Topeka Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Compassionate Legal Advocacy for Elder Abuse Victims
When you place your loved one in a nursing home, you trust that the facility will provide the care and attention they need. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail to meet this basic expectation. In some cases, nursing home staff members even abuse or neglect the residents in their care.
If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you need to take immediate action to protect them. At the Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr., LLC, we are committed to helping the victims of nursing home abuse and neglect fight for justice. Our Topeka nursing home abuse attorney can help you file a claim against the responsible parties and seek fair compensation for your loved one’s suffering.
Call our office today at (816) 597-4556 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is a form of elder abuse that occurs in long-term care facilities. It can involve physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, as well as financial exploitation and neglect. In many cases, nursing home abuse is perpetrated by the staff members who are supposed to be caring for the residents.
Some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse include:
- Unexplained injuries, such as bruises, cuts, or broken bones
- Signs of restraint, such as marks on the wrists
- Changes in behavior or personality
- Depression or anxiety
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Bedsores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Unexplained financial transactions
If you notice any of these signs, you should take immediate action to protect your loved one. You should also contact our Topeka nursing home abuse lawyers to discuss your legal options.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse can take many different forms. It can involve physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, as well as financial exploitation and neglect.
Here is an overview of the most common types of nursing home abuse:
- Physical abuse. Physical abuse involves the use of force against a nursing home resident. It can involve hitting, kicking, or pushing the resident. It can also involve the use of restraints or the inappropriate use of medication.
- Emotional abuse. Emotional abuse involves the use of words or actions to cause emotional pain or distress to a nursing home resident. It can involve yelling, screaming, or cursing at the resident. It can also involve isolating the resident from their friends and family members.
- Sexual abuse. Sexual abuse involves any unwanted sexual contact with a nursing home resident. It can involve touching, fondling, or rape. It can also involve forcing the resident to watch or participate in sexual acts.
- Financial exploitation. Financial exploitation involves the unauthorized use of a nursing home resident’s money or property. It can involve stealing the resident’s money or property. It can also involve forging the resident’s signature or coercing the resident into signing a document.
- Neglect. Neglect involves the failure to provide the care and attention a nursing home resident needs. It can involve failing to provide the resident with food, water, or medication. It can also involve failing to provide the resident with the necessary medical care.
If your loved one has been abused or neglected, our Topeka nursing home abuse attorneys at the Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr., LLC can help you seek justice and fair compensation.
Award Winning Results
-
$37 Million
- Heirship Dispute
-
$3 Million
- Nursing Home Elopement
-
$2 Million
- Nursing Home Elopement
-
$1.95 Million
- Motor Vehicle Collision
Reasons to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you should contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you take legal action against the nursing home and seek compensation for your loved one’s suffering.
Here are some of the ways a nursing home abuse attorney can help:
- Investigate the abuse. A lawyer can investigate the abuse and gather evidence to support your claim. This may involve reviewing the nursing home’s inspection reports and interviewing the staff members and residents.
- File a claim against the nursing home. A lawyer can help you file a claim against the nursing home and seek compensation for your loved one’s suffering. This may include compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
- Negotiate a fair settlement. A lawyer can negotiate with the nursing home’s insurance company to seek a fair settlement for your loved one’s suffering. If the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, a lawyer can take your case to court and fight for a fair verdict.
- Help you seek justice for your loved one. A lawyer can help you seek justice for your loved one’s suffering. This may involve filing a complaint with the appropriate authorities or seeking criminal charges against the responsible parties.
What Damages Are Available?
If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you may be entitled to seek compensation for their suffering. This may include compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Here are some of the damages that may be available in a nursing home abuse lawsuit:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement or disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
In Kansas, you generally have two years from the date of the injury or incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this time limit, you may be barred from seeking compensation for your loved one’s suffering.
However, there are some exceptions to this general rule. For example, if your loved one is suffering from a mental illness, they may be unable to file a lawsuit. In this case, the statute of limitations may be tolled, or delayed.
A Topeka nursing home abuse attorney from our firm can review the facts of your case and determine how long you have to file a lawsuit.
You Don't Pay Unless We Win Your Case
If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you may be concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer. However, you should not let the cost of hiring a lawyer prevent you from seeking justice for your loved one’s suffering.
At the Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr., LLC, we believe that everyone should have access to quality legal representation. That is why we offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis. You do not have to pay any attorney fees unless we win your case. If we are successful, our attorney fees will be deducted as a percentage of your loved one’s recovery.
Take Action – Get Started with a Free Consultation
If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, you need to take immediate action to protect them. At the Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr., LLC, we are committed to helping the victims of nursing home abuse fight for justice. Our Topeka nursing home abuse attorney can help you file a claim against the responsible parties and seek fair compensation for your loved one’s suffering.
Call our office today at (816) 597-4556 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
-
“He worked hard on our behalf and we reached a positive conclusion.” - Lori D.
-
“Tom gives lawyers a good name.” - Donna J.
-
“Tom and his firm are great people!” - Brad
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse
If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, you need to take immediate action to protect them. The first step is to report the abuse to the appropriate authorities.
Here’s how to report nursing home abuse:
- Call 911 if your loved one is in immediate danger. If you believe that your loved one is in immediate danger, you should call 911 right away. The police will respond to the scene and take the necessary steps to protect your loved one.
- Contact Adult Protective Services (APS). If your loved one is not in immediate danger, you should contact Adult Protective Services. APS is responsible for investigating reports of elder abuse and neglect in Kansas.
- Contact a nursing home abuse attorney. Finally, you should contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney. A lawyer can help you take legal action against the nursing home and seek compensation for your loved one’s suffering.
After you have reported the abuse, you should take steps to protect your loved one. If they are in immediate danger, you should move them to a safe location. You should also document any evidence of the abuse, such as photographs of their injuries or unsanitary living conditions.
Ways to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse
While you cannot always prevent nursing home abuse, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk that your loved one will be abused or neglected.
Here are some tips to help you prevent nursing home abuse:
- Research the nursing home. Before you place your loved one in a nursing home, you should research the facility. You should check the facility’s inspection reports and look for any complaints against the nursing home. You should also visit the facility in person and talk to the staff members and residents.
- Visit your loved one regularly. You should visit your loved one in the nursing home on a regular basis. This will allow you to check on their well-being and ensure that they are receiving the care they need. It will also give you the opportunity to talk to the staff members and residents.
- Look for signs of abuse. When you visit your loved one in the nursing home, you should look for any signs of abuse or neglect. You should check for any unexplained injuries, such as bruises or cuts. You should also look for any changes in their behavior or personality.
- Get to know the staff members. You should get to know the staff members who are caring for your loved one. You should ask them about their qualifications and experience. You should also ask them about the facility’s policies and procedures.
- Report any concerns to the appropriate authorities. If you have any concerns about the care your loved one is receiving, you should report them to the appropriate authorities. You should also contact a nursing home abuse attorney to discuss your legal options.
