Older adults deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect and receive the best care. Sadly, this is not always the case in nursing homes. If your elderly loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, contact The Janda Law Firm to speak to our Las Vegas nursing home abuse attorney right away. We are dedicated advocates for senior citizens.
According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), elder abuse can occur in several different ways:
As stated by NCOA, approximately one in 10 people in the U.S. ages 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse, and only one in 14 cases are reported to authorities. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), the prevalence of elder abuse is approximately 10 percent, including physical abuse, psychological or verbal abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
Nursing homes have a duty to provide a certain level of care to the people under their watch. If a nursing home employee abuses and harms a resident, that individual could face liability—along with the facility itself.
Victims of nursing home abuse in Las Vegas have the right to file civil lawsuits against the individuals and entities responsible for their mistreatment. If you or a loved one has suffered from harm at the hands of a nursing home employee, you can file a lawsuit against the liable parties and recover compensation for any losses that you endured.
In most cases involving nursing home abuse, the individual staff member who inflicted the harm is the defendant. However, the facility may also be liable if its employees commit acts of harm while performing their job duties.
A nursing home abuse attorney from The Janda Law Firm can carefully evaluate your or your loved one’s case and identify your eligibility for litigation. Our firm will also conduct an in-depth investigation into the abuse and identify the liable party or parties.
A victim could recover thousands of dollars in compensation by filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit, depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. In Nevada, you have the right to recover two categories of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages involve the financial hardship that you sustained. Non-economic damages, also known as pain and suffering, refer to the physical and emotional trauma that you experienced.
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused at a nursing home, it can be difficult to know what to do next. In these situations, it is important to report the abuse immediately and seek the help of an attorney.
First, speak with your loved one and ask if he or she needs help. Keep in mind that your loved one may feel ashamed of or embarrassed by the abuse and may not want to talk. Remind him or her that you want to help, and that the abuse is not your loved one’s fault.
Next, file a report with the Adult Protective Services (APS) division of Nevada’s Aging and Disability services. In Clark County, you can file a report by calling APS at (702) 486-6930.
Take your loved one to receive medical care and document all evidence related to the abuse, including medical records, photographs, videos, and incident reports. Then, seek help from a Las Vegas nursing home abuse attorney at The Janda Law Firm.
Nursing home facilities that fail to meet their duty of care obligations may be liable for damages when a resident is mistreated, abused, neglected, or injured. If you suspect your elderly loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, contact The Janda Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with our Las Vegas nursing home abuse attorney. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.