If you have recently found out that your loved one has been abused in a nursing home facility, you may be angry, confused, and have many questions about what happened. Perhaps you have addressed the facility only to be given excuses or ignored all together. In other cases you may be reassured that what happened will never happen again. Meanwhile, your loved one is emotionally distraught over the incident, and perhaps even in physical pain. You want justice.
As a nursing home abuse lawyer might explain to you, when abuse or neglect happens in an elder care facility, it may be possible to recover damages. Although no amount of money can turn back time, it can bring a sense of closure to the horrible situation. Furthermore, by taking legal action, you may prevent other elders from having the same thing happen to them. This in and of itself, can be the very best outcome of a case.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Typically you will need a nursing home abuse lawyer to handle your case. Without a lawyer, you risk being undermined and intimidated by other lawyers who work for or represent the nursing home facility. This could result in you dropping the case, or accepting a fast settlement that is not worth much. Finally, you risk others’ lives. By taking things into your own hands, the right agencies might never know about what happened because everything is essentially done “under the table.” A nursing home abuse lawyer will very likely handle your case on contingency. This means there are no up front fees for you. Only if your lawyer wins your case, will a portion of the settlement verdict be taken to cover their costs.
Do I Need a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
There are many different kinds of lawyers. Naturally you might wonder what kind you need. In general, you should choose a lawyer who is experienced in handling nursing home abuse cases. He or she should also know the federal and state laws that govern elder care homes, as well as be familiar with:
- The Nursing Home Reform Act
- The Older Americans Act
- Social Security
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Adult Protective Services
- Local Health Agency Reporting Guidelines
If you are ready to take the next step, call a lawyer, like a nursing home lawyer from Darrell Castle and Associates, PLLC. He or she would be happy to review your case and help you to understand what legal options may be available. If you have a case, your attorney will outline the foreseeable legal process so you know what to expect.
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