If you or a loved one were a victim of nursing home abuse in Columbia, South Carolina, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys at (912) 513-4955 for a free consultation. An experienced Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight for compensation to cover medical bills, rehabilitation, trauma, and more.
Our attorneys have the experience and resources you need in your corner. We’re passionate about protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse. You trusted the nursing home to protect your loved one. Now, we’re here to hold them accountable for their failure.
Why Choose Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys for Help After Nursing Home Abuse in Columbia, SC?
Nursing home abuse is tragically common. When allegations arise, nursing homes tend to protect their own. They’ll go to great lengths to deny allegations and protect their reputation.
To hold them accountable, hiring an experienced Columbia nursing home abuse attorney is critical. Injury victims trust Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys for help because we’re straightforward, passionate, and relentless when it comes to fighting for our clients.
Our team is set apart because:
- We have decades of combined experience fighting for the injured across South Carolina
- We have a proven track record of standing up to large corporations and insurance companies–and winning
- We’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars”
- Our attorneys are always prepared to take your case to trial if necessary to get full compensation
Getting the legal advice you deserve is easy. Just call our Columbia personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today.
Many Types of Nursing Home Abuse Exist in South Carolina
Any type of action that harms a nursing home resident constitutes abuse. Not all abuse leaves a clear physical mark–although physical abuse tends to be the most obvious type of abuse.
We handle cases involving:
- Physical abuse, including slapping, hair-pulling, kicking, hitting, and inappropriate use of physical restraints
- Sexual abuse, or any type of unwanted sexual contact or conduct
- Emotional abuse, including humiliation, belittling, name-calling, coercion or isolation
- Financial abuse, including theft, identity theft, fraud, forgery, coercion, etc.
- Neglect, which can include abandonment, withholding food, water or medications, failure to provide necessary supervision or assistance and more
It’s also not uncommon for residents to experience multiple types of abuse. Your family doesn’t have to tolerate any type of abuse. South Carolina’s laws on nursing home residents’ rights are strict. The law grants nursing home residents the right to be free from any type of abuse.
What Are Some Warning Signs That My Loved One Has Been Abused in a Long-Term Care Facility?
Nursing home abuse can be difficult to detect. Residents may be afraid to report abuse. Others may be unable to communicate effectively due to age or a medical condition.
The signs will depend on the nature of the abusive situation. Really, any type of unexplained behavior, injury, or change can indicate abuse.
Some of the most common signs to watch for include:
- Unexplained bruises, fractures, cuts, or other injuries
- Bedsores (pressure ulcers)
- Unexplained weight loss or signs of dehydration
- Poor hygiene or changes in hygiene
- An unsanitary living environment
- Depression, or withdrawal from social activities or loved ones
- Fear or anxiety around caregivers
- Caregivers who refuse to leave you alone with your loved one
- Unexplained mood or behavior changes, including anger or fear
- Missing belongings or unexplained financial transactions
We know that accusing someone of abuse can be incredibly difficult. Many people aren’t sure how to handle the situation. It’s important to trust your instincts and know that our attorneys are standing by to help you fight for justice.
What Is My Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Case Worth?
Many different issues must be evaluated in assessing your case value.
Important considerations include:
- The severity of any physical injuries
- The nature of the abuse
- How long the abuse continued
- How the abuse has impacted the victim’s mental health and wellbeing
- Financial consequences associated with the abuse
- Special needs created by the abuse
- Anticipated ongoing costs and impacts
Many of the scars associated with abuse are invisible. Your non-financial losses may be significant. The nursing home’s insurance company knows exactly how difficult proving these damages can be.
Without experienced legal representation, you may never know how much you deserve. Our Columbia nursing home abuse attorneys can offer more details about your case value during a free consultation.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Nursing Home Abuse in Columbia?
Like any car accident victim, victims of nursing home abuse can pursue full compensation for any economic damages and non-economic damages they’ve endured.
Your damages depend on your family’s unique situation, and may include:
- Current medical bills
- Medical expenses related to ongoing care and treatment
- Therapies and rehabilitation
- Relocation costs, if your loved one must be moved to a safer facility
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Mental health treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD
- Reduced quality of life
- Humiliation and shame
- Lost ability to enjoy life
Our attorneys may also pursue punitive damages. Punitive damages are rare in South Carolina. Courts award punitive damages when a defendant’s acts were willful, wanton, or reckless.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer for a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in South Carolina?
We handle nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs or hourly fees. Our attorneys’ fees are a percentage of the compensation we recover for you. If we don’t secure a settlement or verdict in your favor, you owe us nothing. This approach allows you to pursue justice without any financial risk.
Examples of Long-Term Consequences for Nursing Home Abuse Victims in Columbia
At Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys, we represent clients dealing with a wide range of damages.
Examples of the types of long-term consequences victims of nursing home abuse experience include:
- Depression and other mental health issues
- Extreme fear and anxiety, especially when left alone
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Concussions
- Cognitive decline
- Development of new medical conditions
- Internal injuries
- Infections
- Choking injuries
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Blood clots
- Stroke
- Financial instability
Every victim is different. Some have difficulty explaining their suffering. Your loved one deserves a fierce advocate who can fight to ensure their compensation award accounts for every ounce of their suffering.
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur in Columbia?
Understanding why a caregiver would abuse a vulnerable nursing home resident is extremely difficult. Often, abuse occurs because someone in charge neglected their duties.
Some common causes of nursing home abuse include:
- Failure to conduct appropriate background checks
- Chronic understaffing
- Inadequately trained caregivers and employees
- Poor oversight and lack of supervision
- Failure to adopt effective policies and procedures to detect and prevent abuse
Most nursing homes are owned by large corporations. Often, the root cause of abuse involves systemic problems at the corporate level. All too often, nursing homes cut corners to save money and increase their profits.
Who Can Be Liable for Nursing Home Abuse in Columbia?
Anyone who plays a direct or indirect role in the abuse can be financially responsible.
That may include:
- The nursing home
- Doctors and nurses
- Nursing home staff members
- A corporation that owns the nursing home
Once we understand the situation, our attorneys will be able to determine who can be held legally responsible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit After an Injury in South Carolina?
In most cases, you will have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Typically, that three-year clock will start running on the date the harm occurred.
The exact deadline will depend on the circumstances. Nursing home abuse isn’t always discovered immediately. It’s very likely that the abusive party took steps to conceal the abuse. That can give you more time to take legal action.
These cases are very fact-specific. In all cases, it’s important to consult an experienced attorney at your first opportunity. Your attorney can evaluate the facts and identify the exact deadlines that apply in your case.
Call Our Experienced Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
You expected the nursing home to treat your loved one with dignity and respect. Instead of offering a safe environment, your loved one was subjected to abuse. An experienced Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer can help you fight for justice.
At Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys, your consultation is completely free. There’s never any obligation to hire us, and we’re always available to discuss your case.
