We are passionate about fighting for our clients, and if you or a loved one has suffered an unexplained injury or illness in a nursing home, we want to help you stand up for yourself and enforce your legal rights.
Our nursing neglect attorneys will always stand for victims who had been hurt from negligence of caretakers. Negligence occurs when the care taker is not fulfilling his/her duty to a resident. It includes physical neglect (deprived bathing methods, lack of toileting and wrong body positioning), medical neglect (lack of medical care, poor access to medical aid and more) and proper assisting (Lack of assistance to the resident in eating, drinking, avoiding cries for help and more). Our highly skilled personal injury lawyers provide right justice and fair treatment for your abuse and negligence.
You have many law firms to choose from in Chicago, so why should you speak with Malman Law about a possible case?
Malman Law is dedicated to protecting the residents of Chicago, both in personal injury practice and community service. We represent victims of many types of accidents, including traffic crashes, falls, workplace accidents, nursing home abuse, and medical malpractice.
We Have Obtained One of The Largest Nursing Home Verdicts in Illinois History
Nursing home abuse is a serious, pervasive, yet often hidden problem in modern America. As our population ages, more and more older adults are moving into nursing homes in order to receive the care that they need to live from day-to-day. In addition, many people with physical or mental disabilities also reside in nursing homes in order to ensure their basic needs are met.
Unfortunately, sometimes the most vulnerable among us suffer at the hands of their caretakers. Nursing home abuse can take a wide variety of forms, the most common of which are described below. Never hesitate to discuss any concerns with a nursing home abuse attorney.
Physical abuse may be the most overt and obvious form of nursing home abuse. Some of the more common specific forms of physical abuse that may take place in nursing homes include:
Physical abuse can take a significant toll on residents, who may be too fearful to report the abuse to their loved ones or the facility’s management. As a result, if you have a loved one in a nursing home setting, be on the lookout for any signs of physical abuse. These signs may include bruising, cuts, marks on the wrists or ankles, broken bones, lacerations, or any other signs of physical injury. If you note any, you should investigate the matter fully and report it to the nursing home’s management.
Like physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse can take many forms. When residents are dependent on nursing home staff for their basic needs, it makes them vulnerable to mental abuse and manipulation. Mental and emotional abuse can include:
The signs of mental and emotional abuse can be much harder to spot than the signs of physical abuse. Some of the signs to be on the lookout for include fearful behavior, emotional withdrawal, depression, anxiety, and a loss of interest in things the resident once enjoyed. In addition, take note if your loved one seems particularly fearful or withdrawn around a particular staff member. Be sure to report any signs of emotional or mental abuse to the nursing home’s management.
Sexual abuse might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of nursing home residents, but this type of abuse happens more often than you might imagine. Sexual abuse might happen by a staff member, visitors, or even other residents at the facility, and it can involve rape, as well as unwanted touching, exposure of intimate parts, and more.
Not all forms of nursing home misconduct involve causing intentional harm. Some injuries to residents result from negligent conduct by staff that leaves residents without the care they need. Nursing home neglect – while not as egregious as abuse – is still a major problem and causes serious injuries or death. Some examples of nursing home neglect include:
While neglect might not cause intentional harm, it is still unacceptable in nursing homes, and these facilities should be held fully accountable for any injuries or medical complications that result.
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Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction and workers’ compensation cases.
STEVE J. MALMAN
Founding Attorney
Nursing home residents suffer a wide range of injuries and other losses due to abuse and neglect. Some common injuries include:
Often, an abused resident will need medical care that they otherwise would not require. Residents should never be responsible for medical costs that resulted from abuse or neglect.
Another common loss is physical and mental pain and suffering, and residents can experience significant suffering from nursing home abuse. Not only do they feel the pain from physical injuries or health conditions, but they also have trauma from what happened to them and fear of further abuse.
Nursing homes should be responsible for covering all the losses of injured residents, and a nursing home abuse law firm in Chicago can help.
Many observers believe that nursing home abuse is underreported, both by residents and nursing homes themselves. While data can be hard to gather, it stands to reason that many nursing home residents are too embarrassed or afraid to report the abuse. Others may not even be aware that the abuse is going on or may not have the mental faculties to know what to do about it.
Additionally, a government report estimates that 1 in 5 ER visits from a nursing home is a result of nursing home abuse. The report also suggests that nursing homes often fail to report incidents of abuse to law enforcement or the Center for Medicare Services (CMS).
We’ll fight for the compensation you deserve.Looking For A Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near You?
When you realize your loved one suffered unnecessary injuries or health issues due to abuse or neglect, you likely want justice. The law holds nursing homes liable for the harm that occurs in the facilities, and individual staff members might also be liable for their individual conduct.
Going up against nursing homes and their insurance companies is no easy feat, however, and it requires the right legal tools and experience.
If you believe that your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, never wait to seek help. First, if you think they are in danger, contact the authorities and ensure they are moved to a safe place. Then, contact Malman Law for a free case evaluation to see how we can stand up for your loved one’s rights.
If you believe your loved one has suffered abuse while in a nursing home, you may be looking for a nursing home abuse lawyer near your location. Whether it was bedsore, rough treatment, or any kind of abuse, our expert attorneys at Malman Law will fight for your loved one until justice is served.
Contact today one of the best nursing home abuse lawyers near you right away.
Our Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Malman Law help victims inside Illinois. Our firm is conveniently located near you. We have an office in Chicago at 205 W Randolph St # 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.883913918593215, -87.63417857142082.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by President and Founder, Steven J. Malman who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
Nursing home neglect and abuse in Chicago is a real concern. Residents who are recipients of that sort of behavior often suffer emotional and psychological distress. When this deplorable behavior occurs, you may have a cause of action for a nursing home abuse lawsuit. Keep in mind that it’s possible that your loved one may not feel comfortable talking to you about what you overheard or whether it is something that is happening on a regular basis. Warning signs of verbal and emotional abuse in a nursing facility include:
If you believe that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Chicago, call Malman Law to schedule a free consultation. We will provide compassionate and experienced evaluation of the claims.
Nursing home abuse and neglect in Chicago should not be tolerated. Facilities should be a place of safety and rest for our loved ones. It’s important to note that just like in other forms of abuse, your loved one or the caretakers may make excuses on how injuries occurred. Sadly, statistics reveal that 44 percent of residents have been abused at some point. Signs of this abuse or neglect include:
It is also important to keep in mind that sometimes these signs don’t indicate nursing home neglect or abuse, but they are signs of other problems. For instance, dehydration, bedsores, and unexplained weight loss are also symptoms associated with diabetes. However, it is important to look at these signs to determine the type of help that your loved one needs.
If you believe that your loved one is experiencing nursing home neglect or abuse in Chicago, call Malman Law right away to schedule a free initial and confidential consultation.
Yes, you can, because human rights don’t need contractual support. If you were hit by a car, for example, you wouldn’t have to prove that you had a contract with the driver not to hit you in order to win a lawsuit against him or her – you could sue under general tort law principles, just as you can in cases of abuse and neglect in a nursing facility.
The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act defines the rights under state law that your loved one enjoys with or without a contractual arrangement with the nursing home. Federal regulations also apply if the institution participates in the Medicare program. Proving that the facility violated an applicable regulation will go a long way toward establishing their liability for compensatory damages. In cases of outrageous conduct, you might even be able to collect punitive damages against the nursing home. Of course, if there is a contract, a contract claim could be added to other claims arising from the abuse or neglect.
The most common legal theories used to file lawsuits against nursing homes include:
These are very broad categories that may overlap. If your loved one falls and breaks a hip, for example, this injury might be actionable as negligent supervision and care, negligent maintenance of facilities (slippery floors), or both.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is the state agency responsible for enforcing the law in favor of the more than 100,000 nursing home residents residing in over 1,200 facilities in Illinois. The IDPH licenses these facilities, conducts inspections at least annually, and cooperates with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for eligibility to participate in federal payment reimbursement programs.
The IDPH maintains a Nursing Home Hotline (800-252-4343) for complaints. Upon receiving a complaint of abuse or neglect, the IDPH’s Bureau of Long Term Care may launch an investigation. Although it does not participate in lawsuits, it can sanction or even close down homes that violate the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act or federal regulations. The results of its investigation can be used as evidence in a civil lawsuit against a home or an employee.
Residents of facilities that participate in the Medicare program enjoy the following federal rights:
Most of these rights also apply under state law, even for nursing homes that do not participate in the Medicare program.
There are three main legal avenues you can pursue in cases of suspected nursing home abuse or neglect – (i) filing an administrative complaint with the IDPH, (ii) filing a civil lawsuit, and (iii) filing a complaint with the local prosecutor seeking criminal charges. You do not have to choose one or the other – you can pursue all three avenues at the same time. Family members of an abused or neglected resident can file a lawsuit on behalf of the victim.