Walker County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
The choice to put a loved one in a nursing facility is often difficult. When you do, however, you hope that he or she will be treated with respect and proper care. However, abuse and neglect are unfortunately common in nursing homes and facilities.
If you or a loved one was injured while in a care facility, a Walker County nursing home abuse lawyer may be able to help. After you learn of this neglect, you may be overwhelmed, traumatized, and unsure of how to proceed but, fortunately, a lawyer could help. By enlisting the counsel of one of our compassionate and hard-working injury attorneys, you could understand your rights to take legal action and decide how to proceed.
The Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
According to the nursing home abuse guide, nearly two million cases of elder abuse are reported each year. This means that almost one in ten of all residents may experience some form of neglect, some of which results in injuries and trauma.
However, there are signs a person can look for to try to determine if his or her loved one is suffering any form of abuse within a care home. These include, but are not limited to:
- Bed sores
- Drastic weight loss
- Unexpected irritability
- Bruises
- An inability by staff to explain certain behavior
Furthermore, it is crucial for a person to listen to his or her loved one within a facility, and subsequently report any abuse or neglect he or she has discussed or alluded to. While some forms of neglect are motivated by malicious intent, other cases are simply due to the neglect of nursing staff, as a result of mismanagement or understaffing.
No matter the reason, however, nursing homes are required by law to provide a reasonable level of care to every resident. A failure to do so, then, may be the basis for a nursing home abuse lawsuit in Walker County, which could be carried out with the help of a dedicated attorney.
Liability for Nursing Home Staff and Facilities
As mentioned above, Georgia law stipulates that anyone who administers medical aid must do so with a reasonable level of care and skill, as outlined in The Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 51-1-27. This means that when a nursing facility and its staff members disregard their duty of care, they may be held legally liable on the basis of negligence.
Essentially, for a successful nursing home claim on the basis of negligence, a claimant must prove that a care facility and its staff disregarded their duty of care and that this disregard resulted in a resident’s injury. However, demonstrating this may prove difficult without the guidance and skill of a nursing home abuse lawyer in Walker County.
How a Walker County Nursing Home Attorney Could Help
If you or someone you love were subject to abuse or neglect as a resident of a nursing home, a Walker County nursing home lawyer may be able to help. Even if injuries are apparent, the legal process of filing a claim can be complicated and confusing.
Instead of navigating the legal system alone, a hard-working attorney could shoulder the burdens of filing a claim on your behalf. To schedule a consultation, call a legal professional today.
