Have you or a family member been the victim of nursing home abuse in Lafayette, Louisiana? If so, our Lafayette nursing home abuse lawyers at Kenny Habetz Injury Law want to help you hold the facility and those who injured you responsible for their actions.
Since 2010, the Louisiana personal injury lawyer at Kenny Habetz Injury Law has protected the rights of injured victims and their families in Lafayette, Louisiana. Each person on our legal team is committed to obtaining the best possible outcome for your personal injury case.
We have over a decade of experience helping injured victims after devastating accidents in Louisiana – and we have a proven track record of success representing accident victims in cases involving Lafayette car accidents, Lafeyette truck accidents, wrongful death claims, Lafayette motorcycle injuries, brain injury cases, and more. Our legal team has won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts, helping our clients move forward.
Contact our personal injury law firm at (337) 399-9000 to request your free consultation with our experienced Lafayette nursing home abuse attorney. We are here to help you when you need a trusted legal advocate on your side.
How Kenny Habetz Injury Law Can Help With a Nursing Home Abuse Case in Lafayette, Louisiana
The decision to place a family member in a nursing home is rarely easy. You must trust that the nursing home staff will provide compassionate care for your loved one, including protecting them from injury and harm. When a nursing home violates your trust and allows your loved one to be abused or neglected, they should be held accountable for their negligence and wrongdoing.
Attorney Kenny Habetz is a seasoned trial lawyer and a skilled negotiator. His legal expertise and commitment to client care have earned him numerous awards and recognitions. He is on the list of the Top 100 attorneys and Top 40 Under 40 attorneys by The National Trial Lawyers, and he was named on the List of Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Lafayette by Expertise.
When you choose Kenny Habetz Injury Law to advocate for your loved one in a nursing home negligence case, you can trust we will protect their best interests by:
- Completing a thorough investigation into the claim to determine what happened to your loved one
- Monitor investigations by law enforcement and state agencies
- Work with medical specialists, psychologists, and other experts to determent the extent of your loved one’s injuries
- Gather evidence and build a solid case for maximum compensation for damages
- Aggressively pursue insurance claims and court cases to get justice for your family member
At Kenny Habetz Injury Law, we give your case the time and resources your loved one deserves. We will not stop fighting until we exhaust all legal avenues to hold these people responsible for the harm they caused your family member.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer in Lafayette, LA.
Our Lafayette Elder Abuse Lawyer Handles All Types of Nursing Home Abuse Claims
Nursing home residents are subjected to numerous types of elder abuse. There is no justification for abusing an elderly or vulnerable person. Our Lafayette nursing home abuse attorney handles cases involving:
- Physical abuse, including slapping, pushing, restraining, shoving, punching, and beating patients.
- Neglect, including refusing to assist patients with personal needs, failing to provide adequate hydration and nutrition, and allowing patients to live in unsanitary conditions.
- Psychological and emotional abuse, including verbal assaults, threats, intimidation, isolation, harassment, and humiliation.
- Sexual abuse, including taking nude photographs, rape, sodomy, and other sexual conduct.
- Financial abuse, including taking a patient’s money or property and coercing or tricking a patient into signing financial documents.
- Medical Malpractice, including failing to provide medical treatment and correct medications.
Abuse and neglect of adults is a crime in Louisiana. Many individuals are mandatory reporters, which means they have a legal obligation to report nursing home abuse.
You can report nursing home abuse to Adult Protective Services. You can also call 911 if a nursing home patient needs emergency treatment or protection.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Lafayette, LA
Nursing home abuse can be subtle. Identifying abuse and neglect in some situations can be challenging, especially if the person cannot communicate effectively to ask for help. The signs of nursing home abuse differ depending on the type of abuse and the extent of the abuse.
Some common signs of nursing home neglect and abuse to watch for include:
- Unexplained injuries
- Bruises and abrasions
- Signs of restraints on ankles and wrists
- Bedsores
- Soft tissue injuries
- Unwilling to speak in front of staff members
- Shrinking away from staff members
- Dehydration and/or malnutrition
- Staff members will not leave you alone with your family member
- Dirty clothing and bedclothes
- Poor hygiene
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Unexplained behavioral changes, including withdrawal, rocking, or crying
- Broken bones and fractures
- Missing property or money
- Changes to deeds, Wills, or other legal documents
Any unexplained behavior should be treated with suspicion. Unplanned visits at unusual times are the best way to watch for signs of nursing home abuse.
Why Are Residents Abused and Neglected in Lafayette Nursing Homes?
It is difficult to understand why anyone would mistreat an elderly or vulnerable person, but it happens. Sometimes, nursing home abuse is due to intentional wrongdoing. Other incidents of abuse and neglect in nursing homes can be attributed to carelessness and negligence.
Common reasons for nursing home abuse and neglect include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to perform adequate background checks for employees
- Understaffing of nursing homes
- Inadequate staff training and/or supervision
- Medical neglect
- Poor management of facilities
- No accountability for the actions of staff members
- Failing to implement and enforce safety procedures
In some cases, nursing home abuse and neglect are caused by greed. Companies cut corners to save money, which creates situations and conditions that increase the risk of patient abuse and neglect.
What Is a Lafayette Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
When you sue a nursing home for neglect or abuse, the civil lawsuit is separate from criminal cases. The people involved in the abuse could be charged in criminal court. You can pursue a civil case regardless of whether the state brings charges or anyone is convicted.
In civil actions, the only remedy the courts can offer is monetary awards. The compensation is to reimburse victims for their financial losses (economic damages) and their pain and suffering (non-economic damages). The value of your case depends on the facts and circumstances involved.
Examples of damages your loved one could receive for a nursing home abuse case include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Costs and expenses of moving to a new facility
- Physical pain and suffering
- Making a health condition worse
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- A decrease in quality of life
- The cost of mental health treatment and counseling
The more severe and long-lasting the effects of the abuse and neglect, the more your case is worth. Contact Kenny Habetz Injury Law today to speak with a Lafayette nursing home abuse lawyer about your case. We’ll explain how factors can impact how much your loved one may receive for their damages.
Who Is Liable for Nursing Home Abuse Claims in Lafayette, LA?
The person who abused or neglected your loved one could be held liable for their actions. However, the nursing home itself can also be liable for damages. Under vicarious liability, an employer can be held liable for the negligence and acts of their employees.
Generally, you must prove the elements of negligence to win a nursing home abuse case. Those elements are:
- The nursing home and/or the person responsible for the abuse owed the victim a duty of care
- The parties breached their duty of care by failing to provide adequate care and/or intentionally harming the patient
- The parties’ conduct was the direct and proximate cause of the victim’s injuries
- The victim incurred damages because of the abuse and/or neglect
Once you hire us, our legal team can investigate the claim to gather evidence proving the above legal elements. We can also interview witnesses, analyze reports and instructions of the nursing home facility, review medical records, and more.
How Long Do I Have To File a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a two-year statute of limitations (effective as of July 1, 2024) for most personal injury cases, including nursing home abuse cases. All nursing home abuse claims prior to July 1, 2024 are subject to a one-year statute of limitations. Wrongful death cases have a one-year statute of limitations.
If you miss the deadline, the court can dismiss the case. Therefore, we recommend calling our office today if you suspect your loved one was neglected or abused in a nursing home. We are here to help you begin an action to hold negligent parties liable for their wrongdoing.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lafayette Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
Our attorney at Kenny Habetz Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any attorney’s fees unless and until we recover money for your case. At that time, we will receive an agreed-upon percentage of your financial award or settlement – generally, this will be around 33%.
Contact us today if you have any questions about the contingency fee system and how it will apply to your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lafayette Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
We understand that your loved one has been through a traumatic event. We also understand that you want justice. Call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case review with our trusted Lafayette nursing home abuse attorney.
Our Lafayette, LA personal injury law office also provides:
- Car Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Boating Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Brain Injury Lawyer in Lafayette, LA
- Construction Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Maritime Injury Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Premises Liability Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Truck Accident Attorney in Lafayette, LA
- Workplace Accident Lawyer in Lafayette, LA
- Wrongful Death Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Lafayette, LA
- Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Lafayette, LA
- Product Liability Attorney in Lafayette, LA
