When families place their older loved ones in an Atlanta area nursing home, they trust the nursing home workers will provide proper care and attention. However, nursing home negligence in Atlanta poses a serious problem. In some cases, it can involve serious injuries or death. At Bayuk Pratt, we understand the devastating effects of nursing home negligence on residents and their families. As former insurance defense attorneys, we know how nursing homes and insurance companies try to minimize or deny responsibility for negligent care. Now, we use that insider knowledge to fight for families like yours.
Our legal team has recovered more than $300 million for victims of negligence and other wrongdoing, and we are proud to have received numerous testimonials from satisfied clients. If your loved one has suffered harm due to negligent care in an Atlanta nursing home, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options for pursuing financial compensation.
What Is Nursing Home Negligence?
Nursing home negligence differs from nursing home abuse and other types of elder abuse. It occurs when facility staff or management fail to meet the standard of care residents require and deserve. They may fail to provide competent care due to understaffing, poor training, inadequate supervision, or mismanagement. Nursing home abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse, involves acts that are intended to harm nursing home residents. In contrast to nursing home abuse cases, nursing home neglect typically stems from carelessness, inattention, or failure to follow proper procedures. It is important to work with a nursing home abuse lawyer who understands the nuances of these cases.
What Are Some Signs of Atlanta Nursing Home Negligence?
Recognizing the signs of nursing home negligence can help protect your loved one from serious harm. Common indicators include the following signs:
- Poor personal hygiene — Residents appear unwashed, wear dirty clothes, or live in unsanitary conditions.
- Bedsores — These painful wounds develop when staff fail to reposition immobile residents regularly.
- Dehydration and malnutrition — Signs include sudden weight loss, confusion, dry skin, and weakness.
- Preventable falls — Fall injuries may occur due to insufficient supervision or safety measures.
- Medication errors — Missing doses, incorrect medications, or improper administration can have life-threatening consequences.
- Unsupervised wandering — Lack of attention can lead to residents leaving the facility without the staff’s awareness.
- Unsafe living conditions — Poorly maintained facilities, trip hazards, or broken equipment can cause severe injuries.
- Changes in behavior — Withdrawal, anxiety, or agitation may indicate inadequate care.
How Do You Prove Atlanta Nursing Home Negligence?
To prove nursing home negligence, you must show that the facility failed to provide proper care and that this failure led to harm. Our attorneys know how to establish these critical elements by:
- Gathering medical records and documentation — We will review all records related to your loved one’s care and injuries.
- Interviewing witnesses — We will speak with other residents, family members, and current or former staff.
- Working with medical experts — We will consult with healthcare professionals who can testify about proper standards of care.
- Documenting violations — We will work to identify failures to follow state and federal nursing home regulations.
- Collecting evidence — We can secure photos, videos, internal documents, and other proof of negligent care.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Negligence?
If you believe your loved one is experiencing negligent care, take the following critical steps:
- Document everything — Take photos of injuries, keep a written record of incidents, and save all communication with the facility.
- Contact an attorney — Speak with a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer who can protect your loved one’s rights.
- Report your concerns — File complaints with facility management and the Georgia Department of Community Health.
- Ensure your loved one’s safety — Consider whether immediate removal from the facility is necessary.
- Preserve evidence — Save any physical evidence of negligent care.
How Do You Know If You Have a Valid Atlanta Nursing Home Negligence Claim?
All nursing homes must meet specific standards of care. To have a valid nursing home negligence claim, you must prove the facility’s staff breached their duty to protect your loved one by failing to provide necessary care or supervision. You must also demonstrate that your loved one suffered injuries or other harm due to the facility’s negligent care, resulting in medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Our attorneys can evaluate your situation and determine whether you have grounds for a claim. We understand the complex regulations governing nursing homes and how to prove when facilities have fallen short of their obligations.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Nursing Home Negligence in Atlanta?
Multiple parties, including the following, may bear responsibility for nursing home negligence:
- Nursing home facility — For failing to maintain proper standards of care.
- Management company — For inadequate policies, understaffing, or poor training.
- Individual staff member — For failing to provide necessary care or follow procedures.
- Medical professional — For errors in treatment or medication management.
- Third-party contractor — For negligent services provided within the facility.
Can You Seek Compensation for Nursing Home Negligence?
Victims of nursing home negligence may recover compensation for:
- Cost of moving to a new facility — Expenses related to finding proper care.
- Medical treatment — IIncluding hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical expenses.
- Pain and suffering — Physical discomfort and emotional distress.
- Loss of quality of life — Changes in your loved one’s ability to enjoy daily activities.
- Wrongful death — If negligent care led to your loved one’s death.
Does Georgia Have a Time Limit for Filing a Nursing Home Negligence Claim?
Georgia law allows two years from the date of injury to file a nursing home negligence lawsuit. However, if the nursing home is a government facility, you must provide notice of your claim within six months. Missing these deadlines can prevent you from seeking compensation. So, it is crucial to contact an experienced personal injury attorney promptly.
Contact an Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer
At Bayuk Pratt, we bring unique insight into nursing home negligence cases. As former defense attorneys for major corporations, we know precisely how nursing homes and insurers try to avoid responsibility. Now, we are ready to put our experience to work for you. We handle all nursing home negligence cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you.
Contact us today at Bayuk Pratt for a free consultation to discuss your legal options and learn more about how we can protect your loved one.