Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers Serving Charleston, West Virginia
We will fight for the rights of your loved one
When we place a loved one in a nursing home in Charleston or anywhere in West Virginia, we are trusting them to be responsible and caring. We are trusting that their needs will be met and that they will be treated with respect at all times. When a loved one is instead been harmed due to nursing home abuse or neglect, you want justice.
In the following video, Attorney Bernie Layne explains how his grandfather's death in a nursing home inspired him to fight for families:
The experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC understand the impact that abuse and neglect can have on victims and their family members. We know how to build strong cases to help you hold negligent parties accountable and can guide you through the legal process every step of the way.
How To Report Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Our firm has a record of results, and it has received notice. All three of our primary attorneys are members of the invitation-only Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. Only lawyers who have recovered sizable settlements and verdicts for clients are considered. Each of our three main attorneys also has an AV Preeminent® rating in personal injury law in the Martindale-Hubbell® legal directory. We are honored by these recognitions. But we are most proud of the families that we have been able to help.
Common causes of nursing home abuse or neglect
One type of abuse is physical abuse. Examples include punching, slapping, shaking, or beating a resident. Other examples include denying a resident food or water and the improper use of restraints. Emotional abuse can include yelling, screaming or belittling residents – or ignoring them completely. Some residents at nursing homes suffer sexual abuse.
Neglect can include ignoring the basic needs of residents, such as food, water, and personal hygiene. There is also medical neglect, in which residents do not receive the medication or medical treatment they need. Failing to ensure the safety of residents through inadequate security is also a form of neglect.
There are many warning signs of abuse and neglect. They can include sudden and unexplained weight loss, unexplained bruises or other injuries, bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, or poor personal hygiene. Your loved one may seem withdrawn or gets agitated around a certain staff member. Even if you aren’t sure what’s happening, you know when something is wrong. Don’t ignore that feeling.
If you suspect abuse or neglect, talk to the administrator of the nursing home about your concerns. You may want to bring your loved one to a doctor for a second opinion. You can also contact the Department of Health and Human Resources at 800-352-6513. Then contact an experienced West Virginia nursing abuse and neglect lawyer.
How an experienced Charleston attorney can help
It can be difficult to prove abuse and neglect. That’s why our firm investigates what happened to your loved to gather evidence and get the facts. We carefully review medical records and other documentation and interview witnesses. We also consult experts as needed if they can help us build a strong case.
We will fight to hold all negligent parties accountable. The nursing home may have been negligent by failing to hire qualified workers, providing improper training and supervision, failing to keep enough staff members on duty or failing to provide adequate resources for the proper care of your loved one.
Our first goal is to make sure your loved one is safe and receiving proper medical care. We will then seek financial compensation for the damages that were suffered. These may include medical expenses related to the abuse or neglect, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses if a loved one passed due to negligence.
Nursing homes and insurance companies will often fight back against your claim, because they know there is a lot of money at stake. But we don’t get intimidated and will not back down. We will keep the pressure on and work to negotiate a settlement that meets the needs of your family. If a settlement can’t be reached, we’ll be ready to fight for you in court.
You can expect us to take your case seriously right from the start. You can expect us to treat your loved one and your family with respect and to keep you informed every step of the way. You can also expect our lawyers to fight for the best possible outcome.
Learn more about how we can help by contacting us to schedule a free consultation. We can review the details of your loved one’s situation, go over your legal options for recovering compensation and answer any questions you have.
