Signs of Nursing Home Negligence

Many people rely on nursing homes to tend to older family members who can no longer live by themselves, with the expectation that the nursing home workers will provide thorough and attentive care. For a variety of reasons, however, the people who work in nursing homes are often neglectful, and nursing home residents suffer as a result. If you or a loved one sustained harm due to nursing home negligence, you may have options for legal recourse. The knowledgeable Cape Cod nursing home negligence lawyers of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, have over fifteen decades of joint experience assisting people in lawsuits for damages, and we will diligently pursue any compensation you may be able to recover. Our skillful legal team has recovered multiple multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Nursing homes have an obligation under state and federal laws to provide a safe living situation and sufficient aid and supervision to their residents. Nursing homes must also see to it that residents have adequate nutrition and water, and are appropriately groomed. Additionally, many people living in nursing homes have complex medical needs, and nursing homes must ensure that any medications are properly administered and that any acute or chronic illnesses or conditions are treated correctly.

When the staff, nurses, or doctors employed by a nursing home fail to uphold their duties, nursing home residents unfortunately often sustain serious illnesses and injuries as a result. Many times, nursing home negligence is caused by a lack of training or an insufficient amount of staff members to care for the number of residents in the home appropriately. Signs of nursing home negligence include falls caused by inadequate supervision or fall prevention measures, dehydration and malnutrition, and bedsores. Unintentional weight loss and poor personal hygiene can be caused by a lack of care as well.

When signs of nursing home negligence prove to be indicators of actual harm to a resident, an array of damages may result. Thus, the resident may be able to recover compensation for the economic and noneconomic harm caused by the nursing home in a civil lawsuit, and a dedicated nursing home abuse lawyer can help. For example, the resident may be awarded any costs incurred for medical treatment or compensation for the significant pain and suffering caused by the illness or injuries he or she sustained due to the nursing home’s negligence.

To prove negligence in a civil lawsuit against a nursing home in Massachusetts, the plaintiff must show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care. In most cases, the duty is imposed by statute or by the relationship between the nursing home and the plaintiff. The plaintiff must then show that the defendant breached the duty owed, and that the breach caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm.

In many nursing home cases, the defendant will argue that the harm the plaintiff alleges was caused by nursing home negligence was, in fact, caused by a pre-existing condition or other extenuating circumstances. Thus, in many cases, it is necessary for the plaintiff to hire one or more experts to establish that the care provided by the nursing home fell below the accepted standard and that the breach caused the plaintiff’s harm. Experts may also be needed to prove what care the plaintiff may need in the future.

Nursing homes are entrusted with looking after loved ones, and when they fail to provide competent care, it can have devastating consequences. If you or your loved one suffered a fall or other harm due to nursing home negligence, you can speak with a lawyer to discuss your potential claims against the nursing home. The trusted legal team at the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, will work diligently to gather any facts and evidence available to help prove the nursing home should be held liable for the harm caused by its negligence. Our zealous advocacy has enabled us to attain several verdicts and settlements exceeding one million dollars on behalf of our clients. We assist parties in lawsuits against nursing homes in Cape Cod and are available for meetings in Plymouth and Hyannis. You can contact us through our form online or at 888-262-6664 to schedule a consultation. Nós Falamos Português.