Nursing home abuse can leave your family suffering in unbelievable ways. If your loved one is a victim of abuse or neglect in Columbus, OH, our team at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC is here to fight for you.
An experienced Columbus nursing home abuse lawyer can help you recover compensation for medical bills, relocation, and the pain and trauma your family has experienced.
Our lawyers have over 71 years of combined experience in personal injury law. Since we started our law firm back in 2007, we’ve collected hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients and their families.
Now, we’re here to help you get through this difficult time. Contact our law offices in Columbus, Ohio at (614) 587-8423 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options today.
Why Should I Hire Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC To Handle My Nursing Home Abuse Case in Columbus, OH?
Nursing homes are supposed to keep your loved one safe. For many of us, the decision to put a loved one in a nursing home is a heart-wrenching one. We make it because they need more care than we can provide.
Unfortunately, many Ohio nursing homes don’t live up to their duties. All too often, residents are abused, neglected, or ignored. As the victim, you might not know where to turn for help.
Our Columbus personal injury attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC are here to fight for you. We have decades of experience handling these types of cases.
When you hire us, you’ll benefit from an experienced team that will:
- Investigate and collect evidence
- Determine why the abuse was allowed to occur
- Identify all parties who are financially responsible
- Work with experts as we assess the value of your damages
- Negotiate with the nursing home’s insurance company for a full settlement
You have enough to worry about right now. Call our Columbus personal injury lawyers today for help with the legal issues.
Statistics on Nursing Home Abuse
According to statistics published by the World Health Organization, it’s estimated that one out of every six nursing home residents experiences some type of abuse. Shockingly, two out of every three caregivers admitted to committing abuse in the past year.
What Types of Behaviors Count as Nursing Home Abuse?
When a caretaker in a nursing home or assisted living facility harms a resident, those behaviors count as nursing home abuse. Nursing home abuse can be intentional, or it can result from passive neglect.
Nursing home abuse can manifest in many different ways. Our lawyers handle cases involving all types of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Those cases often involve:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse can, of course, involve hitting, kicking, slapping, or punching. It can also involve the unjustified use of restraints or the inappropriate use of medications to keep a resident sedated.
Sexual Abuse
Any type of non-consensual sexual contact with a nursing home resident can amount to sexual abuse. That can include unwanted touching, rape, or forcing a resident to watch sexual content.
Sexual abuse in nursing home settings can also involve the rape or sexual assault of a resident with memory issues. Unfortunately, when diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s are involved, the patient is often unable to consent.
Psychological and Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse might not leave physical marks, but it can be just as damaging to the victim. Emotional abuse can include belittling, humiliation, name-calling, manipulation, and even isolating the victim from the other residents.
Financial Abuse
Nursing home residents who are elderly or who have cognitive disabilities may also be vulnerable to financial exploitation.
Examples of financial abuse include:
- Identity theft, such as opening credit cards in the resident’s name
- Theft of personal property
- Coercing a resident to change a will or beneficiary designations
Financial abuse can result in long-term financial instability, which can put the resident’s health and well-being in jeopardy.
Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home negligence can be active or passive. Some caregivers actively ignore the needs of the residents. Others are so overworked that they simply don’t have the time to provide essential care.
Nursing home neglect occurs anytime caregivers fail to address a resident’s basic needs. That can include failing to properly feed or bathe the patient. It can also involve failure to properly move an immobile patient to prevent bedsores or provide medications on a regular schedule.
How Do I Know Whether My Loved One Has Been a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse?
Unfortunately, the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect aren’t always as obvious as you might think.
The signs to watch for will depend on the exact circumstances, but often include:
- Frequent injuries
- Unexplained and frequent falls
- Bruising, cuts, and any marks around the wrists or ankles
- Unexplained personality changes, including depression and becoming withdrawn
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes in personal hygiene
- Fear of speaking around a caregiver
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone with your loved one
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Regressive behaviors, like self-hugging, rocking, or thumb sucking
- STDs and genital injuries
Any unexplained changes in your loved one’s personality, mood, or physical health can be cause for concern. Don’t expect your loved one to report the abuse on their own. Often, nursing home residents are too ashamed and afraid to take action by themselves.
If you suspect your loved one is being abused, contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to report your suspicions. They can conduct a criminal investigation and take action if warranted. You should also contact an experienced Columbus nursing home abuse attorney who can help you fight for financial compensation.
What is My Columbus Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
The value of your case depends on many factors, including:
- Your financial expenses, including medical costs and the cost of moving to a safe facility
- The nature of the harm your loved one has suffered
- Your loved one’s need for ongoing rehab and medical care and the cost
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- How long the abuse has been happening
- Whether you lose wages to care for your loved one and their value
- The pain, trauma, and suffering that your loved one experienced
Don’t count on the nursing home to step forward and offer a full settlement. They might offer money quickly to avoid bad publicity, but these offers are rarely fair. Instead, contact our experienced lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC for help getting every penny you deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Columbus, Ohio?
Some examples of the types of economic and non-economic damages you may be entitled to receive include:
- Medical expenses
- Costs of relocating to a safe facility
- Your lost income while you care for your loved one
- Restitution in cases involving financial abuse
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Shame and humiliation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Reduced life expectancy
- Damages for wrongful death
You can count on our lawyers to work closely with your family to determine how the abuse has changed your life.
Who Can Be Held Financially Responsible for Nursing Home Abuse?
Intentional nursing home abuse is both a crime and an intentional tort. The person who committed the abuse may face criminal charges. You can also fight to hold them financially responsible in civil court.
Of course, they might not have the money to pay your settlement or verdict.
Ultimately, anyone who played a role might owe you compensation, including:
- Administrators
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Certified nursing assistants
The nursing home itself can also be liable. Caregivers in long-term care facilities are employees. The nursing home, as their employer, can be held liable for the caregiver’s actions under Ohio’s vicarious liability laws.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Ohio?
Money shouldn’t stop you from getting quality legal representation. That’s why Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC works on a contingency fee basis. Your attorney’s fees are entirely dependent on the amount of compensation we recover in your case. When we recover compensation for you, we take a percentage once your case has been settled or a verdict has been reached.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit if My Loved One Is a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse in Ohio?
Most of the time, victims have two years from the date of their injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. After this two-year statute of limitations expires, they lose the right to sue for damages.
There are limited exceptions. If the abuse was ongoing, it can be tough to know exactly when the clock started to run. It’s always best to speak with an experienced attorney sooner rather than later in these cases.
Call a Skilled Columbus Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
If your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing facility, call Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC to learn about your legal options today. An experienced Columbus nursing home abuse lawyer can help you recover compensation to cover both your financial costs and the emotional trauma your loved one has endured. Your case review is completely free of charge.
