Have you or a family member been a victim of abuse in a nursing home in Peoria, IL? You may deserve compensation for your losses. An experienced Peoria nursing home abuse lawyer at Joel E. Brown, P.C. can help you maximize your financial award and hold the nursing home accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
Our founding attorney has over 30 years of legal experience. Through our hard work and dedication, we’ve recovered millions of dollars on behalf of personal injury victims and their families.
You can learn more about how our team can fight for you by calling our law offices in Peoria, Illinois. We offer a free case review with our Peoria nursing home abuse attorney, so there’s never any need to worry about the cost. call (309) 673-4357 or contact us today.
How Joel E. Brown, P.C. Can Help After Nursing Home Abuse in Peoria
You trusted a nursing home to take care of your loved one. You expected them to be protected. It can be devastating to learn that, instead, your loved one was abused at the hands of a trusted caregiver.
Let our Peoria personal injury lawyer at Joel E. Brown, P.C. help you fight for justice. We’ve been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in America.
Hire us, and you gain a team to:
- Investigate and collect evidence
- Identify all sources of compensation
- Determine who is ultimately responsible for your damages
- Assess the value of your personal injury claim
- Bring in experts as needed to prove your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full and fair settlement
- Take your case to trial if necessary
Now, it’s your turn to benefit from our experience and our passion for helping clients get justice. Call our law firm today for a free consultation with an experienced Peoria personal injury attorney.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse Cases We Handle
Nursing home abuse occurs any time a trusted caregiver harms a patient they’re trusted to protect. There is, however, not just one type of abuse. Abusive caregivers can harm patients in a number of ways.
Our team at Joel E. Brown, P.C. handles all types of nursing home abuse cases, including those involving:
- Outright physical abuse. Physical abuse can take many forms. Hitting, kicking, punching, and other types of physical abuse can cause vulnerable nursing home residents to suffer any number of injuries. The improper use of restraints can also cause significant harm.
- Emotional and psychological abuse. Mental pain can significantly impact a vulnerable adult’s health and well-being. Emotional abuse can include threatening, intimidation, harassment, name-calling, shaming, and other types of mental abuse.
- Sexual abuse. Unfortunately, sexual abuse also occurs in nursing home settings. Rape, sodomy, and any other type of unwanted sexual contact are completely unacceptable in any setting. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable because they may be less able to resist or unable to legally consent in the first place.
- Financial abuse. Nursing home employees are often in a position to exploit vulnerable residents’ finances. Financial abuse can include identity theft, using a resident’s credit cards, forgery, and even coercing a resident into changing their will or beneficiary designations.
- Neglect. Many nursing home residents are admitted because they need assistance with basic activities of daily living. When caregivers neglect their duties by failing to provide adequate food, water, medications, and assistance, nursing home residents may suffer great harm.
Any type of abuse can haunt your loved one for years to come. Abuse can fundamentally change the course of a nursing home resident’s life. If your loved one was a victim of abuse, call our law firm today. We’ll sit down, listen to your story, and help you understand your legal options.
Statistics on Nursing Home Abuse
According to a study published by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every six people in nursing home settings reported experiencing some type of abuse in the previous year. Shockingly, two-thirds of all caregivers even admitted to committing some type of abuse in the prior year.
What Are Some Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse?
It’s important to be vigilant and pay attention to signs that your loved one has been abused.
Some common warning signs include:
- Unexplained falls
- Unexplained injuries, fractures and bruising
- Unexplained weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Sudden changes in health
- STDs
- Fear of speaking around caretakers
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone with your loved one
- Agitation
- Depression and becoming withdrawn
- Changes in hygiene
- Changes in personality and mood
- Reluctance to have visitors
- Confusion and disorientation
- Unexplained expenses, purchases, or financial transactions
You may think that your loved one would immediately take action to stop the abuse. In reality, many nursing home abuse cases go unreported. Don’t let your concerns go unheard. If you think your loved one is being abused, bring it up with their caregivers.
If they don’t seem equally concerned and don’t take steps to investigate, you can also report your suspicions to the Illinois Department on Aging or the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois?
Anyone who is even partially responsible for the abuse can be held financially responsible under Illinois personal injury laws.
Responsible parties may include:
- A corporation that owns the nursing home
- Nursing home staff
- Nursing home administration
- Certified nursing aides
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Other residents who commit abuse
- Security
- Therapists
The perpetrator of the abuse can, of course, be held responsible in civil court. That said, you’ll likely seek to hold the nursing home responsible, as well. Nursing homes have duties. They have an obligation to ensure the caregivers they hire are providing quality care to residents.
What Is My Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
The value of your claim depends on factors such as:
- The nature of the harm your loved one has suffered
- The financial costs you’ve incurred due to the abuse
- Damage to your loved one’s mental health and wellbeing
- How the abuse is likely to impact your loved one’s future
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
Before we can estimate your case value, our lawyers will carefully consider all relevant details. In complicated cases, we’ll bring in experts who can testify about the losses you’ve suffered.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse?
You can pursue compensation for any economic or non-economic loss you have experienced due to the abuse.
Some examples of damages in nursing home abuse cases include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Mental health treatment
- The costs of relocating to a new facility
- Property damage and restitution in financial abuse cases
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Reduced life expectancy
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
When a caregiver intentionally harms your loved one, courts also have the authority to award punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer in Illinois?
Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis. It won’t cost you anything to hire our law firm at the outset. We take a percentage of any settlement or verdict we win to cover our attorneys’ fees.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Nursing Home Abuse Injuries
Victims of nursing home abuse and neglect often struggle with:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Dental injuries
- Facial injuries
- Development of new medical conditions
- Bed sores
- Infections
These types of physical injuries can have a significant impact on your loved one’s life. It’s also critical to recognize the mental toll that nursing home abuse can take. Many victims struggle with severe depression, fear, and anxiety that can impact every aspect of their lives.
What is Negligence, and How is it Relevant to My Peoria Nursing Home Abuse Case?
Nursing home abuse is obviously an example of intentional wrongdoing. That said, negligence will likely be relevant to your case.
Negligence occurs when:
- A duty of care is owed
- The duty of care is breached
- The breach of duty caused your injuries
- You suffered damages
Nursing homes can be liable for the acts of their employees. They can also be responsible for their own negligence. Abuse often occurs because the nursing home failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution. For example, abuse becomes much more likely when the nursing home fails to properly screen, train and supervise their employees.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit Based on Nursing Home Abuse in Illinois?
The statute of limitations in Illinois personal injury cases is two years. You have two years from the date of an injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. After two years pass, you lose your right to compensation.
Call us today to discuss the statute of limitations in your case. You may have more time than you think to take legal action–but you could have even less.
Contact an Experienced Peoria Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Nursing home abuse is never acceptable. If your family is suffering, call an experienced Peoria nursing home abuse lawyer today. At Joel E. Brown, P.C., our founding attorney will review your case for free.
