When you moved your loved one into a nursing home, the thought that he or she might be mistreated probably never even crossed your mind. Naturally, that only makes it more distressing to learn staff has been neglecting or abusing the residents.
If you just received such news and your relative was one of the victims, you deserve justice. While there’s no way to guarantee your claim will be successful, there are steps you can take to ensure you’re able to pursue the maximum payout possible. That way, if your claim is successful, you’ll be able to recover enough to actually make up for all the damages your family has incurred.
Read on to learn about some of the more effective strategies for seeking every dollar you deserve:
1. Arrange for Adequate Care Elsewhere
As soon as you suspect neglect or abuse, your first priority will inevitably be your loved one’s health. If he or she is still in danger, make alternative arrangements as soon as possible. You might want to move him or her to another long-term care facility, for example, or it might make sense to bring him or her back home and hire an around-the-clock caregiver.
Removing the victim from a dangerous situation will not only protect him or her but will also demonstrate a commitment to mitigating damages. By taking action promptly, you’re ensuring the insurance adjuster won’t be able to accuse you of failing to protect your loved once it was clear he or she was being abused.
2. Preserve Any Evidence of Mistreatment
If you have any evidence of the neglect or abuse that occurred, make copies to ensure redundancy, and then store everything in a safe place until you can give it to your legal team. Evidence worth preserving includes:
· Hospital intake forms,
· Nursing logs,
· Photographs of any visible wounds,
· Statements from other residents or their visitors,
· The facility’s standard operating procedures, and
· Surveillance footage.
3. Track All Associated Expenses
You can only seek compensation for damages you can prove you actually incurred. As such, it’s imperative to log every associated expense diligently. Documentation that can help you do so includes hospital bills, health insurance statements, nursing home invoices, and pharmacy receipts.
Non-economic damages like pain and suffering are also recoverable. You can track these by recording your loved one’s struggles in a journal and arranging for psychological evaluations.
Discuss Your Claim with a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in New York
At Leitner Varughese, we’re determined to hold nursing homes accountable for their negligence. If someone you love was neglected or abused by nursing home staff, we’ll help you compile the evidence needed to seek compensation for all associated damages.
Our tenacious team is backed by more than 35 years of collective experience in the legal field. To set up your free case review with a nursing home abuse lawyer in New York, call 855-585-2969 or fill out our Contact Form. We represent clients in New York City, Long Island, and throughout all of New York State.
