Detroit Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Governmental agencies such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services help oversee the care and services provided by nursing homes, and both federal and state governments have established uniform standards to ensure the protection and safety of patients.

Unfortunately, despite these governmental agencies, over one million nursing home residents are abused in some manner each year. In fact, in the state of Michigan, nursing homes have the ninth highest rate of serious violations per capita, meaning patients or residents living in nursing homes are being neglected and abused every day.

Some of the most common types of nursing home abuse cases include:

• Bedsores (also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers)
• Fall injuries
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Broken bones and fractures
• Restraint injuries and strangulation
• Wandering away from the facility or elopement
• Medication mistakes or errors
• Lack of supervision or poor care
• Infections such as sepsis and gangrene
• Wrongful death.

How Can Goodman Acker Help You?

Seeking the services of an experienced Detroit nursing home abuse lawyer is essential if you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse. Ensure you receive the compensation you deserve by working with a nursing home abuse attorney who can provide a wide range of services that can help safeguard your rights. At Goodman Acker, our team has over 150 years of experience, handled thousands of personal injury cases, and boasts a 99% success rate in the cases we take on. Our lawyers have won multi-million-dollar awards for our clients and can give you the confidence and peace of mind to move forward with life.

Your nursing home lawyer will start the process by investigating the abuse. They will gather evidence of the abuse, like witness statements, claims of abuse, or medical records. Your lawyer can also assist with filing a lawsuit or negotiating with the insurance company. Our nursing home abuse attorneys are prepared to represent victims of nursing home abuse in court. We will advocate for our client’s rights and present evidence and testimony to support the abuse claims.

Nursing Home Negligence Is a Type of Abuse

Sadly, gross negligence is quite prevalent in nursing homes. In many cases, it puts the lives of the elderly at risk and can result in injuries, trauma, and even death. While neglect may not sound as bad as abuse, which is also widespread in the nursing home community, it is important to know that negligence is a type of abuse. While abuse tends to be more noticeable to outside members, neglect can result in similar personal injuries. Failure to respond to a resident’s request for assistance, administering the wrong medication, and inattentive staff are just a few examples of common nursing home neglect.

If you notice any of the following, there might be a case for nursing home neglect:

• Bedsores
• Unattended and wandering residents
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Ligature marks on the wrists or ankles
• Bruises and cuts
• Sudden emotional changes
• Rashes due to lack of dry clothes.

If you suspect your loved one has suffered an injury while at a nursing home or assisted living facility, you need to ask questions, take photos, get documentation, and hire the services of an experienced nursing home abuse attorney. The sooner you enlist legal guidance, the better equipped you’ll be if the claim goes to court.

Signs of Emotional and Behavioral Changes Resulting From Nursing Home

Emotional abuse refers to any behavior that leads to emotional distress. Examples of emotional abuse include yelling, belittling, or insulting the resident. Some behavioral signs that may allow you to identify nursing home abuse include a sudden change in behavior. For instance, a once outgoing resident suddenly shows signs of depression or becomes suddenly withdrawn. They may begin to experience feelings of hopelessness and anxiety or display an increased sense of agitation or fear. The resident may also start to show changes in sleeping or eating habits. They might also physically lash out at others and even inflict self-harm.

Take action as soon as possible if you notice any signs of emotional or behavioral nursing home abuse. You should start by reporting the abuse to the authorities and following up with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer who can represent your case and ensure that the resident gets the care they deserve and the compensation they need to recover.

What to Expect During a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?

Understanding the steps to take when filing a nursing home lawsuit is important. During the process of a nursing home abuse lawsuit, you should expect to go through the following phases, the investigation process, filing the lawsuit, pretrial, discovery, and settlement negotiations; if we need to go to trial, we are prepared to fight your case in court. Your lawyer will gather evidence like medical records, witness statements, and facility reports. Once sufficient evidence to support the allegation of the abuse has been collected, your Detroit nursing home abuse lawyer will file the lawsuit.

Both parties exchange information related to the case during the pretrial phase, which may include document requests, depositions, and written questions. At this stage, a settlement negotiation may occur. If your case goes to trial, a judge will determine whether abuse occurred and the types of damages that should be awarded in your case. Your lawyer will present evidence of the alleged abuse during the trial and any testimony from witnesses. The time it may take to settle your case will depend on different factors of your case as well as its complexity.

Why Hire Goodman Acker P.C. to Represent You?

Proving negligence in nursing home abuse cases can be complicated. If you or a loved one suffered abuse in a care facility, you want to ensure that you are appropriately compensated for your losses. A knowledgeable nursing home abuse lawyer can offer their experience, knowledge, and skills to safeguard your best interests throughout the legal process. Founding partner Barry J. Goodman is one such example of the top talent we provide to our clients. He is a Detroit personal injury attorney with experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases. Goodman has been recognized by numerous awards, including a spot on the Super Lawyers list, and is a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys.

At Goodman Acker, we have over 150 years of experience representing victims of nursing home abuse and their families. Our results speak for themselves. With a successful track record of winning million-dollar results for our clients, you can rest assured that our lawyers are dedicated to helping our clients every step of the way. In fact, in one case against a nursing home for failure to assist a resident, which resulted in a hip fracture, we secured a $137,500 settlement.

We handle our cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay a dime out of pocket unless we successfully recover compensation in your case. We understand the frustration you may be feeling if you are dealing with or if a family member has fallen victim to nursing home abuse which is why we proudly provide high-caliber services and are devoted to holding negligent care providers accountable.

To Get Started, Reach Out to Our Firm for Help

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our firm to learn what rights you have, get your questions answered, and find out if you have a case. Remember, when you file a nursing home abuse lawsuit in Detroit you are not only getting justice but also taking a stand for other innocent people in the same situation. For more information about how we can assist you, get in touch with a member of our team to schedule a free, initial consultation, or call us at 248-286-8100.

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]