Columbus Ohio Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
NURSING HOME ABUSE
Nursing home
residents are extremely vulnerable. Because they lack the ability to care for
themselves, elderly residents live at the mercy of corporations that own and
operate nursing homes-and at the mercy of the staff members who work there.
At Clark
Perdue, we understand the special needs of nursing home
residents, and we have the knowledge and resources to obtain justice for
victims of nursing home neglect and abuse.
Questions You Should Ask An
Attorney
What to Do Following a Nursing Home
Incident
We have handled a wide variety of nursing home abuse and neglect
cases, including:
- Mary died after a series of falls in a nursing
home. We sued the corporation that owned and operated the nursing home.
The suit was brought on behalf of Mary's surviving spouse and adult
children. The case was tried before a jury, which made a substantial
award, including punitive damages and attorney fees.
- Horace, a nursing home resident, died of
strangulation when his head became wedged in between the mattress and bed
rail. Suit was brought against the same corporation that owned and
operated the nursing home in which our client, Mary, died. We represented
this client's surviving spouse and adult children. We obtained a very fair
settlement for the family.
- Robert, a nursing home resident, suffered a
broken hip after a fall. Adding insult to injury, the nursing home staff
took x-rays of the wrong leg. Robert was placed in his bed for seven days.
Suit was brought against the same corporation that owned and operated the
nursing home in which Mary and Horace died. We obtained a substantial
settlement for Robert.
- Nellie, a nursing home resident, died after
falling from a balcony on the fourth floor of the facility. The facility
failed to have appropriate railings to prevent falls. As a result of the
lawsuit, the nursing home balconies have been redesigned to prevent falls.
Ohio's state
constitution specifically protects the rights of nursing home residents. A
resident has the right to a safe and clean living environment, as well as the
right to be free from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse.
Warning
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse
Residents in a nursing home sometimes have difficulty communicating with their
family and friends when there is a problem with the care they are receiving.
Abuse can occur in a number of different forms. Typically there are five types
of nursing home abuse:
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Financial Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
- General Neglect
Families
should be vigilant in watching for the signs that might indicate ongoing abuse
and neglect. Please see our attached List of Warning Signs and
feel free to print a copy to keep on hand for reference. If there has been an
incident of concern, please click here for a list of What to Do.
Questions To Ask
When hiring a lawyer to represent a family member in a nursing home abuse case,
you should ask specific questions to evaluate the lawyer's experience. In
particular, you should ask whether the lawyer is willing to pursue punitive
damages. Punitive damages are monetary sanctions against the nursing home
designed to prevent future abuse--not just of your loved one, but of all
residents.
In addition,
you should question whether the law firm has ever obtained a jury verdict in a
nursing home case that included punitive damages. Ask whether the firm works
with a registered nurse who can help distinguish between the typical signs of
decline attributable to the aging process, and those warning signs that might
indicate nursing home abuse or neglect. For a list of other questions you
should ask before hiring a lawyer, click here.
Clark Perdue
Clark Perdue has
extensive experience handling nursing home abuse claims. If requested, we will
meet you--in your home or at the hospital, if necessary--to explain your legal
rights and make suggestions for immediate action on your claim.
