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Alabama Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

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After entrusting your loved one to the care of an Alabama nursing home, you might have experienced a deep sense of relief. Nursing homes with kind, capable staff and safe residential accommodations can be an excellent option for people facing health or aging issues. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes meet high standards of care.

Was a member of your family injured at a nursing home in Alabama? If you suspect neglect or mistreatment played a role or you want to investigate to better understand what went wrong, Norris Injury Lawyers is here to help. 

Please contact us anytime at (800) 477-7510 or request a free consultation by filling out our brief contact form. 

Defining Nursing Home Abuse Under Alabama Law 

If your loved one experienced abuse in a Alabama nursing home, nursing home abuse attorneys can take legal action on your family’s behalf. This is wrong and the law is here to protect your loved one. 

Abuse is any form of mistreatment which injures another person. Some commonly reported types of nursing home abuse include the following.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse can include violent acts like kicking, slapping, or hitting someone. Even unintentional rough handling, such as grabbing someone’s arm too tightly, is considered abuse if left unchecked. Bruises, burns, sprains, or unexplained scars are potential indicators of nursing home abuse. Torn or blood-stained clothing are also red flags.

Sexual abuse 

Some elderly ones, especially if they have been diagnosed with physical or psychological disabilities, are not capable of making decisions about sexual activity. Fondling or any type of non-consensual interaction would be unsuitable in a nursing home environment. 

To provide a comfortable and secure environment, nursing homes have to protect their patients from threats, harassment, and inappropriate behavior. Your loved one deserves to be safe from visitors, employees, and fellow patients, so please contact us and tell us your concerns. Discreet inquiries could save your family member and others from future harm.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse occurs when someone’s words or actions create emotional distress, anguish, or anxiety in another person. Employees can be deemed abusive based on what they say (e.g. threats, insults), how they speak (e.g. yelling, cursing), or how they act (e.g. obscene gestures, glares, or other intimidating actions). 

Financial abuse

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define financial abuse as “the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of an elder’s money, benefits, belongings, property, or assets for the benefit of someone other than the older adult.”

Not all abuse is easy to identify or define. If you feel uneasy about how an Alabama nursing home is treating its residents, it’s okay to seek the advice of professionals. Click below to speak with a live agent now by live chat or visit Norris Injury Lawyers at 201 Vulcan Road, Birmingham, AL, 35209.

Defining Nursing Home Neglect Under Birmingham Law

Neglect is the most common form of nursing home abuse. Nursing homes bear a responsibility to care for their patients physically, emotionally, and socially. The Alabama Public Health website shares reasonable standards of nursing home care that you should be able to observe:

  • Clean, well-groomed residents with appropriate dress
  • Tidy, hygienic residential facilities (interior and exterior)
  • Pleasant ambiance, including smell, temperature, and lighting
  • Clearly-identified staff (i.e. uniforms and name tags) who interact with patients in a professional manner
  • Spaces for residents to store or display personal belongings
  • Adequate safety precautions (e.g. fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, handrails, non-skid surfaces, etc.) 
  • Opportunities for residents to participate in meaningful activities
  • Opportunities for residents to socialize and receive visitors
  • Regular and appealing meal service, with assistance if necessary
  • Availability of prompt medical attention 

There is no singular clinical sign for nursing home neglect, but rather a complex array of symptoms that vary in severity over time between individuals. Nevertheless, you should always look for these common signs of elder neglect:

  • Pressure sores, also known as decubitus ulcers and bedsores
  • Infections
  • Unnecessary falls
  • Overmedication
  • Unexplained injuries, bruises, or weight loss
  • Negative changes in patient mood or behavior (e.g. depression, agitation, withdrawal)
  • Poor hygiene
  • Missing personal items
  • Dehydration
  • Malnutrition
  • Escape attempts unrelated to mental or memory disorders
  • Frequent illness
  • An untimely or unexpected death

If you suspect your loved one has not been taken care of properly, Alabama nursing home abuse attorneys can access the situation. Call Norris Injury Lawyers 24/7 at (800) 477-7510 for a free claim analysis. 

How Norris Injury Lawyers Defend Your Rights in Alabama

You might be wondering, “What can be done if my loved one is a victim of abuse and neglect in an Alabama nursing home?” Our capable legal team is here to inform you of your rights and help you enforce them.  

Your right to legal action

Victims of abuse and their families can bring criminal and civil charges against nursing homes, facility administrators, or employees. These cases are often settled without a trial. Yet, when necessary, Norris Injury Lawyers can present evidence in court to support your claim. 

Your right to financial compensation

Personal injury lawsuits allow you to win for cases of Alabama nursing home abuse. You might be eligible for compensation for:

  • Physical pain and suffering: Physical and sexual abuse can cause untold pain and suffering for nursing home residents. Other individuals might experience pain because of health or age-related issues like cancer, arthritis, or digestive upset. Studies show that Americans spend $600 billion annually on pain relief remedies. Unscrupulous nursing institutions might try to cut costs by denying residents the pain medication they desperately need. Many patients with pain may not receive pain control or receive inadequate doses. 
  • Psychological, emotional, and mental pain and suffering: Psychological abuse is verbal or nonverbal behaviors that cause fear, distress, or emotional pain. According to the CDC, humiliation, disrespect, threats, harassment, and isolation are examples of this kind of abuse.
  • Medical expenses: Nursing facilities can be held liable for the medical costs created by abusive or negligent actions. If directly related to an incidence of abuse or neglect, our Alabama nursing home abuse attorneys can seek reimbursement for emergency transport, hospitalizations, medications, physical therapy, and assistive devices.
  • Wrongful death damages: In some cases, death occurs when abuse compromises the health of care home residents. In other instances, people die because they were not provided the proper medical care. If an institution or individual contributed to the untimely death of your loved one, Alabama law might allow you to seek punitive damages for wrongful acts and negligent behavior. 
  • Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded to punish defendants whose conduct is considered intentionally malicious or grossly negligent. They are also intended to deter others from committing similar acts of wrongdoing.

Nursing homes guilty of abuse and neglect should pay for the harm they cause to residents under their care. Speaking up about inappropriate behavior isn’t easy, but your holding nursing homes responsible for their actions can help prevent future incidents. 

Please feel free to ask us any questions during your free legal consultation. Call (800) 477-7510 or click to chat with a live agent anytime.

The Benefits of Reporting Alabama Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse to Norris Injury Lawyers 

How can you benefit from working with Norris Injury Lawyers, a law firm devoted to representing the victims of nursing home abuse and neglect? For one, we have your needs in mind and thus offer client-centered attention for your personal injury case: 

  1. No Fee Guarantee® : We believe that legal assistance should be affordable. After an accident can be a most financially challenging time for families. Therefore, we provide the initial consultation and case evaluation for free. If you hire us to pursue your case, we don’t charge anything unless we win compensation.  
  2. Your needs come first: The anxiety that comes along with abuse and neglect is difficult to bear. We want to do what we can to handle your questions and concerns so you can regain your peace of mind. We are always here to listen and keep you up-to-date on the status of your case. 
  3. We will fight to the end: With more than 40 years of law experience and a long record of successful outcomes, our personal injury lawyers know what it takes to handle your case from start to finish. We stand up to uncooperative insurers and companies who try to block the path to justice. You can be confident that we will represent your interests with dedication and passion.

How to Win Maximum Compensation For Your Alabama Nursing Home Abuse Claim

Our seasoned nursing home abuse lawyers want to ensure you get what your case is worth on behalf of your loved one. For this reason, our approach is to conduct a thorough investigation of suspected abuse claims, which might include interviewing witnesses, consulting medical records, and investigating the reputation of the nursing home facility and its staff. 

The sooner you contact Norris Injury Lawyers, the sooner we can start to build a strong case for you. We realize that approaching a nursing home about abuse or neglect might be a daunting task. However, we can put you at ease as we act as a liaison between you and the insurance companies, nursing facilities, and state agencies from the very beginning. 

Please allow us to put our knowledge and experience to work for you. Isn’t it time you feel the relief you were looking for when you entrusted your loved one to a Alabama nursing home? Alabama law sets strict deadlines on how long you have to file a nursing home abuse claim, so you should contact us without delay.

Take these steps towards justice as soon as possible:

  • Fill out this brief nursing home case evaluation form
  • Call (800) 477-7510 any time of day or night
  • Click “Live Chat” for attention from a 24/7 live customer service