Stamford Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

When you pick a nursing home for your loved one, you expect the facility to provide a level of care you can’t offer at home. Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect are widespread problems, and many elders are abused, neglected, or exploited by the people who are meant to care for them. If your loved one suffered abuse at a nursing home, a Stamford nursing home abuse lawyer can help you hold the facility accountable for what they did.

Since 1990, D’Amico Pettinicchi has been a leader in nursing home abuse and neglect cases throughout Connecticut. Our elder abuse law firm offers the personal attention of a small firm, combined with the resources of a large firm. If you have an elder abuse claim, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer in Stamford.

Why Choose Our Law Firm for Your Stamford Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?

At D’Amico Pettinicchi, our elder care facility abuse lawyers have 100-plus years of combined experience and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients through settlements and at trial. We have helped many people in your situation to pursue the compensation they deserve.

Our law firm has spent over 35 years establishing a reputation for taking personal injury cases to trial and securing justice for injured individuals. We have received statewide and national recognition for excellence in personal injury law and have been ranked among the Top 10 Connecticut personal injury law firms by Super Lawyers for 10 years.

Other lawyers trust our firm with referrals because they know D’Amico Pettinicchi can handle complex and challenging cases. We have dual board certification in civil pretrial practice and civil trial advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

If you choose our law firm for your Stamford elder abuse case, you will receive the highest level of attention and service from a law firm with a long record of success. In addition, you pay no out-of-pocket costs for us to begin work on your lawsuit, and there are no fees unless we successfully resolve your case. Contact us today to discover the difference we can make for you.

How a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Can Help Your Family

A nursing home abuse attorney can help your family in several ways, including the following:

  • Investigating the nursing home
  • Interviewing staff and residents
  • Examining medical records and other documents, looking for evidence of abuse or neglect
  • Determining whether the nursing home’s treatment of your loved one constitutes abuse or neglect under Connecticut law
  • Demanding compensation for your loved one’s losses
  • Negotiating with the insurance company to obtain a settlement
  • Filing a lawsuit if the insurance company won’t offer full and fair compensation
  • Representing you and your loved one in court
  • Holding the nursing home accountable for the harm it caused

It isn’t easy to hold a nursing home liable for abusing or neglecting the people in their care. However, a skilled lawyer familiar with this type of case will know what to do and how to counter the other side’s tactics. By hiring an experienced nursing home abuse attorney from D’Amico Pettinicchi, you can pursue compensation and help prevent harm to others.

What Is Elder Abuse and How Often Does It Happen?

So, what exactly is nursing home neglect, abuse, and exploitation? Nursing home regulations in Connecticut require all nursing home facilities to maintain appropriate staffing levels, allow visiting hours for at least eight hours a day, and respect patients’ rights. These include the right to be free from physical or mental abuse.

Connecticut law defines elder abuse as the willful infliction of the following:

  • Physical pain
  • Mental anguish
  • Injury

Willful deprivation of any services necessary for physical and mental health also constitutes elder abuse under Connecticut law. Failure to provide or arrange for necessary services constitutes elder neglect.

Connecticut defines elder exploitation as any act that takes advantage of an older adult for monetary, personal, or any other type of gain or benefit.

Elder abuse in nursing homes is much more common than many people realize. According to the World Health Organization, two-thirds of nursing home staff reported having committed abusive acts within the past year in one study. Meanwhile, the National Council on Aging reports that 1 out of every 10 Americans over age 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse.

Who Could Be Held Responsible for Nursing Home Abuse?

Several different parties can be held responsible in a nursing home abuse case, including the following:

  • Nurses and other staff members can be held responsible if they abuse residents.
  • Nursing home facilities can be held responsible for negligent hiring or training, inadequate staffing, abusive policies, or failure to address known issues.
  • Administrators, managers, or other nursing home supervisors can be held liable if they fail to take action to prevent abuse.
  • Third-party contractors that provide services to the nursing home can be held liable if their employees abuse residents.

To win a lawsuit for elder abuse, you must prove that the nursing home or its staff violated the standard of care for nursing home residents and that this breach harmed your loved one. Proving this often requires extensive documentation and interviews with eyewitnesses. It’s much easier to obtain the evidence you need with the help of a D’Amico Pettinicchi lawyer who has handled many such cases before.

Potential Compensation for Nursing Home Negligence

Potential compensation for nursing home negligence depends on the extent of your losses. If your loved one needs extensive treatment for medical and psychological issues as a result of the abuse, or if they suffered severe emotional distress, then compensation could be substantial.

Elder abuse compensation can include the following:

  • Economic damages, which is money for such losses as the cost of medical treatment, psychological treatment, and medication.
  • Non-economic damages, which is money for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life.

In cases involving egregiously abusive behavior, a jury may award punitive damages above and beyond your actual losses. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the abuser for their actions, not to compensate the injured party.

How Long Do I Have to File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit in Connecticut?

Don’t wait to contact a Stamford nursing home abuse attorney. The nursing home abuse statute of limitations gives you two years to file an elder abuse lawsuit in Connecticut. This may seem to be more than enough time, but your lawyer needs more time than you may realize. A nursing home abuse case includes a thorough investigation as well as time for negotiations with the insurance company.

Insurance companies are aware of the statute of limitations, and sometimes delay settlement in hopes of running out the clock. If you wait too long to file, the court will dismiss your case without a hearing. You should always contact a lawyer as soon as possible so your attorney will have ample time to pursue fair compensation in your case.

How Can I Tell if My Loved One Is Being Abused or Neglected?

Do you know how to recognize elder abuse? Signs of nursing home abuse can sometimes go unnoticed if you don’t know what to look for.

According to the National Institute on Aging, common warning signs of abuse or neglect in nursing homes include the following:

  • Unexplained bruises, scars, burns, restraint marks, or other injuries
  • Bedsores, lack of cleanliness, or preventable medical problems
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Changes in mood or behavior
  • Becoming unusually withdrawn

If something seems off to you, trust your instincts and ask your loved one what’s happening. If they cannot tell you, look for warning signs of abuse and neglect yourself. Contact an attorney who can investigate the situation if you suspect any signs of abuse.

Elder exploitation has different warning signs than abuse or neglect. Warning signs of elder exploitation include unusual changes in spending or banking patterns. For instance, if your loved one hadn’t written any checks or withdrawn any cash for several years, only to suddenly start writing large checks or making repeated withdrawals, this could be a sign that someone is taking advantage of them.

Anytime you suspect elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation, you should report your suspicions to Connecticut authorities.

How Can You File a Nursing Home Complaint in Connecticut?

Reporting poor care in a nursing home is simple in Connecticut. If you’re wondering how to report nursing home neglect or abuse, you can:

After reporting the abuse or neglect of your loved one, you should contact a Stamford nursing home abuse attorney immediately. If you aren’t sure how to file an abuse complaint, your attorney can help you.

Contact a Reputable Stamford Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today

If your loved one was abused, neglected, or exploited at a nursing home in Connecticut, they deserve justice for their harm. By filing an elder abuse lawsuit, you can hold the people who hurt your loved one accountable. When It’s Time to Fight the Good Fight℠, contact a Stamford elder abuse lawyer at D’Amico Pettinicchi immediately.