Wake Forest Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Senior citizens who reside in nursing homes are among the most vulnerable people in our society. Because these people are often unable to care for their own needs, they and their family members rely on a nursing facility to care for their basic needs.
Sadly, even the most well-equipped nursing homes can seriously injure residents if they allow neglect or abuse to take place within their walls. Injuries from staff negligence or intentional behavior can leave an already vulnerable patient in a debilitating state.
A Wake Forest nursing home abuse lawyer could work with residents and their family members to help explain patient rights under the law and to pursue at-fault nursing homes for appropriate compensation. Allowing a personal injury attorney to fight against abuse could be key to protecting yourself, your rights, and those you love.
Common Injuries that Result from Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing facilities are responsible for addressing all their residents’ needs. This includes providing skilled nursing care and rehabilitation as well as helping with day-to-day activities such as bathing, eating, and dressing.
Nursing home abuse may occur when a nursing home fails to provide care or provides care in a negligent way. Examples of incidents that may indicate negligent care in a nursing home include:
- Slip and falls in the shower due to poor supervision or a lack of functional railings
- Falls in corridors due to spills or loose carpeting
- Bedsores from a failure to turn patients
- Choking or a lack of supervision while eating
This type of abuse is typically accidental. However, instances of intentional abuse may also occur. If a nursing home hires staff with a history of violence or fails to properly train and supervise workers, the nursing facility may be held liable for injuries and other damages that result.
If a resident—or a family member of a resident—suspects mistreatment in an assisted living facility, they may benefit from consulting a Wake Forest nursing home abuse lawyer. An attorney could help educate people about the signs of potential abuse and ensure they pursue their cases in a timely manner.
Why Might a Nursing Home be Responsible?
North Carolina law provides for a Bill of Rights for Nursing Home Residents, which dictates—among many other rights and responsibilities—that a nursing home facility must protect residents from intentional or accidental abuse. While a failure to provide this protection is not necessarily an actionable offense, a resident or their family may nonetheless report any suspected rights violation to the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation.
Reporting violations could result in an investigation, prevent abusive behavior, and potentially provide strong evidence for a future lawsuit. Nursing homes are always responsible for the actions of their employees, since a legal concept known as agency makes employers in Cary liable for employee actions that occur on the worksite during working time.
If a staff member’s negligent or abusive behavior results in a resident’s injury, both the employee and the elder care home may be civilly liable. Before filing a claim of liability, though, it may be important to have a nursing home abuse attorney in Wake Forest explain the relevant law and a patient’s rights.
Work with a Wake Forest Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Nursing care facilities have a legal duty to protect the health and wellbeing of their residents. This includes protecting your loved ones from both accidental injuries and the intentional abuses of their staff.
If you suspect a nursing care center has violated your trust as well as their duty to protect their residents, a Wake Forest nursing home abuse lawyer could help you investigate the matter and pursue justice. Nursing home abuse should never be tolerated. If you suspect abuse is occurring, contact an attorney today to discuss your concerns and take the first step towards protecting yourself and your loved one.
