Long Island Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Your family can file a claim for compensation if a loved one experiences mistreatment in a nursing home. In this situation, you can turn to a Long Island nursing home abuse lawyer from our team at the Morelli Law Firm. 

Our team has over 40 years of combined experience that we draw on to help clients like you. A Long Island personal injury lawyer can help if you want to negotiate an insurance settlement or file a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one. 

You can call or complete our online contact form to discuss your legal options against a liable nursing home facility. 

Can Your Loved One Secure Compensation After Sustaining Abuse?

Your loved one can be entitled to economic and non-economic damages if they are the victim of elder abuse. There are no damage caps in personal injury claims involving elder abuse in New York. A nursing home abuse attorney could help you secure funds for:

Economic Losses

Financial costs you incurred due to injuries are considered economic losses. Economic losses can include:

• Medical bills associated with your injuries
• Transportation to medical appointments to treat your injuries
• Prescription medications
• Money that you lost as a result of financial abuse
• Treatment costs for psychological injuries

It is essential to keep records of medical care costs related to your loved one’s injuries, as receipts and bank statements are how a nursing home abuse lawyer proves your economic losses.

Non-Economic

The legal system awards non-economic damages when injuries negatively affect someone’s daily life. Emotional abuse can cause mental health symptoms, such as depression and trauma, that can make it difficult to enjoy life. 

Juries may also consider pain from physical injuries when awarding non-economic damages. Examples of non-economic damages a Long Island nursing home abuse lawyer can pursue include:

• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of affection
• Alienation

Non-economic losses consider how the injuries alter a loved one’s future, meaning that juries can award damages if injuries prevent a loved one from engaging in activities they previously enjoyed. Personal injury attorneys can help you secure funds to cover these losses. 

A lawyer can pursue maximum compensation against the nursing home because injuries sustained at a nursing home are the grounds for a personal injury claim. We know how to prove pain and suffering in your abuse claim. 

Can You File a  Nursing Home Abuse Case?

When you or your loved one is the victim of elder abuse, you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against all liable parties. Nursing homes are required to meet all residents’ medical and emotional needs and to protect residents from elder abuse.

As presented by the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), disabled individuals are more likely to experience elder abuse, as conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia can make you more vulnerable to physical, emotional, and financial abuse.

Elder abuse is a crime, making it necessary to report instances of elder abuse to the authorities and New York Adult Protective Services.

How to Identify Abuse of Nursing Home Residents

When your loved one is living in a nursing home, it can be challenging to identify specific forms of elder abuse, such as emotional abuse, financial abuse, and sexual abuse. The most important thing to remember is that not all signs of nursing home abuse are physical.

You may look for signs of:

Physical Abuse

Unexplained marks, bruises, or lacerations may indicate physical abuse. Many types of elder abuse cause physical symptoms, such as marks, bruises, and rashes.

Emotional Abuse and Mental Abuse

Emotional abuse can leave psychological scars, as offensive and dehumanizing statements can lead to anxiety and depression.

Neglect

Neglect is another form of elder abuse. Failing to care for the medical or mental health needs of residents can make a nursing home liable for financial damages. 

If an employee with a history of neglect or mistreatment of residents caused the injuries, it could strengthen your civil claims.

When you visit your loved one, signs of neglect can become apparent. If the facility is poorly maintained or understaffed, it could indicate that the nursing home cannot meet your loved one’s needs.

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can include unauthorized debit and credit card charges and check fraud. One way to protect your loved one from financial abuse is to occasionally review their bank accounts to identify fraudulent transactions.

Financial abuse can make it difficult for your loved one to remain independent and have the money necessary to provide for their needs.

Signs of Elder Abuse

Possible warning signs of elder abuse in nursing homes include:

• Bedsores (also called pressure ulcers)
• An unkempt appearance
• Hygiene problems
• Anxiety and depression
• Changes in behavior
• Declining health
• Unexplained financial problems

Our team can provide more information about how to recognize signs of abuse in Nassau County.

When intentionally malicious behavior or negligence hurts your loved one, a Long Island nursing home lawyer can file a personal injury case against the facility and recover financial compensation for your loved one.

Lawyers Can Help Prove Elder Abuse

When your loved one suffers physical, emotional, or financial harm because of tortious conduct, you can pursue a civil case. If the injuries your loved one sustained were physical, medical records can support your case.

Some homes may have security cameras, which means a lawyer can request copies of the footage. The footage may chronicle the event that caused the injury or demonstrate how the staff failed to respond to your loved one’s needs promptly.

Emotional abuse can be more challenging to prove. If the nursing home has a history of negligence, a lawyer can request those records, which can demonstrate a pattern of negligence and tortious conduct.

A Lawyer Can Help After a Fatal Act of Abuse

Your family can turn to a Long Island wrongful death lawyer for compassionate assistance after a fatal act of nursing home neglect. Our team will review your situation if you lose a loved one in this situation, allowing you to hold the at-fault party responsible. 

We can help you secure damages to cover your loved one’s medical expenses and funeral costs. Our legal team of personal injury lawyers can help you secure a sense of closure after this type of abuse. We’re ready to help during this difficult time. 

Work with a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Long Island

When a nursing home victimizes you or your loved one, injuries can make it difficult to enjoy life. Elder abuse and neglect can lead to pain and make you feel vulnerable.

A Long Island nursing home abuse lawyer from our team at the Morelli Law Firm can pursue damages against the responsible actors, which can compensate you for the harm you suffered. You can find out more by calling or completing our online contact form.