Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Elder abuse and nursing home negligence are growing concerns in Massachusetts, where many assisted living facilities fail to meet the standard of care that senior citizens deserve.

Seeking legal help from a Massachusetts nursing home neglect lawyer is essential to holding negligent facilities accountable. An experienced attorney can guide you through the legal process, ensuring your loved one receives fair compensation for their nursing home injuries and that those responsible for the abuse are brought to justice.

Why Hire Nursing Home Law Center

At Nursing Home Law Center, we are dedicated to obtaining just compensation for victims of nursing home abuse. Our skilled legal team has a strong history of successfully handling nursing home neglect claims, addressing these sensitive cases with care, and securing significant settlements and verdicts.

Our nursing home negligence lawyers leave no stone unturned in our investigations, making sure every element of the abuse, including medical costs, emotional distress, and other damages, is fully covered. With our extensive knowledge of nursing home neglect cases, we skillfully manage the legal process and fight relentlessly to protect your rights.

Types of Cases Handled by Our Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

Nursing home abuse refers to the mistreatment or neglect of nursing home patients, often resulting in physical, emotional, or financial harm. Abuse can occur in many forms, each having devastating effects on the well-being of elderly patients. Our nursing home lawyers handle a wide range of cases to ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes the intentional infliction of harm, such as hitting, slapping, or pushing nursing home residents. It can also involve improper use of physical or chemical restraints.

Mental and Emotional Abuse

Mental and emotional abuse involves actions that cause psychological harm to elderly residents, such as verbal threats, intimidation, or isolation.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual assault is a particularly heinous form of mistreatment involving any non-consensual sexual contact with a resident.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice in nursing homes includes failures such as improper treatment, misdiagnoses, or neglect of medical care. This neglect can result in bed sores, medication errors, or infections that could have been prevented with proper medical attention.

Negligence

Negligence occurs when a nursing home fails to meet the basic standards of care, leading to serious harm. This negligence can include poor hygiene, malnutrition, dehydration, or even incidents where residents wander away from the facility (known as elopement).

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse involves the exploitation of elderly residents for financial gain. This abuse may include unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts, changes to their wills, or theft of personal property.

Wrongful Death

When elder abuse and nursing home negligence lead to the death of a resident, it constitutes wrongful death. Whether caused by physical abuse, medical negligence, or unsafe conditions, the loss of a loved one is devastating. Our legal team works tirelessly to hold nursing facilities accountable and ensure families receive justice for their loved one’s untimely passing.

Understanding Your Legal Rights

Nursing home residents are entitled to certain protections under federal and state laws to ensure their safety, dignity, and well-being. These legal rights are critical in preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

One of the most important federal laws safeguarding nursing home patients is the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. This law mandates that residents have the right to receive proper medical care, maintain their privacy, live free from abuse and neglect, and be treated with respect and dignity. 

It also requires nursing homes to ensure that residents receive adequate care and services to maintain their physical and mental well-being. Under this act, nursing home facilities must adhere to specific standards to ensure that their care meets necessary legal requirements.

In addition to federal protections, Massachusetts state laws provide residents with further safeguards. The state regulates nursing homes to ensure they meet specific standards of care and requires facilities to report incidents of abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. 

These laws allow residents and their families to take legal action if a nursing home fails to meet its obligations due to inadequate staffing, poor training, or other forms of negligence.

Eligibility to File a Claim 

When nursing home abuse and neglect occurs, several parties can take action to protect the victim’s rights. Those who can file a lawsuit include:

• The residents themselves: If the nursing home residents are mentally and physically capable of doing so, they can file a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
• A legal guardian or representative: If the resident is incapacitated or unable to pursue legal recourse due to their health condition, a court-appointed guardian or legal representative can file the lawsuit.
• Families: In many cases, immediate family members—such as a spouse, child, or other close relatives—may file a claim if they suspect their loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home.
• Estate representatives: If nursing home abuse and neglect lead to a wrongful death, the personal representative of the deceased resident’s estate (often a family member or executor) can file a wrongful death claim.

How Our Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Can Help

At Nursing Home Law Center, our Massachusetts personal injury attorneys have extensive experience in representing victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. 

Our law firm is skilled in handling complex personal injury cases, from investigating claims to securing significant settlements and verdicts. We are here to guide you through every step of the legal process, ensuring your loved one’s rights are fully protected.

Free Case Evaluation

We offer a free consultation to review your case and assess whether there are grounds for a personal injury claim. During this evaluation, our attorneys will listen to your concerns, review the details of the abuse or neglect, and explain your legal options.

Case Investigation

Our legal team conducts a thorough investigation of the nursing home abuse claim to gather evidence and build a strong case. This investigation involves examining medical records, interviewing witnesses, and identifying signs of abuse or neglect, such as bed sores, restraint marks, or poor hygiene.

Filing the Claim

Once the investigation is complete, we handle all aspects of filing the claim. This process includes preparing the necessary legal documents, adhering to deadlines, and ensuring the claim is filed in the correct jurisdiction.

Settlement Negotiation

Many nursing home neglect cases are resolved through settlement negotiations, where both parties agree to a fair settlement amount without going to trial. Our personal injury attorneys have significant experience negotiating compensatory damages, such as medical expenses, emotional trauma, and any other damages caused by the abuse.

Trial Representation

We are fully prepared to take your case to court if we cannot agree on a fair settlement. Our attorneys have extensive experience in trial representation and will advocate fiercely for you before a judge and jury.

Common Signs of Elder Abuse Among Nursing Home Residents 

Elder abuse in nursing homes can often go unnoticed, especially when residents are unable to communicate the mistreatment they are experiencing. However, there are several warning signs that family members and loved ones should be aware of to help detect abuse early.

• Bruises, cuts, broken bones, or head injuries
• Frequent hospital visits
• Sudden changes in behavior
• Flinching when touched or showing reluctance to speak in front of caregivers
• Bruising in sensitive areas
• Bed sores (also known as pressure ulcers)
• Poor personal hygiene
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Unexplained financial transactions
• Missing personal belongings

The worst-rated nursing homes in Massachusetts [1] include:

The Cost of Hiring a Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

At Nursing Home Law Center, we understand that the financial burden of pursuing a legal case can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with the trauma of nursing home abuse. To ensure that every family has access to justice, we operate on a contingency fee basis. 

This arrangement means there are no upfront costs or fees for hiring our legal team. You only pay if we successfully secure a settlement or verdict in your favor.

You Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has a limited time frame in which you can file a nursing home abuse lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. Generally, victims and their families have three years from the date the abuse occurred or was discovered to file a lawsuit. Failing to take legal action within this period can result in losing the right to seek compensation for the abuse or neglect suffered.

Contact a Massachusetts Nursing Home Attorney Today!

At Nursing Home Law Center, we have extensive experience advocating for victims of nursing home abuse across Massachusetts. Our skilled personal injury attorneys are committed to holding negligent nursing homes accountable and securing the justice and compensation your loved one deserves. 

Contact us now to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward justice!

Call us at (800) 926-7565 or fill out our contact form.

References: [1] Medicare