Looking for Answers After an Elderly Loved One Was Abused?
Let our team at Gauthier Amedee stand up for you and your family, bringing you the fair compensation you deserve for this suffering.
Your Baton Rouge, LA, Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
The United States population is getting older on average, and this looks to be a trend that will continue. Currently, more than 1 out of every 6 Americans is over the age of 65, and within the next decade, that number is expected to climb to as many as 60 million.
Aging is a natural and unavoidable process, and we all depend on elder care facilities to provide our aging loved ones with the respect and care they deserve. Tragically, this vulnerable population of Americans is often the target of abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other elder care facilities. If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse or neglect in a nursing home, contact our Baton Rouge, LA, nursing home abuse lawyers today.
Protecting Your Right to Compensation
We believe that you deserve compensation for the suffering your loved one has experienced, and we work hard to make sure all losses are accounted for in your settlement.
No Fees If We Don’t Win
Working on contingency means that we only charge legal fees if we obtain compensation for you. With no financial risk, you can trust that your case is in trustworthy hands.
We Understand What You’re Going Through
At some point in our lives, we may all have to depend on the care of a trusted family member or medical professional in our older years. This is why it is so important to protect the rights of our elderly population and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable space to spend their golden years.
Our experienced and compassionate nursing home abuse attorneys at Gauthier Amedee protect the rights of those that have experienced elder abuse. We ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions.
Elderly relatives often don’t have the physical or mental capacity to defend themselves. That is why you need our Baton Rouge, Louisiana, elder abuse attorneys to protect your older family member’s rights.
Do I Have a Case?
There are many different forms that nursing home abuse can take. As a whole, nursing home abuse is defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of action, on the part of a trusted caregiver that results in harm to an older person.
If your loved one was harmed as a result of the careless and negligent caregiver, you might have a case. Depending on how the harm was done to your loved one, the assisted living facility or its employees could be liable for paying damages.
- Financial Abuse or Exploitation: Illegal or inappropriate use of funds obtained from an elderly person without their consent or knowledge.
- Neglect: Failure of a caregiver to provide proper care to an elderly person in a timely manner. This could include failure to provide a clean living space, failure to provide necessary medication, extended isolation, failure to provide necessary food or clothing, and more.
- Physical or Sexual Abuse: Any unwanted touching or physical contact with an elderly person.
- Psychological or Emotional Abuse: Any type of harassment, emotional agitation, or unnecessary anxiety made to make an elderly person feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
- Abandonment: Deserting an older adult who needs supportive care without any provisions or planning for their wellbeing.
- Unexplained bruising, cuts, scrapes or other injuries
- Untreated or infected bedsores or pressure ulcers
- Malnutrition or dehydration
- Sudden or unexpected feelings of depression, isolation, agitation or anxiety
- Sudden or unexpected weight gain or weight loss
- Medication errors or overdoses
It is the job of the plaintiff, or the person who is filing a legal suit, to show that the entity or individual that they are seeking damages from had a duty of care to them, that duty of care was violated, the violation resulted in harm and actual losses were suffered.
For example, let’s say that a caregiver assigned to take care of your loved one failed to dispense their necessary medication, and this led to a medical emergency that harmed your loved one. Both the caregiver and the care facility may be liable for your loved one’s damages.
Showing the relationship between a negligent party and a victim’s harm and losses can be a difficult task to do alone, but with the help of an attorney at Gauthier Amedee, that process can be made much more manageable.
Put an Award-Winning Firm on Your Side!
If you’ve been hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, never forget that you have rights. You deserve justice, and you deserve to be compensated for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost future earnings potential, and the emotional damage you’ve suffered. That’s why our team of personal injury lawyers at Gauthier Amedee is here for you.
If you’re looking for a personal injury law firm that truly understands what you’re going through while bringing years of experience to the table, we are ready to help. We’ve seen too many people come through our doors who are suffering because someone else was irresponsible, and we’ve dedicated our lives to fighting for the justice they deserve. We are your Go2Lawyers. All it takes is a simple phone call — you don’t even have to leave your house! Just reach out to us at 225-350-3400 and we’ll start your case review right away.
Hold Nursing Homes Accountable for Abuse and Neglect
No one deserves to be mistreated or neglected in a nursing home. At Gauthier Amedee, we understand the emotional and physical toll these situations can take on your loved one and your family. Let us help you seek justice and hold those responsible accountable.
What Compensation Can I Receive?
Nursing home abuse can cause significant physical bodily harm to an older individual, and in the most severe cases, nursing home abuse can be deadly. Families that have had to suffer the pain of knowing that abuse has happened to their loved one and victims that have experienced it can have several compensable damages included in a nursing home abuse claim.
Either an abusive caregiver, the nursing home facility, or an insurance company may pay a victim their compensation. Compensation may be required for any of the following damages:
- Emotional trauma
- Repayment of funds taken in financial exploitation situations
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Final expenses and burial costs for abuse that resulted in death
- Costs of relocating to another facility
- Lost payments or wages
- Reimbursement of legal fees
- Rehabilitation
- Mental health
An experienced attorney at Gauthier Amedee can assist with identifying applicable damages and putting a fair value on them.
Compensation from a nursing home claim can either come by means of a settlement outside of going to court. Or, a claim may turn into a lawsuit and be litigated in the courtroom. Here, a financial award can result from a successful legal suit.
How Can a Lawyer Help?
Nursing home abuse cases can be highly emotional because of how egregious the act of harming older, vulnerable adults is. There may be one or more parties liable for paying a victim their damages. While a family is dealing with the aftermath of a nursing home abuse situation, they can count on a seasoned and trusted attorney at Gauthier Amedee to handle their legal claim and fight on their behalf for the most compensation possible. The legal team at Gauthier Amedee knows that these claims can be highly complicated and stressful for victims and are dedicated to helping victims and their families seek justice.
If you or a loved one has been abused or mistreated in a nursing home, contact our Baton Rouge, LA, nursing home abuse attorneys at 225-222-2222 or fill out our online contact form for a free case review. Our experienced legal team will review your case absolutely FREE, and help provide the answers you seek. You can depend on Gauthier Amedee to provide the dedicated and aggressive representation you need to secure the maximum compensation for your case.
At Gauthier Amedee, you never have to pay any attorney’s fee upfront. In fact, we only get paid after you do. And if there is no recovery, there is no attorney’s fee. It’s that simple. We’re here to work hard for you and to make sure that your rights are fully protected.
What Comes Next?
The first step in obtaining compensation in a nursing home abuse case is to schedule a free evaluation and consultation with our firm.
During this meeting, an attorney will listen to your story, review the evidence, and determine if you have a viable case. We will also explain your legal options and the potential outcomes of your case.
The second step in the process is to collect evidence to support your case. This may include medical records, witness statements, and other documentation that can prove the abuse or neglect occurred. We may also hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.
Once the evidence is collected, the attorney will negotiate with the nursing home or its insurance company to reach a settlement. The goal is to obtain fair compensation for the harm you suffered.
If a settlement is reached, the final step is to receive the compensation. The funds may cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the abuse or neglect.
Your attorney will ensure that you receive the full amount of compensation you are entitled to under the law.
Nursing Home Abuse FAQs
How Long Do I Have To File a Louisiana Nursing Home Abuse Claim?
When filing a civil suit like a nursing home abuse lawsuit, there is only a limited amount of time to do so. This limited period of time is called the statute of limitations, and each state has its own statute of limitations for victims to take legal action.
The Louisiana personal injury statute of limitations is one year from the date that the harm took place.
Filing your Louisiana personal injury claim within the state’s statute of limitations is essential. Failing to take legal action in a timely manner may mean that your opportunity to secure financial compensation for your damages will be lost.
What Are the Next Steps After Learning That My Elderly Loved One Was Abused?
If you suspect that your elderly loved one has been abused, the first step is to ensure their safety and well-being. Contact the authorities and report the abuse immediately. Obtain medical treatment for your loved one, and document any injuries or signs of abuse.
Our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys can help you hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact us to schedule a consultation and discuss your legal options.
What If I Cannot Afford a Lawyer?
At Gauthier Amedee, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, meaning that we only get paid if you win your case.
How Can I Report Elder Abuse in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, you can report elder abuse by contacting the Adult Protective Services (APS) hotline at 1-833-577-6532 or by contacting your local law enforcement agency. You can also report the facility online to the Louisiana Dept. of Health’s Aging and Adult Services.
If you suspect that your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. It is important to document any signs of abuse and provide as much information as possible when making your report.
Is It Possible To Prevent Elder Abuse?
While it may not be possible to completely prevent elder abuse, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
Some of these steps include staying involved in your loved one’s care, educating yourself and your loved one about the signs of abuse, and regularly checking in with your loved one to ensure their safety and well-being. It is also important to choose a reputable nursing home or care facility and to monitor the quality of care that your loved one is receiving.