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People entrust nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to look after their elderly family members with respect. However, bad actors and poor standards can create an environment of abuse and neglect that causes significant pain and suffering for loved ones under their care. A Waukegan nursing home abuse lawyer serves an important role in these cases by filing claims to pursue compensation on behalf of an abused individual. Our team has bilingual capabilities and years of experience litigating cases involving nursing home abuse and instances of personal injury.
The Illinois Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act defines nursing home abuse as non-accidental physical injury, sexual abuse, or mental injury inflicted on a resident. Nursing home residents are a highly vulnerable segment of the population because of their age, disability, or declining health. This limits their ability to advocate for themselves and makes them susceptible to injury from assault or abuse from those under their direct care.
In addition to the intentional acts of abuse from a nursing home employee, injury can also occur through a facility’s neglect of its residents. Examples of neglectful conduct may include the following:
These issues and other instances of neglect can occur in a nursing home because of unreasonable policies or practices, or poor employee training. Some nursing home facilities may also lack the necessary resources or support to provide care to residents that mitigates the risk of neglect and abuse. Our nursing home abuse lawyers can help residents in a facility report cases of abuse or neglect in Waukegan, and take steps to prevent further misconduct toward them and others.
A nursing home facility may be liable for the injury it causes a resident under their care due to instances of neglect. The facility may also have liability for an employee’s intentional acts of abuse toward a resident, especially if it occurred through a nursing home’s negligent hiring or supervision of the employee. Compensation available to an abused or neglected nursing home resident in Waukegan will depend on the unique circumstances of their case.
However, common damages a lawyer can pursue on a client’s behalf will include those for incurred pain and suffering, medical care costs, and punitive damages in some cases. Nursing home abuse that results in the wrongful death of a resident may allow for recovery of compensation for additional damages such as funeral expenses and burial costs.
It is important to meet with a Waukegan nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible after discovering a loved one’s injury. Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations that applies to cases of personal injury and wrongful death, including those that occur in a nursing home. Missing this deadline can result in a dismissal of a case and prevent the recovery of compensation under an otherwise valid claim. Schedule a free consultation with our team today.