Oklahoma City Nursing Home Physical Abuse Lawyers
Most families expect nursing homes and assisted living facilities to provide a safe and loving environment for care that family members would provide if they were able. Few revelations are as concerning as learning that a loved one may have been the victim of physical abuse while living in a nursing home. Physical abuse is usually some injury or harm suffered by a resident that a staff member may have caused. Sometimes, this abuse is intentional, malicious harm. In other cases, residents suffer physical injuries due to neglect and staff members not providing adequate care.
If your loved one has been physically abused at a nursing home in Oklahoma, it is in your best interest to immediately retain legal counsel. An experienced Oklahoma City nursing home physical abuse lawyer will be able to conduct a thorough independent investigation to collect the necessary evidence and hold the negligent party accountable. Abel Law Firm represents clients all over the greater Oklahoma City area. You can have our lawyers review your case and answer all your legal questions when you call (405) 239-7046 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Why You Need Abel Law Firm
While you may know that your loved one has been physically abused in a nursing home, proving that convincingly enough to win compensation can be difficult. Nursing homes may be able to hire aggressive lawyers to defend themselves from your claims, and they may try to pressure you into accepting a settlement worth far less than you deserve. Often, they will question whether your loved one’s injuries resulted from abuse or some unrelated incident to avoid blame. Trying to prove the abuse on your own can be almost impossible.
To give yourself and your loved one the best chance at an ideal result, you should hire Abel Law Firm to help you. An experienced lawyer such as those at Abel Law Firm will know what evidence is required to show that your loved one’s injuries directly result from nursing home abuse. They will be able to argue on your behalf and stand up to the opposition, not accepting any less than the compensation you deserve.
At Abel Law Firm, we have over 130 years of combined experience handling claims like yours, and in that time, we have won millions for our clients. Our dedication to our clients and skill in advocating for them has earned us numerous awards and accolades, such as an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a perfect 10.0 rating from Avvo, and being named among the Best Law Firms by U.S. News for multiple years. Our lawyers are skilled in getting results for our clients, and we are ready to do the same for you.
Types of Physical Abuse
In most cases, there are usually clear signs that a nursing home resident has been physically abused. In addition to common symptoms such as bruises, scratches, or burns, family members should also take note of other strange circumstances, such as the refusal by staff to allow family members to be alone with residents.
Physical abuse may include active abuse, such as staff members striking a resident with a hand or an object. In some cases, staff members may subject residents to physical abuse through restraints that may leave marks noticeable to family members. Other cases involve physical abuse because of staff member neglect. Residents may suffer physical injuries when they are not properly monitored, but failure to provide adequate food, liquids, or other support can also be considered physical abuse. Common signs of physical abuse include, but are not limited to:
- Fractures
- Cuts and bruises
- Sprains or strains
- Black eyes
- Broken eyeglasses
- Internal organ injuries
- Bedsores
- Changes in behavior
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Unexplained injuries
Another warning sign that family members should be mindful of is when a resident shows signs of fear, stress, or anxiety about any particular staff member. In many cases, residents may be ashamed to tell their family about the abuse they have been subjected to and may not be willing to come forward to report any incident to their family, possibly out of fear.
Nursing homes can be liable for the violence or neglect of their employees. Sometimes, this liability may be because of faulty hiring practices, inadequate supervision, or lack of proper staff.
Nursing Home Physical Abuse Statistics
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), physical mistreatment is the third most common form of elder abuse, behind only verbal mistreatment and financial mistreatment. Another study found that physical abuse was the second most common form of abuse, behind emotional abuse. The NCEA also reported that a 2010 study found that their caregivers had mistreated 47 percent of adults with dementia, and 19.7 percent were victims of physical abuse.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that only 2.6 percent of people living in community settings were victims of physical abuse. In institutional settings, WHO reported 14.1 percent of physical abuse incidents by older adults and their proxies, while 9.3 percent were reported by staff. Another study involving a random sample of 452 adults found that 24.3 percent of respondents reported at least one incident of physical abuse by nursing home staff. The National Center for Victims of Crime reports that 1.6 percent of older adults report any physical mistreatment over the course of a year.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
Has your loved one been physically abused at a nursing home in Oklahoma City? You should make sure to seek legal representation as soon as possible. Abel Law Firm will make sure all negligent parties are held fully accountable. Our firm can work to help you obtain all of the compensation you need and deserve. Call (405) 239-7046 or contact us online to have our nursing home abuse lawyers provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free consultation.
