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Bishopville, SC Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
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    Bishopville, SC Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

    When our loved ones require care that we are not equipped to provide, we may place them in nursing homes. While nursing home staff are supposed to take care of residents, abuse is known to occur. If you believe your loved one experienced abuse in a nursing home, call the police and get a lawyer immediately.

    If you are unsure whether your loved one is being abused, check for common signs. Physical injuries with no explanation, unsanitary conditions, or sudden changes in your loved one’s personality may be causes for concern. If you believe abuse has occurred, call the police and take your loved one to a hospital for evaluation. The police can investigate the nursing home and possibly find evidence we can use in your civil lawsuit.

    Ask our nursing home abuse attorneys at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential legal evaluation by calling (803) 451-4000.

    What Are Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?

    Nursing home abuse can be hard to notice, especially since abusers often try to hide evidence of their actions. Even so, there are several signs to look out for.

    Bodily Injuries

    Injuries should always be a cause for concern, but they are somewhat common in nursing homes where residents may be more vulnerable due to various health issues. If you notice injuries to your loved one, ask the nursing home for an explanation. If they cannot explain where the injury came from or whether it was treated, it may be a sign of abuse.

    Changes in Personality

    Victims of abuse may experience significant mental and emotional turmoil that results in changes in their personality and demeanor. If your loved one suddenly becomes depressed, dependent, withdrawn, or irritable, you should talk to them about possible abuse.

    Decline in Health

    Many nursing home residents live with serious medical conditions that require careful treatment and care. If abuse occurs, their overall health may decline. The abuse may involve refusing care or providing insufficient care, and your loved one’s condition may begin to worsen. If your loved one’s health suddenly deteriorates, you should speak to them about potential abuse.

    Unsanitary Conditions

    Even if your loved one does not show any outward signs of abuse, the conditions of the nursing home may indicate that something is wrong. Unsanitary conditions, disrepair, and general lack of maintenance may indicate that the people operating the facility do not care. When administrators cannot be bothered to care about the nursing home itself, abuse may be more likely, as it is less likely to be stopped.

    What to Do if You Believe Your Loved One is Being Abused in a Nursing Home?

    If you suspect abuse in your loved one’s nursing home, you should try to remove your loved one from the facility and contact the authorities. An attorney can help you begin building a civil case against the nursing home.

    Call the Police

    If you believe your loved one has been abused in their nursing home, call the police as soon as possible. Explain your suspicions and provide any evidence you might have. If the police believe your suspicions are warranted, they may launch a criminal investigation. Any evidence they turn up may be used in a criminal and civil case against the nursing home.

    Call a Lawyer

    Get a lawyer for your loved one as soon as possible. As the police investigate the nursing home, your lawyer can begin building a case to help get your loved one financial compensation. In South Carolina, you may have only 3 years from the most recent instance of abuse to sue the nursing home. It can take time to prepare your case, so you should contact a lawyer sooner rather than later.

    Take Your Loved One to the Hospital

    Take your loved one to a hospital to be medically evaluated as soon as possible. They may have injuries you are not yet aware of that need urgent treatment. Doctors may also find signs of old injuries that you were never informed of, and records from the evaluation may be used as evidence in your lawsuit.

    Evidence We Need to Prove Nursing Home Abuse in Bishopville, SC

    Any lawsuit requires evidence, and we need as much of it as possible to satisfy our burden of proof.

    Medical Evaluations

    As mentioned before, you must have your loved one evaluated by a doctor after removing them from the nursing home where they were abused. Once they are evaluated and treated, our nursing home abuse attorneys should request copies of their medical records. These records may be used in court to establish the existence of injuries from the abuse. A doctor may even testify that the injuries they found were consistent with physical abuse.

    Testimony

    Testimony may also be critical to your case. If your loved one is able, they may need to testify about the abuse they endured. If they are unable to testify, others who were close to the abuse, who may have witnessed it or otherwise knew something, may testify. Other nursing home residents might come forward with abuse claims, and they may be able to testify.

    Nursing Home Records

    The nursing home should have maintained various records regarding residents, employees, and how treatment was provided to those in the home’s care. We may obtain copies of these records during the discovery phase of your lawsuit, when each side must exchange relevant information and evidence. If the nursing home refuses to produce these records, they must have a good reason or face legal penalties.

    Who Can You Sue for Nursing Home Abuse?

    You may sue the person or people directly responsible for the abuse in addition to the nursing home itself. The nursing home may be vicariously liable for employing abusive staff members or directly liable for knowingly allowing the abuse to happen or negligently failing to intervene.

    Who Should You Report Nursing Home Abuse To?

    Report nursing home abuse to the police as soon as possible. You may also report suspicions of abuse or other complaints to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Adult Protective Services, or the South Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

    Are Damages in Nursing Home Abuse Cases Worth a Lot of Money?

    Possibly. Economic damages may include the cost of medical care and moving your loved one to a new nursing home facility, among others. Non-economic damages may include extensive pain and suffering your loved one endured. Many cases are worth many thousands of dollars or more.

    Ask Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Bishopville, SC for Help Immediately

    Ask our nursing home abuse attorneys at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential legal evaluation by calling (803) 451-4000.

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