Burlington County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
We place our elderly loved ones into nursing homes and assisted living facilities in hopes that their quality of life will improve. But while many facilities provide excellent quality care, many others neglect or even intentionally abuse their innocent residents. Precise statistics are difficult to track because victims tend not to report their experiences, but the CDC estimates that over 500,000 senior citizens are abused every year — often by the very caregivers who are supposed to assist and attend to them.
If your loved one is being harmed or neglected at a Burlington County facility, you may be able to collect financial compensation to help right the wrongs against your family. Burlington County nursing home abuse attorney Brent Wieand is passionate about protecting elderly injury victims’ legal rights, and will aggressively pursue the maximum possible compensation on your loved one’s behalf. To set up a private legal consultation, call Brent at (215) 666-7777.
New Jersey Time Limits for Filing Death and Injury Lawsuits
If you’re worried about potential abuse, neglect, legal violations, or other mistreatment, you need to act as quickly as possible because you only have a limited amount of time in which to file a claim. This limited amount of time is known as the statute of limitations. New Jersey plaintiffs are bound to the following time limits, with very limited exceptions:
- Personal Injury Claims: 2 years, beginning from the date of injury.
- Wrongful Death Claims: 2 years, beginning from the date of death.
You must not miss these time limits. The statute of limitations is very rigid, and if the statute “expires” and you miss the two-year deadline, your family’s legal recourse will be severely limited. Furthermore, if you suspect your relative is at risk of death or injury, it’s very important to begin an investigation and get them to safety as soon as possible. For both of these reasons, you should consult with an attorney immediately if you have any questions or concerns.
How to Identify Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
There are many different forms of elder abuse and nursing home neglect. Abuse refers to intentional wrongdoing, while negligence is a legal term which means the defendant did not adequately perform his or her expected duties, resulting in harm to the plaintiff. Even though negligence is not always deliberate or malicious like abuse, the effects can be just as devastating for innocent residents and their family members. There are a few basic key elements to establishing that a defendant was negligent:
- The defendant had a duty to the plaintiff. In this context, facilities have a duty to care for their residents.
- The defendant breached (i.e. violated) that duty by failing to provide adequate care.
- That failure to provide adequate care resulted in death or injury to the victim.
Brent will fight aggressively to demonstrate that the facility you trusted was abusive, careless, or negligent in failing to protect your loved one’s safety. To help address our clients’ varying needs, we handle a broad spectrum of injury claims, including wrongful death claims. Our Burlington County nursing home abuse lawyers represent clients who have been hurt by problems such as:
- Falls — Falls are among the most common claims our attorneys see. Falls may be the result of deliberate shoving, being deprived of mobility equipment like walkers, or inadequate supervision.
- Bed Sores — Bed sores develop when bed-bound residents are not cleaned or moved frequently enough, typically on ankles, heels, wrists, hips, knees, or elbows.
- Lack of Staff — In a difficult economy, businesses compensate by cutting costs, which usually involves letting go of staff. This may be acceptable for retailers, but assisted living staff are there to protect residents’ safety and health. Under-staffing can cause residents to wander off the premises or miss out on crucial medical care.
- Amputations — In most cases, diabetes is a manageable disease which requires amputation only in extreme situations where it has not been properly treated. If your loved one lost a foot or leg to diabetes, it may be because medical staff were inattentive.
- Sexual Abuse — Signs of sexual abuse typically include behavioral changes, such as fear, anxiety, depression, or anger which seems out of character. Physical warning signs might include limping, damaged undergarments, or difficulty sitting or lying down.
- Financial Exploitation — Scammers target senior citizens because elderly people sometimes lack proficiency with modern technology, while simultaneously having considerable savings and benefits. If your loved one cannot explain purchases, charges, or statements, he or she may be a victim of financial abuse.
Your loved one deserves to be housed in a safe and sanitary environment with access to quality medical care. If you’re concerned about abuse or neglect, or if a parent or grandparent passed away from their injuries, Brent can help your family explore their legal options. Don’t wait until it’s already too late: to schedule a confidential case evaluation completely free of charge, call The Nursing Home Injury Help Center at (215) 666-7777.
Disclosure: Attorney Brent Wieand’s office is located in Philadelphia, PA. We happily serve clients throughout all of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
