Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Darlington, SC
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Founded in 1975, Christian & Christian has deep roots in the community. Our lawyers have worked hard to build a strong, caring legacy of legal advocacy and protection for injured people. We stand up to injustice and help injury victims in their fight against well-funded insurance companies.
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Darlington, SC Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Nursing home abuse and neglect comes in many forms and is often hard to recognize. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to nursing home abuse or neglect, the attorneys at Christian & Christian Law are here to help! One of the main differences between nursing home abuse versus neglect is negligence. When we talk about nursing home abuse, we often listen to cases of physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse. When we hear cases of nursing home neglect, this is usually due to negligence like poor staffing, understaffing, lack of material like clothing, nutrition, or hygiene practices at the facility and more. Let’s explore your nursing home abuse or neglect case here in Darlington.
Nursing Home Abuse
Our Darlington area nursing home abuse lawyers have won many cases for our clients or families of our clients. We understand the differences between abuse and neglect and can help steer you in the right direction so you can win your case every time. Nursing home abuse, in the form of physical abuse, can be easily recognizable by documenting bruises, bumps or other anomalies in appearance. Other abuse like emotional, financial, or sexual abuse is hard to recognize without a verbal statement from the victim. If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a Darlington nursing home or assisted living facility, we usually tell our clients to look for the following behaviors:
- Rocking or swaying back and forth
- Playing with hands, fidgeting, or other anxiety-driven behavior
- Sudden refusal to eat or drink
- Sudden refusal to see or talk to visiting family members
Recognizing Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is the hardest to recognize if you don’t have direct access to bank accounts to see what money is coming in and out and for what. Financial abuse and financial exploitation are one and the same and refers to the illegal or improper use of money or income and resources to profit another individual or company. Seniors and elderly individuals are easy targets because they trust that a nursing home will manage their funds properly and oftentimes, seniors display cognitive issues that complicate their ability to manage money or remember where their money is going. If you feel that you or your loved one is suddenly missing funds, it’s important to ask for statements, bank logins and more immediately.
Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home neglect is a common issue in the Darlington, SC area and surrounding towns because of general understaffing or poor staffing issues. In order to sue for neglect, the client must prove negligence or documentation of that negligence and always file reports. It is vital to keep record of any negligence going on at a nursing home facility and to update the South Carolina ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095 or the police. Without proof of nursing home negligence, it is difficult to win your case.
Contact Our Darlington, SC Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you or a loved one have fallen victim to nursing home abuse, neglect or exploitation, it’s vital to call the lawyers at Christian & Christian Law today! Our primary office is located in Greenville SC, but we are always willing to travel and meet our clients. Want to know the best part of our attorney office? We won’t charge you a penny until you win your case! Contact us today for a free initial case review.
If you or a loved one have fallen victim to nursing home abuse, neglect or exploitation, call our nursing home abuse lawyers in Darlington, SC.
Frequently Asked Questions – Nursing Home Abuse
Common signs include unexplained bruises or injuries, frequent falls, bedsores (pressure ulcers), sudden weight loss, dehydration, poor hygiene, unsanitary living conditions, and significant changes in your loved one’s mood or behavior, such as becoming withdrawn, fearful, or agitated.
If a resident is in immediate danger, call 911. You should also report the abuse to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. It is also critical to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer to protect the resident’s legal rights and begin an independent investigation.
Abuse is generally an intentional act that causes harm, such as physical, emotional, or sexual assault. Neglect is a failure to provide the necessary care, such as food, water, medicine, or assistance with hygiene, which results in harm. Both are illegal and can be grounds for a lawsuit.
Nursing homes in South Carolina are required to provide care and services that allow residents to attain or maintain their highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. A failure to meet this standard, which results in injury to a resident, is considered a breach of the standard of care.
Liability can extend beyond an individual abusive staff member. The nursing home facility itself and its parent corporation can be held liable for negligent hiring, understaffing, improper training, and creating an environment where abuse and neglect can occur. This corporate liability is often key to securing fair compensation.
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit in South Carolina is generally three years from the date of the injury or when it was reasonably discovered. However, the law can be complex, so it is vital to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Victims and their families can seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases of egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the facility and deter future misconduct.
Client Reviews
Everyone there was very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. My car was totaled, and I was a little intimidated talking with a couple of other lawyers in Greenville. But with Christian and Christian, not only did they answer my questions, but they did so in a way that made what could have been a hectic situation, easy. Overall, an excellent experience with high quality lawyers who truly go above and beyond and really try to get you the results or answers you need.
Rob Young