When you decide to put your loved one in a nursing home, you are trusting the facility and the staff to provide the necessary care to keep your loved one healthy and safe. Unfortunately, these long-term care facilities do not always provide adequate care or protect their residents. If your loved one’s nursing home or its employees engaged in abuse or other negligent behavior, your family might be entitled to compensation.
Nursing homes must comply with several federal and state laws to help keep their residents safe and protected from negligence. An experienced Fort Wayne nursing home abuse lawyer could evaluate your claim and help fight to recover the compensation you deserve. Contact a compassionate PI lawyer in Fort Wayne as soon as possible to discuss your case.
Typical Signs of Elderly Resident Abuse and Neglect
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities must follow federal and state safety and medical standards to keep the residents safe and prevent health complications. A facility typically has requirements for employees and healthcare professionals hired to work with the resident to provide the necessary care. However, there is no way of completely preventing negligence or abuse in nursing homes, so it is important to understand the common signs and symptoms of misconduct.
Unfortunately, nursing home neglect or abuse is often unreported by the victim of such mistreatment or covered up by the staff member committing the wrongful acts. Therefore, family members and friends should always be mindful of any signs of mistreatment, including:
- Bedsores or other sores that developed after residing at the nursing home
- Inadequate medical care or lack of medications
- Malnutrition and unexplained weight loss
- Dehydration
- Bruising and lacerations
- Lack of hygiene or unsanitary conditions
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Unexplained financial transactions or missing personal belongings
If a close loved one shows any signs of neglect or abuse or if an individual suspects any type of mistreatment, it is critical to seek help before the problems become potentially life-threatening. A dedicated Fort Wayne attorney can help a family take the necessary steps to stop any abuse and seek recovery of the damages and harm caused by a nursing home.
Statute of Limitations for a Nursing Home Injury Claim
Indiana follows a strict filing deadline that a prospective plaintiff must meet, or they could lose their legal right to seek compensation for their damages. It is also important to understand that the statute of limitations is not the same in every case.
Typically, for cases involving nursing home neglect or abuse, the statute of limitations requires the case be filed within two years of when the harm occurred, according to Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4. However, state law also includes exceptions that could potentially extend the time for filing a lawsuit based on special circumstances of a case.
People might believe two years seems like a significant amount of time, but a nursing home abuse claim requires extensive investigations. In order to ensure that a lawsuit does not miss the strict deadline, and evidence does not go missing, it is highly encouraged to reach out to a seasoned Fort Wayne nursing home neglect lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact a Fort Wayne Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
If you have any suspicions that your loved one might be experiencing nursing home neglect or abuse, you should not brush it aside or wait until something serious happens. Nursing home negligence could result in severe injuries or even death, so it is critical to seek help when you suspect any wrongdoing. A knowledgeable Fort Wayne nursing home abuse lawyer could help investigate your case and determine your legal options. Call for an evaluation to get started.
