Elderly Parent Abuse In A Nursing Home: How A Lawyer Can Help
Has your elderly parent who resides in a nursing home suddenly started showing signs of unhappiness? If you suspect that the caretakers at the nursing home are abusing your parent, you need the help of a lawyer, such as David S. Riehl, Attorney At Law, to get to the bottom of what is going on. Find out in this article what an elder lawyer can do to help your situation and how much he or she might charge.
How Can a Lawyer Help with Elder Abuse in a Nursing Home?
When you consult with an elder abuse lawyer, he or she will ask you what kind of health conditions your parent is suffering from. He or she must know the illness so research can be done to rule out that it is why your parent has a change in behavior and emotions. The lawyer may suggest that you make sure a physical is done to find out if there are any scars or bruises on your parent. An x-ray can confirm if any bones are broken and how it likely happened. Your lawyer can use the x-ray as evidence in court.
Another thing that the lawyer will do is investigate the background of the nursing home to determine if there have been complaints about abuse in the past. He or she may also hire a private investigator to observe the nursing staff that specifically takes care of your parent. The investigator will determine if the staff is properly bathing, handling and speaking to your parent. The way the nurses communicate with your parent is just as important as physical care, as emotional abuse can be the reason your parent isn't happy.
If any kind of abuse is found, the lawyer can assist you with filing a lawsuit on behalf of your parent so that he or she can be compensated for the trauma. The lawyer can also make sure that the abusive staff members are fired and that their nursing privileges are revoked or suspended to prevent other elders from being abused.
What Does a Lawyer for Elderly Abuse Cases Charge?
If your lawyer is confident that you have a good case against the nursing home, he or she is likely to accept the case on a contingency basis. Basically, he or she will work the case without you having to spend any money upfront. If the case is won in court, the lawyer will receive an estimate of up to 40% of the money won. Contact a lawyer as soon as you can so your elderly parent can get justice!