Jacksonville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Current statistics show that more than half of all nursing home abuse cases involve some kind of negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of nursing home abuse or negligence in the state of North Carolina, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries and damages sustained.
An experienced personal injury attorney can represent you throughout your case and may be able to help you obtain the monetary compensation you deserve. Jacksonville nursing home abuse lawyers have the local experience necessary to prepare you for the recovery process.
Nursing Home Employees Liable for Neglect or Abuse
Nursing home abuse or neglect may be committed by any nursing home employee. The most common offenders Jacksonville nursing home abuse lawyers have experienced, include doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, physical therapists, supervisors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, and nursing home administrators.
Common examples of nursing home abuse and neglect include the following:
- Errors in dispensing or administering medication
- Failing to adequately supervise patients, leading to falls and other injuries
- Mishandling patients
- Failing to keep accurate and complete patient records (including medication records)
- Failing to call a doctor or specialist when necessary
- Failing to properly monitor or record a patient’s vitals
- Failing to be aware of a patient’s medical history and pre-existing medical conditions
- Failing to heed and consider medication warnings
- Failing to take into account potential drug interactions, given a patient’s current prescription(s)
- Failing to report a serious patient complaint to a supervising physician
- Failing to adequately and appropriately respond to a patient’s needs
Impact of Nursing Home Negligence
When a nursing home employee acts in a negligent manner, serious patient injuries can occur, the most common of which include slip-and-fall injuries, disfigurement, fractures, broken bones, soft tissue injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) and other closed-head injuries, internal bleeding, or even death.
Basis For Recovery
North Carolina nursing home abuse and negligence cases typically fall under the umbrella of medical malpractice. In these cases, an injured patient must present expert medical testimony in order to prevail. In other words, another doctor or health care provider must be willing to testify that the injured patient’s level of care fell below that which would normally be expected from a reasonable health care provider or nursing facility. A Jacksonville nursing home abuse lawyer can help potential clients seek relevant testimony to their case.
An injured patient may be able to recover some or all of the following types of damages in a North Carolina nursing home abuse or negligence case:
- Payment of medical bills
- Payment of lost wages (if applicable)
- Pain and suffering damages
- Emotional distress and mental anguish damages
- Damages for permanent impairment
- Punitive damages (in cases where egregious conduct was involved)
- Wrongful death
Help From a Jacksonville Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you or someone you love has sustained injuries and damages as a result of a healthcare provider or nursing facility’s negligence, you may be entitled to monetary recovery under North Carolina law. It is important to realize that in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, the insurance company usually holds the purse strings. No matter whose company is involved, insurance companies, generally speaking, are not on your side, and they do not have your best interests at heart. Insurance companies often try to settle medical malpractice claims and lawsuits for as cheaply as possible, in order to wash their hands of them quickly.
An experienced attorney will be able to take on the insurance company and assist you with obtaining the maximum value for your case. You should feel free to contact an experienced Jacksonville nursing home abuse lawyer at any time, via telephone or email, for a free initial consultation.
