GA

There are many nursing homes in the Atlanta area serving hundreds of families, such as the Buckhead Center for Nursing and Healing, A.G. Rhodes Atlanta, and many more. While most of these facilities provide compassionate and effective care for their residents, nursing home abuse is more common than many people realize. If you believe your loved one has experienced this, it’s crucial to speak with an Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer as quickly as possible.

Legal Counsel for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Atlanta, GA

An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer is a valuable asset when another party is responsible for injuring you or a loved one. However, if an elderly family member has been abused in any nursing home, it is vital to consult an attorney who has proven experience handling this type of case. You’re more likely to ensure accountability and recover compensation if you hire a nursing home abuse lawyer to represent you.

Barnes Law Group, led by former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, offers compassionate and client-focused legal counsel for the most challenging personal injury cases in Atlanta and the surrounding communities of Georgia. When a nursing home has failed to meet its obligations to your elderly loved one or a nursing home employee has engaged in any type of elder abuse, we can help you pursue accountability.

Our firm takes a client-focused approach to legal representation. We can listen to your story and determine the full scope of your legal options for resolving the situation. You may have more options available to you than you realize, but it will be crucial to hire legal counsel you trust to maximize your chance of success with your case. We have decades of experience resolving the most challenging personal injury cases in Atlanta and are confident we can help you.

Building Your Nursing Home Abuse Case in Atlanta

According to the National Council on Aging, about 10% of the US population over the age of 60 has experienced some type of elder abuse. This abuse can take many forms, from various types of physical abuse, as well as verbal and emotional abuse against some of the most vulnerable members of society.

In Georgia, the party responsible for nursing home abuse is not only liable for any damages they caused; they can also face criminal penalties for their actions. Additionally, if a member of a nursing home’s staff has abused patients, the nursing home can be penalized with heavy fines and various other repercussions. Your Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer can help you build a strong civil case against the party or parties responsible for your loved one’s abuse.

It is vital to be vigilant when it comes to your elderly loved ones in Atlanta nursing homes so you can detect early warning signs of abuse and neglect:

• When you visit an elderly loved one at their nursing home, pay close attention to the state of their living space. Make sure they have access to the restroom, clean water, and food at all times.
• If your loved one has any unexplained injuries, the nursing home must provide some type of explanation. Nursing homes are required to document patient injuries and medical episodes and, in many cases, notify a patient’s family of such incidents. Failure to do so is a major red flag.
• Pay attention to any recent changes in your loved one’s medical status, such as new or changed medications, different treatment schedules, or new caregivers.
• If your loved one appears withdrawn, depressed, frustrated, or fearful, take these as warning signs that they have been abused. They may be afraid to speak up about their experiences if a specific person has been abusing them.

If you notice anything that seems wrong, or if your loved one has clearly been neglected by nursing home staff, it is vital that you remove them from this dangerous situation right away and hire a nursing home abuse lawyer. Your legal representative can help you understand your options in this situation and start building a case on your family’s behalf.

Most Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Any type of nursing home abuse can potentially form the foundation for not only a lawsuit against the party or parties responsible but also severe penalties for the employer. Nursing homes must run background checks on their staff, ensure proper training, and put patient health and safety first at all times. It’s possible for nursing home abuse to occur in various ways:

• Some cases pertain to direct physical abuse, which can include any intentional infliction of physical pain and injury on a nursing home resident. This is sometimes overt, such as intentionally striking a resident, and it is sometimes the result of neglect, such as being too rough when lifting or repositioning a resident.
• Sexual abuse in nursing homes can extend to any unwanted sexual contact. This can lead to criminal charges and severe penalties for the party who engages in any such behavior, including jail time and mandatory sex offender registration.
• Psychological abuse, such as intimidation, harassment, threats, and verbal assaults, can be incredibly damaging to victims, and in many cases, this type of abuse can directly influence their physical health.
• Passive neglect is one of the most common forms of nursing home abuse, and this can include any failure to provide for the resident’s basic necessities. Neglect can be extremely dangerous for many elderly nursing home residents and cause their medical issues to worsen very quickly, as well as cause new problems to arise.
• Intentional deprivation of necessities is an especially cruel form of nursing home abuse. When a caregiver refuses to provide basic assistance such as food, clean water, clean clothing and bedding, or medical assistance, it can easily lead to life-threatening medical complications for the victim in a very short amount of time.
• Financial abuse is another common form of elder abuse. If a nursing home staff member gains access to a resident’s personal and/or financial information, it’s possible for them to not only directly steal from them, but they may also engage in identity theft, credit card fraud, and other forms of financial exploitation.

No matter what type of abuse your elderly loved one has experienced, it is crucial to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer at your first opportunity once you have confirmed this. You need to remove the victim from their dangerous environment right away, and your Atlanta nursing home abuse attorney can help you start building a civil case against those responsible for the abuse your loved one has experienced.

Filing a Personal Injury Case for Nursing Home Abuse in Atlanta

The basis of a personal injury claim is some type of physical injury and/or financial loss resulting from negligence or intentional misconduct. The purpose of the claim is for the injured victim to secure the compensation they need to recover as much as possible from their losses. Success with a personal injury case in Georgia requires identifying the defendant responsible for the injury, proving exactly how they caused it, and showing the full scope of the resulting damages.

In a nursing home abuse case, it’s possible for the plaintiff to seek compensation for any and all economic losses suffered due to the defendant’s actions. In a nursing home abuse case, it’s possible for the victim and their family to claim compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: If the abuse caused medical complications, the defendant could be held liable for the cost of all medical care the victim needs to recover as much as possible. It’s also possible for the family to seek compensation for increased medical costs if the defendant’s actions caused the victim’s preexisting medical conditions to worsen.
• Lost Income: When a family member must take time away from work to address nursing home abuse, it’s possible for them to claim compensation for any income lost during this time.
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses: The family may be able to recover compensation for out-of-pocket expenses such as transportation and moving costs when they must remove the victim from a dangerous situation.
• Pain and Suffering: The family can seek financial compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering the victim experienced. Your Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer can help you determine a suitable figure to seek with your claim and maximize this aspect of your case award or settlement.

Every nursing home abuse case is unique, and it is possible for additional factors to come into play and impact how much compensation the victim and their family receive from a successful case. For example, they may receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion if the defendant’s behavior was particularly egregious or crossed the line into criminal misconduct. In some cases, plaintiffs may also recover legal expenses from defendants.

What to Expect From Your Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?

Facing nursing home abuse of any kind can be incredibly difficult for the victim and their family, and hiring the right attorney is crucial for resolving this situation and achieving a positive outcome in your civil case. When you choose Barnes Law Group to represent you, you will have a dedicated team of legal advocates ready to provide guidance and support when you need it most. Our team can pursue accountability for any type of nursing home abuse or neglect.

You have limited time to build and file your case, and some of the evidence you will need may not be available for very long. It’s crucial to find the right attorney quickly so they can start building your case. Some of the evidence you need to prove liability may not be obtainable for very long, and the average person may not know how to secure this evidence without an attorney’s help.

Barnes Law Group can immediately begin investigating your case as soon as you choose our firm to represent you. We know how to obtain the physical and digital evidence you may need to establish liability; we can also secure witness statements from anyone who saw the abuse occur. Once we have established fault for abuse, we can then calculate the various damages you and your family are eligible to claim from the defendant.

Our goal in every personal injury case is maximum client recovery and to resolve the case efficiently. We are confident in our ability to adapt to unexpected complications that might arise in any personal injury case, and we are fluent in the nursing home abuse laws that may pertain to your situation. It’s vital to start building this case right away, so reach out to the Barnes Law Group to learn how we can assist you.

FAQs About Nursing Home Abuse in Atlanta, GA

Who Is Liable for Nursing Home Abuse?

Liability for nursing home abuse could fall to a single individual, but it is also possible for their employer to bear fault under certain conditions. For example, if the nursing home failed to follow any applicable regulations that contributed to the abuse, it is very likely that the nursing home will be penalized in some way for the actions of its employee.

What Is a Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth in Atlanta?

The value of a nursing home abuse case in Atlanta will vary based on multiple factors. You may have grounds to claim substantial compensation for economic and non-economic damages the victim and your family have suffered, and it is also possible for your family to receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion. An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you maximize the compensation you win with a successful case.

What Are the Penalties for Nursing Home Abuse in Georgia?

The penalties for nursing home abuse in Georgia can extend beyond liability for civil damages. The defendant and/or their employer could also face criminal prosecution for violating Georgia’s elder abuse laws. If a specific individual engaged in any illegal misconduct, they could face heavy fines, loss of professional licenses, and jail time. Businesses that have enabled and/or covered up abuse of their residents can also face various penalties.

Why Should I Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?

You should hire a nursing home abuse lawyer to have the greatest chance of reaching a positive outcome in your case. You need a legal representative who is fluent in nursing home abuse laws that pertain to your situation, and the right attorney can help you maximize the compensation you obtain if you succeed with the case.

Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing home abuse cases are tragic and complex, and if you believe you have grounds to file such a case, it is crucial to hire a nursing home abuse lawyer with proven experience. The team at Barnes Law Group is ready to provide the compassionate legal support you need in this situation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer and learn how we can assist with your case.