Residents of Grapevine nursing homes often represent some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. These residents come to a nursing facility for comfort and peace of mind. Unfortunately, the treatment they receive causes more harm than good.
If a member of your family has suffered intentional or negligent harm while living in a residential nursing facility, it is important to take decisive action. Once you have secured the safety of your loved one, you could benefit from next discussing your case with a hard-working personal injury lawyer. By following the guidance of a Grapevine nursing home abuse lawyer, you might be able to recover monetary damages for the abuse your loved one endured.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
While it is impossible to categorize every aspect of nursing home abuse, most incidents fall within five general categories:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect
Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against a nursing home resident that results in their harm. This type of abuse could involve an assault involving punching, kicking, or biting the resident. Physical abuse can also involve the unnecessary use of chemical or physical restraints.
Sexual abuse involves any involuntary or non-consensual sexual contact with a nursing home resident. These cases are prevalent in a nursing home setting in part due to some resident’s lack of capacity to consent.
Financial abuse occurs at any point where a nursing home employee or person with access to the facility uses fraud or intimidation to take property belonging to a resident. This could include theft from their room, embezzlement from their accounts, or even fraudulently signing over real estate ownership.
Emotional abuse occurs even when there are no physical injuries involved. This abuse could include yelling, threatening, or insulting a resident in a way that could cause emotional harm.
According to Texas Human Resources Code Section 48.002, neglect is a failure to provide a resident with the basic resources they need to avoid physical or emotional harm. This could include anything from medical treatment to food. A dedicated attorney in Grapevine could help family members identify nursing home abuse and fight for the injured patient’s rights in court.
For a free legal consultation, call (817) 775-5364
Civil vs. Criminal Abuse Cases
Abuse cases can both civil and criminal in nature. Many acts of elder abuse are a crime, which is prosecuted by the state. A conviction could result in imprisonment and hefty fines.
The victim of nursing home abuse also retains a right to file a civil suit against their abuser. Instead of jail time, this claim could result in monetary compensation from the abuser or even the facility. A diligent Grapevine lawyer could assist with filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
Grapevine Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Potential Defendants
There can be multiple people or entities responsible for an act of abuse. Not only is the abuser responsible, but the facility itself could also be on the hook. If the abuser was an employee acting within the scope of their employment, a resident could sue them both. A nursing home facility could also be on the hook for compensation if they were negligent in their hiring or management practices. A knowledgeable nursing home neglect attorney in Grapevine could pursue a claim against any of the parties responsible for the abuse.
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Speak with a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Grapevine Today
Dealing with the fallout of nursing home abuse can be difficult for any family. While criminal investigations can take time and are not always conclusive, your loved one has the right to pursue a civil action against their abuser.
Let a Grapevine nursing home abuse lawyer assist in hold the abuser accountable. Set up a consultation to talk about the possibilities of a civil lawsuit.
Call (817) 775-5364 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
