Nursing homes are supposed to be safe places for elderly people who have medical needs that families are unable to meet on their own. Sometimes, however, our trust in nursing homes is violated by instances of abuse or mistreatment. Fortunately, there are ways to seek legal recourse for these kinds of maltreatment.
If you or your loved one were abused or mistreated in a nursing home, consider getting in touch with a skilled Cicero nursing home abuse lawyer. With a skilled personal injury attorney’s help, you may be able to right this wrong and receive significant compensation for the injuries you or your loved one suffered.
Types of Damages
Settlement demands in nursing home abuse cases may include two kinds of damages for which injured people could receive compensation. The first, called economic damages, often have ready-made price tags or values attached to them and are more objective for this reason. Examples of economic damages include medical costs, property damage, and any lost wages that result from the injury.
Conversely, non-economic damages are more subjective in nature, as they often do not have clear values or price tags attached to them. As a result, they are often subject to intense courtroom debate. Examples of non-economic damages include the pain and suffering of the injured person, loss of consortium with a spouse, and loss of enjoyment in life.
In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded to the victim on top of their economic and non-economic losses. The best way to determine what kinds of damages a nursing home abuse victim may be eligible for is by contacting a Cicero nursing home abuse attorney who knows all the relevant laws.
How to Identify Abuse or Neglect in a Cicero Nursing Home
Nursing home abuse can take many forms, and it is important to know the signs of abuse in order to rectify it as quickly as possible. Issues that may indicate abuse include:
- Bedsores
- Errors in medication distribution
- Slips and falls due to dangerous or poorly maintained walkways
- Choking on food due to lack of supervision
- Malnourishment
- Sudden changes in behavior, often due to verbal abuse and/or sexual assault
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, and other such signs of physical abuse
If a person sees any of these signs manifesting in their loved one or another resident of a nursing home facility, they should immediately contact a nursing home abuse lawyer in Cicero who could advise them on the next steps to take.
Nursing Home Contracts
An injured person does not need to have a written contract with a nursing home to sue that facility for damages. The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act affords everyone in the care of a nursing home certain legal rights regardless of contract status.
Additionally, nursing homes in Cicero fall under the jurisdiction of federal law if they participate in the Medicare program. This means that anyone in the care of a nursing home is protected from abuse and may sue for compensation if abuse occurs.
Consult with a Cicero Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
If you or a loved one experience abuse at the hands of nursing home employees, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact a Cicero nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible so that they could begin working toward the settlement you deserve.