Nursing home abuse and negligence cases are growing in the United States.
One of the most common questions received by our law firm for these victims and their families is what their case is worth. Sadly, we cannot give you an exact number or an average. Instead, it comes down to specific factors. These factors influence how your case settles and the amount you should expect.
The Statistics
The growing elderly population is one reason for a spark in more abuse and neglect cases. The aged population of 65 years and higher has dramatically grown. In fact, by 2050 the National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that the number of people over 65 will increase to 85 million – compared to the 40 million in 2010.
The biggest victims are those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. One 2009 study found that 50 percent of patients with some form of dementia are victims of abuse and neglect. A 2010 study found that 47 percent of their study participants with dementia were mistreated by caregivers.
Liability and Fault
Liability and fault are important in these types of cases. Depending on the evidence and type of case, you may be able to easily prove fault. More complicated cases, such as sexual abuse without the perpetrator caught, make it more difficult to prove the case – let alone collect compensation.
Naturally, the more powerful the evidence, the easier it is to not only settle the case but to receive maximum compensation.
What is Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse takes many forms, and while physical abuse is more common than others, family members should always look for warning signs that their loved one is receiving inadequate care, or outright abuse from caretakers.
Some signs your loved is being abused or neglected include changes in their behavior. They may be wary around specific caretakers, have personality changes (including depression and anxiety), or refuse care from employees.
Sadly, many of the individuals in nursing homes have memory issues, which means that they might not remember being abused or realize that they are being abused. Therefore, they rely on their loved ones to recognize the signs and symptoms and act immediately.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the most common and may include bruises, scars, welts, lacerations, broken bones, and dislocated arms. Also, unnecessary use of restraints is considered physical abuse.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is not easy to see like physical abuse, but still a real threat to your loved one’s mental health. It includes threatening, isolating, controlling, berating, and embarrassing the patient. Telling the patient that they are not loved, or that family members do not care about them also constitutes emotional abuse.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is a serious crime and often goes unreported. Some elderly patients are incapacitated, and their loved ones never realize that they were the victim of sexual abuse. It is important that loved ones be vigilant and look out for signs and symptoms of abuse. If sexual abuse is suspected, reporting it immediately can protect others from experiencing the same abuse.
Neglect
Neglect is different from abuse. Abuse is physically harming the patient. Neglect happens when the nursing home does not feed, hydrate, or medicate the patient as they should. They may ignore safety hazards, resulting in a patient that becomes severely injured or dies.
Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation is a form of abuse and a very serious one. It involves tricking the patient into giving a caretaker money or outright stealing from the patient. This is more common among patients with Alzheimer’s or other types of memory disorders because the patient will not remember that they are a victim.
Most Nursing Home Injury Cases End in a Settlement
When it comes to finding the value of your nursing home abuse case, you must remember that most lawsuits settle instead of going to court. Therefore, a settlement, while more than adequate, is less in value than one that goes to trial. Trial verdicts often include attorney’s fees and juries are more apt to give higher settlements than insurance companies and attorneys can agree to out of court.
The reason most cases settle out of court include:
- Depositions are faster.
- The case remains private and is not a matter of public record (if the lawsuit is not filed and a verdict is not entered).
- Reduced expenses and costs for the attorney and client.
- Settlements are more predictable because juries are highly unpredictable.
- Less stress on the victim and family members.
No Two Lawsuits are the Same
When comparing your case to other settlements in the past, realize that no two cases are 100 percent the same. Even two similar types of injury cases will have scattered factors that heavily influence the settlement value. Only an experienced attorney can give you a proper estimate for you particular case.
Compensation Available in a Nursing Home Case
The types of compensation your case qualifies for will influence the value of your settlement as well. Some types of compensation available in a nursing home case include:
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income for family members
- Loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages – including funeral and burial costs
Note that while there are damage caps on nursing home injury claims in some states, the state of Illinois does not use them. In fact, the Nursing Home Care Act allows plaintiffs to seek damages, including punitive damages, without caps.
Factors that Influence the Settlement Value of a Nursing Home Injury Claim
Specific factors will influence the value of your claim. These factors can increase or decrease the settlement amount.
Victim’s Age
The victim’s age plays a heavy role in the settlement. Obviously, the settlement would be higher for a younger person with years ahead of them. This is especially true if the injury will affect them the rest of their life, create a dramatic decrease in the quality of that life, or the injury has dramatically decreased the victim’s lifespan.
Facility’s Conduct or Level of Neglect
The number of employees involved in the injury case will play a role too. Just one employee values less than if multiple employees or the entire facility were a part of the injury or neglect.
The Facility’s History
The courts do consider the facility’s history. If the facility has multiple claims against them or a history of violations, they will often have a harsher settlement issued against them than a facility with a perfect care record in the past.
Insurance Coverage of the Facility
The insurance policy of that facility also plays a role, because insurance is what will pay the victims for their injuries.
The Family’s Participation in the Loved One’s Care
A family who is active in their loved one’s well-being and care plays well in settlement negotiations. When family only show up to file a lawsuit and collect compensation, they will find that they receive a much lower settlement.
Malman Law’s Track Record with Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Malman Law has represented numerous clients in their nursing home abuse and neglect cases. In one case of nursing home abuse, we received $1.7 million for an elderly man that eventually had to have his legs amputated after suffering serious burns. Other successful cases include:
- $750,000 bedsore case
- $600,000 dehydration case
- $650,000 failure to diagnose a fecal impaction
- $1,000,000+ record setting verdict for a fractured hip
- $650,000 for a bedsore
Your Family Deserves an Advocate
Whether it is your wife, husband, parent, or other family member injured by a nursing home’s neglect or direct abuse, you need to contact the team at Malman Law. You need professional representation for your claim, and our attorneys protect your family’s right to compensation.
Our attorneys are trial-ready. We have stood up for dozens of families that have suffered traumatic losses because of inadequate nursing home care. Contact our law office today for a no-obligation consultation at 888-247-2160 or request a consultation online.
